An Evening in France: Passport Series Networking Event #3

Wednesday, Feb 22 from 5:30-7:30pm

Register Here!

In case you missed our popular Italian debut in August 2011, followed by our Germany event in November, you’re still in time to hop aboard the third in the series!! 

CBIC andSPEAK! Language Center have, once again, partnered to bring the world to Charlottesville’s innovative tech and entrepreneurial crowd – a “staycation” of sorts for the with food, wine, music, travel-related tips and trivia and prizes all while mingling with a globally-savvy professional networking crowd!

In addition to enjoying French food from Restaurant Pomme and a variety of French wines from the Market Street Wine Shop, participants will take in sights and sounds and learn about the French business culture and language, advancing their international relation skills!

To whet you’re appetites, here’s the menu from Pomme:

Toasts of smoked salmon
- Toasts of goat cheese with apples
- Mini lamb chops
- Boeuf bourguignon
- Poulet in tarragon sauce
- Chocolate mousse

You won’t need to pack your bags for this mini-vacation, but you will want to RSVP in advance as there are a limited number of seats aboard this party cruise, so to SPEAK!

Thanks to CBIC’s Passport Series Sponsor: Gardner L. Bloemers, Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch: http://fa.ml.com/gardner.bloemers

Please park in the WATER STREET PARKING GARAGE. 2-hr validation will be available at the event, compliments of SPEAK!

For questions about this event or to get involved as a sponsor or volunteer, please contact Tracey Danner, CBIC’s Interim Executive Director, at executive@cvillebic.org or (434) 242-5886.

Bonjour!

*  The Passport Afterhours is a series of three networking socials hosted by CBIC and SPEAK!, each to feature the sounds, tastes, and sights of a different culture.

Details:

• Instructor: Sara Moses (Spanish Instructor at the International School of Charlottesville)
• Lesson times: 8:30am-2:30pm
• Course dates: April 2-6, 2012
• Ages: 5-9 (if your child a slightly older or younger sibling – 4 or 10 – , they are welcome to participate!).
• Tuition: $275 (additional siblings $250)
• Extra Charge for early dropoff/late pickup: $10 per day per student (30 min. maximum for early dropoff or late pickup)

To REGISTER, click here!

p.s. SUMMER CAMPS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS MONTH!

J. Emerson Fine Wine and Cheese of Richmond presents:

   A TASTE OF ITALY

   Umbria and the Veneto

with Special Guest Christina Ball of

Speak! Language Center

Wednesday, February 1st

  5:30 to 7:00pm

at J. Emerson Fine Wine and Cheese

5716 Grove Avenue

Richmond, Va 23226

J. Emerson, Richmond’s premier purveyor of fine wine and cheese, invites you to sample Italian wines from Umbria and the Veneto and meet Speak! Language Center Director, Christina Ball to learn more about the rich culture of these sumptuous regions of Italy and the 2012 Listen, Learn, Live! summer travel seriesfor writers, opera lovers or those who wish to be immersed in Italian language and culture. 

This event is free! Registration kindly requested:

REGISTER HERE!

http://speaktravel2012.eventbrite.com

Enrico's precious cargo: pecorino di Crotone (Calabria), Biscotti di Prato, olive paste

My husband, Enrico, returned home from two weeks in Tuscany last night.  Each January he leads a group of university students to Prato for a crash course in a region celebrated for centuries by writers and artists. I guess you could say it’s the college counterpart to the course I lead in Umbria each spring and fall: Two Weeks in Todi,. When I return from Umbria, exhausted from the journey, the first thing I do upon walking into our bungalow is unzip my suitcase and pull out my precious cargo: pecorino cheese (shrink-wrapped) and dried lentils from Castelluccio di Norcia, award-winning olive oil (in a tin can, for obvious reasons) from Marcello’s specialty shop in Todi, salt flavored with black truffles, maybe a bottle of sweet Sagrantino passito wine and usually 3 or 4 rustic, terra-cotta colored ceramic cups from Bevagna. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, sure, but bringing Italy home in our suitcases certainly makes for a delicious reunion.

This morning, Enrico handed me a bright blue bag of biscotti to enjoy with my coffee. Not just any biscotti, but the Platonic ideal of biscotti, the holy grail of almond biscuits. You see, the baked confection that has become synonymous with the word ‘biscotto’ in the States is actually a mutated (i.e. “on steroids”) version of a very specific cookie from Tuscany: the biscotto di Prato, also called the cantuccio (lit. “little corner”) di Prato. Why Prato? Because it was in this lovely and lively city located only only 17 kilometers from Florence, that a baker named Antonio Mattei (nicknamed “Mattonella”) perfected the recipe for his family’s traditional Tuscan almond cookies – 150 years ago this year. The cookies – tiny, golden, perfectly crunchy -  are still sold in Mattei’s original bakery at 22 Via Ricasoli (Prato’s elegant shopping street), which boasts original wood and marble counters, many framed awards from the 19th century and the original painted wooded sign on the exterior. I would’ve loved a January visit to Prato myself, but all I needed to do was open the bright blue paper sack and taste almond perfection to experience Tuscany from the comfort of my own kitchen.  As far as travel gifts go, regional, portable, edible Italian specialties make much better gifts than T-shirts…although Enrico did also bring me some clingy, basic black cotton tops from my favorite intimate apparel shop: Intimissimi – for my benefit, or his?

What precious cargo do you always bring home from Italy?

Shrink-wrapped pecorino stagionato, olive oil in a tin: open them and taste Umbria

Travel Tip:  Avoid crowds of tourists and get a better value for your euro by staying in Prato instead of Florence on your next trip to Tuscany. A lovely city in its own right, Prato boasts an elegant centro storico with lovely shops, a first class contemporary art museum, the celebrated textile museum and, of course, biscotti heaven. There are many lodging options, but my husband and his students found the bed and breakfast Accanto al Centro, to be very clean, friendly and central. Frequent trains zip you over to Firenze in a matter of minutes.

Piazza Duomo in Prato: Tuscany without the tourists

]]> http://speaklanguagecenter.com/bringing-italy-home/feed/ 2 http://speaklanguagecenter.com/travel-to-italy-with-speak-travel-event-jan-28/ http://speaklanguagecenter.com/travel-to-italy-with-speak-travel-event-jan-28/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:25:20 +0000 christina http://speaklanguagecenter.com/?p=2954 Speak!  Travel presents:

DREAMING OF ITALY

2012 Travel Programs for Opera, Italian Language and Creative Writing Lovers!

Discover Speak!’s 2012 Travel Programs in ITALY

Reception and Informative Presentation

Saturday, January 28 from 5:30-7pm

at Speak! Language Center

Event Hosts:

Christina Ball, owner of Speak! and leader of Dreaming in Umbria and Two Weeks in Todi

Mary Ann Archer and Patrizia Johnson: Leaders of Opera in Italia

RSVP by leaving a reply below or leaving a message at: (434) 245-8255

Hosted by Speak!’s German instructor, Felicia Winograd

Friday, January 27

5:30-7:30pm at Speak!

Bring a dish to share!

A message from Felicia:

Nun hat sich die Mehrheit fuer den 27. Januar um 17:30 ausgesprochen und ich freue mich bereits Euch alle etwas naeher kennen zu lernen. Wenn die aelteren Kinder mitkommen moechten waere dass toll und jeder wie er meint an Speisen. Wir lassen uns Ueberraschen! …..oh, und wenn Ihr Freunde habt, die Interesse am Deutsch lernen haben, oder sich nur etwas unterhalten wollen…dann bringt Sie doch einfach mit!

Felicia  

German instructor Felicia Winograd landed in Charlottesville just a few months ago from the snowy peaks of Aspen, Colorado. A native of Munich, Felicia has taught German to adults as well as children (at a Waldorf School) for many years. New to town, she quickly discovered the language +culture hub of Charlottesville -  Speak! -  and we are thrilled to announce her new role as our lead “German for Kids and Families” instructor! Felicia will also join Carol Del Vitto in developing our German program for adults. With the holidays fast approaching and many of our holiday camps at or approaching maximum numbers, I wasted no time in scheduling not just one, but two GERMAN CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS with Felicia for different age groups. My 10 year-old daughter – a budding singer preparing for an audition for Mozart’s Magic Flute – was the first to sign up for the Sunday session. Here are the details:

Christmas in Germany: Language+Craft Workshop
Saturday, December 17 from 9am-Noon (4-8 year-olds)
Sunday, December 18 from 2-5pm (9-12 year-olds)
$35 per child REGISTER TODAY!!!

Come and make traditional German tree ornaments and crafts, create fragrant, clove-spiked oranges and tangerines and explore the culture and music of Germany. While immersed in crafts learn the songs, rhymes and taste some delicious sweets. You will hear about the “Christkindlmarkets” and learn to understand and improve your German language skills. German is taught in an expressive and informal way that makes learning fun. Felicia is a native speaker from Munich and a former Waldorf School German teacher.

More info on our other holiday camps here!

“When is the best time to visit ITALY?” is a question I get asked about every few weeks or so. It could be at a cocktail party, in the check-out line at Whole Foods (maybe it’s the products I buy, but the conversation always shifts to Italy and the fact that I lead travelers there as part of my job) or at an Italian, French or Spanish class at Speak! This question is asked in person, on the phone, email, facebook and twitter by strangers, students, friends, friends of friends and distant relatives who emerge as soon as they begin to contemplate their long-yearned for European vacation (hopefully, with my help, not resembling National Lampoon’s in the least!). Quando, Christina? Dimmi quando, quando, quando!

Although they generally want a one or two word answer (in the form of a season or particular month), I always challenge people by explaining that Italy has both distinct political regions (twenty, to be exact) and geographic areas: mountain ranges like the Alps and Appenines, islands like Elba, Sicily and Sardegna, coastal microclimates such as in Liguria (that basil pesto is famous for a reason), cities located in potentially sweltering and smog filled valleys like Florence and others located along breezy coasts such as Genova and Otranto in Puglia or on pleasantly or unpleasantly windy hilltops such as Ravello, Orvieto, Cortona and Gubbio. Whether I’m in the check-out line or seated next to someone on a cross-Atlantic flight, whenever this topic comes up I also try to ask a lot of questions in order to determine the type of traveler I am talking to: their preferences  – city, mountain or coast? big cities or small towns? major monuments or off-the-beaten-path? warm sea breezes or cool mountain air? – before making an educated reply to their question.  I wouldn’t want to suggest Rome in August to someone who hates big cities and sweltering summer heat or to someone interested in getting a feel for what the locals do in Rome in that month (since most are not actually in Rome or Florence, for that matter, but at the beach or in the mountains!). If someone loves hilltowns and is eager to experience Tuscany or Umbria, I would explain that these central regions are beautiful in just about every month. If someone loves opera and wants to visit Verona, I would definitely recommend visiting in the summer when they could enjoy opera live in the historic arena (they can even do so with Speak! in July 2012!). I have experienced Christmas and New Year’s in Bologna, Pisa, Torino, Milan and Todi and loved each place for its traditional festivals, streets filled with shoppers and the smell of roasted chestnuts, the outdoor celebrations animated by fireworks, spumante and Panettone, so I always recommend visiting Italy for the winter holiday season. I also usually inquire about budget as there are certainly loads of discounts in many regions during the off-season and the relative lack of other tourists makes it much easier not only to find a table or a ticket, but also to interact in a meaningful way with the locals – which is the major mission of all Speak! travel programs and courses, naturalmente.  But when I really want to condense my answer down into a few short but sweet tips, here is what I say:

• IN A WORD, OR TWO: Despite Italy’s unique geography and the seasonal nature of much of Italian life, the best month to travel to Italy in one word is : SEPTEMBER.  I love September because the weather is still warm in most of the country. The sea waters are still warm enough to swim in, such that if you travel to islands like Sicily or coastal regions like the Salentine peninsula in Puglia you’ll find uncrowded beaches ideal for swimming and sunning and lower rates on still-open hotels. In two words is: JUNE and SEPTEMBER. Although early JUNE can tend to be rainier in many regions than September, both months are ideal as you can usually get a sense of two different seasons : Spring and Summer (in mid June) and Summer and Fall (in mid September). It’s not a coincidence that I schedule my Two Weeks in Todi course for June and September each year – when we can experience everything from flowering fields of lentils in the spring to sunset drives past vines sagging with plump clusters of Sagrantino grapes in September.

Sagrantino ready for the picking in September (Umbria!)

• CHIUSO PER FERIE: Try to avoid cities like Rome and Florence in the month of August – or at least be aware that many cities and even smaller towns empty out during that month as the entire country goes on vacation. The sign “chiuso per ferie” (closed for holiday) is a common sight!

• The Ups and the Downs: Pay attention to altitude and whether your destination is on the coast or in a valley. There can be 10-15 degree differences between a town in the valley and another on a hill, between a resort on the coast and another that’s land-locked. The fact that many places in Italy don’t have air conditioning or heating systems that will keep most North Americans happy, is an important detail to consider.

• FOUR SEASONS: If you can, try to visit the same region or town several times in order to experience it in at least two, but ideally all four seasons. That way, you’ll really get to know and appreciate the different festivals, smells, natural cycles, food and drink, and even the fashions of a single place. I am teaching Italian to a family who will be spending an entire year in the Umbrian hilltown of Spello starting next summer. I am so excited for them as I know they will get to truly experience “Le Quattro Stagioni di Spello” and fall intimately in love with a place in a way that would not be possible if they just visited for a month in the summer. Of course, the fact that they will be able to speak italiano will make their experience all the richer!

Buon viaggio!

December 6, 2011

Speak! is looking forward to working with SNL Financial, a financial intelligence company that provides breaking news, financial data and analysis for banking, insurance, financial services, real estate, energy and media & communications. Headquartered in Charlottesville, SNL has offices around the country and globe. SNL has entrusted Speak! with finding top-quality translators for its new Asian product line.

Dreaming in Umbria

Creative Writing Workshop with Martha McPhee

PROGRAM DATES:

• June 9-16, 2012
• Registration opens November 15

Ready to plunge into your writing and be inspired by Italy?  Dreaming in Umbria is designed to support and challenge you as an artist, while also pampering you with luxurious lodgings, exquisite Umbrian food and wine, natural beauty and encounters with fun and friendly people. After a delicious breakfast, our days will begin mid-morning with an interactive, intensive two-hour writing workshop taught by novelist, Martha McPhee, in the stylish Roccafiore conference room.  In the afternoons participants – with the guidance of Italianist Christina Ball – will have time to explore the charming hilltop town of Todi, attend excursions to nearby culinary and architectural sites; attend cooking classes and wine tastings; or simply relax, write, dream, swim in the lovely Roccafiore pool, or enjoy a treatment at its celebrated spa.  Martha will hold private conferences with each student at least once over the course of the week and Christina will be available to help with language or travel questions both before and during the course itself. In the evenings, student readings and discussions on publishing and the literary life will follow sumptuous dinners. Dreams will surely follow.

Got a question about Dreaming in Umbria? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us by phone, email or Skype.

WORKSHOP LEADERS:

MARTHA McPHEE is the author of the novels Dear Money, L’America, Gorgeous Lies, and Bright Angel Time.  Her work has been honored with fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.  In 2002 she was nominated for a National Book Award.  Her novels have been Best Books of The Year on The New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune lists.  Her essays and reviews have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Newark Star Ledger, Vogue, More, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Traveler, Travel & Leisure, among many others. McPhee is a tenured member of the English Department at Hofstra University. She lives in New York City with her children and husband, the poet and writer Mark Svenvold.

Read Martha’s article about her experience in Umbria – Unforgotten Italy – in More Magazine.

Find out more about Martha and her numerous publications on her website.

CHRISTINA BALL is the owner and director of Speak! Language Center and the creator of multiple Italy language and travel experiences such as Two Weeks in Todi, Opera in Italia and, with Martha McPhee, Dreaming in Umbria. Christina has either lived, studied in or traveled to just about every one of Italy’s 20 regions including Bologna (as a Fulbright Scholar), Cortona (as resident interpreter to a study abroad program), Rome (as a study abroad student), Pisa (as a home owner and sabbatical resident) and, of course, Todi in Umbria.  In 1998, Christina earned a doctorate in Italian Language and Literature from Yale University. She has been teaching all aspects of Italian language and culture – from the basics for travelers to creative writing in Italian – for 22 years. Her true passion is helping people find inspiration for their own lives and work through unique educational and travel experiences.  Christina can’t wait to introduce you to the cultural wonders of Umbria!

Martha and Christina share some laughs at the Marmore waterfalls in Umbria