Ciao, sono Ermy!

An award-winning Italian language coach, speaker, and seasoned language learner helping Italian descendants and expats in Italy go from "I understand Italian" to "I speak it with confidence."

As a girl from a small town near Naples who left home in her twenties to explore the world, I now speak four languages fluently (with a fifth on the way) and have lived in four different countries.

Since 2012, I've helped hundreds of Italian learners from 10+ countries have Italian conversations with confidence—so they can finally connect with and integrate into that Italian world they love.

Here are a few ways I might be able to help:

(If you can already understand Italian fairly well but struggle to speak...)

You understand Italian, but freeze when it's your turn to speak?

You're afraid of sounding like a child—or worse, totally stupid. My mentorship programmes turn passive Italian into active conversations, so you can finally speak with confidence.

Learn more →

You keep switching to English with your Italian relatives?

Even though you want to connect in Italian, your mind goes blank when it’s your turn to speak. I'll help you build the skills and confidence to have those conversations—in Italian.

Apply to work together →

You live in Italy but still depend on others (or Google Translate)?

You crave the freedom and connection that comes with speaking Italian confidently in daily life. Let me show you how to make Italian feel natural, not stressful.

Become my mentee →

From Language Student to Language Expert

I earned a first-class honours degree in Modern Languages from L'Orientale University in Naples, followed by a Master's in Translation (University of Warwick) and a teaching qualification (PGCE) from the UK.

I've taught Italian in public schools, private organizations, universities (such as University of Chester and University of Wrexham), charities, and international companies. But something was missing. My students weren’t struggling with grammar — they were struggling with confidence.

So I became a certified Neurolanguage® Coach (accredited by the International Coaching Federation) and a Belief Coding® Facilitator.

Neurolanguage® Coaching applies coaching and neuroscience to language learning, while Belief Coding® helps reprogram the subconscious blocks that keep you from speaking freely.
I didn't just study languages—I became an expert in how adults actually learn to speak them with ease, confidence, and freedom.

You Might Have Seen Me On

How I Accidentally Discovered the Secret to Language Learning

I wasn't born multilingual. Actually, the first time I went to study languages at university, I dropped out after a few months.

Instead, I learned English by becoming a cartoonist.

At 18, I tried studying both languages in Naples and art at an academy in Rome. It was overwhelming (and a lot of commuting!). Unlike my classmates at uni who came from language-specialized high schools, I was behind. I dreaded those English lectures—feeling fearful, clueless, and out of my depth.

So I quit. I decided to focus only on what I loved: art.

But three years later, something magical happened.

Art Became My Bridge to English

While pursuing my dream of becoming a cartoonist, I joined an online community where artists from around the world shared their work. If I wanted my art seen, I had to write in English.

So I did. Word by word. Sentence by sentence. Post by post.

I wrote descriptions of my artwork. I read stories and graphic novels. I connected with other artists, gave feedback, received commissions from English speakers, and started blogging—all in English.

By the time I returned to university three years later, I could understand everything in those English lectures I used to dread. Not because I'd studied harder, but because I'd been living the language through something I loved.

Later, I used the same approach with Spanish—salsa dancing, singing along to Latin music in the shower, hanging out with Spanish friends. I became conversational without ever living in Spain.

This experience transformed how I learn and teach languages today.
I realized: you don't need to live in a country to immerse yourself in a language. You just need to integrate it into your life in creative, meaningful ways.

This insight became the foundation of my "Italianize Your Life" pillar in the Live Italian Method.

The Restaurant That Changed Everything

But even after that breakthrough with English through art, I still had a confidence problem.

When I won an Erasmus scholarship, I didn't think twice—I hopped on a plane to the UK, ready to put years of English learning into practice.

Then came the restaurant incident.

I vividly remember the moment when a waitress with a heavy Warwickshire accent asked me, "What's your table number?" and… I didn't understand her.

Rather than asking her to repeat, I pretended to understand—because I was "supposed to" after all those years of studying. So... I asked her for a Coke.

I still remember the expression on her face: shock mixed with confusion. She repeated her question slowly: "What's your table number?"

This time I understood. But I didn't answer. I froze. Shame took over. I turned my back, muttering some unintelligible sound, and left the restaurant crying.

Despite years of learning and a fair understanding of the language, I had zero confidence speaking it.

I could've asked that waitress to repeat rather than pretend. I could've answered the second time. But I couldn't.

This is when I realised:

Speaking a language requires more than the language itself.

It requires courage, flexibility, resilience, and the willingness to see mistakes and misunderstandings as learning opportunities—not failures.

That was the opposite of what I'd been taught at school. But to me, learning a language was never about passing exams. It was about connection and self-expression.

To express myself, I had to try speaking—despite being unsure of which word to use.

To connect with people, I had to prioritize communication over perfection.
I had to learn to ask for help ("Can you repeat, please?" became my mantra).
And I had to build unshakeable confidence and embrace misunderstandings with laughter.

I had to make mistakes (lots of them!) because the truth is: the more mistakes you make, the more you learn.

These were the beliefs I had to adopt to become a confident speaker of all my languages.

These were the beliefs that allowed me to become a successful public speaker in my second language (English) and speak at international conferences including The Polyglot Conference and The Language Show (Britain's #1 event for language learners).

My mission is to help you embrace these beliefs too, and give you the training, tools, and support you need to become a confident Italian speaker—and get everything you desire because of it.

The Restaurant That Changed Everything

But even after that breakthrough with English through art, I still had a confidence problem.
When I won an Erasmus scholarship, I didn't think twice—I hopped on a plane to the UK, ready to put years of English learning into practice.

Then came the restaurant incident.
I vividly remember the moment when a waitress with a heavy Warwickshire accent asked me, "What's your table number?" and… I didn't understand her.
Rather than asking her to repeat, I pretended to understand—because I was "supposed to" after all those years of studying. So... I asked her for a Coke.
I still remember the expression on her face: shock mixed with confusion. She repeated her question slowly: "What's your table number?"
This time I understood. But I didn't answer. I froze. Shame took over. I turned my back, muttering some unintelligible sound, and left the restaurant crying.
Despite years of learning and a fair understanding of the language, I had zero confidence speaking it.
I could've asked that waitress to repeat rather than pretend. I could've answered the second time. But I couldn't.

This is when I realized:

Speaking a language requires more than the language itself.

It requires courage, flexibility, resilience, and the willingness to see mistakes and misunderstandings as learning opportunities—not failures.

That was the opposite of what I'd been taught at school. But to me, learning a language was never about passing exams. It was about connection and self-expression.

To express myself, I had to try speaking—despite being unsure of which word to use.

I had to make mistakes (lots of them!) because the truth is: the more mistakes you make, the more you learn.

These were the beliefs I had to adopt to become a confident speaker of all my languages.

My mission is to help you embrace these beliefs too, and give you the training, tools, and support you need to become a confident Italian speaker—and get everything you desire because of it.

I believe learning Italian isn't about perfection—it's about communication and connection.

You don't need to get the grammar 100% right to have meaningful conversations. You need courage, resilience, and the willingness to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.

That's why, through my Live Italian Method, my students don't just become confident Italian speakers—they become more confident people.

My Students' Success Stories

I'm proud to teach amazing students from all around the world. Here are some of their transformations:

"In 5 weeks, I went from having no confidence to having a two-hour conversation with my Italian friend"

– Agnes

Watch full story here →

"I went from hesitating when speaking Italian to confidently handling phone calls"
– Fiona

Watch full story here →

"Before I felt shy when speaking with my Italian boyfriend's family. Now I can interact with them with more ease—in Italian"
– Penny

Watch full story here →

Each student teaches me something new about courage, resilience, and what it means to claim your voice in another language.

Become the next success story.

Apply For Mentorship

Which brings me to you.

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by people speaking different languages. At heart, I'm an explorer.
Years (and three new languages) later, I've lived in the UK, France, and Spain. Now I split my time between the UK and Italy. I'm a "child of both worlds" (Hello, Wicked fans!). I no longer belong to just one country.

My hunch is that you feel the same way.

You live between countries (and one of them is Italy). You're learning Italian because you want to connect deeply and integrate into that Italian world you love.

Italian isn't just a language or hobby for you. It's part of your identity. And you're ready to reclaim it.

I'm here to guide you from understanding Italian to speaking it—with confidence, joy, and freedom.

I know you've already spent years learning Italian—apps, courses, tutors, conversation classes. You can understand quite a bit, maybe even read Italian well. Yet you've plateaued at that frustrating point where you can't have the in-depth conversations you crave.

You know I'm not talking about ordering at a restaurant or chatting about your weekend — you know how to do that already!

I’m talking about the deep, insightful conversations where you express your true self—without fear, shame, or anxiety. Where you connect with people and share who you really are.

That's what I'm here to help you do.

The Live Italian Method

You've probably been convinced that the solution to having confident Italian conversations is to sign up for more weekly lessons or conversation classes.

But here's what I discovered in years of learning, speaking, and teaching different languages: traditional lessons don't create confident speakers. Focused speaking training, mindset work, and creative integration do.

True confidence doesn't come from just learning more. It comes from applying that knowledge properly by:

✨ Training your conversation skills in meaningful ways

✨ Integrating Italian into your daily life so you naturally "immerse" in it

✨ Developing a confident mindset that supports you even in challenging conversations

Without an expert guiding you through this holistic approach—one that goes beyond language alone—your progress will always feel slower, and speaking with confidence will remain just out of reach.

That's exactly why I created The Live Italian Method. 🌟

The Live Italian Method

You've probably been convinced that the solution to having confident Italian conversations is to sign up for more weekly lessons or conversation classes.

True confidence doesn't come from just learning more. It comes from applying that knowledge properly by:

✨ Training your conversation skills in meaningful ways

✨ Integrating Italian into your daily life so you naturally "immerse" in it

✨ Developing a confident mindset that supports you even in challenging conversations

Without an expert guiding you through this holistic approach—one that goes beyond language alone—your progress will always feel slower, and speaking with confidence will remain just out of reach.

That's exactly why I created The Live Italian Method. 🌸

How The Live Italian Method Works

The Live Italian Method helps you get the Italian that's stuck in your head into real-life conversations—with confidence.

This isn't traditional language teaching. I don't offer weekly lessons where we repeat grammar drills. Instead, through personalized 1:1 mentorship involving targeted speaking practice (by voice messages), focused coaching and mindset work, you'll activate your Italian faster than you ever thought possible.

It's a holistic approach to language learning, which means we work across three areas: your Italian, your inner confidence, and your lifestyle. You need to work on all three to have Italian conversations with confidence.

The method has three pillars:

1. Activate Your Italian

We turn the Italian you understand into Italian you can actually speaInstead of textbook exercises, we'll practice real conversations you'll actually havek.

Through real, spoken practice (especially voice messages), you activate your Italian in everyday conversations and create a feedback loop to help you improve.

Instead of textbook exercises, we'll practice real conversations you'll actually have—like explaining your family history, sharing your opinions on current events, or navigating meaningful discussions with Italian friends and relatives.

→ Tell me more!

2. Italianize Your Life

This is where my cartoonist-turned-language-coach experience comes in.

Just like I learned English through art communities and Spanish through salsa dancing, you'll learn to weave Italian into your daily life through what you already love – whether that's cooking, reading, doing yoga…

You don’t need to move to Italy or study more. You need to integrate Italian into your existing life in creative ways so you immerse yourself naturally (wherever you are!)… and even start to think in Italian.

→ I want to italianize my life

3. Practice Self-Mastery

Confidence is a skill. Using coaching tools rooted in neuroscience and subconscious programming, I’ll help you develop a stronger, more confident mindset — so you stay calm, present, and connected, even when you make mistakes or don’t understand everything.

You'll know how to keep the conversation going… in Italian, of course. 😊✨

→ I want to master Italian conversations

We do all of this sprinkled with lots of joy and playfulness because learning a language is a lifelong journey, and I want you to enjoy it so you keep moving forward.

This method works if you can already understand basic Italian conversations, podcasts, short stories, and have some foundations of the Italian grammar—but your comprehension is much higher than your speaking level and you're ready to change this.

I've mentored dozens of students through this unique method, and the transformations speak for themselves.

Experience the Live Italian Method for yourself.

Apply To Work Together

Let's Stay Connected

I appreciate you reading this far. May this be just the beginning of our relationship.

I'd love to learn more about you. The best way to stay connected is to join my Italians at Heart Club—just enter your name and email below.

Become an Italian at Heart

You'll get Italian-related fun stuff for subscribers only and first dibs on my mentorship programmes.

Also, I love sharing what I know on my youtube channel. If you haven’t watched me on the tube yet, come on over and become a subscriber. But, for behind-the-scenes, personal reflections and other stuff I don’t share anywhere else, the Italians at Heart Club is where I share it all! I normally email once a week, sometimes more if there's something time sensitive.

Plus, you’ll also get the free audio guide Oltre l'Italiano with the 5 secrets to speaking Italian with confidence.⬇️

🎧 Get the Free Audio Guide “Oltre l’Italiano”

In Oltre l'Italiano you'll discover:

The 5 secrets (that go beyond Italian) to speak with more confidence, including:

✨ Downloadable Italian audio + transcript
✨ Thought-provoking questions
✨ English translation (in case you need help! 😉)

It'll walk you through the fundamentals of building your confidence to speak more—and better—Italian.

Ci sentiamo nell'audioguida! —Ermy***

Send me the audio guide →

Ciao, sono Ermy!

Here are a few ways I might be able to help:

You understand Italian, but freeze when it's your turn to speak?

You keep switching to English with your Italian relatives?

You live in Italy but still depend on others (or Google Translate)?

From Language Student to Language Expert

You Might Have Seen Me On

How I Accidentally Discovered the Secret to Language Learning

Art Became My Bridge to English

The Restaurant That Changed Everything

This is when I realised:

Speaking a language requires more than the language itself.

The Restaurant That Changed Everything

This is when I realized:

Speaking a language requires more than the language itself.

I believe learning Italian isn't about perfection—it's about communication and connection.

My Students' Success Stories

Which brings me to you.

My hunch is that you feel the same way.

The Live Italian Method

The Live Italian Method

How The Live Italian Method Works

1. Activate Your Italian

2. Italianize Your Life

3. Practice Self-Mastery

Let's Stay Connected

🎧 Get the Free Audio Guide “Oltre l’Italiano”

Listen to the audioguide "Oltre L'italiano".🇮🇹