Our Team
We are a collective of young professionals that have fallen in love with the city of Bologna.
Whether it’s relationships, business potential, or a new life in a new city; we see language as the key that opens many doors. We are honored to be able to assist our clients in accessing a world of opportunity through translation, localization, and private tutoring services.
OUR TEAM
ENGLISH WITH COLE WESTERLAND
Cole grew up in Napa Valley, California and is the Co-founder and Director of Mother Tongue. After spending five years traveling through twenty countries on four different continents, he has finally chosen to slow down and make Bologna his home. He is currently the instructor of Business English for the University of Bologna’s Bologna Business School MBA program and has experience assisting students of all ages achieve their English goals; from successful exam or interview preparation, to conversational fluency.
Italiano con LAURA CASTELLANO
Laura’s love for Italy, and passion for sharing Italian with the world, was clear from the start. Nothing makes her happier than assisting those who are preparing to make the Bel Paese their home - and she has worked tirelessly to ensure she could not be more qualified to do so. Laura holds a master’s degree cum laude (110/110) in Italian Language Acquisition from the University of Bologna, and has obtained the DILS-PG didactic certification from the University of Foreigners of Perugia. She was previously the Italian Instructor for international students attending the University of Bologna’s Bologna Business School Masters Program, and has worked closely for years with individual clients within Bologna.
Italiano con GIULIA SIDOTI
Giulia comes from Sicily and she brought her island’s passion for art and literature with her. Historically a melting pot of many different cultures at many different times; Giulia absolutely embodies this fascination for language, and the joy of sharing and interacting with foreigners. In 2022 she graduated from the University of Bologna with a masters degree in Italian Language and Literature and has also obtained the DILS-PG certification for teaching Italian to foreigners. She is fluent in Italian, English and French, and loves nothing more than helping private clients to acquire Italian and unlock all the culture that understanding the language allows.
ITALIANO CON SILVIA GRECO
Silvia’s fun, upbeat energy is a joy to be around and her smile is downright infectious. An adventurous spirit, her passion for language took her from her small seaside town in Puglia to the University of Bologna, where she graduated with a master’s degree cum laude (110/110) in Italian Language and Culture for Foreigners; all the way to the Netherlands, China, and back again to Bologna. In between assisting clients online from all over the world, she currently teaches Chinese and Italian to foreign students at the international linguistic high school C.Boldrini here in Bologna.
FRANÇAIS AVEC DR MYRIAM VIEN
When it comes to learning French, you could not be in better hands. Dr Myriam Vien comes from Montreal in Quebec, the French speaking part of Canada. There she received her PhD in French Language and Literature from the prestigious McGill University. In 2019 she came to the University of Bologna as a lecturer and now teaches French language courses for various departments within the University including Lingue, Letterature e Culture Moderne (LILEC), Scienze Politiche e Sociali (SPS), Storia Culture Civiltà (DISCI), Filologia Classica e Italianistica (FICLIT). As if all that weren’t enough, she has recently begun teaching at the Dipartimento di Lingue (FORLILPSI) and Centro Linguistico Ateneo (CLA) for the University of Florence as well.
Spagnolo con CAROLINA MARíA YUNES ICK
Carolina followed her heart from Buenos Aires to Bologna. Having traversed the world, she fell in love with Italy and we could not be more happy that she is now here to stay! Carolina holds a Master’s degree in International Accounting from the University of Buenos Aires, is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Auditing and Corporate Social Responsibility Research Center (UBA). She is fluent in both Italian and English. With vast teaching experience, she keeps connected to her roots by helping others fall in love with Spanish, knowing that it might similarly take them halfway across the globe.
Spagnolo con ALEJANDRO BAUX
Alejandro is a Mexico City native that originally came to Europe to attend the University of Salamanca where he received a degree in teaching Romance languages, literature, and culture. A professional translator, as well as writer, poet, and lyricist; Ale has a profound passion for the magic of words, the part they play in how we express ourselves, and the power of communication. He works closely with students here in Bologna, as well as connecting with clients online from all over the world.
