Teaching Italian: A great journey of discovery

When I first started teaching Italian, I thought my role would be clear-cut: to guide my students through the standard grammar rules, vocabulary lists covering subjects like booking a hotel, a table in a restaurant, buying train or ferry tickets and always linking my lessons to the beauty of Italian culture. What I did not anticipate was how much I would also learn from my students. Teaching has become not only a profession for me, but a journey of discovery. One that continues to surprise and inspire me every day.

Every student brings something new into the lesson. Of course, there are the expected questions such as 'Why is “amico” masculine but “amica” is feminine?' Or why does “casa” mean “house” but in another sentence it can also mean “home”? Then there are, of course, moments that take me by surprise and make me stop and reflect, especially when a student points out connections I have never noticed before.

For example, one of my students once observed how the Italian word “tempo” can mean both “time” and “weather”. In English, those two concepts are completely separate, but in Italian they are linked. This always ignites an interesting and satisfying discussion about how language shapes the way we see the world. Another student touched upon the word “parenti” which in Italian means “relatives” not “parents”. In the world of teaching, this is known as a “false friend”, a perfect reminder of how words can travel between languages but pick up very different meanings along the way.

These insights make me appreciate Italian even more, because I get to rediscover my own language through the eyes of my new learners. It is almost as if my students open a window, allowing me to see the Italian language from a fresh and different perspective I might never have considered on my own.

What I love most about teaching Italian is that it is not a one-way exchange. I can only reiterate that I provide structure, cultural context and guidance, but in return, my students give me curiosity, new angles, and sometimes even a little “aha!” moments that enrich my understanding of language itself and I absolutely love it.

For me, Italian is not just about verbs and vocabulary, it is about connection between teacher and student, between cultures and between the layers of meaning hidden inside words. Every lesson is a reminder that language learning is as much about discovery as it is about communication.

After all these years, I still feel grateful and excited every time I sit down with a new student. The most important thing about teaching Italian is that it has taught me that clearly, the journey of learning never really ends, it simply becomes more beautiful when shared.

Nicoletta

Tuesday 2nd September 2025