My lessons are a mix of conversational Italian and grammar explanations, with the aid of written and online resources to practice vocabulary and grammar. I typically start from the Italian words and expressions you might already know (everyone knows more Italian than they think!) and take it from there, with plenty of simulated scenarios where you get to speak like a native among natives (and I get to ridicule myself imitating all sorts of Italian people!). When explaining a new topic, I like to encourage students to use their insight, nudging them when necessary. I have observed how even absolute beginners can easily guess the meaning of a new word or the way a certain word will behave, once certain patterns between and within Italian and English (and possibly other languages) are highlighted. When a student reaches the correct conclusion with just a little help, that is highly rewarding for both the student and the teacher! For more advanced students, the focus is often on vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar nuances. I like to choose a topic together and subsequently bring a written text (like a newspaper article), from which to extract more specialised vocabulary, and which will serve as a basis for discussions and debates.