Fiorenza was born and raised in Italy in a bilingual French-Italian family. She has a degree in French Literature from the University of Bergamo, Italy and a post-graduate teaching license in French from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. She taught French in Italy for several years at different levels, including 5 years in public middle school.

Since moving to the United States in 2006, Fiorenza has been attending Language Arts courses at Foothill College in Los Altos and obtained a California teaching credential in French.

As a foreign language teacher, when I first meet my new students, I try to create a joyful and relaxed atmosphere. I think that this is the first condition to work successfully all together. Many students are very shy especially when they learn a foreign language and have to express themselves without using their native tongue. That is why I really try to encourage everyone not to be scared and to consider foreign language learning as an exciting and wonderful "adventure".

I often remind my students how incredible it is to be able to communicate with people who belong to different countries and cultures. Since language spreads ideas but also vehicles emotions and feelings, I strongly want my students to understand what a powerful and wonderful gift it is to be able to speak different languages.

My work gives me the great opportunity to "create" open minded people who do not have prejudices and who are curious to know different ways of life without being scared by the diversities. People who will not feel so uprooted if for any reason they will have to live in a foreign country.

When my students acquire the awareness that language learning is not simply something abstract but an important step toward the knowledge and the tolerance of other people and cultures, I believe that a large portion of my mission has been accomplished.

Fiorenza Pessi Gorini