Hello, my name is Maria Mazzaglia and I'm 47 years old and currently living in Italy. I am a native Italian speaker and teach Italian. I have been an online Italian teacher with Verbalplanet since May 2008.
I can speak the following languages fluently: Italian, English.
I am currently offering a free initial trial lesson for new students.
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Latest Reviews
07 Sep 2023
wendy66
Very enjoyable lesson, as always, and useful to hear you reading, Maria. It helps me with my own pronunciation.
29 Aug 2023
Verona
Every lesson is funny and useful. I really enjoy Maria's company! Choose to study italian with her and you will not regret it!
27 Aug 2023
wendy66
Another excellent lesson, Maria. I am enjoying writing in 'il libro bianco'.
20 Aug 2023
wendy66
Really useful discussion of tenses today, Maria, thank you for that and for such an enjoyable lesson.
30 Jul 2023
wendy66
A very enjoyable lesson with an entertaining story by Calvino and the discovery that 'arena' originally meant 'sandy place'! Thank you, Maria.
01 Jul 2023
wendy66
Good to see and hear about your 'malvarosa' and 'le ninfee' and Marcovaldo in the snow was wonderful! Thank you for another fascinating lesson, Maria.
I live in Italy at the moment and I lived many years in the Unites States.
I love languages, photography, wellness and fitness, nature and animals.
Qualifications & Experience
In Italy I studied foreign languages and literatures and I worked as office, sales and customer service assistant I lived for many years in the United States, on the East Coast and then in California. I studied herbology and Massage Therapy. I worked in the wellness industry and then in customer service in finances. Always in contact with different kind of people, cultures, and personalities.
I love languages, their unique sounds and souls, and I love teaching. For this reason I have always been teaching. I am currently in Italy.
Both my studies and practice of the English language in an international environment gave me skills in comprehending people who have different linguistic, personal and cultural backgrounds. I have privately taught English and Italian to children, teenagers, young adults, adults and very wise people.
Having a conversation in actual Italian with students who could only say -or mispronounce, "pizza, amore, pasta and spaghetti" is a great satisfaction and something I am thankful for. I help my student pass a school exam, a proficiency test, I help them get ready for a job interview, I teach them how to pronounce their favorite songs and talk about their favorite Italian painter. I help them get in touch with their roots and I help them learn to speak to their Italian family members and friends. I help them feel more prepared and confident so that they can enjoy and get the best out of their special trip abroad. I just love to help. :-)
I am very pleased to find here people who enjoy learning and communicating.
My teaching experience is growing everyday thanks to my wonderful students!
Teaching Approach
My approach is flexible. I like my students to have a good time while they are engaging their brains so I use a combination of methods.
A general plan includes pronunciation, reading comprehension, conversation, grammar drills. The material used also reflects the student's interest and specific needs. I like to include a variety of topics especially related with the Arts: literature, movies, dance, music, etc.
Files and internet links will be used to complement lessons.
For absolute beginners the focus is on sounds, basic vocabulary / phraseology, and basic grammar.
Paced and casual conversations will help to comprehend and identify grammar patterns.
For my lessons I use Skype - ONLY audio and chat, NO webcam. The audio only allows great focus on the language listening and comprehension.
Sono nata e cresciuta in Italia. Ho vissuto molti anni negli Stati Uniti e adesso sono in Italia
Qualifications & Experience
Ho studiato lingue e letterature straniere in Italia ed ho lavorato come corrispondente estero in una compagnia italiana.
Ho vissuto per molti anni negli Stati Uniti, sulla costa Est e poi in California. Negli Stati Uniti ho perfezionato lo studio della lingua inglese ed ho studiato fitoterapia e massoterapia. Ho quindi lavorato nel campo del benessere e in seguito anche nel campo della finanza per alcuni anni. Amo coltivare le mie passioni tra cui le lingue straniere ed è per questo che insegno privatamente italiano e inglese da molti anni. Insegno a persone di tutte le età. Aiuto i miei studenti a sentirsi più sicuri nei loro viaggi all'estero, a superare esami scolastici, a prepararsi per colloqui di lavoro o ad imparare a parlare con i propri parenti o amici o fidanzati nella loro lingua.
Teaching Approach
Mi piace preparare le lezioni tenendo conto dello studente, dei suoi progressi e dei suoi interessi, per cui uso ed integro diversi metodi.
Elementi di cultura, cinema, letteratura, costume, musica e arte in generale, da analizzare e discutere, sono spesso inseriti nelle lezioni con files o internet links.