Our Story
Don’t Forghetti was born from a simple idea: that the best way to learn Italian is to live it.
We’re three Italian teachers who met in New York City, each of us thousands of miles from home but united by a love for our language and culture.
After years of teaching in classrooms across the world – from Germany to Russia, from Naples to Manhattan – we realized something was missing.
Our students could conjugate verbs… but they’d never ordered a caffè at a bar in a piazza!
They knew the subjunctive… but they’d never haggled at a morning market.
So we created Don’t Forghetti: an immersive Italian summer school in the places we love most.
Small classes, real conversations, and afternoons spent doing the things that make Italy, Italy – cooking, exploring, and slowing down.
No textbook tourism.
Just the Italy we grew up in, shared with people who want to experience it for real.
Meet the Team
Eleonora De Angeli
A former translator and interpreter turned language teacher, Eleonora is Cambridge-certified and has taught Italian in Germany and New York City.
She brings precision and warmth to every lesson – and an uncanny ability to explain Italian grammar in a way that actually makes sense.
Maria Luigia Gentile
DITALS-certified and endlessly patient, Maria Luigia has taught Italian in Russia and Manhattan.
She’s the one who makes sure every student feels at home, whether they’re a complete beginner or brushing up on their passato remoto.
Tonia Del Prete
A proud Neapolitan with a CEDILS certification, Tonia has taught across Europe and in New York.
She brings energy, humour, and a deep love of southern Italian culture to everything she does – expect plenty of hand gestures.
Our Approach
We keep our classes small – six students maximum – because language learning is personal.
Every programme blends structured morning lessons with afternoon cultural experiences: cooking classes, guided tours, visits to artisan studios, and plenty of time to practice over an aperitivo.
We choose locations that are authentic, not touristy, because we want our students to see the Italy that Italians actually live in.
Whether you’re joining us for your first Italian word or your hundredth conversation, you’ll leave with more than grammar – you’ll leave with memories, friendships, and a reason to come back.