ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES
Winter online classes* have just begun!!!
Registration is now closed since classes have started. Please check back in a couple of months when we post our Spring Classes. To inquire about classes, message us at:
*Don't forget that Dante members receive a discount on classes, so contact us if you need the discount code when registering.
See our MEMBERSHIP PAGE to renew or become a new member
DISCOUNTS WILL BE OFFERED TO MEMBERS FOR ALL CLASSES!
Online Class Schedule Fall 2020
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Live Oak Senior Center in the Annex
(building on the right)
1777 Capitola Road - Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Simpkins Family Swim Center, Room B
979 17th Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
All Classes will be ONLINE
FRANCESCA
BENINI

was born and raised in Verona, Italy. She moved to the USA in 1998 with her husband, who is from Bologna, and their daughter. She has been teaching Italian and Italian cooking classes in every city she and her family have lived in the U.S. These include: Cincinnati, Ohio-Amici School, Santa Cruz, California-Dante Alighieri Society, Jacksonville, Florida-University of North Florida Continuing Education, and Melbourne, Florida and Irvine, California, her current home, where she conducted private classes. Francesca travels to Italy several times per year to see her family and friends. Her daughter is a student at the George Washington D.C.Law School. Francesca enjoys reading historical non-fiction and biographies, cooking, and playing mahjong. If students have questions, feel free to contact her.
MIRELLA SAVEGNAGO

was born and raised in Italy and is a graduate in education and psychology from Catholic University, Milan, and is qualified as a teacher in Italy. She has spent many years in marketing and management world-wide, but since she arrived in California in 2017 has been teaching Italian, both to groups and individuals, as well as Italian cooking. She is currently teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes for Dante. She is fluent in English and has studied French, Spanish, and Mandarin. She travels to Italy several times a year where she and her husband Francesco have a home, where her son lives. Her daughter is a UC Davis. graduated. If students have concerns about ability levels, feel free to contact this instructor.
IRENE
BARGETTO

has been teaching the Dante Conversational Italian class since 2009. Irene was born and raised in Chieri, Piemonte, Italy, where she graduated with a degree in Accounting. She also speaks French and Spanish. Irene returns to Italy every year to visit her family and to keep well connected to her Italian heritage. Over the years, Irene has enjoyed tutoring family members and friends in Italian. She lives in Soquel with her husband, Peter, and their two bilingual children, Simone and Sabrina. Irene is the Business Manager for Santa Cruz Ear, Nose and Throat Medical Group in Santa Cruz and also helps her husband with their business, Soquel Vineyards. If students have concerns about ability levels, feel free to contact this instructor.