Maria’s thirst for language-learning drives her affinity towards teaching the Italian language to individuals who share her passion. A native speaker of the Italian language with refined knowledge in the English, Spanish, French and Croatian languages, she knows first-hand how varied foreign language teaching methodologies can be, not to mention their results. Having lived and worked (in academic settings) for extended periods of time in Ireland and Croatia, Maria possesses a thorough understanding of the challenges of language-learning. Hence, the reason for her having successfully co-authored several secondary education textbooks for Croatians learning Italian. Currently working a dynamic schedule (in Zagreb, Croatia) which includes teaching and proof-reading, she continues to deepen her pedagogical and language skills. What anchored Maria in Croatia for so many years was the potential she recognized for Croatia in terms of improving the curriculum for learning Italian as a foreign language, through innovative and creative approaches and through strengthening the brigde between the local culture and foreign cultures.Her knack for languages and her interest in people of varied backgrounds makes her a social butterfly, not to mention a social networker. Maria has a well-rounded personal and professional background—which includes working for eBay and Barclay’s Retail and Business Banking division as well as working at childrens’ camps and in museums (both in Italy and Croatia). This, together with her pronounced ‘social gene’, makes her flexible, reliable and a superb collaborator!