Piero
Retired teacher from Italian Public Schools of Florence is here!
BUONGIORNO! My name is Piero. I am an Italian native speaker born and raised in Florence, Tuscany, currently teaching and tutoring Italian in Columbus, Ohio. I was trained as a Language Teacher in Italy, where I taught for more than 20 years. Three years ago I retired from the Italian Public Schools and came here to continue the work I love, which is teaching Italian. This is a Professional Letter of Reference received from Prof. Mirella Fanti, headmaster of Malta Middle School (Sicily, Ital...
art history
Bachelor's degree in Architecture at University of Florence, Italy. 4 years of Art History teaching in Italian High Schools. 2 years as a teacher of graphic and technical drawing in Italian schools abroad.
Latin
Italian
Nicholas R. from Valatie, NY
Piero is a great teacher. He is able to switch gears instantly to meet whatever challenges our student presents. We can't recommend him more highly.
Paul B. from Albany, NY
I am probably a language tutor's worst nightmare: a mostly self-taught student. After visiting Italy in 2004, I became interested in learning Italian. Over the years, when the spirit moved me, I took a class here and a class there, bought a few books and CDs, listened to podcasts, watched Italian films. I would spend months not studying or speaking any Italian at all, then dust off the books and try again. Sometimes I would make progress, sometimes not. It was definitely a haphazard approach, and the results were discouraging. But I always loved the language, and I recently decided to commit myself to a more organized effort to learn Italian. By luck, I stumbled across Piero C. Through my earlier efforts I did realize that you really need to learn from a native speaker like Piero. It's not just about learning words and grammar: a native speaker like Piero can incorporate a lot of interesting information about the history and culture of Italy, and modern Italian society in general. He does this while easily adapting his tutoring sessions to your level of proficiency—even in a case like mine where, in certain areas, I am still a beginner, in others, I am perhaps a borderline intermediate-level student (and on a really good day, maybe even an upper-intermediate in some areas—at least it sounds like that to me; Piero might feel differently). Piero has helped me build my confidence in what I know, while encouraging me to reach outside (well outside) my comfort zone. He has a lot of patience, and like many of the native Italians who I know, he has a warm, generous, and accommodating spirit and a good sense of humor. For the first time, I feel like my earlier efforts are paying off, and with Piero's help, I will be able to navigate my way around Italy the next time I visit. I highly recommend Piero!
Danielle M. from Troy, NY
Piero is a great tutor. He is very helpful and has tailored our lessons to what I want to learn. He is always prepared for our lessons and is very accommodating. I have really enjoyed our lessons and look forward to all the learning I have to do.
Philippe V. from Gloversville, NY
I am a Belgian doctor who has been living and working in upstate New York for almost 15 years. Before that, I had the chance of living in several European countries and always did my best to learn the local language. My favored country back in Europe has always been Italy but I never had the opportunity to spend more than a few weeks there for vacation. I never learned Italian until now. I started using the Pimsleur audio method to learn Italian about a year ago and completed the whole program of about 120 lessons. I spent a week in Rome last fall and took a private teacher there. I am satisfied with my progress in Italian but now I want to go to the next level and become really fluent. I am very happy to have met Piero C. He has a very deep knowledge of Italian, not only because he is a native of the country, but because he has taught it before. Beyond that he knows Italy very well and taking a 1 hour course with him makes me feel like I am spending an hour in Florence Italy. I am looking forward to learn much more.
Grant L. from Hinsdale, IL
Piero really knows how to teach. He is really helping me learn to speak better and more fluidly using more colloquial phrases. A great guy!
William P. from Altamonte Springs, FL
He covered all the skills required to learn Italian; speaking and listening, reading and writing, grammar, vocabulary and culture. He went through the exercises on pages 15-20 and he read and pronounced and I repeated the exercises as requested.
Dana K. from Henderson, NY
Piero's teaching style is terrific. The pace is just right, and he peppers the lesson with little flashes of humor. Very enjoyable.
Jeryl S. from Vail, CO
Piero is very patient during his grammar lessons with my son. My son leaves the lesson feeling accomplished, knowing the rules and able to do his homework independently.