About me
Ciao, nice to meet you, I am Elisa Borella!
Born and raised in a multicultural neighborhood in the outskirts of Milan, I’m a native Italian speaker and a certified Italian language instructor (DITALS II) specialized in Italian as a foreign language.
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For years, I’ve been living and working abroad, happily guiding learners of all ages, backgrounds, and CEFR levels on their journey through Italian language and culture - with professionalism, empathy, and a smile always on my face.
My educational and professional journey
It all started in 2015, when I got the opportunity that changed my life: working as Italian Assistant Teacher at a high school in Perth, Western Australia. Since then, my passion for museums and children education has turned into a passion for education and teaching in the round, and, in particular, teaching Italian as foreign language has become the core of my work.
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With a solid background in Linguistics and Foreign Language Teaching from Università Cattolica in Milan and Università per Stranieri in Siena, I have honed my teaching skills by collaborating with various language institutions, universities and cultural associations - including the Società Dante Alighieri - and by teaching in very different contexts.
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I deeply believe that languages are a powerful tool to keep us curious, to build bridges and to open up to new perspectives. For me, teaching Italian abroad means contributing, in my own small way, to promoting authentic dialogue between cultures, turning diversity into an opportunity for personal growth.
Years of experience
as Italian Language Instructor
5+
Italian as Second Language Courses
(online and in person)
70+
University-level Italian as Second Language Courses abroad
30+
Happy students
around the worlds
350+
Countries of origin
of my students
over the years
20+
My Teaching Method
Communicative effectiveness, Flexibility, and Positive emotions: These are the three key principles that guide each of my lessons. I strongly believe that language learning is truly effective only when it connects people, adapts to their needs, and creates a pleasant, motivating environment.
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Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of learners: university students, adults, families, children, and seniors - ranging from 7 to 83 years old! This experience has allowed me to reflect deeply on how to best support each individual learner.
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Here are some core beliefs that shape my teaching approach:
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Communicative effectiveness: Language is a tool for inter-action, not just a set of rules. My goal isn’t grammatical perfection for its own sake, but to help learners communicate effectively and navigate a new language-culture with confidence.
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Flexibility: There’s no single method that works for everyone. Each class, each student brings unique experiences and needs. That’s why I love designing personalized learning paths, often inspired by what I learn from my students.
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Positive emotions: Emotions matter. Learning a language means putting yourself outside your comfort zone. For this reason, I always aim to create a welcoming environment where mistakes are not feared, but embraced as natural and valuable steps in the learning process. Accepting mistakes helps us grow - as learners and as people!
