Success Stories
My students become confident (and happier) Italian speakers.
Below are a few of their success stories!
"I went from having no confidence to having a 2-hour conversation with my friend" —Agnes
“Before working with Ermy, I had been trying to learn Italian for years. I took night classes, online classes, used apps — but I still couldn’t speak. I was afraid of speaking because I thought I had to say everything perfectly, and that kept me completely blocked. Every time I tried, I froze. It was frustrating, especially because I needed Italian to manage my home in Italy and express myself when I was there.
After working with Ermy, everything changed. I realised I didn’t need to speak perfectly — I just needed to speak. Through daily voice messages, encouragement, and consistent practice, I gained confidence and stopped being afraid of making mistakes. I now speak every day, without over-preparing, and I finally feel myself improving. One moment that really surprised me was having a two-hour conversation in Italian with a friend — something I never thought I could do. Ermy’s mentorship programme Confident Italian helped me move past perfectionism, stop freezing, and finally use Italian in real life.” – Agnes Edwards
"From hesitating speaking in Italian to to confidently handling phone calls!" —Fiona
“Before working with Ermy, I already had some Italian. I understood grammar, had taken classes on and off for years, and could manage basic, practical conversations when travelling. But my speaking was hesitant and limited, and I didn’t feel confident expressing myself about things that really mattered to me. I also believed I didn’t have time to truly commit — my schedule was unpredictable, and consistency felt almost impossible.
After working with Ermy my Italian changed in a much deeper way. I learned to speak regularly, even on busy or tiring days, and to focus less on perfection and more on meaning. Instead of staying within “safe” vocabulary, I challenged myself to say what I really wanted — even when I got it wrong. Over time, my confidence, fluency, and vocabulary grew. I found myself handling complex real-life situations in Italian, including phone calls, apartment searches, and problem-solving conversations — things I would never have attempted before. Ermy’s method helped me build endurance, courage, and the ability to truly communicate, not just get by. – Fiona
"I’ve stopped getting stuck in grammar and finally became brave enough to speak."— Louisa
Before working with Ermy, I had been studying Italian for a long time and I understood quite a lot, but speaking was really difficult for me. I was very focused on grammar and on trying to say things correctly, and that would make me panic in conversations. Even though I had the knowledge, my mind would often just go blank when I needed to speak.
After applying Ermy’s method “Live Italian”, my approach completely changed. I realised that speaking wasn’t about getting everything right, but about just trying and communicating. That helped me feel less afraid of making mistakes and more willing to speak, even when I wasn’t sure. Little by little, Italian started to feel more accessible and more natural. The Live Italian method helped me build the courage to actually use the Italian I already had.” – Louisa
Ready to become a more confident Italian speaker too?
Apply for mentorship
"My speaking skills improved much faster in 8 weeks compared to two years of trial and error in learning Italian." — Kathy
Before working with Ermy, I had worked with tutors, taken Italian in college and in Rome, and done tons of self-study - every free resource I could find, YouTube videos, TV shows, podcasts, reading out loud. I thought if I just worked super hard, I'd get it. I made progress and learned a lot, but I got to the point where I felt like I had so much knowledge in my head but couldn't translate that to actually speaking the language. Knowing it wasn't enough. I didn't think I had the right brain for speaking another language, but my goal was always to be able to have a fluent conversation with other Italians.
After working with Ermy, my speaking and conversational skills improved faster in eight weeks than they have in two years because we speak every day. The daily feedback was something that really helped me progress - sometimes I'd make mistakes more than once, get feedback again, and then it sticks. My first 'wow' moment was in the third week when I understood a response without looking up words. My listening comprehension is so much better now because of the structure with recordings - I can go back and listen as much as I want. This has changed not only where I'm at, but my confidence and motivation. I really feel like I can do this. I'm so much more confident speaking to others in Italian. Even when I don't know something, I don't freeze and switch to English - I have ways to continue the conversation. I have two little kids and financial constraints, so I sacrificed a bit to do the program. I hoped it would be worth it, and honestly, it exceeded my expectations so much. The amount of progress I've made in such a short time compared to how long I've been trying - this is probably one of the best programs I've ever done. - Kathy
"I don’t shy away anymore from speaking in Italian to my Italian boyfriend’s family"— Penny
Before working with Ermy, I'd been using Duolingo for three years and had the basics down, but I felt like I was plateauing. I wasn't confident in my speaking at all. When I saw my friend's Italian family, I just felt at such a loss of what to say. Even though I'd practiced, I didn't say much - just kind of like, 'Oh, come va?' One of my big goals was to stop answering my boyfriend's family in English, but I kept shying away from speaking Italian with them.
After taking Ermy’s programme Confident Italian, I feel so much more confident. I don't feel like it's bad to make mistakes anymore - we embrace them. It's a lot easier to express myself now, and I feel like I've progressed significantly. Even just stringing an improvised sentence together - the feeling you get is like, ‘Oh, I did that! I communicated!’ Now when my boyfriend's family speak to me in Italian, I'm answering back in Italian. It's quite validating when they seem proud of me. I feel more motivated than ever because I've come so far. Confident Italian gave me strategies to keep the language up and developed me in so many ways - my confidence, my life, everything. The sessions were thought-provoking, not just about Italian but about my life in general. I was concerned about time, but I fit it into my busy life - listening while walking my dog or brushing my teeth. If this is something you want to do, just bite the bullet and do it because it is worth it. - Penny
"I finally found the missing piece that helps me speak (and think) in Italian!" —Annette
Before applying the Live Italian method with Ermy, I'd been studying for maybe three years with different teachers. Everything I'd done with my Italian was helpful, but I kept feeling like there was a missing piece - I needed to speak more and have an opportunity to speak more. I wanted to practice speaking without worrying about making mistakes, but I tended to think in English before I spoke in Italian, and it delayed me. I felt kind of stuck, like I had to move somehow but needed something to help me move a little more.
When working with Ermy, being able to speak every day with daily feedback has helped me tremendously. I'm not thinking in English as much before I speak in Italian anymore - I'm able to just kind of say something. I'm thinking more in Italian now. I can now realize that if I make a mistake, that's okay because I will learn from it. Certain things have stuck with me because I've done it every day. A big win is that I feel more confident - I feel like I can do this. The way the program is structured, I think about the questions I'm going to answer, I plan it out in Italian, and it helps me think in Italian. I find it a lot of fun. I'm not approaching it like 'Oh, I got to do this,' but rather 'Oh, okay, I'm going to sit down and do this.' This has helped me move to another level. My grandmother used to speak to me in Italian when I was a child, and I always wanted to speak the language she spoke. Now I'm religiously doing it, and I'm accomplishing what I always wanted. - Annette
“I’d hit a plateau — this course got me to move past it.”— David
“I chose to work with Ermy because my Italian felt stuck, and I needed a push to move forward. My biggest struggle was finding the right words — and saying them with fluency and accuracy.
What made the biggest difference was the constant encouragement to keep speaking. I had to send messages, mistakes and all. In one session, I spoke for a full hour, horrendous errors included. I also decided to ban any negative thoughts from my mind that was hindering my confidence. It wasn’t comfortable, but it worked.
Eight weeks ago, I was profoundly lacking in spontaneity. Now, I feel I’ve made real progress. My last message — about trains — was easily my freest. I started to feel braver and realized that sometimes I even think in Italian!
Ermy’s mentorship programmes are an online bootcamp. You have to show up and do the work. But if you’re serious about getting past a plateau, it’s absolutely worth it.” — David
Get past your Italian plateau!
Apply to work with Ermy"I went from saying only 3 sentences in Italian to have a conversation of 10 minutes with no preparation in 4 weeks"—Steve
“Before working with Ermy, I'd been learning Italian for four years through apps and podcasts. Over these four years, I'd gotten to where I could read moderately and hear some slow Italian, but I had no one to speak to - no opportunities to practice spoken Italian more than saying the odd word here and there. I was looking for being able to speak Italian with somebody and get feedback on that.
After working with Ermy, the first thing that's changed is just having that reason and having broken the ice to speak Italian. The Live Italian Method gives a fantastic structure. I've gone from using a sentence or two of Italian at a time to realizing I can sit down and actually say things in Italian for three or four minutes at a time. We've had coaching sessions where the first 10 minutes we were speaking basically only Italian. The change is gigantic. The realization is that the vocabulary I've built up over years is actually usable. When you're learning through podcasts or apps, it's one way – it's coming into you. Having that focus to think on your feet, to put together phrases, and keeping it simple using the words I know - it's great to practice that and have feedback. I was concerned about time because my work is demanding, but I've been able to find that half an hour here and there. It's been possible to treat myself to sitting down and focusing on something I actually want to do. The difference from a traditional class with a set time is having a coach and a structure with a deadline, but within that you can do the work when it suits you. It's a very flexible way of working.” - Steve
"My confidence level went up significantly and I experience a big change in my spoken Italian" — Alastair
“Before working with Ermy, I had been studying Italian for quite some time and was having regular lessons. I was learning a lot of grammar and understanding more and more, but when it came to speaking, I would freeze. Even when the words were “somewhere in my head,” I struggled to get them out in a coherent way, especially under pressure. I felt blocked and wasn’t progressing anymore.
After applying Ermy’s method Live Italian, my confidence increased significantly. The voice-message approach gave me time to prepare what I wanted to say, listen carefully, and really tune my ear to Italian. Little by little, my listening, speaking, and vocabulary all improved, and speaking started to feel much more natural. I stopped freezing and began activating the Italian I already had. Over just a few weeks, I felt more confident, more fluent, and much more ready to have real, meaningful conversations when I’m in Italy.” – Alastair Lang
"I moved past fixed Italian phrases and finally have real, dynamic conversations with friends." — George
Before working with Ermy, I was mostly self-taught. I’d used audiobooks and CDs in the car and picked up vocabulary and set phrases, which were useful up to a point. But everything felt very prescriptive. I had a limited number of phrases, and once I’d used them, I’d get stuck, frustrated, and exhausted. Even though I travelled to Italy often and had Italian friends, I felt I’d plateaued and couldn’t push past that level.
After working together, my Italian became much more flexible and real. Speaking regularly through voice messages — even from airports, late at night, or while travelling — helped me integrate Italian into my daily life. I stopped freezing and learned how to keep a conversation going, even when I didn’t know every word. Instead of aiming for perfection, I focused on being understood, finding ways around gaps, and asking questions. That confidence made a huge difference. I started having more dynamic conversations with Italian friends, taxi drivers, and even the Italian shop owner in my local town, who noticed my improvement. Ermy’s method Live Italian helped me break through the barrier, activate what I already knew, and feel comfortable communicating in real-life situations. - George
“I stopped freezing — and started speaking, even when I wasn’t sure.”— Teka
Before starting working with Ermy, I had concerns about time and money. But learning Italian is important to me — I’ll be moving to Italy soon — and I knew I had to make it a priority.
My biggest struggle was fear. Fear of making mistakes, freezing up, and forgetting things I actually knew. Grammar and vocabulary weren’t the real problem — confidence was.
When working with Ermy, I was encouraged to speak and learned that trying — even imperfectly — is the only way forward. Now, even when I’m not sure I’m saying something correctly, I speak anyway. And that has changed everything.
I’m speaking much more Italian with friends in Sardinia and Veneto, and even when I make mistakes, we communicate. That’s what matters. I feel more confident, more willing to try, and much more comfortable hearing my own voice in Italian.
When my husband and I went to a local Italian event in our area, I was so surprised that I could speak in Italian with so many people and enjoy myself — without feeling as nervous as I used to.
If you’re looking for a supportive, motivating teacher who helps you get past mental blocks and actually speak, this experience is incredibly valuable. — Teka
Stop freezing and start speak Italian with confidence
Apply to work with Ermy
“I overcame my speaking block and now I’m finding myself speaking Italian more spontaneously during the day.”—Gail
Before working with Ermy, I'd been going to Italy for years - my husband's Italian and all his relatives are Italian. My comprehension got better each year, but it got to be ridiculous that I couldn't speak. When I got the first homework, I had panic attacks. In the second week I thought, this is ridiculous, I can't do this, this is too hard, I'm wasting my time and money. I was trying to speak high school level when I really needed to stay at pre-kindergarten level. I was my own enemy - I made it way harder than it needed to be.
After working with Ermy, I realized I was making it way too complicated. Ermy helped me keep it simple - just three or four words, not an English essay. Now if I say something in English I'll attempt to say it in Italian after. It's like a natural flowing now, it's really fun. My husband thinks he's got an Italian wife all of a sudden. The confidence piece is the key - you can study and study, but only if there's the opportunity to speak and work on your confidence, you will get there. – Gail
“I’ve learned more in a few weeks in Ermy’s programme than in two years with a language app."—Donna
Before work with Ermy, I'd been using Duolingo for two years. It gave me basic words, but the sentences weren't really what you'd say in Italy - like "there's a snake in my boot." I was just wondering, how do I say what I want to say? I didn't know how to learn or what to learn. With Duolingo you don't have anybody actually teaching you or explaining things. When considering working with Ermy, I thought - I work full time, I have fitness activities, I don't have time, is it worth the money? I was quite skeptical.
Then, thanks to the work I did with Ermy, I've learned more in 12 weeks than in two years. I can now talk about my holidays and things that interest me. I feel like I can continue into a conversation, and it feels so good. It's built my confidence a lot. Irma wrapped the course around what suits me - I like writing short stories, so she made it about topics I enjoy. My confidence is definitely growing. It's like an addiction - once you learn a little bit you think, I really want to learn more. All you've got to do is 15 or 30 minutes. If you keep doing that, it gets into your routine. If it's what you really want to do, you will find time. It's worth every penny! - Donna
"I learned to laugh at my mistakes and speak Italian with my friends every day." — Kathy
Before working with Ermy, I was feeling put down when my Italian friends teased me about trying so long to learn Italian without being able to speak. I was scared to make mistakes and thought I would be embarrassed. I had self-defeating thoughts that led to feeling bad and avoidant behavior.
After working together, I became more able to laugh at my mistakes, accept correction from my Italian friend, and speak with her every day in Italian. Ermy helped me understand that self-defeating thoughts lead to feeling bad and avoidant behavior. This helped me change my thoughts, feelings, and willingness to try to speak. I gained a better understanding of grammar, learned many new words, and listening to Ermy and the group helped my understanding a lot. I found I knew more words than I thought. The humor and playfulness Ermy brought to the lessons helped me lighten up. Ermy's story about her own language learning challenges and how she persisted was very helpful. Modeling how she succeeded by changing her thinking was good for me. I combined the lessons with reading short stories and speaking daily with my Italian friend, which reinforced what Ermy was teaching. In 8 weeks, I gained the confidence to speak Italian. — Kathy Coffman
"Before working with Ermy, I was living a life of restrictions dictated by my fear of speaking in Italian, now I’m more confident in speaking to people!"— Sara
“I would let my Italian husband take over all the conversations in social engagements and I was speaking to him only in English ’cause I was too ashamed of my Italian! I couldn’t even speak to my Italian clients and I wouldn’t pick up the phone if they called me (I felt too embarrassed of my Italian).
After just a month of working with Ermy, I started to feel much more confident in using my Italian. I started to have conversations with my husband and also my in laws…
I even had a chat with my son’s teachers the other day and she complimented me for my Italian! And I now feel able to improve on my own, because I’m more confident in speaking to people, so I’ll get more practice.
Ermy is Definitely different to a “normal” language teacher in that she works with your emotions as well as your mental capacities for learning a language. That’s what impressed me most.” – Sara
“I went from not speaking a word of Italian to having real conversations with my Italian friends.”— Miriam
At first, I hesitated because of time and cost — and because I was already learning another language. But I wanted something personal, structured, and effective.
Ermy created a clear path tailored to the way I learn. The detailed feedback and thoughtful assignments kept me motivated and helped me progress fast. I loved the lessons, the songs, and even the funny videos — learning felt light and enjoyable.
After just two months, I was having conversations in Italian. My Italian friends were genuinely impressed.
I now feel confident expressing myself and understanding Italian culture — and that’s a huge win for me.” – Miriam
Feel confident having conversation in Italian.
Start your application here
“I definitely feel more confident and natural when speaking Italian.”— Sally
I used to live in Italy and once spoke Italian quite fluently, but I felt I was losing it — and that scared me. I wanted to reconnect with the language, but I was nervous, short on time, and unsure if I could really pick it up again.
What made the difference was the personalised structure and constant feedback from Ermy. Knowing I could send a message and receive clear, supportive responses — often with examples, exercises, or voice notes — helped me improve steadily and without pressure.
Regular speaking training was the biggest win for me. I now feel more confident, more natural, and I actually have things I want to say in Italian. Ermy really tailors the programme to your needs! — Sally
“I have a much better understanding of the language and my confidence has sky rocketed.”
“Ermy’s way of explaining the verb endings and the reasons why you would use different tenses really made an impact on me. I now have so much more confidence and fluidity when speaking and have a much greater understanding of it all. Her calm and fun approach made me enjoy the lessons and learn so much. Thank you Ermy.” – Alan Baxter
“Two months ago I knew very little Italian, but now I am ready for my first visit to Italy.”
“If you enjoy doing something, then you are more motivated to achieve your expectations and goals. I have achieved my learning goals and had fun thanks to Ermy. Two months ago I knew very little Italian, but now I am ready for my first visit to Italy. I am sure that my travel experience will be enhanced considerably by being able to converse in the native language.
The confidence and knowledge I have gained in such a short time is down to the skills and organised approach of Ermy. Key to the process was the initial session. From that, Ermy designed a specific learning plan geared to meet my learning expectations and language capability.
Whilst the programme provided the learning framework, there was also the flexibility to cover topics not necessarily planned at the outset. The most beneficial, and indeed enjoyable part of the course, were the role play sessions. Communicating with a native speaker was a great advantage, but the enthusiastic and bubbly personality of Ermy was the key ingredient in building my speaking confidence. Mille grazie, Ermy” – Graham Cotts
“We learn grammar without hardly noticing”
“I really like the informal format where we learn grammar without hardly noticing. It's fun and I quite enjoy the not too structured and quite playful approach — it feels just right after a hard week at work. I feel like I am learning a lot every week” – Nagore
“I was confident enough to try out my language skills when in Italy”
“Thanks so much for a great four weeks of learning, I was pleased with my progress and felt happy that I was confident enough to try out my language skills when away! I tried to use my Italian wherever I could. I was pleased with myself for using it as much as I did, and I enjoyed saying ‘Piacere’ to the people I met.” – Rebecca Alcock