WHO WE ARE
All our teachers are native speakers and highly qualified experts in teaching Italian to foreigners. At present, the school employs 7 teachers, all with a regular work contract.
Most have been teaching for several years, some have joined our school more recently. In any case, what distinguishes most all of them is surely their passion and enthusiasm towards teaching, which is reflected in the learning atmosphere and in the results students are able to reach.
Professional growth is constantly encouraged by attending teacher training seminars and by means of a continuous collaboration between the teachers and the Director of Studies. This way all of our teachers can feel responsible towards the school and care a lot about their students.
The three founders of the school, Daniela, Eva and Angelo, are also part of the staff. Agnese, Chiara, Ilaria and Susanna are instructors.
Daniela Bonaccorsi
has studied Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Pisa and has spent various periods of training abroad. She followed training courses for teachers, both in Italy and abroad, earning various certifications, and has taught in various contexts, both public and private.
She is the Director of Studies and coordinator of the courses of the school. She always finds the right place for any student - if there is not, she thinks up a new one. She enjoys traveling, walking and loves cinema and theater. She loves good food ... but does not like to cook!
Eva Dal Porto
has studied Political Science at the University of Pisa. She did various jobs until she found her optimal position in this school. Two are her greatest passions: teaching and cooking. She succeeds in both greatly. She is the leading Italian teacher and the chef in cooking classes.
With her energy and enthusiasm, she can teach Italian to any student sitting in front of her, and in her cooking classes she manages to have delicious meals prepared by people who have never seen a tomato in their lives.... She is the creator and coordinator of the course "Speak and Cook".
Angelo Giannini
has studied Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Pisa. He worked in different fields, from administration to teaching. Currently, at the school he takes care of the administration and of the student services. He can solve almost any practical problem students ask him to. Moreover, often he accompanies them in the afternoon excursions, as he knows a lot about the community and its territory.
He likes to walk in the mountains, listening to and playing music, reading. He is the creator and manager of the course "Speak and Walk".
Susanna Selici
has studied Archaeology and Cultural Heritage at the University of Pisa. She is very careful and conscientious teacher, her lectures always having a precise structure and leaving little to chance. At the same time, she is creative and imaginative, with a keen sense of humor and an unmistakable and contagious laugh that his students appreciate a lot.
She loves nature, hiking in the mountains, art exhibitions, music, opera (infact she accompanies students in all these activities) and has a great passion for drawing, being a talented illustrator. Therefore she is the project creator and organiser of the course Speak and Draw.
Chiara Benvenuti
has studied Philosophy at the University of Florence. After different work experiences, including the fashion industry, she eventually realized that teaching was her favourite activity. She then obtained the certification for teaching Italian as a foreign language at the University of Siena.
With her sunny character, she always manages to involve students at all levels in learning activities and to improve their communicative competence. She enjoys traveling, cooking and reading history books. She also gladly accompanies students in the cultural and recreational activities of the school, for a visit to a museum as well as an aperitif together.
Agnese Lavorgna
has studied Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Bergamo, comes from Genoa and for several years worked in a television network in Brescia, but now for sure she is settled down in Lucca where she loves to deal with music, videos and narrations and obviously take care of her students at LIS.
She is a passionate and lively teacher, she loves to write and to talk about things and herself, and she has great communication skills. Empathy is her main quality and thanks to it and her professionalism she is able to bring harmony and creativity in everything she does. Besides teaching, she gladly accompanies students on afternoon excursions.
Francesca Mastromei
She studied Foreign Languages and Literature at the University of Pisa and specialized in Linguistics and Translation.
She obtained the certification for teaching Italian language at the University for Foreigners of Siena, and she is an exam administrator.
She has experience in teaching all types of learners: children, teenagers, adults, and migrants.
She has always been passionate about languages, communication, travel and with an immense love for cooking! In fact, she loves cooking and drinking good wine, and is following a course for Sommelier.
Chatty and always smiling, she is really full of energy, a force of nature.
Giulia Sammartino
Giulia studied foreign languages and literature at the University of Pisa and graduated with a thesis on the didactics of Italian as a foreign language.
Linguistics is her passion and she is a conscientious, attentive teacher, but also very witty and always ready to experiment with new activities. She has a passion for gastronomy and wine tourism and is always on the lookout for local specialties and different traditions. She has also taken a wine course to become a sommelier. She is also an excellent organizer - she loves cycling and promotes it in our region by organizing amateur races and cycling tourism rides.
She has taught in different public and private contexts and for different profiles (children, teenagers, adults), always using the most appropriate techniques for her students' learning.