The Intrepid Guide | Intrepid Italian with Michele Opiniones 

I was attracted to the Intrepid Italian VIP 1:1 Coaching Programme for the individualized language course. I worked one-on-one with a coach, identifying my goals, and tailoring the program to meet them.
It takes a lesson or two to find the right balance between grammar and conversation. And if tweaks are needed as you go along, no problem. Michele monitors your progress to make sure you're moving in the right direction.
The big win for me was getting over my fear of speaking--I feel far more confident, even though I know I still have further to go.
I would definitely recommend the program for anyone who is serious about advancing in Italian.

After a trip to Italy last year, I fell in love with everything— the food, the culture, the atmosphere… and yes, especially the food. But one thing held me back: I couldn’t speak the language. Not being able to connect with the incredible people I met felt like a huge missed opportunity.
I knew I’d be going back, so learning Italian became a goal—but where do you even begin? With a full-time job and years since I’ve been in school, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I tried everything—YouTube, apps, books—but it all felt scattered. As I told Michele, I felt like I was wandering in the desert.
Then I found Intrepid Italian—and everything changed. The 80/20 method gave me a clear, structured path that’s easy to follow, practical, and actually fun. The lessons are approachable, with exercises that build real confidence.
What truly sets it apart, though, is Michele. She’s incredibly responsive, supportive, and genuinely invested in your success. When I started 1:1 coaching, it took my learning to the next level. Practicing speaking, refining pronunciation, and using real, everyday Italian has been a game-changer. Even better, the coaching aligns perfectly with the course material, making everything feel seamless.
If you’re tired of “wandering in the desert” trying to learn Italian, I wholeheartedly recommend Intrepid Italian. Michele is not only incredibly responsive—she answers messages quickly and personally—but she also takes your feedback seriously, addressing any suggestions or needs immediately. That level of care, combined with a clear structure and real-world practice, makes this program exactly what I was looking for.

I completed the 10 week Intrepid Italian VIP 1:1 Coaching Program and it was excellent!! It took focused effort to complete, but if you put in the time, you will get the results.

Before I started the Intrepid Italian Coaching, I tried some other self-study courses but found after about 30 days I couldn’t speak much Italian, even simple short sentences. I also got stuck on the understanding and application of grammar and verb rules. It seemed like what I had in my head, I couldn’t get to come out of my mouth.

What I like about Michele’s program is the true VIP 1:1 attention that she and the coach provide. It begins with a conversation with Michele to understand what your goals are. Next you get a personalized 10 week roadmap so you and your coach are on the same page with what you will learn. Finally, the Intrepid Italian learning materials are complete and explained using simple language. They are an excellent resource!

The weekly attention to how things were going and if needed, making changes to the roadmap to help you reach your goals were key for my learning.

My goals were to be able to have simple conversations such as greeting people, checking-in at a hotel, ordering at a restaurant and buying food at a market when I go to Italy. We accomplished that and more!

Finally, my coach was excellent!! Grazie mille!
If you are serious about learning Italian, Intrepid Guide Coaching will get the results!

My experience with Michele and the Intrepid Italian 1:1 Intensive Italian course deserves 10 Stars, not just 5! I had been on a flat plateau in my learning experience for too long, and I really wanted to go back to Italy to take a summer intensive course. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t possible.
When I heard about the personal, one-on-one opportunity, I was immediately captivated. Maybe this could help me out of my learning slump, help me get to the next level.
Now, after completing the course, I say: WOW! This was exactly what I needed. Italy came to me!
My Italian instructor and I connected immediately, and she guided my path in a way that perfectly fit me and helped me gain more than I could have ever hoped.
I definitely worked hard, and it was worth it. Each week I studied specific grammar lessons from Michele’s solid, online learning lessons that my instructor assigned. My vocabulary grew naturally, and with each new conversation I realized I could “hear” the language easier, in an ever-broadening range of situations. Instead of stuttering and feeling like I would never really “get it,” I am now able to listen and speak with a lot more confidence and ease. These results compounded week-by-week, and the results are far beyond any of my expectations.
Michele is amazing and definitely hands on. In addition to my amazing teacher, Michele was there to cheer me on and encourage me when I needed it. She answered my emails promptly. Big PLUS! I truly feel Michele cares about me and my goals for learning Italian.
If you are serious about improving your rusty, pretty good, or even nonexistent language skills, this course can truly help you get there and achieve your goals.

For the last twenty years, almost every autumn, my wife and I have traveled to the same small hill town in Liguria. Over time, we have made many friends in our village. Though some of our friends speak English, many do not. A couple of years ago I decided, at the ripe old age of 73, that it was about time to learn to speak Italian so that I could have meaningful conversations with our Italian friends and a richer cultural experience when traveling in Italy.

Like many, I explored various online resources, programs, apps, and for a few months I met with a tutor near our home. Though I learned something from each of these experiences, I was still not making real progress toward my goal of being able to converse with our Italian friends.

Thankfully, I discovered Michele’s online Intrepid Italian lessons, and I purchased a block of courses including Italian for Travel, some of the 30-Day challenges, and the A1 – B2 courses. Almost immediately I began learning more than I had in my past endeavors. The material is clear, well presented, and full of practical and useful content.

Several months ago, Michele made me aware of her ten-week 1:1 VIP Coaching Programme. I applied to the course and, thankfully, I was accepted. That’s where my learning journey really took off. She matched me with an amazing coach, she and my coach designed a custom learning plan based upon my personal goals, and I began meeting online with my coach two times every week for ten weeks. Additionally, I committed to an hour of study and “homework” each day that was directed toward my personal learning journey and goals.

Like so many second-language learners, I have been reluctant to speak out loud because of a perceived lack of vocabulary, fear of making mistakes, or having mid-sentence “brain freezes.” This course has allowed me to make genuine and measurable progress in overcoming many of those challenges. At the very end of my ten-week course I spent two weeks in Italy traveling by car from Sicilia to Milano. During our journey I had interactions with many non-English speakers. Though I was far from perfect, I was able to communicate effectively in restaurants, museums, grocery stores, with lodging hosts, etc. And, more importantly, I had a richer and more fulfilling travel experience than I ever had before in Italy.

The customer service and attention I have received from Michele is second to none. She has responded quickly to every question I have directed to her. She requested weekly feedback from me, and we have had several personal online check-ins about my learning progress.

In addition to all I have learned and the successes I have experienced, this course is just plain fun. Michele and my coach have crafted a learning program that is both effective and enjoyable. Everything about it has increased my desire to learn, study, and progress in my Italian language journey. I’m so happy with it that I have enrolled in 1:1 VIP Coaching Programme Phase 2 which will begin very soon.

Michele, grazie mille per questa fantastica esperienza!

I joined Intrepid Italian after I had spent 3 months on a popular language-learning app and realized I still didn’t know how to ask for the bathroom. I started with Italian for Travel and ended up completing A1, A2, B1, several verb challenges, and am now embarking on B2. The structure works, the self-paced with lifetime access works, and the progress is real.

Even though it’s online, Michele is more available than many “in person” teachers I’ve had. She’s also incredibly supportive of different learning needs — including neurodivergent students, people who need printable/“paper” versions, and non-binary learners navigating a very gendered language. That alone makes a huge difference.

It’s the best of both worlds: Michele deeply understands where English speakers get stuck in Italian, while also working with native speakers who model pronunciation and the flow of real Italian.

If you’ve been circling Italian for a while, or feel stuck in an app, this program is the bridge. I am so glad I found Michele!

I purchased online book in now distant 2025.
The woman owner of business charged my card, and has never shipped it or got back to me on my repetitive e-s.
We got that sorted out- Michele has replied and instructed me on how to d- ld. her onln. book.

With Michele guiding you with her effusive and engaging style, it was an instant win for me. I had been trawling YouTube, FaceBook, and Instagram, using apps and self teach literature with little real hope of improving my basic Italian without a LOT of slog through ground I had already covered, but worried that if I skipped over the basics, I might miss something I hadn't encountered before.
I decided to give Michele's self paced courses on Tenses and Verbs a try. They are called 30 day challenges, but being self paced, you can easily fit them in around your life and ability. They also give lifetime access, so there really is no rush. I'm on "day" 12 of the verb challenge, 2 months after having gained access and I love that not only do you get the grammar, a brief passage with the newly learned content, and some straightforward exercises, but there's also example sentences and where appropriate, there are idiomatic phrases. There's also a PDF lesson sheet with full translation of the passage, which is completely in Italian and even imparts some background knowledge of the Italian way of life and expectations.
If you want to do more than wander around the tourist attractions and follow guided tours, pointing and gesturing to interact in shops, give Michele's modules and 80/20 method a try to target your desired learning goals, and you can't help but gain more than the courses provide as you pick up the little vocabulary and usage extras on the way. Suddenly you start to THINK in Italian and feel confident speaking it and talking to locals. Exchanging information. In Ravenna, I picked up tips from a trader on how to improve my panzanella by avoiding common pitfalls. That's only one recent incident that might not have happened had it not been for the confidence gained by following Michele's course and other video snippets.
I still use other methods to add to my knowledge, but after nearly two decades I feel I am truly expanding my understanding and comprehension rather than going over and over the same ground.
Forza Michele! Brava, e grazie mille!

Two years ago I decided to start studying Italian. I researched many options/styles and purchased The Intrepid Guide - Intrepid Italian for Travel to build a solid foundation on which to grow. The teaching style was a great match for me: self paced, clear, simplified with efficient explanations and quizzes to test my learning. After quickly absorbing some basics I bought the Italian bundle package (A1, A2, B1) to continue my progress. My husband's family lives in Italy and I was inspired to have an authentic connection; to learn more about them and their culture.

After just a few months, using Michele's 80/20 method I was able to have simple conversations with my husband's family. My many hours of studying combined with implementing my new language skills through real life conversation bolstered my motivation and commitment to learning. Fast forward to today I am now working through the B2 course. I speak Italian every day with my husband's relatives, experiencing tradition and life through their eyes. I am also able to read Italian newspapers and discuss local topics. Along the way, during my vacations in Italy I have also established many friendships and keep in regular contact with these kind and sweet Italians. A few weeks ago during Thanksgiving one family even flew to visit me and I got to show them around my city, taking them to a restaurant with Italian opera singers, a lively Christmas market and other special places. It felt like a dream!

Studying, learning, reading and speaking Italian are now part of my daily routine. I participate in conversation groups and am able to help and push others forward in their language journey. All of this was made possible by the courses I cherish through The Intrepid Guide and Michele's excellent teaching techniques. I will be forever grateful!

Auguro a tutti il meglio nel loro percorso di apprendimento delle lingue!
Sognare in italiano,
Amanda

I LOVE the Intrepid Guide course if for any other reason, because IT WORKS! *(and believe me, I have tried them all). My goal was to learn enough Italian in a few months time so I could get around- ask for things, directions, greetings, make myself understood, even if I was just using a few words - call it “survival Italian.” I stumbled across Michele’s course, and she was explaining the 80/20 theory. And it works. Think about it, if you speak English and someone who spoke another language came up to you to ask for something, with just a few words you would certainly understand them, even if they were not fully conversational or even use full sentences– and the same goes for EVERY language. And that is what I learned from the first level of Michele’s course. It’s particularly useful because she applies the 80/20 method to the most common situations you will encounter on a trip.
When my wife and I went on our first trip to Rome, I used the same few words and sentences the entire time and it worked great! Such an excellent base to build on when I returned to take Michele’s more advanced course which is laid out in a logical and easy to follow program. I am also A LOT more confident just trying to say things in Italian than I was at the start.
Last but certainly not least, so many of the courses give you all the love and personal attention right up until you pay for it – then crickets. But not with Michele. You can email her to ask about anything you don’t understand, and she PERSONALLY gets back to you.
I can’t say enough about this course.

Billy Cicchino
New Jersey, USA

I tried Duolingo before and found it wasn’t really effective in learning conversation Italian. I really didn’t need to know the word for cow. Michele’s course was perfect for me. The course was concise in teaching me key words and phrases to connect with locals while traveling. The course is well written and organized. It was well worth the money. What are you waiting for? Andiamo

I’d like to share how much I have enjoyed Michele’s very effective teaching. Michele is warm and engaging and her enthusiasm for the language really shines through. I took her 30-Day Verb Challenge and now I know how to conjugate 150 verbs and understand the contexts in which these verbs are appropriate. Then I got Michele's Italian for travel course, as my husband and I were planning yet another holiday in beautiful Italy. Both have really helped, as have her excellent free lessons on youtube. We got on so well with Michele’s courses that we decided to go for a full month of language training this past September in Turin. We were placed at the Advanced Beginner A2 level and did really well, having started with Michele.

Make for an enjoyable, practical, and well-paced online learning experience. Michele's social media presence, and personalized emails add interest and motivation.

I love Michele’s courses. They help to explain a complex language. The online format is convenient.

I got a jumpstart on the Italian language with an online tutor before coming to Italy in 2021 to at least get a feel for the language. Then Michele, creator of Intrepid Italian, showed up in my Instagram feed. One click and I was hooked. After watching a short video, I realized that her 80/20 method was how I needed to learn and understand the language. Her lessons, challenges and explanations are organized, clear and precise leaving me wanting more. I (and others) can definitely see my progression with each course. The best part is that you have lifetime access. Any questions or concerns, Michele is always there to help. I am forever grateful for this wonderful find.

A few years ago while planning a trip to Italy, I decided I had better invest a little time in trying to learn the language. The Intrepid Guide became my teacher of choice.
I found Michelle to be an excellent teacher and her course to be fun and helpful and Very responsive to any of questions.
While on the trip we got lost a couple of times and words and phrases I had learned sure come in handy to get ourselves back on the road and in the right direction.
Even having a bit of knowledge on the language goes a long way when dealing with shopkeepers or just trying to make conversation with locals. They see your learning but appreciate you trying.