Back in 2011, when this school was born, there weren't many institutions of this kind in Naples. The city itself was also far less popular than it is today. That's when the idea emerged: to create something new and different - something that would give newcomers an opportunity to get to know not only Naples, but Italian culture, through the lens of language.

We use communicative teaching methods that actively engage students. Our class sizes are capped at eight students, allowing us to consider each learner’s personality and individual needs. It’s fundamental to us that no student can just sit quietly through an entire lesson - everyone communicates in Italian.

We integrate different linguistic components in class: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation. What’s important is that we immediately apply what’s being learned using real-life examples and a playful touch through a variety of interactive exercises. For instance, when we teach grammar, we also explain how it functions as part of real communication and immediately put it into practice. We also consider each student’s background and interests when choosing topics and exercises, so that learning stays rooted in real life.

We offer intensive Italian language courses - 2 to 4 hours a day in groups of 3 to 8 people. In addition, we offer individual lessons and online learning, across all levels from A1 to C2. For those who already have at least a B1 level in Italian, we offer something more exotic: Neapolitan language classes. What better way to understand local culture and the beauty of Neapolitan music?

We also combine language and culture through cooking workshops. These afternoon events - extremely popular among our students - include preparing Neapolitan dishes together, speaking Italian throughout the process, and of course, sharing a communal meal to enjoy the food we’ve made.

Our students are incredibly diverse, ranging in age from 20 to 70, and coming from all over the world with different backgrounds. Some simply have a love for Italian and Neapolitan culture and want to enrich their travels through language learning. Others are tracing their roots or preparing to move to Italy. We also have classical music students, school and university groups combining cultural travel with learning.

We currently have fewer students who need Italian for professional purposes, but many come to reach a B1 level required for citizenship applications. We support our students as much as possible - helping with accommodation, for example - and for larger groups, we create special integrated language-and-culture programs.

What has been your biggest challenge as the founder over the years?

At the very beginning, it was the reputation of Naples and the prejudices people had about the city - that it was dangerous. That’s why it was especially rewarding to see people quickly realize this wasn’t true at all.

In terms of teaching, the challenge is always bringing together people from such diverse cultural backgrounds and creating a common space for learning. That requires sensitivity to different cultures and strong collaborative skills - both of which can only be developed through experience.

We use authentic materials that are culturally rooted in Italian and Neapolitan traditions, adjusting them to suit different language levels. The higher the level, the more we incorporate. We discuss important national anniversaries related to Italian history, such as the founding of the Republic, and celebrate them together. In Naples, of course, we highlight events like the Feast of San Gennaro, the local patron saint. We also explore cultural staples like football, Maradona, and local customs - like the red horn-shaped amulets.

As mentioned earlier, food plays a key role. Our cooking workshops are conducted in Italian, and we also organize group lunches and dinners, and outings to cultural events. We always try to include elements that are timely and relevant in Naples and Italy at the moment.

We want to continue growing and reaching more and more students. We’d also like to strengthen our collaborations with schools and universities to create comprehensive educational and cultural programs. When it comes to culture, we aim to bring even more of it into our language teaching - through food, literature, cinema, and specialized courses.