PREVIOUS TESTIMONIALS
“Her classes are always fun!
It is difficult to know where to start in singing the praises of Roberta. I have studied with her over the last few years following my daughter’s departure for Italy, with the goal of being proficient by the time she returned. As a counselor myself, I know the benefits of a making an intuitive and inspiring connection with students. Roberta connects with her students in a way that is a gift. She has a sense of how students learn best, and I have seen her rapidly switch gears and be flexible in her approach to each individual in the room, inspiring them to learn in the way that works best for them. Her love of travel and food further ignites a class as she can discuss any topic of interest and has a genuine interest in her students’ lives and learning. From grammar, to conversational Italian, and interactive visual tools, her classes are always fun! Roberta is constantly looking for new approaches to teaching languages, often sharing tools she has brought from conferences and colleagues. Roberta’s knowledge and engagement with students is unsurpassed. ”
“One loses all sense of shyness or anxiety.
Roberta is far more than a teacher in the traditional sense. From the beginning she brought a combination of skill, enthusiasm and charm that has been unique in my life as a learner. And that was only the beginning. She offers a carefully tailored approach for everyone, whether a nervous neophyte with not a word of Italian or an experienced speaker looking to enrich their knowledge of the language through study or travel. Moreover its always enjoyable, her classroom atmosphere is so much fun that one loses all sense of shyness or anxiety… a perfect atmosphere for acquiring a language. From my point of view, ours has been a long and very fruitful relationship. Through her efforts and encouragement new doors have opened in my life that has led to greatly enriching experiences in both the language, culture and history of Italy. To her, I credit new friends, a greatly enhanced view of Italy and a respectable working knowledge of Italian that earns me many complements as I travel in Italy. It’s an adventure I never would have anticipated when I walked through her door for my first lesson in a romance language some ten years ago.”
“Like a weekly mini-trip to Italy
Learning with Roberta feels more like a weekly mini trip to Italy than going to school. The conversation in her classes, always in Italian, is full of humor and energy and flows so freely, that if I arrive a few minutes late and overhear the chatter of voices it sounds like I’m stepping into a café in Italy. The time flies fast, but somehow, even with all the fun and liveliness, we still go home with the principles of grammar firmly in hand. I am a writer and actor living in Seattle. During the years I’ve studied with Roberta I’ve spent some time in Italy. Whenever I return her teaching has helped me to step comfortably into the fast paced speech of daily life there. In the meantime she creates a little bit of Italy for us here in Seattle. Roberta Torgerson is a charged and truly inspired teacher.”
“A naturally gifted and passionate teacher.
Roberta Tauriello Torgerson is wonderfully talented language teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious—she loves her subject and wants you to love it, too. I started taking Italian with her about 10 years ago, with a few breaks (to have a baby and to finish a Master’s Degree at UW), but I have always returned to the class because she creates such a warm and welcoming environment for learning the most beautiful language in the world. My background is in Slavic studies, and I have taken many university-level language classes. Roberta’s class is just as challenging as those university classes, but it’s much more fun, with the added bonus of a delightful sense of camaraderie among the students. Many of us have stayed with her for years and become close friends.
Though Roberta gives her students a solid foundation in grammar and is a stickler for pronunciation, her main emphasis is on conversation. Classes often focus on Italian cuisine, literature, film, history, and current events. Learning a foreign language as an adult can be frustrating; nobody likes making mistakes or not being able to express herself clearly. Roberta takes some of the sting out of that frustration with her patience and her ability to encourage students to do their best. I can strongly recommend her for anyone who is intrigued by Italian and wants to explore the language and the culture with a naturally gifted and passionate teacher.”
“I loved the camaraderie.
My initial motivation for studying Italian was in preparation for a week long biking trip in Italy four years ago. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy learning a new language, but I returned two years ago and biked across Italy! I also wanted the challenge of learning a new language as a way to improve myself mentally. I teach people how to blow glass and think it is important as a teacher to also be a student; being a student gives me a different perspective and improves my ability as an educator. I loved the camaraderie of the other students in my class and especially the humor, passion and professionalism of Roberta.”
“It has changed my life.
I decided to take a beginner Italian class after going on a culinary group tour in Italy. Three years later, I am still studying Italian with Roberta and it has changed my life. Not only has it enriched my knowledge of everything Italian, but I actually decided to leave my full-time Human Resources Generalist position to work part-time so that I could devote as much time as possible to learning the language. Roberta is passionate and fun, and she is an amazing teacher.”