Faculty
Our faculty members, Al Alnimri, Elena Binetti Alnimri and Antonella Giannasca, come to us with a wide variety of life experience, but with one common characteristic. Whether a native Italian or not, they possess a knowledge of Italy, its language and culture, that they truly enjoy sharing with our students. And this is evident from the first moment you meet them.
Al Alnimri
Al, a grateful transplant, often thanks his lucky stars for leading him to his adopted home of Florence. Al received a Master of Arts in Architecture from the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Facoltà di Architettura. After having practiced architecture in Italy, along with translating magazine articles in his field and many others both to and Italian, he embarked on a new career and adventure with his wife here in Atlanta. “I fell in love with teaching this beautiful language, with seeing others delight in the magic and mystery of experiencing Italy.” That love of sharing the language and culture of Italy is evident in the courses he designs and implements so well.
Elena Binetti Alnimri
Elena, a native of Florence, received a Master of Arts from the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia. She is a dedicated and professional teacher, having taught Italian Language and Literature in Italy at the Middle and High School levels, as well as in the United States at Emory University. She instinctively knows what will work for each of her students and reaches out to each one with that intuitive understanding of a great teacher. She loves sharing her language and culture with the Atlanta community, already well known for its diversity.
Antonella Giannasca
Antonella was born and raised in Rome, Italy where she lived until 1998, graduated with a degree in Interpretation and Translation in English and French and worked in the field for many years. Before coming to the United States, she experienced the joy of being a tour guide for American groups in Italy and Europe as well as being an English teacher for Italian children. Since she moved to the States, she has mainly been a mother and a wife but she also has enjoyed sharing the love for her country and for the beautiful language with the students she has met over the last years at the Center. It is an incredible experience to see how they have grown in their knowledge of the Italian language and culture with the same passion and devotion that she put into all her classes.
