Italian Teachers

I have been a student of Italian at La Causerie Francaise for six years and have taken classes with all three current teachers of Italian – Emily Wilhite, Nina Young and Monica Jelinek.  All three teachers bring multiple strengths and vivacious enthusiasm to their teaching. 

Emily Wilhite is an outstanding language teacher.  She knows five or more languages and has studied linguistics.  Her grammar and vocabulary presentations are well thought out and thorough, and Emily provides abundant internet references and additional methods for students to dive deeper into language and cultural topics.  Above all, Emily may be the person most enthusiastic about the art and experience of teaching that I’ve ever met.

Nina Young brings language experience and wide-ranging interests to her classes.  In addition to her command of Italian, Nina is also eager to share her knowledge of Italian art history and culture.   I especially enjoyed our study of the commedia dell’ arte (an early form of Italian theater) and Nina’s insights into Etruscan art, complete with many slides for illustration and in-depth discussions of each work.

Monica Cappai Jelinek is a native Italian and has lived in the United States just two years.  Monica has an excellent command of English, but she loves and prefers to speak Italian.   Her diction is excellent, and she modifies her conversational pace to be challenging but also understandable.  The class is informal, with a variety of activities – grammar review when needed, open conversation, viewing and discussing a film, reading a newspaper article and discussing it, or student presentations on a myriad of topics.  All the students have abundant opportunities to speak and contribute.

Students study at La Causerie Francaise because they want to – no grades, no tests, just the joy of learning, camaraderie and friendship. 

In all six years of study, I have been pleased that each and every teacher is flexible and willing to work with students to make the classes enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling.   It is with pleasure that I heartily recommend all five classes offered in Italian.