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Find out more about Raffaele

• What made you passionate about this language?

  Strangely enough, when you speak your mother tongue, you rarely stop to ask whether it is beautiful or not: you simply use it. It was only after living abroad — first during Erasmus, then through longer and repeated trips — that I began to see Italian differently.
  Hearing foreigners speak enthusiastically about its musicality, its regional intonations, and the contrast between, for example, Venetian elegance and Neapolitan expressiveness (almost a language within the language) made me realise how deeply Italian is connected to a wider sense of beauty.
  Italian fascinates people all over the world, and many choose it as their first foreign language — sometimes even before English or French — simply out of personal interest, for travel, or out of love for the culture.

• Which character best represents this language and its culture?

  A natural reference is Dante Alighieri, as the historical foundation of the Italian language.
  At the same time, Italian lives well beyond great literary figures: it thrives in everyday speech, in popular tradition, and in regional expressions — especially those that originate locally and later become part of common national usage. This diversity is one of its greatest strengths.

• A word or habit that makes you smile?

  Words like “magari” or “boh” are a perfect example: at first, students find them vague or unnecessary, then they realise they are essential to surviving real-life conversations.
  Another typical example is the expression “Che palle!”. When I mention it in class, I always make it very clear — and stress it again — that it is not a polite expression and should only be used in informal contexts.
  Although it is very common in everyday spoken Italian, in formal situations it usually sounds inappropriate and can even be offensive. This makes it particularly interesting from a learning perspective, as it highlights the importance of register and context.

• Why is it important for you to speak this language?

  Italian is not the only rich language — some are even richer in certain domains, such as German with its philosophical tradition.
  Italian, however, has a particular quality: it is a language with pleasant, expressive nuances that often convey good humour. It carries a sense of beauty, enjoyment and appreciation of life, not just information.

• What is the most challenging aspect of learning it?

  The main challenge is learning to trust: trusting a new language and often a new learning approach.
  Many students struggle with communicative methods because they are used to studying rules first and speaking later. We tend to forget that we learned our mother tongue as children by listening, trying and communicating — without theoretical explanations.
  Accepting initial imprecision is essential: mistakes clearly show where improvement is needed. Without errors, there is no real progress. Knowing how to say something is not enough — you also need the confidence to actually say it.

• A memorable teaching anecdote

  I once worked with a Russian student who had studied Italian for more than two years using a very grammar-based approach in her own language. She was excellent at exercises.
  However, as soon as we moved beyond exercises and tried even a simple conversation, her confidence dropped noticeably.
  It was a telling case: grammar is necessary, but it is not sufficient. Developing real competence requires regular conversational practice, which ideally becomes a habit over time — both to overcome personal barriers such as shyness and as genuine linguistic training.

• Tell us more about you: passions and interests

  I travel a lot and enjoy discovering different cultures, habits and perspectives. I am genuinely curious and tend to engage deeply with topics that students themselves find meaningful.
  I enjoy reflecting on concepts and on how language can express them from multiple points of view. When a topic is unfamiliar, I make an effort to learn more — as happened, for instance, with art, thanks to a student who was passionate about it.
  Teaching Italian has therefore also become a personal journey of exploration.

• What makes you a true Superprof?

  Adaptability, genuine motivation and mutual enrichment.
  I aim to create a relaxed and positive atmosphere, where language becomes a shared space rather than a rigid goal. Students often suggest readings or ideas themselves, and that exchange makes the learning experience enriching for both sides. Teaching, for me, is a two-way process.