Elisabetta Caruso

Nice to meet you, I'm Elisabetta

My name is Elisabetta and I am an Italian teacher for foreigners, better said: I walk my students through the right steps to master their best Italian.
Ok, you already know about that, but what you don’t know is that I am a reflective and ironic person, always in search for the best things the world has to offer.
I am quite introverted and do not like talking about myself, but I love chatting and hanging out with friends. I love reading, especially novels. I’m a movie and series fan because of my love to get lost in stories and be open to inputs from the outside.
I tend to observe things closely and I am easily excited by what is unknown to me. I love listening and learning about the people I meet along the way and consider myself lucky when someone worthy crosses my path. I really like travelling and tasting local food. And I am so curious.
When I run into someone new, I ask a ton of questions, for I really want to understand this person’s take on the world. I am highly interested into self-exploration and take good care of my inner life, as a result I have been practicing yoga and meditation for some 10 years.
I’m trying to reduce my footprint on the world and be as sustainable as possible.
I am more of a seaside than a mountain person and yes, I do like espresso and pizza.

How did I get here

I studied Foreign Language and Literature in Naples, had my Erasmus project in London and joined several German courses in Germany, I sit a French exam at the university and joined a Spanish course after graduating. I attended a postgraduate course in literary translation in Turin and I “randomly” found out about my great passion: teaching Italian to foreigners. This is the story of how it happened.

Back in Naples, after applying for a job offer, I found myself in a classroom, full of foreign students willing to learn Italian. It was “love at first sight”. After some time, I moved back to my hometown, Matera. I took up a different job, but I kept nurturing my passion, by teaching Italian anytime I had the chance to. I kept studying to improve my teaching methodology. And I began to cultivate the idea to open my own Italian language school for foreigners. My idea then turned into a real project. Some years later, in 2016, my dream would become true: La piccola scuola, Italian for foreigners either in Matera or online.

I have chosen to name it “piccola” since my school is located in a small town in the South of Italy, and I want to welcome you to an intimate and familiar place. I’ve imagined courses revolving around you and your wish and motivation to improve your Italian. A safe place to leave your fears behind and communicate freely. The right place whether you are too shy to speak up or can’t wait to do it.

Do I gesticulate? Yes, I do!

My education

I obtained a degree in Foreign Language and Literature (English and German) at the “L’Orientale” University of Naples.
I attended the postgraduate course “Technical and literary translation in English” provided by “TuttoEuropa” training agency in Turin.
I obtained the Ditals II, a certificate to teach Italian to foreigners, issued by the University for Foreigners of Siena.
I joined the Itals workshop “Teaching Literature” and took an in-depth course named “Teaching Italian to Foreigners”, organized by the “Ca’ Foscari” University of Venice.

I am still studying.

What I love about my job

I believe teaching is my talent.
A teacher needs to be generous, sympathetic, open to exchange experiences.
Listening to and understanding the others as well as being creative are the right skills to make the best of your learning.
The best part of my job is spending time with my students; people coming from all over the world, through whom I can explore other cultures.
I always fall in love with their passion for Italian language and culture and most of the times their strong motivation pushes me ahead too.
It is the driving force of my creativity.
I work hard to unveil both their weaknesses, to overcome them, and their talents, to let them show. I am so grateful to them for choosing me to walk them through a little stretch of their journey towards a better version of themselves.