Ciao, mi chiamo Maria.

I’ve helped hundreds of people who are passionate about Italian culture become conversational in Italian so they can build deeper connections with family and friends, completely immerse themselves in the culture, and feel at-home in Italy.

After over 10 years of academic study in Italian, embracing my father’s Calabrese heritage, earning multiple awards, and teaching Italian for over 6 years in top school districts nationwide,

I’ve discovered the most effective and efficient strategies to get you confidently interacting in Italian so you can be a part of the culture and truly connect with Italian friends, family, and the community.

In 2006, I traveled to Italy to meet my Italian family, unable to speak a word of Italian… and it was incredibly awkward. I felt so afraid to open my mouth or utter a single word, fearing they would surely laugh at me.

The embarrassment I felt and lack of connecting with my family motivated me to truly learn Italian.

Embracing the challenge, I navigated through trial and error, discovering the best ways to explain complex linguistic concepts in a fun, simple, and easy-to-understand manner, which is perfect for beginners aspiring to be conversational.

When I returned to Italy in 2013, I finally had the chance to truly connect with my family, making connections I never imagined. I learned about who I was, who my family was, and finally felt at home being a part of Italian society.

Being able to speak Italian helped me not only integrate easily when traveling, but allowed me to really be a part of my family and culture.

I still find that many people passionate about Italian culture feel embarrassed, disconnected, and overwhelmed while learning the language, often struggling to make progress in their conversational skills.

It’s time to make things fun while learning- and never feel embarrassed to speak again.

It’s about more than just “surface-level” Italian; it’s about using conversation to build relationships and genuinely connect with others.

I created a top-of-the-line program and a vibrant community called the Italian Toolkit where I personally guide those passionate about Italian in learning conversational skills, empowering them to engage confidently in daily life and build real, meaningful connections.

The free pronunciation guide below is the FIRST STEP to becoming conversational.
Fill out the form below and I’ll send it straight to your email!