Monica M   

★★★★★

Italian Language Teacher with Law Degree

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favourite Italian word is "etimologia" that stands for the word "etymology" in English, meaning the origin and the process of evolution of the words through time. It comes from the words ἐτυμολογία and ἔτυμον from the ancient Greek language and refers to the real meaning of a word and to its connection to a root word. Every time I think of "etimologia" many questions come to my mind: what's the real meaning behind what I'm just saying ? What do I really want to say when I'm talking ? What am I wanting to communicate ? Am I saying what's in my mind ?

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

My favourite dish from my hometown is kind a street food dish. It's called "piadina" and it's a flat bread made of wheat flour without yeast, so it's really thin. You can fill it with ham, spinach and sausages, cheese or only vegetables of any kind. They don't have it where I live now so I usually make it by myself. I take the flour, prepare the dough like my nonna (grandmother) teached me to do and then make it thin with a rolling pin and then cook it in the right pan. It's really tasty !

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

I really love learning languages! I'm studying French by myself now (just to understand the French my son is learning at school), so my level is really basic. I took Spanish classes many years ago because I'd really love to visit Spain and learned a little bit of Japanese because i like Japanese comic books ! ...mmm I actually love comics of every kind :)

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

I really love reading and I read a lot. During the last years I focused on self help books. Many years ago I used to sing and play the piano a little. I loved it very much but don't have the time to do it now. In my free time I usually draw. I draw illustrations and very colourful comic style houses. During the weekend I love doing fresh pasta by my own and sewing every now and then.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

I'm from Central Italy and moved to South Italy 12 years ago. I consider Lecce my hometown now because it's where I moved to. I like it because it's a lively city and because it has a wonderful historical centre where you can take a walk.