Italian Student Spotlight: Anne Pfister
Anne, tell us a bit about yourself:
I am a native French speaker. I learned English in school in France, and when I moved to the U.S. more than 30 years ago, I had to learn quickly in order to "live" in English. I am a scientist, and languages were never my strong suit. I have kept my (southern) French accent and used to wish I could get rid of it until I realized how much I love hearing foreigners speak French. The American accent in French is actually very charming, and making mistakes is not such a big deal after all. So I relaxed and improved my Spanish and started Italian.
What inspired you to join our Buon Viaggio: Italian for Travelers course?
Even though I grew up in the south of France, I have never been to Italy. I am going to spend a few days there in June, next to the French border, and I plan to do a longer trip in the next few years. I love the culture, the art, the food, and hearing Italians speak, especially using their hands. I had taken Spanish lessons for educators and for travelers at Speak, and I always appreciated the high standard and quality of the lessons.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I looked forward to the online meetings. The lessons were entertaining and well structured. Christina made us participate and we could quickly say short sentences that would be helpful for a trip to Italy. I did learn a lot in just a few hours. The practice exercises that we could do between the lessons were varied and fun but difficult enough to engage us in our learning without being frustrating.
Anne, who is also a teacher, was an excellent student in Buon Viaggio!
How would you describe the Speak! Travel Series—or the Buon Viaggio course specifically—to a friend? What makes it different from something like Duolingo?
A big part of the course is based on an overview of Italy and its culture. Mixing the culture while learning basic vocabulary and grammar was much more interesting and efficient than the approach you can find in an app such as Duolingo. We had the flexibility of being online while interacting with human beings, and that is irreplaceable, allowing tailored feedback and open discussions. The diversity and the quality of the resources such as illustrated and concise pdf files, videos, and fun exercises were all very good and helpful. The real life and travel experiences shared by the teachers, live or in recorded videos, make you want to start travelling tomorrow! You will learn quickly!
If you could spend a month or two in Italy, where would you love to be a “temporary local”?
During the course, I learned a lot about the different regions in Italy and it made me want to explore even more when I go to Italy, away from the major tourist attractions. For my first trip, I would like to follow the coast from the French Riviera. The region is called Liguria with its capital, Genoa, and its famous harbor, and the picturesque villages of Portofino and Cinque Terre. I would live in a small village between Portofino and Cinque Terre, away from the main tourist attractions, but close enough that I could visit them. I would enjoy going to the beaches and hiking in the countryside or along the coast. I would go to the local market and stores, learn how to cook local dishes (It's the birthplace of pesto!) and maybe make friends.
How does learning the language and culture enhance the way you travel?
Learning a language and culture makes your trip much richer. I have traveled to many places and I always try to learn at least a few words. I think it makes a difference when you are a visitor. Language is about connecting with people, and that is something I truly enjoy. One of the first exercises we had to do in the Buon Viaggio: Italian for Travelers course was to define what type of traveler we were. I definitely want to see the main attractions but I equally like to wander and spend time in just one place to embrace the atmosphere and the culture. I recently went to Ecuador and being able to speak some Spanish, thanks to Speak!, to refresh my Spanish, was truly fun and rewarding.
