Viviana Ardesia PhD is a native of Pescara, a tiny city on the Adriatic Sea, where she attended high school in Classical Studies. She has a degree in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the world, and a PhD in Italian History from the University of Udine. She has lived in Pisa, Milan and Turin teaching Italian Grammar and Literature at the public school level and History at university for more than 10 years. Dr. Ardesia moved to Florida with her family and is enthusiastic about sharing the language and culture she loves.

Dr. Viviana Ardesia

Alessandra Castoldi MS was born in a city near Milan where she completed Classical Studies at the high school level and graduated in Italian Language and Literature at the University of Milan. She taught Italian and History in public school in Italy for almost 20 years. In 2016 she moved abroad with her family and started teaching Italian as a second language at all levels. She loves to meet people from different cultures and to share the Italian language and culture.

Alessandra Castoldi

Antonella Dalla Muta is a native Italian speaker with a passion for language, culture, and communication. She studied Modern Languages and Literatures (Italian, English, and German) at the University of Padua and later earned a degree in International Business and Marketing in San Francisco. Her international background enriches her understanding of language learning across cultures.  

Antonella works primarily with adult learners and her teaching approach combines easy-to-follow explanations in English, pronunciation guidance, practical conversation, and real-life situations, helping students build confidence while enjoying the process of learning Italian. 

Antonella Dalla Muta

Grace Mannino PhD is a native-born Italian, author and educational consultant who received her doctorate at SUNY Stony Brook, brought 33 years of high school and college teaching experience in NY to the ICS program in 2003. In addition to teaching Italian, French and Spanish, Grace was President of the American Association of Teachers of Italian of Long Island, President of Long Island Language Teachers, and a member of numerous committees on the national, state and regional level. Since retiring, Grace's enthusiasm in promoting Italian language and culture has found a new home in Naples.

Dr. Grace Mannino

Gilda di Nallo-Niro was born in Italy. Gilda earned a diploma in Liberal Arts from Istituto Magistrale Principessa Elena, Campobasso. Moving to the USA in 1966 she continued her studies at Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College in New Jersey. After working for two decades in investment banking, she returned to teaching Italian at The Language School in Red Bank NJ. Since moving to Naples, she has been teaching part time for Collier County Public Schools.

Nancy Sguera MA was born in Italy and moved to the United Sates with her family when she was 12. As an adult, she majored in Italian to continue to learn of her language, heritage and people. After receiving a Masters Degree from CUNY (Queens College), she taught Italian and Spanish in the public school system for 18 years and retired from George W. Hewlett High School in NY in 2008. While teaching, Nancy received scholarships to L'Università per Stranieri di Siena, The Summer Institute of Spanish Language and Culture in Salamanca and the NHE Summer Institute in Rome.

     Nancy Sguera

Cristina Costantini Walden grew up in Rome, Italy and moved to the United States at the age of 17. She studied classical studies at the Liceo Classico while in Rome. In the US, she studied Biology and Anthropology at Baylor University and obtained a medical degree from the University of Texas. After over 20 years in medical practice, she is now retired and concentrating on her many hobbies (knitting, crochet, classical guitar, reading, and traveling). Cristina is fluent in Spanish and Italian, but Italian is her native language. She has traveled back to Italy many times with her family and is very excited to share her knowledge of Italian culture and language with her students.

Dr. Cristina Walden

Kate Jansky MSN is the language coordinator. For questions about the language program, or to suggest new classes or events email language.ics.naples@gmail.com or SMS 425-765-7922. Join us in our love of learning La Bella Lingua!