Mag.a Birgit Auer
Mag.a Birgit Auer
Where I come from: South Tyrol, Italy
My language skills: Italian, English, French, Arabic
My educational background: Diploma studies in Cultural and Social Anthropology in Vienna, Palestine and Yemen; Master studies in German as a Foreign Language at the University of Vienna
My professional background: 7 years as a flight attendant with Austrian Airlines; teaching at the University of Jordan, at the Goethe-Instituts Amman and Ramallah
My teaching motto: No grammar, no fun!
Dott.ssa mag. Martina Burchini, BEd
Dott.ssa mag. Martina Burchini, BEd
Where I come from: Arezzo, Tuscany
My language skills: Italian (mother tongue), German, English, Russian, Portuguese.
My educational background: Bachelor in Linguistic and Intercultural Mediation (2009-2012) and Master in Specialized Translation (2012-2015) at the University of Bologna; European Master in Specialized Translation (METS) at the University of Leipzig and at the University of Vienna (2013-2014).
My professional background: foreign language assistant for Italian in Wiener Neustadt (2015-2016), teaching Italian at VHS Wiener Neustadt (2016-2017), ongoing work as a freelance translator (since 2014).
My teaching motto: passione e divertimento sono le chiavi per imparare con successo.
Dott.mag. Luca Cocciolo
Dott.mag. Luca Cocciolo
Where I come from: Brindisi, Italy
My language skills: Italian (mother tongue), German (C2), English (C2), Spanish (A2).
My educational background: Degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Bologna (1997); 4-month theoretical and practical training in Italian language teaching at Centro di Cultura Italiana in Bologna (1998); language assistance (6 months) in Budapest with the Socrates Program (2000), Lingua Aktion C.
My professional background: teacher at Centro di Cultura Italiana Bologna (1998-1999); language teacher at BFI Vienna since October 2000; examiner of the Matura written in Italian at IBO since May 2006; online tutor for Italian at WIFI Vienna since August 2015; language trainer for intensive courses at John Hopkins University in Bologna from September 2000 to September 2006; language teacher at the Language Center of the University of Vienna since February 2005.
My teaching motto: Learning is a pleasure
Dott.mag. Cristiana Dondi
Dott. mag. Cristiana Dondi
Where I come from: I come from Parma, but I also lived in Forlì and Trieste before moving to Vienna.
My language skills: In addition to my mother tongue Italian, I speak German and English at C2 level. I also studied French for a long time and speak a little Portuguese, B/K/S and Japanese.
My educational background: I studied Transcultural Communication (specialising in German and English) at the University of Bologna and at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz and completed a Master's degree in Conference Interpreting at the University of Trieste. I am currently studying for a doctorate in economics and social sciences at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
My professional background: I have been teaching Italian as a foreign language since 2017 and have specialised in business Italian since 2020 due to my work experience in the private sector.
My teaching motto: Languages are bridges to new worlds: With me, Italian is learnt in a communication-oriented, inclusive, culturally relevant and up-to-date way.
Chiara Francavilla, MA
Chiara Francavilla, MA
Where I come from: I come from Italy and exactly from Tuscany (Siena).
My language skills: Italian is my mother tongue. I also speak German and English.
My educational background: I studied Literature at the Università degli Studi di Siena (2016). After graduating, I did a five-month internship at the Italian Language School Società Dante Alighieri Salzburg.
My professional background: Since August 2018 I have been teaching Italian at the VHS and I also work as a tutor with Mobile Nachhilfe.
Dr. Francesca Mazzilli
Dr. Francesca Mazzilli
Where I come from: Corato, Italy
My language skills: Italian, German, English, Modern Greek
My educational background: Studies in Intercultural Communication and Theatre Studies as well as doctoral studies in German as a foreign language at the University of Bari (Italy).
My professional background: Years of experience in face-to-face and online teaching - at all levels: from language assistance at secondary school level to leading university language and linguistics courses to running integration and orientation courses.
My teaching motto: Learn with all your senses!
Barbara Pizzedaz, PhD
Barbara Pizzedaz, PhD
Where I come from: My hometown is Trento. It is located in northern Italy near the Dolomites and it became famous because of the Council in the 16th century.
My language skills: Italian (mother tongue), German, English.
My educational background: Certification "Didactics of Italian as a Foreign Language" - DILS-PG di II livello (Università per Stranieri Perugia, Italy); PhD degree in Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Foreign Language Business Communication (WU Vienna); Master's degree in Italian (University of Innsbruck); Bachelor's degree in Translation Studies DE-EN (University of Innsbruck); Master of science in Marketing Management for Service Companies (WK Trento, Italy); Diploma in Political Science (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy).
My professional background: language teacher, Italian, Language Center of the University of Vienna (since end of 2022); university assistant, business communication Italian, WU Vienna (2017-2022); language trainer, Italian, BFI Innsbruck (2013-2017); external lecturer, Italian, Institute of Translation Studies, University of Innsbruck (2012-2017); freelance technical translator, DE>IT (since 2010) ... and much more before and in between as an employee in the private sector in Austria, Italy and UK.
My teaching motto: Favorire il saper fare con l'italiano.
Claudia Salvigni Wiala
Claudia Salvigni Wiala
Where I come from: Italy
My language skills: Italian, German, English
My educational background: Degree in Political Science, University La Sapienza, Rome (1989 Doctorate); Master in Business Administration, Training Center ISDA, Rome
My professional background: Lecturer in Continuing Education, Business Institute Istituto Guglielmo Tagliacarne, Rome (Italy), Foundation of the Italian Chamber of Commerce; Italian teacher (Berlitz, VHS, BFI, WKÖ as well as various companies); since 2002 at the Language Center of the University of Vienna; since 2010 certified adult educator, WBA (WeiterBildungsAkademie Österreich, funded by the Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture).
My teaching motto: Let's give it a try
