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🎤 Interview Episode 01 - Professoressa Daniela Bartalesi-Graf

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Episode notes

🎤 Interview Episode One – A Conversation with Professoressa Daniela Bartalesi-Graf
Teaching, Learning & Staying Motivated—Piano Piano

In this special interview episode, we sit down with Professoressa Daniela Bartalesi-Graf, a language educator at Wellesley College and the creator of one of the most respected Italian courses on EdX.

💛 Like the podcast? You can now buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/welearnitalian

Together, we explore:
✔️ The challenges and joys of teaching Italian both in person and online
✔️ How technology—including voice recognition and A.I.—is shaping language learning
✔️ Why B1 learners often feel stuck, and how to break through the plateau
✔️ Common mistakes to focus on (and which ones to ignore)
✔️ The power of proverbs, poetry, and speaking to yourself while walking!

Whether you’re just getting started or learning Italian piano piano, Professoressa Daniela shares practical advice and encouragement for every stage of the journey.

📌 Don’t miss her final tip: a simple daily habit that could transform your learning.

🎧 Tune in and be inspired by a teacher who’s helped thousands of learners fall in love with the Italian language.

⏳ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:02 Professoressa Daniela’s Journey into Teaching
03:24 Q1 – In-Person vs Online Teaching
06:48 Q2 – Tech & AI in Language Learning
09:53 Q3 – Challenges at B1 Level
15:07 Q4 – Building Speaking Confidence
17:54 Q5 – Rote Practice Without Boredom
20:50 Q6 – Using Translation
23:29 Q7 – Regional Variations & Dialects
26:10 Q8 – Favorite Phrase & Final Advice
28:46 Wrap Up

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