Services & Lessons

Salve amici! Mi chiamo Alessandra.

I am a native Italian/English speaker who has been teaching Italian language and culture to students of all ages since 2003. I have taught in international language schools, and I am now offering Italian language lessons and courses in Chicago and online.
Having learned Italian and English simultaneously, I possess native proficiency in both languages, allowing for excellent comprehension of (and ability to explain/translate) idioms, colloquialisms, and language nuances to help students converse more naturally.

Whether you're starting from scratch, stagnating with self-study, or want to practice more advanced conversational skills, I can help!

Speak, read, and write with fluency and confidence.
Comfortably understand native speakers, films, and TV programmes.

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Information about lesson options and services can be found below on this page.

Contact me for more information or to schedule a free 15-minute introductory session .

CONTATTAMI

Private Courses

Online Courses

B1 Citizenship Course

PRIVATE LANGUAGE COURSES

Does your busy life prevent you from committing to set-schedule group courses that never manage to focus on your individual objectives and needs?

Have traditional courses primarily left you with a lot of confusing grammar, and you still struggle to speak?

Have you been self-studying with generic apps, but you're stuck repeating phrases with little real-world application, and you find it difficult to hold a natural conversation?

If any of the above sound familiar, targeted private lessons can be just what you need to help you achieve fluency!

Students in Chicago and vicinity can choose between in-person or online lessons in a one-to-one or small group format. All courses are tailored to fit your needs, goals, and learning styles, with flexible scheduling and location options*.

Private lessons feature:

Flexible in-person* or online sessions for individuals or groups.
Clear explanations; immediate feedback and corrections, so you don't keep making the same mistakes.
Immediate application of content using real-world situations and dialogues, so you can start speaking from the very first lesson.
Targeted instruction - no wasted time.
All learning materials provided.
Online vocabulary app to reinforce class content.
Group Rates for 2 or more students.

Savings with discounts on 5, 10, or 20 lesson packages.

*In the city of Chicago or nearby suburbs, I can travel to you/a cafe of your choice. Contact to confirm.

CONTACT ME for more info or to set up an introductory meeting.

24-hour Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations made less than 24 hours prior to lesson time will be charged the full price of the lesson.

ONLINE LANGUAGE COURSES

If you are outside of my travel radius or you have a very tight schedule, online lessons may be a good option.

Learn Italian in real-time from your computer, tablet or smartphone with even more flexible scheduling, lower rates, and no need to travel to a class!

Individual Online Lessons at lower rates than in-person lessons.
The same personalized attention and tailored quality as in-person lessons
All learning materials provided + access to online vocabulary app.
Group options and rates available.

Savings with discounts on 5, 10, or 20 Lesson Packages.

CONTACT ME for more info or to set up an introductory meeting.

B1 LANGUAGE LEVEL CITIZENSHIP COURSE

I can help you prepare for and pass the B1 Italian Citizenship Exam (CILS) with a tailored course for your current language level. Progress at your desired pace - intensive or relaxed, it is up to you!

Since December 2018, a B1 intermediate language level proficiency must be demonstrated via certification for anyone applying for citizenship through naturalization or marriage.

The B1 language level typically means that you can:

understand the main points of tv programmes and texts about familiar topics
deal with most situations that may arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
write in a simple, connected way about familiar or personal interest topics and have unprepared conversations about those same topics.
describe experiences, events, aspirations, and briefly explain opinions and plans.

Unlock your B1 proficiency with targeted, not limited, course content, so you can speak comfortably and naturally even beyond the exam!

course materials included + online vocabulary app access
conversation practice and reading comprehension
group rates
save with lesson packages

CONTACT ME for more info or to set up sessions.

DIALECT COACHING & DICTION FOR SINGERS

Sing arias, standards, and contemporary songs with ease and fluency. Speak Italian or execute an accent with confidence.

Whether you need help with one song or want to master pronunciation to cover a repertoire of songs, I can help.

If you have an upcoming audition or a role you've been cast in, I will help with one line or prepare an actor for any performance. I can assist with pronunciation guides and phonetic spelling, meet with actors for rehearsal, and translate dialogue.

Please CONTACT ME and let me know your specific needs and if you are working within a time frame. I will reply asap.

TRANSLATION

I can assist with many translation needs including:

website content
video games
brochures
documents
transcription

CONTACT ME with project details and timeframes, and I will reply asap with a quote

TUTORING

This is the best option for those who need additional support in their university or high school language course. You lead the way by requesting help with specific tasks or assignments. I will help fill in the gaps by:

Presenting information in several different ways or methods to help you grasp concepts.
Reinforcing what has been taught in the classroom.

Paying attention to your individual needs.

Working through areas of difficulty that you’ve had on past assignments.

Students may choose from in-person or online tutoring, depending on your location. Online tutoring is often the most convenient and cost effective option for busy students.

CONTACT ME for more info or to set up sessions.

24-hour Cancellation Policy
Cancellations or rescheduling less than 24 hours prior to session time will be charged the full price of the session.