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  • Page ID
    347587
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    About the Team
    Image of Team Member Team Member Bio
    A smiling woman with short gray hair wearing a white jacket, standing in front of a colorful abstract mural.
    Diana Ferrara Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0  
    Professoressa Diana Ferrara is an Italian instructor with nearly 20 years of experience teaching in Italy and the United States, including at De Anza College, Diablo Valley College, and Santa Clara University. She specializes in communicative, proficiency-based instruction and is committed to creating inclusive, student-centered learning environments. She develops Open Educational Resources as part of her commitment to equity and accessibility, creating materials that support diverse learners and promote real-world language use.
    Smiling woman with long hair and earphones seated against a light background, with a colorful pillow behind her.
    Marie Bertola, Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0  

    Marie Bertola is a Teaching Professor of Italian at Santa Clara University where she teaches Italian language and culture courses. A certified proficiency tester for Italian, she holds degrees from the Università degli Studi di Torino, Université Paris VII Denis Diderot, and Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle.

    A young woman smiles in front of a reflective building and a fountain, with a playful loop overhead.
    Letizia Pastore Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0 
    Letizia Pastore is currently a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studies Integrative Human Biology and Spanish Literature. Her trajectory—from her childhood in Italy to life in California—has shaped a global perspective. Drawing from personal experiences with language learning, she aims to make linguistic and cultural concepts more intuitive and accessible, helping others build confidence and find meaning in the process. This project was especially meaningful, as it provided an opportunity to share that heritage while meeting others where they are, "passo dopo passo", and fostering connection with a language and culture that remain deeply significant.
       

     

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