In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John and Pat welcome Addison Basile, a Georgetown graduate, Fulbright Scholar, and linguistics and psychology major, to discuss her passion for Italian language and culture. The conversation explores Italian American identity, the role of language in shaping belonging, and how Addison even used the podcast itself as part of her linguistic research.

Addison reflects on tutoring Italian at Georgetown, which inspired her to launch the Instagram account “ciaoitaddy”, where she shares accessible lessons on Italian language and culture. She also discusses the unique perspective of teaching as a non-native speaker and explains why curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to make mistakes are essential to language learning.

The episode concludes with a discussion of Addison’s senior thesis, which examined how Italians perceive second-language speakers in everyday interactions. Her research found that genuine effort and a desire to communicate are often valued more than grammatical perfection. The hosts also highlight the importance of supporting young scholars and initiatives like Italian American Future Leaders to strengthen ties between Italy and the Italian American community.

HOSTED BY:
John Viola
Patrick O’Boyle

SPECIAL GUEST:
Addison Basile

PRODUCED BY:
Nicholas Calvello-Macchia