About me — My name’s Filippo. I’m a native speaker of Italian and live in Rome. I hold the DITALS I certificate, i.e., the license for the Teaching of Italian as a Foreign Language issued by the University for Foreigners of Siena. I can also speak English and am very fond of British English phonology. I have two degrees, one in philosophy and the other in religious studies, and taught in secondary schools in Rome for 21 years. I mainly speak standard Italian or, as linguists would say, “Tuscan Italian as spoken by Roman citizens”, i.e., the Italian language as historically spoken in Florence, without its peculiar local features.

My lessons (a broad overview) — If you’re already attending an Italian language course or are a self-taught student, I'll be your go-to person for any further explanations and corrections, as complement to your personal journey to learning Italian. I can also provide topic-focused speaking classes on topics of your choice or mutual agreement, as well as offering help for exams preparation for language certificates of all levels (A1 – C2). If, on the contrary, you're looking for more structured classes as part of a broader and comprehensive Italian language course, I'll be very happy to guide you and provide you with all the necessary relevant materials.

My topic-focused speaking classes (a specific example) — At latest one day before class, I'll send you a list of key words and expressions that will help you prepare for the topic of conversation. We’ll always start our lessons by describing, analyzing and contrasting visual inputs (images and photos) in order to develop your communication skills. We will also look at one or two texts on the topic in order to enrich the specific vocabulary in use and the conversation itself. Infographics, as well as quotes from some personalities who have expressed their view on the topic, are also integral parts of the lessons. During the conversation I'll assess your oral production (pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar) and you'll receive my feedback to help you progress in this area.