About Noemi
My name is Noemi. I was born in Rivoli, Italy, where I lived until I was 18. Since the age of 21, I have been living in Barcelona, where I have trained as a translator and teacher of Italian, deepening my knowledge of Spanish, French, Catalan and Portuguese.
I graduated in Linguistic Mediation at the University of Turin and Translation and Interpreting at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. I have been teaching Italian for more than 20 years.
My professional experience in Barcelona started in international companies teaching Italian and Spanish courses to professionals. Later, I have also been involved in training teenagers, working in private academies in Barcelona. I have also taught adults in public schools and cooperative projects in the last six years. In all my courses, the well-being of people, a good atmosphere and playfulness are a priority to promote learning that is pleasant, accessible, and that responds to the needs of each student. I am an avid reader of essays, novels and poetry and am passionate about history and philosophy. I also love nature, cooking and bicycles.
In conversation with Noemi
What inspired you to learn a second language?
Initially, I wanted to learn to give myself a competitive edge in the job market. However, when I was studying, I discovered the pleasure of communicating with a wider variety of people, and I was connecting with them through more topics than I usually did with others in my own language.
What differences has speaking multiple languages made to your life?
Speaking multiple languages has literally saved my life, or at least it has made it a thousand times better than it would be otherwise. I can now access useful information that has helped me develop my character and build myself professionally. It’s enabled me to connect with those who do not speak my native language and some of which have become my chosen family.
What would you say to someone who doesn’t know what language to learn?
I would say to choose the language of a country you would like to spend more time in. If you are not planning to travel there because you are not able to or for any other reason, look around you. Which cultures exist in your neighbourhood? Which languages would help you to create new connections in your community?
How many languages do you speak? Do you have a favourite? Are any more useful or subjectively better and why?
I speak six and a half languages; Italian, Spanish, Catalan, English, French, and Portuguese. The half language I speak is Neapolitan because I am only able to understand it, but cannot speak it. The more useful languages to me are Spanish and Catalan, as I live in Catalonia.
What do you think the best way to learn a new language is? E.g. Apps, tutors, independent research etc.
It depends on your current situation in life and the opportunities available to you. I think that the best way is by using a tutor because they are better able to introduce you into the culture. Though if you don’t have enough time apps and textbooks are great as they’re specifically designed for autonomous study. In any case, the more you listen to a new language the faster you will improve. Music, films, and podcasts are great resources!
What is your favourite language and why?
This is a very difficult question! If we talk about the comfort of use with a language, then Italian and Spanish are my favourites. Italian is because it is my native language, and Spanish because it allows me to access a lot of cultural knowledge in fields of study that I have found very interesting, such as psychology, philosophy, politics, and agriculture.
In terms of cultural appreciation however, I love Catalan because it reminds me a lot of Neapolitan and other regional Italian languages. My family never taught me Neapolitan because of the stigmatisation of southern Italians in Northern Italy, so I am only able to listen to it, not speak it. For me Neapolitan and Catalan are languages that have been able to resist oppression from those who would want to make them disappear, and they have preserved a lot of cultural knowledge that is now at risk of disappearing.