Get ready! Hold on to your horses (or should I say your lance?) because I'm going to tell you about the Giostra del Saracino. This most thrilling and exciting event occurs in Arezzo every June and September! What is the Giostra del Saracino? It's a medieval jousting tournament that dates back to the 13th century, and it's held in the beautiful Piazza Grande, the heart of Arezzo's historic center. You can experience the Giostra del Saracino with me this year. Listen on! Ascolta bene!

In a new podcast, I take to Ascoli Piceno, where I’m planning a new Italian Language Program this September. Here is a chance to meet some of the teachers and the school director with whom I am partnering this September to organize a small group Italian language program in le March in the town of Ascoli Piceno from September 11 - 23, 2022. We also go on a short walking tour with Antonella the director of the school. There are still openings available for the 2022 Ascoli Piceno Italian...

The Studentessa Matta discusses 5 learning difficulties that many language students encounter and the things they can do to keep their "language learning" boats from faltering and sinking but instead keep their boats afloat, getting them back on track so they can continue full steam ahead!! Follow along with the Youtube Video with transcripts in both Italian and English on the www.StudentessaMatta.com website

This was an incredibly delightful day! The Studentessa Matta Bookclub met Silvia Zucca the author of “Guida Astrologica per cuori infranti” to discuss her book that inspired the hit Netflix series of the same name! In the beginning, when I had this idea to start an Italian book club and I chose Silvia’s book, to begin with, I joked “who knew… at the end perhaps we could even meet the author!” Magical things happen when you speak Italian! Big thanks to the women who participated in the Matta...

Learn more about Ascoli Piceno, the town in le Marche, where I plan the next "Matta" Italian Language Immersion Program with the Accademia Linguistica Scuola directed by Antonella Valentini and her staff of dedicated teachers. Join me in this charming town, immerse in language and culture, and take your Italian skills further.

La studentessa matta recounts the legend of la donna Bianca the beautiful fantasma that is trapped inside a castle in Italy. Learn the expression "sognare ad occhi aperti" means. Read more Italian legends and learn about Italian culture in Melissa Muldoon's novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola—all novels available on Amazon in print, epub, & audio.

During the month of November 2021, I posted a word or an expression combined with an image on the Studentessa Matta Facebook page. In this video, with my special guest Hazel the Bull Dog I present the words of November. These are random words that I came across while reading or that I heard in movies that I found useful and worth highlighting. Improve your Italian Vocabulary with these interesting words and phrases. Visit www.StudentessaMatta.com for transcripts in Italian and English.

Ciao a tutti! I'm home after spending seven weeks in Italy. To hear about my adventures & learn about the 2022 Matta "Let's go to Italy!" Small group language programs listen to this podcast. New Affiliates, Gifts & Discouts for listeners. All transcripts in Italian and English available on the Matta Website...

During the month of October 2021, every week I posted a word or an expression combined with an image on the Studentessa Matta Facebook page. At the end of the month, I compile these word memes on the Studentessa Matta Website. Here is a short video to help you with the pronunciation of these fun words and expressions. You can find the post related to this video following this link: https://www.studentessamatta.com/parole-parole-parole-vocabolario-studentessa-matta-ottobre/

Tongue twisters are phrases that intentionally challenge our ability to pronounce them. Tongue twisters also exist in English. They are like word games and the fun part of a tongue twister is that they challenge us to pronounce them as quickly as possible without making mistakes. Find the companion page to this video on the Studentessa Matta Website: https://www.studentessamatta.com/scioglilingua-italialn-tongue-twisters-forvo-pronunciation-learn-make-mistakes/

Today I am talking about a follower of Caravaggio, who is not a man, but a woman! They say that there were many "Caravaggisti" but only one "Caravaggista." Her name is - Artemisia Gentileschi. After listening, if you would like to know more about Artemisia I invite you to read the novel I've written about her: "Eternally Artemisia". It is available on Amazon in Print, Ebook and Audiobook.

Discussing the changing role of women after receiving the right to vote in 1945 and how this emancipation changed the lives of Italian women and their families.

Italian cities throughout Italy celebrate civil and religious festivals, historical re-enactments, local festivals, and events particularly linked to a city or country. But the one event that stands out above them all, at least for me, is the Giostra del Saracino that occurs in Arezzo. Transcripts in Italian & English can be found at: https://www.studentessamatta.com Sept 2021 Italian Language Program in Arezzo. Details about the program are on the www.StudentessaMatta.com

The Macchiaioli who closely resembled the French Impressionists never received the same international acclaim. Let’s take a look at the painters Giovanni Fattori and Claude Monet and compare the two 19th century artistic movements and discover how the invention of paint in tubes change the course of art history. Follow along with transcripts in English & Italian on the www.StudentessaMatta website

It's been a while—13 months in fact—since I last made a video in Italian! Time flies when you are busy publishing a novel, producing Audiobooks, and waiting out the pandemic. But, now after a year, as things begin to sort themselves out and travel seems possible again I thought I'd brush off my video camera and share with you some highlights of this year's upcoming Italian language immersion program in Arezzo scheduled for September 2021

What exactly is merletto al tombolo? Well, it is a very old art form that harks back to the age of Caterina de' Medici. It is an antique way of making lace by hand. Anna Maria Gherardi, who lives in Arezzo, has done this type of work since she was a girl and during her childhood, Debora remembers hearing the noise the spools of the threads made always in the background as her mom worked on her roundtable creating pieces of lace that she put together later to make things like napkins and...

The hottest days of summer are called the dog days of summer. In Italian, the expression is La canicola estiva. In this Youtube video find out reason why! Hint: it has something to do with the brightest star in the summer sky - Sirius AND the ancient Romans! For text and translation visit: www.studentessamatta.com To find out more about my Italian language Immersion programs in Italy for 2019 visit: https://www.studentessamatta.com/italian-language-immersion-programs-italy/

Last week my friend Danielle Palermo from Sicilia came to visit me. Our last day together, we decided to roll up our sleeves and cook an Italian meal together. Not just an Italian dinner, however, as Daniele corrected me — a Sicilian meal! He decided to prepare for me Arancine and Sfingi for dessert. Visit: www.StudentessaMatta.com for more details