About Italian School NJ

Marilisa Zanarella

Marilisa Zanarella was born in Vicenza. She graduated from the Technical Institute A. Fusinieri in Accounting and Foreign Commerce with a degree in Business Administration. She worked as a business administrator and an accountant in Vicenza and ultimately in New York.  Marilisa lives in New Jersey with her husband, her three boys graduated college and high school but often come visit their parents and friends.

Natalia Bernini Carri 

Natalia Bernini Carri grew up in Campobasso, Italy and graduated from the University of Perugia with a degree in "Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e Territorio."  She received a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic under a scholarship program and worked as a leading engineering on major metropolitan projects in the New York area. Natalia now resides in New Jersey with her husband and children

Barbara Catino is from Salerno, although her adopted city is Naples , where she loves to take American friends who come to visit her. Barbara graduated with a  bachelor degree in Political Science at the Orientale University in Naples and worked as an  administrative manager in Salerno for over a decade. Later on Barbara became fascinated by the possibility of teaching Italian to foreigners, so she took a Master's degree in Teaching Italian L2 and began teaching to foreigners, both online and in-person. Since then Barbara has been teaching for over 10 years and completed many other teaching courses. She has worked with a few language schools in Italy and in the US.  Barbara not only works as a teacher but is also in charge of preparing the syllabus and training new teachers. In Italy Barbara also helped to insert foreigners into the working world and college. Barbara moved permanently to New Jersey in 2022 where her daughter already lived and since then she devoted herself to teaching Italian to all ages and levels both in person and online. Barbara also focused on preparing students for the B1 test for Italian Citizenship. In addition to Italian Barbara can teach and tutor Latin.

Erika-Melina Dates. With an Italian father and a Spanish mother, Melina was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina until the age of 27 when she moved to Europe with her husband. Initially living in Portugal, then Spain, and finally moved to Italy. Melina and her husband settled in Italy for a long time and started their family there welcoming their first son, born in Bergamo. After living for 5 years in Italy, they decided to move to the US where they are still residing. She has been fortunate to experience a blend of cultures and perspectives. This background has greatly influenced who she is today and how she navigates the world around her.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature and has over 5 years of experience teaching Italian and Spanish to students of all levels. Specialized in Pre K to middle school.   She is passionate about sharing the beauty of the Italian and Spanish language with her students. " My teaching approach is interactive and communicative, focusing on educational games and songs to enhance language learning at this young age. I believe in creating a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable practicing and making mistakes."
Outside of teaching Melina volunteers for her community most of the time. She is the PTA president at Valleyview Middle School and Denville Girl Scouts board member, Melina loves to give back to her community part of what she received when she arrived 14 years ago. She enjoys traveling to Spain and Italy to further immerse herself in the language and culture

Gabriela Fossati.   Gabriela is of Italian origin, and before graduating in linguistics from the University of Genoa, and before becoming a teacher, she used to work in the International Shipping Industry, both in Italy and in the US, where she was the main contact for international correspondence in Italian, English, and French. While working in Italy, she also was doing interpreting and translations in Italian, English and French. Gabriela has always had a true passion for linguistics, and teaching her language has become a passion after moving to the US and becoming a mother of two, now bilingual children. She firmly believes that bilingualism or trilingualism is of the utmost importance in an ever-changing world and also because it enhances the brain's ability to make fast-moving connections. Gabriela has been working at ISNJ since October 2021, and she teaches children and adults at all levels.  She is also the Italian instructor at Hudson County Community College in the ContinuingEducation Program since July 2020. Gabriela nourishes a deep passion for cultural activities such as movies, art, literature, but also loves outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, traveling.

Susanna Pastorino was born in Salerno. After graduating with a degree in International law from the Università of Salerno and practicing in a law firm for two years she moved to Dublin. In Ireland she lived for three years, earned a postgraduate degree in International Business at the Dublin Institute of Technology… and also met her American husband. Afterwards she moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she started teaching Italian at Arizona State University and where she also received a Master degree in Applied linguistics.  She has lived in New Jersey since 2005 with her husband and two children and has been teaching Italian at Montclair State University and Drew University since then.   Susanna loves traveling, reading, gardening and cooking.

Chiara Zanon-Russoniello, originally from Verona, Italy, Chiara moved to New Jersey in 2002 with her husband and their four children.  Chiara graduated in Italy from a classical preparatory high school for University (Liceo Classico).  She went on studying at the Verona University (Foreign Languages and Literature), while teaching German at a local High School.  Upon marrying an American Government employee, she started teaching Italian for the Education Center at the Vicenza Army Base in Vicenza, Italy, where she taught for over twelve years Italian at various levels: from Headstart classes to College level. In addition she tutored higher-ranking officers. After moving to Nutley, NJ, she has been teaching Italian, first on a voluntary basis for her Church (where she is still holding a class), then for several Language Institutes in the area. Chiara is an experienced teacher for both children and adults, including high-level managers operating with Italian companies. She has taught Italian at all levels. Chiara has also a first-hand knowledge of the Italian Elementary school curriculum, which allows her to tutor children of Italian families, and is up-to-date with both language and cultural evolution in Italy. Chiara is also very experienced in translations for various fields. In her free time Chiara collaborates as a volunteer with the Nutley Community Theater..