The interview with Alessandra, eight years in...
2025- The interview with Alessandra
As well as the leading light for the Italian Experience Cotswold company, Alessandra combines this with working for two government ministries as an examiner and she is also now an authorised translator/ interpreter with the Italian Consulate in London.
We thought it was about time for an update on developments from Alessandra – so I caught up with the popular linguist as she prepared to start a new season of Italian courses in January 2025…
Editor (Ed)
“Much has changed in this last year and your courses have expanded into Marlborough and Cirencester?”
Yes, it has been an exciting time as we have expanded into both Marlborough and Cirencester and there seems to be quite a demand to learn Italian! It has been very humbling as both sets of Beginners courses, in both towns, have pretty much sold out.
We have been lucky with some new excellent locations and new partnerships. For weekend workshops and events such as the July 2025 Italian Summer School we have secured a beautiful, listed location! In Cirencester the football club is such a convenient location and avoids the parking fees and space problems- participants love being able to park outside the door – learn Italian and then drive off to carry on with their busy lives!
I am not necessarily a football fan, but the centre has friendly staff, and we already held advanced classes there for a few years, so they already liked us! 😊
Marlborough now has three sets of courses at different levels and is flourishing and I can see September 2025 as being very busy – as this is the traditional time to start courses and continue your learning.
Ed: “It must be satisfying seeing your participants start the language with you and progress – I guess some are now living and working in Italy?”
Oh, yes! It is one of the joys of the job. I have participants who are now working there, quite a few have their own houses or apartments and travel there often and most weeks there is someone joining my online classes from some part of Italy! It is sometimes like a holiday guide, and we swap tips and share the best places to go too!
Ed: “You must tell me about your Italian Summer School in Marlborough!”.
Correct. We have been the tutor on Italian Summer Schools in the town for 15 years and thought that 2025 should be no different! Quickly, we have moved across the ‘Destination Italy!’ theme from Beginners and the ‘La vita è bella’ (Life is Beautiful) theme for Post Beginners and we are up and booking for July 14th – 28th! The content is different to the courses we normally run and this makes it attractive for our existing participants too.
Each level of the Italian Summer School is one week-long, - packed with exercises and fun workshop style learning every morning. We have kept the event comfortable with a small group and the listed building we have is open, airy and impressive. There are relax spaces so during breaks we can have coffee and a croissant/light snack, chat or wander into town- as we are just a minute away. Everyone meets every day and learns intensively whilst having fun at the same time. People travel from far and wide and often stay over in the town-as Marlborough is a tourist location in its own right. I am looking forward to it this year. There's also the chance to leisurely stroll the High Street. It is one of the pleasures for participants and tutor.😊
Ed: “Well done. And the best of luck for your event weeks.”
“Ed: Earlier you mentioned travel to Italy- Will you be gearing up for the Italy winter Olympics from February 6th, 2026, in Milan- Cortina d’Ampezzo?”
I know – that is amazing too- the flags are already out in Milan this winter, and this will be a boost for Italy too. I shall have to bring some more skiing and winter sport vocabulary into the courses as it will be on UK television throughout. My favourite is the ice skating- Can you skate editor?
Ed: “I can actually!...but it has been a while!! And there is the Pope’s Jubilee in Rome this year. What is this?”
Every 25 years the Pope can proclaim a Jubilee year- officially a time for “renewal, reflection and grace” and pilgrimage – or returning to Italy. On a practical level there are even more events in the Eternal City of Rome and of course hotels will be at a premium! It has already started and runs to the feast day of Epiphany in January 2026.
Ed: “I see your business is now linked to the Italian Consulate – have the services The Italian Experience Cotswold offers increased?”
They have. This has taken off this year. The service offers translations of birth, marriage and death certificates that are often needed if you inherit, move to Italy, or perhaps obtain an Italian passport/citizenship. There are only a limited number of UK translators, linked to the Chartered Institute of Linguists. It keeps my practice sharp, and they can be very interesting as you realise how important these are for people.
Ed: “What other plans do you have?
We want to allow courses and groups to stick together and continue to progress. This means we will have a largest range of levels online and in person for September 2025. We pride ourselves on having relatively small sized groups – for maximum enjoyment. So, whilst we grow- we look after the participant. Our Cappuccino Club conversation class is one that we want to bring back for advanced learners. We had such good feedback from this term – and the discussions are just what you need to keep your Italian top notch once you reach advanced level.
We have increased our Charity work nationally and locally. We support a national children’s charity and also local small charities in the Cotswolds. We have made a determined effort to reduce our carbon footprint by using recycled document wallets for participants and-where we can- asking for reusable drink mugs rather than paper cups.
Our partnerships are important to us – the organisations we work with, to make it happen. We hope this year to expand these and work together. After all, we bring enjoyment across the region of the Cotswolds, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.
Every year we try new things---so keep following us!
Ed: “I will. Brava Alessandra – and complimenti...2025 is your eighth year of The Italian Experience Cotswold and your 25th year teaching. Both are worth commemorating for you and the team! 😊”
Grazie mille. Molto gentile. A presto!