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 ...…

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 Ital ...…

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…

Italian expressions that have to do with food and wine! Visit the StudentessaMatta.com website for more information, transcriptions and text in Italiano and English. http://www.studentessamatta.com/italian-food-idioms-detti-cibo-italiano/ For information about Melissa's programs to learn Italian in Italy visit: http://www.studentessamatta.com/i ...…

Interview with Melissa Muldoon - Author of Waking Isabella with Inside Scoop Topics of conversation: Isabella de Medici Research for the book in Arezzo, Italy Giostra del Saracino - Annual Jousting Festival held in Arezzo Suppression of Artists and Hitler's Obsession during WWII Melissa's Writing Process Her Award Winning Italian Language Blog ...…

Mattiniero vs Nottambulo: What kind of person are you? Are you a morning person or an evening person? I just created subtitles in Italian! Yay! turn on the captioning button to see the Italian words! For more information, language learning tips and translations check out the Studentessa Matta Blog: www.studentessamatta.com…

Chatting in Italian about Carnival, masks and costumes. You can find the post on the StudentessaMatta.com website with English translations. Studentessa Matta Facebook page to join the conversation group: https://www.facebook.com/studentessamatta Visit the Matta Blog to learn more about Italian Homestay Language Vacations: http://www.studentess ...…

Andare a Cavallo - taking a ride on the beach on a horse in Half Moon Bay in California. Learn new Italian vocabulary for things that have to do with horses and their gear. Follow along as I talk about my weekend adventure on horseback. Visit the Matta Blog to read the transcript in Italian and English. http://www.studentessamatta.com/andare-ca ...…

Colorful Italian idioms that have to do with animals. Italian expressions to help make your conversation more lively and make you sound more like an Italian native. For the written transcript visit the StudentessaMatta.com blog. http://www.studentessamatta.com/moglie-buoi-dei-paesi-tuoi-italian-idioms-modi-di-dire/ Want to immerse in Italian la ...…

Come along with me as I recap my recent stay in Arezzo. Here are the highlights from the language program which I co-lead with Paola Testi of Cultura Italiana language school for foreigners. Highlights include: the Giostra that occurs the first weekend in September, a trip to Cortona and Anghiari and the Porchetta Sagra in San Savino. To sign u ...…

Buon Anno 2018! Ways to say Happy New Year in Italian and chatting about the past year and what is happening my Matta world coming in 2018. Trips, travels, Italians studies, Novels about Italy, and an Italian New Year poem by Gianni Rodari. Translations on the Matta blog at http://www.studentessamatta.com/benvenuto-2018-italian-new-year-greetings/…

Piacere means is used to express that something is in Italian in the Italian language or rather something is pleasing to someone. In this podcast you will learn how to conjugate in present and past tense and use the word properly in sentence. Text, Examples and Exercises are on www.StudentessaMatta.com Blog site (http://www.studentessamatta.com ...…

Recently I published a novel about Italy called “Dreaming Sophia.” In this podcast I share with the Tutti Matti Italian listeners an interview I conducted with Sheri Hoyt for “Inside Book Scoop Live”. In this book chat you will find out more about the book, my background, and the reasons for writing the novel. Buon ascolto! For more information ...…

Both the Italian words "Sentire" and "Ascoltare" mean to perceive something. But they vary in several ways. For transcript & translations see http://www.studentessamatta.com/sentire-ascoltare-learning-meanings-differences : Subscribe to the Studentessa Matta Blog to receive posts, Newsletters & EXCLUSIVE language tips via email. To see the Yout ...…

Discussion about two Italian synonyms Lasciare and Mollare. Both mean to let go. Idiomatic expressions and meanings when combined with other words. Short story about two frogs to help remember these two words. To read transcript visit: http://www.studentessamatta.com/lasciare-mollare-significati-storia-rane-non-mollare-mai/ For more tips, trick ...…

Arezzo Antique Fair Fiera Antiquaria takes place Piazza Grande every first weekend of month. It is one of the oldest largest fairs in Italy over 400 vendors. To view transcripts of podcast in Italian and English go to http://www.studentessamatta.com/arezzo-antique-fair-fiera-antiquaria-arezzo

Buon Natale e Benvenuti all'antico dibattito che spesso divide le famiglie italiane. Di che cosa sto parlando? Il dibattito tra servire Panettone o Pandoro a Natale. Happy Holidays! Welcome to the age-old debate that often splits Italian families. What am I talking about? The debate between serving Panettone or Pandoro during the holidays of co ...…

Sometimes a trip to Italy is like stepping into the past. For me, that is part of the charm of Italy. Recently I had the impression of passing through a portal back to medieval times. It happened during my stay in Arezzo last September when I witnessed the Giostra del Saracino - The Joust of the of the Saracens. Practice your Italian language s ...…

Today we are going to the Arezzo’s Saturday market. There you can buy lots of things. The best would be the fresh food that you can buy there. There are so many things…peppers, squash blossoms, mushrooms, fruit and various kinds of meat and cheeses…but especially the porchetta. Come with us!

Today I am here to tell you about a fantastic new mobile app called “FlashAcademy”. It is the idea of the company behind FlashSticks – the company that created the app to learn a foreign language using the Post-it Notes. Now the app has a new interface and new images. Now it focuses on the progress of the student towards graduation from Flash A ...…

My first novel “Dreaming Sophia” is here! I am thrilled and happy to share Sophia’s journey with my readers. The book is now available in print and e-pub versions for Kindle and iBook. You can find the book on Amazon and through many other distributors as well. The e-pub version of the book has links to the “Dreaming Sophia” website and Pintere ...…

Inthis Podcast I am talking about Italian words for joking andplaying around...Scioglilingua, Giochi di Parole, Barzellette,Scherzi, Idiomi...Podcast can also be viewed on YouTube to see thevisuals that accompany the text. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrRccsRyt2g Visit the Matta Blog for text in English andItalian For transcripts for this Vi ...…

Happy Easter! They say in Italian…Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you want! Today I am going to talk a little about Easter and some of the sweets that Italians eat at this time of year. I’m going to especially talk about Baci chocolates

Questo mese festeggiamo la giornata internazionale della donna…anche semplicemente detta "festa della donna". Ricorre l’otto marzo di ogni anno per ricordare sia le conquiste sociali, politiche ed economiche delle donne, sia le discriminazioni e la violenza che le donne ancora oggi subiscono in tutto il mondo. This month we celebrate Internatio ...…

Hi guys! I’m Melissa la studentessa Matta! Welcome back to my channel! Are you ready to take a little stroll into history with me…and Dante and Beatrice? Visit Matta Website for Translations: English & Italian http://www.studentessamatta.com For translations for this Video click this link: http://wp.me/p22bKE-3t0 To learn more about Matta Itali ...…

Today I want to tell you about a painting…Botticelli's Birth of Venus - La nascita di Venere. Visit Matta Website for Translations: English & Italian https://www.youtube.com/c/StudentessaMatta_MelissaMuldoon To learn more about Matta Italian Language Workshops http://www.studentessamatta.com/italian-trips/ Visit the Matta Facebook page for lear ...…

In this podcast I will be speaking with my friend Daniela Mancini! Daniela is an Italian teacher at Scud’It in Rome. I had the immense pleasure of studying with Daniela last July during my language and painting program. Daniela is a lively and entertaining teacher. She has also written a book about the Subjunctive tense: Congiuntivo. Here she i ...…

Today I’m back with a new podcast in which I will be talking about a wonderful Italian city - Siena! Today my guest will be Sarah Mastroianni, a young woman who was raised in Toronto in Canada - the daughter of an Italian father and a Canadian mother. Several years ago, after traveling in Italy, she fell in love with Italy and in particular, th ...…

In today’s “Tutti per l’italiano” podcast we will be talking about Homestay Italian Language Vacations that are offered through the Matta Blog. Homestay Language vacations are a wonderful opportunity for you to travel in Italy and stay with an Italian teacher and their family. Nothing is more effective for learning a foreign language than to li ...…

In this episode we are going to be talking about an on-line learning site called italki. It is an educational site that helps foreign language learners connect with on-line teachers and chat buddies. In today’s podcast I will talk a little about my personal experiences with the italki site and you will also hear from three Italian teachers all ...…

Buon giorno cari ascoltatori. Benvenuti! Welcome! Today we are talking about art & plein air painting and we will be hearing from Kelly Medford, an American artist who lives in Rome. Kelly is a wonderful artist and she teaches seminars on how to paint from nature using oils and watercolors. She also teaches us a new way of seeing and that art i ...…

Welcome to the second part of the 2-part podcast “C’è chi viene e c’è chi va”. Last week I began to speak about the differences between living in Milan and living in San Francisco. In the first part of the podcast we heard from Gloria an Italian from the Milan area who now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this second part of the podcast, ...…

In this podcast we will be discussing the differences between Milan and San Francisco in a podcast that I’m calling C’è chi viene e c’è chi va - “Those who come and those who go" - the differences between Milan and San Francisco. We will hear form two women who are similar but different. Gloria is an Italian from Milan who now lives in San Fran ...…

In today’s episode we are talking about traveling to a foreign country for the first time and what it is like to live there for an extended period of time. We will be hearing from two young Italian girls - Antonella from Napoli in Campania and Marta from Lecce in Puglia. This past year both young Italian adventurers have travelled to the U.S an ...…

‘Tis the season to be merry and celebrate with friends the Christmas holidays and that’s just what we are doing! The “Tutti Matta per l’Italiano” holiday podcast is a collection of recordings made by 7 Italian friends from different parts of Italy in which they recall some of their favorite holiday memories. You will hear messages from Angelo i ...…

In today’s podcast I will be talking about La Fortezza delle Verrucole - a castle that was built in the middle ages, in the high Garfagnana Valley, near to Lucca in Tuscany. This territory was divided and contested by two feudal lordships, the counts of Bacciano and the more powerful Gherardinghi who owned il castello delle Verrucole. The castl ...…

Ciao a tutti gli ascoltatori! Now that I have ventured into the realm of podcasting, I had this really cool idea: Wouldn’t it be great to have my own “Matta” theme song or "una colonna sonora" for the “Tutti Matti per l’Italiano” podcast! In this podcast I speak in Italian and describe the process of how I found a musician and created a song th ...…

In this podcast I present my small friend Davide. Davide has just turned eleven & this fall will begin middle school in Bardolino, on the banks of Lago di Garda. He is just a little guy, but has a lot of creativity and a big imagination! Recently I enjoyed a day trip with Davide and his parents to Gardone, to visit Villa Vittoriale, the home of ...…

I have just returned from a fantastic trip in Italy and just can’t seem to stop talking or writing about it. In this episode of Tutti Matti per l’Italiano I will be giving a brief overview of where I went in Italy and then I will be introducing you to three great friends that I had the good fortune of meeting during my long weekend in Rome. The ...…

Friend, kindred spirit and fellow Italian language lover, Dianne Hales...has done it again! She has written a wonderful new book called “Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered”. In this podcast I review Dianne’s new book and Dianne Hales herself makes a guest appearance and gives us more insight into her new project. Listen to the podcast and then read t ...…

In today’s podcast we are talking about "la leggenda del ponte del diavolo" (the legend of The Devil’s Bridge)…or how to trick the devil and make him madder than Hell! My special guest in this episode is Daniela Bonaccorsi, one of the head teachers at Lucca Italian School. Recently I recorded Daniela as she told the story about the famous “Devi ...…

In this podcast I will be talking about AFS Cultural Exchange Program. Here in America we are at the end of the American school term and summer vacation has begun. Normally this is a thing to celebrate...but for some it is a sad moment too as this year’s 2014/2015 AFS class returns to their home countries. In the podcast you will hear from two ...…

This Podcast features the leggenda di Lucida Mansi / The legend of Lucida Mansi. As the story goes...one day Lucida, a nobel woman who lived in Lucca Italy in the 1600’s, woke up to find a small wrinkle on her face and became quite desperate at the thought of aging and losing her beauty. At that moment the devil appeared who promised her that s ...…

This is the first episode of the podcast "Tutti matti per l'Italiano!". The podcast is hosted by Melissa Muldoon - la studentessa matta - in English & Italian as she presents clips of native Italian speakers. In this first episode called "Postcards from Lucca" you will enjoy "uno shakerato" while listening to Silvia make an introduction and lat ...…

In this podcast Cher & Melissa talk about traveling in Italy. They provide tips for packing & things to bring, useful expressions, how to make a good impression and things you absolutely must eat when you are in Italy. We will also discuss how to maximize practicing your Italian language skills when you are traveling up and down the boot.…

How Melissa Muldoon went matta for Italian & what she built from her craziness

We are discussing Natale and Christmas in Italy and holiday traditions. We talk about the Italian Christmas markets and how Christmas is celebrated in Garda. Featuring 2 Italian guest speakers.

In this podcast we are exploring the subjects of love, romanticism and lovers and how the Italians celebrate the holiday. Naturally we will talk about Italian vocabulary that has to do with Valentine’s day. We will share some some romantic films that we like and some songs. Featuring 2 Italian guest speakers.…

We will be discuss the origins of Carnevale and how Italians prepare for and celebrate this famous holiday. We will also be taking about the Venetian mask and the tradition of disguising oneself, as well and the floats and fun events that are happening in Venice during this time. We will also share some recipe for a traditional Carnevale sweet ...…

Learn about the festivals that happen during the month of May in Italy, from La Gara delle Rane (the race of the frogs) to Calendimaggio.