Meet our teachers: Alice Rocchi

If you consistently read our blog, you might know that in our previous blog posts we already introduced some of our teachers. We believe that getting to know them better is crucial for the success of our school. We are fortunate to have highly prepared and talented teachers, not only proficient in teaching Italian but also exceptional in creating the perfect atmosphere for our classes. They make learning fun and engaging, which we acknowledge is not always easy, especially in evening classes after a long day of work. 

To learn more about the entire team of teachers at IIS, please visit the following page on our website: About us | SFIIS. 

Among our outstanding teachers, Alice excels at making learning in our classes both enjoyable and engaging. Today, we take the opportunity to get to know her better. 

• How long have you been teaching Italian? How long for IIS? 

I’ve been teaching Italian after my Master Degree at University of Genoa in 2011. I wrote and presented a Thesis of Literacy and Italian Teaching to Foreign Adults. My first experience was in a special school for adults who wanted to study Italian for their own business and to be more integrated to the country. And I also joined a Research project at University of Genova to teach Italian to African and Afghanistan refugees fleeing from war and violence suffered in their own home country. 

I started teaching for IIS in May 2022. My best work experience ever! 

• Where are you from? What do you appreciate the most about your hometown? 

I’m from Genoa, a beautiful city by the Ligurian Sea, close to Cinque Terre. I love living in Genoa. It has many things to see and visit: the most important Historical Monumental Cementary and the biggest old town in Europe. It’s the perfect city if you like to chill out on the beach or go for a hike in the mountains. Or you can lose yourself in the narrow streets, vicoli, looking at ancient monuments, towers and beautiful palaces as if you were in Medieval Age. 

And if you come to Genoa, don’t forget to eat the authentic Pesto and Focaccia.

• What made you choose to become a teacher? 

I chose to become a teacher of Italian as a Second Language because I’ve spent most of my life studying English as a foreign language and I understand how it can be frustrating studying a foreign language, but how beautiful and satisfying is speaking in a non-native language. Thinking and dreaming. It’s like having a superpower! 

• What is your favorite Italian dish? Do you like cooking? 

I like eating pizza but I don’t like cooking. When I was a child, I liked observing my grandmothers making gnocchi, tagliatelle or tortellini from scratch. Not having learnt their cooking traditions is my biggest regret, but I’ll have these memories for the rest of my life as a precious legacy. 

• Can you share with our students some tips for learning Italian faster? 

Be completely involved in the Italian culture thanks to our team of teachers. Ask many questions and be curious!!! If you deeply understand a culture, you can have the best and strongest motivation to be a perfect Italian speaker! 

• Is there a monument or place that you recommend our students to visit if they go to Italy? 

As a Genoese I recommend visiting the biggest Lighthouse in Europe, the Lanterna di Genova, symbol of my city and a special place to see the Liguria cost from East to West. If you are lucky, it’s possible to see Corsica Island and France from its top too.  

And acqua in bocca! The Lanterna is taller than the Statue of Liberty!!