Maddalena Rodolfi

My name is Maddalena, I am Italian and I have recently moved to London from the Italian Alps.
I have been travelling and living in different countries since I was 18. I love staying outdoors, hiking ans skiing. I like nature and its slow pace. I practice yoga and meditation and sometimes I include breathing techniques in my classes to help students go through their learning anxiety.
I love connecting with people and I am a very good listener and observer.

I have been teaching for the last 11 years, since I graduated from college. I studied Foreign Languages and Literatures (English and Spanish) and I have a post-graduate Master in Teaching of Italian as a Foreign Language.

I have experience with students of all ages, from primary school to adults, and also with dyslexia. I have taught Italian for one year in Australia in 2008-09 for a Dante Alighieri Institute and in Italy I have taught foreign languages (both English and Spanish) to Italians and Italian to foreigners, mainly in private courses and one-to-one lessons and for some short periods also in Italian public schools.

When I teach I like to get to know my students and discover their interests in order to tailor the lesson around those, because I think that motivation and curiosity for the subject are essential for an easy and succesful learning. I try to create a relaxed and informal environment so that my students feel at ease and overcoming some blocks ( "I don't like this subject!"; " I hate my teacher!"; " I have taken so many courses and I still am not able to talk") becomes easier.

I combine speaking with grammar with listening to songs and audios, watching videos and movies; and whenever it's possible I include games in my lessons.