Giovanni was born and raised in Italy and is a dedicated language educator with extensive experience teaching Italian and Spanish at various levels. His teaching emphasizes communication, cultural immersion, and student engagement. He specializes in teaching Italian to speakers of other Romance languages and strongly values multilingual backgrounds; students who speak additional foreign languages are warmly encouraged to bring their linguistic knowledge into the classroom. Giovanni believes that language learning goes beyond grammar: it is fundamentally about connecting with people and cultures. His approach fosters confidence in speaking and comprehension through real-world practice.
During the summer, Giovanni teaches at the Scuola Italiana of Middlebury College’s Language Schools, where he also helps organize cultural events. He is the Founder and Co-Director of WorldLangAmerica, a non-profit organization that connects high school and university students across the U.S., Canada, Italy, France, and Germany through meaningful language exchanges.
Giovanni is currently a Lecturer of Spanish and Italian at North Park University and the College of DuPage, and he also teaches Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago. In addition to his teaching, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago, where his research focuses on travel narratives, colonial Pacific literature, and translation studies. He holds a Master’s degree in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Italian Studies from Middlebury College. His research examines how language and cultural mediation shape colonial encounters, and he has presented his work at numerous international conferences. Giovanni has been recognized for his teaching excellence and contributions to language education. His goal is to continue expanding opportunities for language learners worldwide.
Motto: Practice makes perfect!
Faculty Spotlight: Giovanni Minicucci, read more (Middlebury College Blog).
