I'm an Italian native living in Connecticut. I love teaching, and my goal is to help people learn and become passionate about the Italian language and culture while enjoying the process. 

Find out more about Cristina

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Italian because I was born in Italy and lived there for most of my life.I love teaching and sharing new concepts with eager learners, but what I enjoy most is that I often end up learning just as much from them in return. Teaching has always been a passion of mine because it allows me to be helpful while constantly discovering new ways to deliver content. Everyone learns differently—some through songs or movies, others
  through books or conversation. By blending all these ingredients together, the results improve day by day.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  An emblematic representative of Italian culture across history, literature, and folklore is Pinocchio. Created by Carlo Collodi in 1883, this wooden puppet captures the universal human struggle between duty and temptation, a theme deeply woven into Italian storytelling.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  One of the most defining aspects that i like the most of Italian culture is the seamless connection between the phrase "chi fa da
  sé fa per tre" (if you want something done right, do it yourself) and the concept of "l'arte di arrangiarsi" (the art of making do).

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  I would love to teach this beautiful language because it is a way to share the origins of Italian history, culture, and great food, busting some myths while revealing others to people who are interested in connecting different fields of knowledge and lifestyles.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The main difficulty in learning Italian is mastering its complex grammar, particularly the extensive verb conjugations, the multiple past tenses, and the correct use of prepositions. Additionally, getting used to the fast pace of native speakers and understanding regional accents can be challenging for beginners.
  
  To help the process, the best approach is immersive and varied learning. Instead of just studying grammar books, students can accelerate their progress by watching Italian movies with subtitles, listening to music to catch the natural rhythm, and practicing real conversation as much as possible. Mixing these creative methods keeps the process engaging and turns challenges into natural steps of growth.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  During my school days in Italy, I had a philosophy teacher who completely transformed my view of learning. He didn’t just make us memorize dates from textbooks; he brought history to life through fascinating, human stories. I still remember when he taught us about Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps, sharing the actual names of the war elephants, what they ate, and how they were cared for. He encouraged us to see historical figures not as distant, mythic warriors, but as real people with families—many of whom were just very young men who, given the short life expectancy of the era, were already considered adults.
  
  He loved connecting these human elements across centuries, whether he was talking about Queen Margherita’s genuine passion for pizza or how 17th-century Dutch grower cross-bred carrots to turn them orange as a tribute to William of Orange, moving away from the original purple and yellow varieties. That classroom was where I realized that a language and its history are things you feel, taste, and live. It taught me that the best way to teach is to connect content with real-world curiosity, showing students that behind every word or historical event, there is a fascinating human story waiting to be uncovered.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I have always traveled extensively throughout my life, and every time I returned home, I felt like a different person—better, more mature. I truly believe that exploring new places and learning new languages is about so much more than just speaking or taking photographs. Above all, it is about immersing oneself in different cultures and traditions to grow as individuals. Traveling allows us to enrich our lives back home by adopting the best practices we experience and leaving behind what doesn't resonate with us. It constantly reminds us that there is no single absolute truth; rather, there is only our own truth and our unique way of seeing the world.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  What makes me a "Superprof" is my belief that a language is not just a set of grammar rules to memorize, but a living culture to be experienced.
  Having traveled extensively and lived in Italy for most of my life, I don't just teach Italian— I bring its history, traditions, and culinary secrets to life. My lessons are entirely customized because I know that everyone learns differently, whether through songs, movies, literature, or real-life conversation. By blending all these interactive "ingredients," I create an immersive space where students don't just learn words, but expand their
  minds and embrace a whole new lifestyle.