Ciao a tutti!
My name is Valeria, and I will be one of your Italian FLAs for the 2020/21 academic year. After finishing my bachelor's in Languages and Communication, currently I am following a Master's Degree in Linguistics at the University of Florence. I love learning foreign languages since when I was 6 years old and I got my first toy to learn English: I never lost that curiosity in fact today I speak English and Spanish as second languages and by now I took language courses of Russian, French and Croatian.
I have two native languages: Italian and Sardinian Language. In fact even if now I am living in Florence, splendid Renaissance city, I am originally from Sardinia: the second biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily. I will tell you a lot about Sardinia: a region full of ancient traditions, stunning white beaches and delicious typical food. Teulada is the name of the village of 3500 people where I have been growing up with my parents, my brother, cousins and friends, and I lived there up my 20 years old but I always come back for holidays and when I feel homesick.
I can consider myself an open-minded, curious and positive person. Before moving to Florence I also have been living in two other countries in Europe: Spain and Croatia so you will hear from me also about these wonderful places. In Spain, I spent six months studying at Universidad de Cordoba during the third year of my Bachelor's degree, and after my graduation, I spent 4 months in Croatia where I did an internship at an international Languages School where I discovered my interest in teaching. In fact, today I am still teaching English and Spanish as foreign languages and students give me many satisfactions and also the real motivation to follow this path.
What else do I love? I love practicing yoga outside, watching psychological movies, reading novels but also non-fiction about positive psychology, relationships and personal growth, listening to philosophy and psychology podcasts. Yes, if it was not clear yet I am really curious about how our mind works in all psychological aspects that determine our behaviors.
I have never been in the United States before and I am very thrilled about the opportunity I will have with you at the College of Holy Cross. I am really curious to know your culture, your habits, your stories and everything you will want to share with me.
Ci vediamo presto, un abbraccio!
Valeria