I have had the pleasure of studying with Davide Valenti for almost six years, and I can say with all honesty that he is one of the most incredible professors you will ever have. Though currently a senior at Mountain Pointe High School, I have been able to earn college credits through Scottsdale Community College through credit by examination, a unique opportunity that he alone has been able to provide. So, why would his teaching allow me to truly be productive, get a jumpstart on my future? What does he have to offer? He brings a unique appreciation for culture, a genuine love for language, a real interest in the world of grammar. He brings the motivation needed to fully invest himself in the student, caring and embodying such patience, while also exploring language, exposing its complexities for what they truly offer: beauty. Taking full advantage of the exceptional teaching techniques of Davide, I have been privileged enough to delve into great works of literature, plunge into challenging grammatical exercises, and truly understand Italy—its history, its culture, its people. Harnessing his zeal and his knowledge to create a gripping curriculum engulfed by an inviting learning environment, accompanied by a touch of professionalism, Davide will allow your language skills to flourish and your understanding of culture to grow. He will allow you to know, truly believe that you are capable of uttering such beauty. He will change your perspective on learning languages, just as he has mine.

My husband and I started studying Italian with Davide Valenti after trying to learn to speak Italian via a set of CDs and Rosetta Stone. Our goal was to be able to travel to Italy and become immersed in the culture and more importantly, communicate both orally and in writing with our relatives that live in Italy. While we picked up some phrases and words through the CDs and Rosetta Stone we were missing a basic understanding of the structure and grammar of the language that presented limitations to our speaking the language. In our studies with Davide we have progressed far beyond the entire CD set and Rosetta Stone course. After only eight lessons with Davide we were able to communicate and make ourselves understood in Italian. As busy professionals, it is often hard to find the time necessary to learn a foreign language. Davide provides enough challenge so that we are learning at a college level, yet in a relaxed and informal atmosphere that is suitable for adult learners. Due to Davide’s charm and personality, the lessons are fun and enjoyable events that we look forward to.

I first fell in love with the Italian language, long ago, during childhood visits to the home of my Italian-speaking grandparents.  The sound of it was mesmerizing and I vowed to someday be able to communicate with them.  But alas, other childhood activities took precedence and that goal was pushed aside.  The “hip” language of the day through high school and college happened to be French, so I joined the masses and studied hard. However, after a couple of visits to Italy, those childhood feelings came flooding back, and I sorely regretted that I never realized that childhood dream of studying Italian.

Enter Davide!

I signed up for beginning Italian at Scottsdale Community College – was nervous as all get out – mainly because I had been a teacher for the past 20 years, and I didn’t think I would fall into the role of student so gracefully.  But, after meeting Davide, my fears were laid to rest.  Here was a teacher who was a master of his craft.  He knew all the ins and outs of the language, spoke it beautifully, and presented it in such a way that it was neither intimidating nor overwhelming. The semester flew by, and I was hooked.

I decided to take advantage of his private tutoring, and am so pleased with my progress. Our sessions consist of actual conversations now, and it’s not just about the food taken on a picnic.  The beauty is, I can understand what Davide says to me. He never laughs at my pronunciation, just gently corrects it, and is forever encouraging.

He’s accommodating of my schedule, and flexible with locations that fit into my whereabouts on the day of lessons.  With patience that is unending, and some humor thrown in, the lessons have become something that I look forward to each week.  I have learned so much, but have had fun in the process, and feel I have not only a terrific teacher, but a new friend as well.

It is without reservation that I recommend Davide if you share my desire to become proficient in Italian!

I am a practicing physician in Scottsdale and as a youngster spoke Italian at home with my parents. I have unfortunately forgotten most of what I knew since I have had no need to speak it for over 30 years. In the past couple of years I have taken trips to Italy and plan to go again this year. Although I have some workable knowledge of the language, I felt I needed some practical experience to become more proficient. I was introduced to Davide Valenti and immediately made the decision to have him tutor me. We meet for one and a half hours weekly and he has established a college style curriculum for me, i.e. textbook, workbook, homework etc. Davide is a kind, patient (thank goodness) and very knowledgeable person. I can unequivocally and happily recommend him to anyone interested in learning the most beautiful of all languages.

It is a pleasure to recommend Davide Valenti as an Italian instructor. I studied under Davide for approximately two years, and enjoyed our work together. Davide is a gifted teacher, who is always prepared to move you forward each and every lesson. He is kind in making corrections that are needed, carefully explaining the correct usage of words or phrases and, on occasion when warranted, how to express alternate usages. As a practicing psychoanalyst, I am keenly aware of how humiliating learning and practicing a new language can sometimes be. I can honestly say that I never felt that with Davide whose patience, more often than not, exceeded mine. I wanted to learn to speak Italian, having heard it spoken on both sides of my family as a child and young adult. Both of my parents are now gone, and I miss the music of the language that I heard as a child but could never understand. Davide brought that music back to me along with understanding. I highly recommend him to you.

I am a middle-aged lawyer with no talent for languages, and no Italian roots, but a deep affection for and interest in Italy. If you want to learn the language, Davide is an excellent teacher. Languages are difficult for adults, and Davide is patient and encouraging, but still persistent enough to keep you on task. I recommend him without qualification.

I began meeting with Davide four years ago for private Italian lessons after completing two years of Italian at Scottsdale Community College. I study Italian because it provides me with a challenge unrelated to my everyday job of practicing law. It forces me to utilize parts of my brain that otherwise would become stagnate. Working one on one with Davide requires me to truly learn the language. Unlike in a classroom setting, there is no other student you can hide behind nor can you pray that you won’t be called on in class because you are the class.

What I especially enjoy about my weekly Italian lessons is that I have no special skill with languages. Every session compels me to study long and hard and I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I avoid making a total fool of myself.

Davide is an extremely skilled teacher and I especially appreciate that Davide grew up speaking Italian and therefore speaks it naturally. I intend on studying with Davide until I become completely fluent in Italian.

I studied Italian with Davide while a Sophomore and Junior in high school (Brophy Prep). I like languages, having studied Spanish in grade school and French all four years of high school. Studying with Davide is the ideal method of learning the language. Although I met with him for only two hours a week, instead of five hours a week for high school French, and although I studied with him for only little more than a year, instead of four years of French, my Italian is better than my French (my SAT score in Italian Junior year was 740).

I went to Italy by myself for a month the summer between my Junior and Senior years to study Italian further at a school in Verona, and was able to communicate with no difficulty, often being mistaken for an Italian. Davide was an excellent teacher, and the sessions with him were a lot of fun. And the one-on-one experience was a nice contrast to the class room teaching of high school.