Language Instructor
October 20, 2023
Are you one of the few that had taken a foreign language class in high school? Or one of the greater numbers that had experienced the excitement of being bilingual in college? I wasn’t. (customary two-word sentence) In my younger years I had no interest in traveling abroad or becoming a movie star that would benefit from it. However, my thoughts have changed with the ever-expanding social media platforms and the ability to ‘reach out’ and communicate with others worldwide. With that said…
‘Meet’ Sara Zanelletti: Language Instructor – Rick
Prologue:
Like my other interviewees, Sara comes to us with some added surprises, which I discovered during my interview about her career as a language instructor. Born and raised in Italy, she now resides in Los Angeles teaching her native language to others, including high profile Hollywood elites as well as you or I. This is her story with the surprises included.
Sfondo: Background
What was life, like growing up in Italy? I asked Sara early on during our interview and immediately she replied. “In retrospect, growing up in Italy was pleasant, she began, “Being born there, I always took it for granted until…this question!”
“I had a happy-go-lucky childhood,” she continued, “even though it was marked by, as probably everyone had, issues with my parents. Niente fuori dalla norma (Nothing out of the ordinary).”
Sara added, “I started going to a dance school, ballet, at the age of six because my mom saw an ad in the newspaper. I shrugged my shoulders and said: ‘That’s fine”. I can’t tell if I really liked dancing at the beginning but after all I fell in love and decided to make it a career. I didn’t play any other sports except volleyball at school once a week and some running. I just focused on dancing.”
“In Italy, sport at school isn’t as prominent as it is in the US. If you decide to pursue a sport professionally, you will have to take courses outside of school. I didn’t like studying, everything that involved an obligation. I didn’t excel, I survived, was her reply when I had inquired if she had participated in any youth groups, clubs or having played any sports.
Per amore della danza: For the Love of Dance
Following up on her early start in dancing, Sara expressed the following along with her travels. “I traveled a lot around Europe when I was a professional dancer. I met, worked with people from different cultures. In 2008 a life-changing break: I got a contract to work in Las Vegas for the renowned company ‘Cirque du Soleil’, as a dancer and co-protagonist with Criss Angel. One-of-a-kind life experience.”
“This job allowed me to discover a bit more about the US and not just that. I visited San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Canada, New York, Korea (for a show), Shanghai, and LA. On my bucket list there’s Japan. I can’t wait to go there. I’m passionate about their way of living. I’d like to embrace it, be part of it for a few weeks,” she says.
Autore pubblicato; Published Author
While doing some background research on Sara, I had come across one of those hidden gems that if you don’t ask, they usually won’t tell. Hers is as big as her teaching ability. Sara has written a book, and it has been published.
“Yes, my book “Non ho chiesto l’America’” came out in Italy last year,” she humbly says when asked if she were the author that penned it. “I did not ask for America”, as you wrote, would be the right translation, but it wouldn’t sound right and will have a different title. I don’t have a publisher here in the US, so for now the pdf is on my desktop!”
“The protagonist is Giulia, my alter ego. It is based on my life experience,” Sara opined.
Below is a synopsis of “Non ho chiesto l’America’”
Giulia is six years old when first sets foot in a dance school. She’s there to please her mother, to meet new friends and to fill the melancholy childhood days otherwise spent dreaming of the future. After many years of ‘not fitting in’ in anything, Giulia boards a plane. Destination: America.
In this dispatch from Los Angeles, Sara Zanelletti recounts the loves, dreams and disenchantments of this ambitious young protagonist as she struggles with the uncertainty of a life in the arts. From childhood dance classes with her ruthless teacher to the blinding spotlights of sunny Las Vegas, from afternoons at the disco to the cocktail parties in the Hollywood Hills, from her rowdy childhood friendships to the cultural barriers, surrounded by her loneliness in a foreign land.
And yet, the Atlantic will not be the only ocean that Giulia must cross. Life presents us with endless waves, storms and bright skies before we can reach that destination which perhaps, after all, is only within us *
At the moment, she says of her writing, she’s focusing on screenwriting and has written a pilot loosely based on her book and, also, working on a feature.
If you’re interested in purchasing her book, currently available only in Italian, here’s the link. I didn’t ask for America : Zanelletti, Sara: Amazon.it: Books
Amore per le lingue: Love for Languages
Unlike myself, I discovered, Sara does love languages. And she was quick to the point when asked. “I love languages. I studied French, German, English, and Latin. I studied in England as well. I speak Italian fluently (really?!) English and I’ve been studying Spanish online with a wonderful Colombian teacher.”
She then offered this, “My English definitely got better when I moved to the US. Being in a country where you are immersed in their native language is an exciting, nevertheless challenging learning experience.”
L’istruttore: The Instructor
“I started teaching Italian as a way to support myself in LA.” Sara began on her career as an instructor.
And as far as rating the difficulties of learning Italian, she added, “I wouldn’t define learning Italian from 1-10 because it depends on different factors.” she says and continued. “The time you put into it, how focused you are and also if you have a bit of aptitude, inclination to learn a language. It’s a process like everything else you want to learn in your life but with the right instructor you can accomplish great results. After fourteen years of teaching, I know how to easily explain certain topics and make it easier for anyone. My strength is conversation.”
Above, is how well Sara communicates…Sopra, è come Sara comunica bene
“I even made my dog Giorgio speak! It’s about communication, how you talk to a student, the words you use and how amusing you made the lesson. My background is in the entertainment world so… I tell you; you’ll have fun, or you’ll have your money back! No, I won’t give the money back, I’m just funny!”
When asked if she had taught any high-class Hollywood elites, she sites, “Yes I worked and still work with clients from big film studios. Clients find me online and I also have an agency that provides me clients. I taught a few stars and public figures, Sara says but prefers, “not to release names for privacy purposes. I’m so honored to have these opportunities. Most of my clients are in the movie industry, producers, executives, creative people, without telling you how many I met at the dog park here in LA! In some shape or form everyone is involved in entertainment.” She concluded this topic, excitedly with, ” Recently I’ve translated some footage for a documentary that will be released on Netflix, about a famous Italian athlete.”
Intervistatore trasformato: Turned Interviewer
Another surprise that cropped up was that Sara was doing my gig too, but in a different format, by video. What brought this on, I queried.
“During quarantine, I started interviewing people in Italian & English, on Instagram/Facebook. I’ve reached ninety-one interviews with a lot of public figures,” she begun.
Above is Sara’s interview with Julie Pacino, Al’s daughter
“For example, Julie Pacino, Al Pacino’s daughter, Wendy Starland, who discovered Lady Gaga, Sarah Edmondson, from the HBO documentary ‘The Vow” and so on,” Sara said. “Thanks to this I was also able to collaborate with Vanity Fair Italia for social media. Social media gives you a precious opportunity to create your brand and be discovered by potential clients,”
You can find these interviews on Sara’s social media sites; I’ll include links below.
Parliamo di me, Rick: Let’s talk about me, Rick
Never knowing what its answer may bring, the final question…”I’m not sure who followed whom first, but what was it in my profile, posts or personality that drew you to hit the ‘follow’ spot by my name,” I asked and anxiously awaited Sara’s response.
“I started following you when in your account I read ‘Cancer Chronicles.’ The combination of the two words drew my attention. You and everyone else who goes through this journey, could be my friend, my mom, my dad or even myself. It makes me think more and more how connected we all are and how important it is to be empathic,” she concluded.
Writers Note:
I’d like to sincerely thank Sara for her time, kindness and heartfelt reason for following me on social media, which I had no prior knowledge to until now. Many of you know 2023 has filled me with nothing but turmoil and knowing that part of my journey has brought such a learned soul as Sara to my extended family is an honor. Cancer is no joke and even the slightest amount of support to someone with the disease can be life changing in and of itself. From the bottom of my heart and speaking on behalf of all cancer fighters, I tip my hat to you and say thank you. And by the way, I cannot play a musical instrument either. But they do make nice props. Someday soon I’ll learn the violin as will you and the guitar! – Rick
Sara’s social media sites:
Sara – Italian Lessons (@myitalianlessons) • Instagram
Sara Z (Zanelletti) (@sara_zanelletti) • Instagram
myitalianlessons.com
If you’re not already, please follow my ‘social media’ sites listed below.
Rick Ollie (@rickollie) • Instagram
Rick Ollie (@rickollie) on Threads
Rick Ollie (@rickollie) / X (twitter.com)
Rick Ollie (@rickollie) | TikTok
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