Italian Language & Culture

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.