italian language & culture
England
My name is Carmela, I am Italian and I hold a full English teaching
qualification in Post Compulsory Education and Training (Cert.Ed.)and a
Qualified Teaching and Learning Status (QTLS).I also have a BA degree in Post
Compulsory Education and Training from Warwick University. I have been teaching
Italian for over ten years privately and for colleges. I have taught Italian at
the Brasshouse language centre in Birmingham, at North Warwickshire & Hinckley
College and South Staffordshire College as well as delivering training for
companies such as EXD Ltd. in Coventry, Arlani in Burton, Redrock in Birmingham
and for private groups, reaching areas in the West Midlands, from Birmingham to
Coventry, Warwick to Lichfield and Solihull. ITALIAN LANGUAGE CULTURE AND
COOKING WORKSHOPS- ABOUT ME I grew up in a small village in a traditional
Neapolitan family where we prepared local and classical Italian dishes, growing
and preserving most of the food we ate. Preparing pasta or gnocchi for our
Sunday lunch was a family get together event! We all helped and learned how to
make things in a traditional way. During the major festivities such as Christmas
and Easter the food preparation took weeks and families and friends exchanged
their creations: Struffoli, Panettone and Pandoro at Christmas; Pastiera,
Tortano or Casatiello at Easter; for Carnival we made Chiacchiere, and for
father’s days Zeppole. There were times when we all went to zia’s house to cook
pizza and bread in her stone oven… every occasion was special and gave us an
excuse to prepare a traditional dish. Therefore, my love for the food and food
preparation grew thanks to the area I was born and my family’s customs. When
later I travelled as a student, I exchanged recipes with other people and
grandmas from Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany. Therefore, the Italian cooking
workshop is an opportunity for me to share with you, in my kitchen, what I have
learned, and recreate together an authentic Italian experience.
