My Origins:

I was born in Sicily, a land of volcanoes, citrus fruits, the sea, and millennia-old art, and I lived there for many years. In the small town where I grew up, it was rare to see people who weren't locals. However, fate soon revealed to me my greatest inclination.

The First Encounter with Foreign Languages and Their Magic:

I was about seven years old when my father, returning home for lunch, brought me one of my first DVDs titled "A World of Fairy Tales," which contained 20 stories from around the world in Italian and Japanese. It was my first real experience with a foreign language, and even though I didn't understand anything, I found it fascinating to listen to other forms of human language, and I was very happy to be able to repeat this experience whenever I wanted. Soon after came other DVDs, then the computer, and everything else.

I explored many languages with curiosity to hear their sounds and perceive their unique essence—something that went beyond rational logic—and I was fascinated every time: Japanese, Chinese, English, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, Russian, Danish...

The Discovery of Language Barriers:

At the age of eight, I became aware of the barriers that prevented communication between people and the discomfort this caused. One day, the teachers took us to play in the school courtyard. There, I saw a Chinese girl walking arm in arm with two Italian girls. Her face was sad, almost inconsolable; she seemed alone despite not being physically so. The three girls were not speaking, held in a tight silence imposed by the language barrier.

With her, other children had different attitudes: some tried to help her but without success, others bothered her, and still others looked at her as if she were an alien. I was very sorry...

My Promise:

At that moment, I felt a fire within me—the strong desire to help her and many other people in the same difficulties. I thought, "I can't change the actions of others, but I can certainly help individuals by teaching them to communicate in Italian, so they can freely express their needs, thoughts, and feelings." I continued telling myself, "One day, I will help people learn Italian!"

But returning to the incident... Shortly after, I saw the Chinese girl alone in the middle of the courtyard, looking around motionless and bewildered. I went to her and greeted her two or three times, continuing to tell her my name and ask hers, but she didn't respond, and each time she turned her face away. Immediately after, an Italian girl ran to her and took her away, casting a look of distrust at me. That was the last time I saw her. She probably stopped attending school, as happened to many other foreign children who rarely came to our area.

Over the years, I saw other people of all ages troubled by the inability to communicate, but the episode of the Chinese girl in the school courtyard affected me the most. However, I still had to wait; I could do nothing but keep my great desire in my heart.

An Invaluable Treasure:

In 2014, I began studying languages with greater passion and seriousness. The following year, with my small smartphone, I reached out to the world through two language exchange platforms. There, I met many peers from all over the world. With some of them, a true friendship was born, and besides sharing languages and customs, we shared emotions and personal stories. Among the people I have met over time, I especially want to mention Nang (from Myanmar), Stephen (from Canada), Shergo (from Germany), Zhengbai, Shaoxiang, Xinbo and Yilin, Jianxiong, Yujie, and Zeyu (from China).

This intense daily experience of constant linguistic and cultural exchange, which lasted about seven years, pushed me to create, test, and refine a teaching and learning method based on the real experience of the language. This method, my passion, and the experiences I've lived are the pillars of "La Bussola Italiana" (The Italian Compass).

The Dream Becomes Reality:

Since 2023, I have been officially teaching Italian, a professional activity that I constantly improve. Meanwhile, I continue my language exchange activities, and often a friendship is born between me and my students: it's truly wonderful!

An Important Source of Inspiration:

My grandfather Edoardo (who had learned German with great passion when he was young) often told me, "Learning a new language is equivalent to having a new personality." He was right! He greatly encouraged me to speak other languages, telling me that this would increase my value.

From my personal experience, I have understood that "a language is much more than a set of words and grammatical rules; it is a means to express our thoughts and feelings. Every language is the imprint of a culture, forged by the events that have shaped a people over time. For this reason, each one has a unique imprint that can only be grasped by fully immersing oneself in its essence."

Final Considerations:

In the world, there are so many languages and cultures, and almost 8 billion people. We are all equal and part of a single whole connected to nature. It's a pity not to be able or willing to interact among ourselves. Of course, we cannot learn all the languages of the world, but we can add some to the one we speak from birth, especially if we have a reason to do so.

Interacting with others is wonderful and profoundly shapes us. Doing it directly makes the experience truly unforgettable.