President CyberItalian Inc., Educator, Author, Consultant

 

Ms. Garau likes to define herself a 'Renaissance woman', as she is an eclectic person, very concerned about the development of the potential and talent that each human being has.

 

Her interests range from languages and communication to history, philosophy, art, and more. She has been working in the field of education since 1987.

 

During her university years and study of Foreign Languages and Literatures she realized that 'knowing a subject very well' is not enough to teach it. Therefore she also studied, practiced and researched in the field of human development in order to give a true meaning to the word "educare" (to educate, to teach; from the Latin "ex-ducere", to bring out). The best educational experience is the one that allows each student to express (bring out) the best of him/herself.

 

Through the years, she diversified her work into three main areas: teaching, authoring and consulting.

 

Teaching

• Director and Head Teacher - CyberItalian
• Director and Head Teacher - Italian Language Program UNSRC Circolo Culturale Italiano, United Nations, New York
• Adjunct faculty - Italian Language Department New School University for Social Research, New York
• Teacher Coach (Italian Language Online and The Role of Italian Language and Culture in Present Society) - AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian - New York Chapter), and NYCAFLT/UFT New York City Association of Foreign Language Teachers/ United Federation of Teachers

Authoring

• Designer and content developer of CyberItalian's language courses
• Author of the projects: "Italian Frames", a CD-Rom on Italian cinema and language and "Voyage through Italy", an Italian language course on CD-Rom - Elemond-Mondadori, Milan

Consulting

• "Lingua Nostra" - Italian Cultural Institute, New York
• "Italintranet Donna" - IACE (Italian-American Committee on Education), New York
• "Curriculum Guide K-12" - Education Office of the Italian Consulate in New York
• "Italy-USA cross-cultural, business issues" - Windham International USA, and Prudential Intercultural USA

Ms. Garau strongly believes that education is the future of humanity and that a language course should be amusing, conceptually strong, and well designed. She likes to promote these ideas through CyberItalian.

 

Vice-President CyberItalian Inc., Technical Director

 

Mr. Vacchina has been an electronic engineer and computer scientist since 1985.

 

He is an information technology consultant for the United Nations.

 

He developed his experience through several projects managed in different countries all over the world.

 

Projects:

• Feasibility study and development of a prototype "Early warning system for conflicts and complex emergencies” for the United Nations in New York
• Functional design of the Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS) in Kabul
• Set-up of the IT and Telecomm infrastructure for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in emergency situations: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda

He designed the interface and the CGI programs behind CyberItalian, and worked on the overall concept and design of the site. With a strong passion for technology, photography, traveling, and sailing, he strongly believes that the Internet has opened a new way in the search for enlightenment. He likes to promote this idea through CyberItalian.

 

 

We would like to thank the following friends, professionals or organizations which contributed to CyberItalian success:

• United Nations Staff Recreation Council,
  Il Circolo Culturale Italiano, New York

 

• Teresa Barbieri, consultant
• Alberto Baudo, journalist
• Barbara Cicalini, copywriter
• Massimo Guadalupi, copywriter
• Italian Wine and Food Institute New York
• Stefano Lami, scientist
• Linda Ann Loschiavo, editor
• Marina Malvezzi, editor and chef
• Micaela Martegani Luini, art critic
• Antonio Monda, film director
• John Rizzo, journalist
• Alberto Ruju, biologist
• Gaither Stewart, foreign correspondent
• Martin Stiglio, director Italian Cultural Institute
• Angela Vistarchi, professor
• Kathrine Simon, fashion designer

 

• Raffaella Acampora
• Clelia Cavallaro, composer and vocalist
• Laura Caparrotti, Kairos Italy Theatre director
• Alessandro Fabrizi, actor
• Giovanni Micoli, actor
• Marco Perduca
• Vincenzo Pugliese, actor

 

• Edoardo Bellando
• Andrew Cangelose
• Carolina Cobelli
• Madeline Escobar
• Erika Hauschildt
• Tamara Lee
• Jennifer Prado
• Maria Rea
• Paolina Weber

 

• Umberto d'Arista, teacher of Italian
• Giuseppe Barni, teacher of Italian
• Rossana Chille, teacher of Italian
• Rossella Livraga, consultant
• Gianni Lopez, photographer
• Paola Ruju, language teacher
• Paolo Tartanella, journalist
• Stefano Vaccara, political editor and columnist
• Renato Zacchia, photographer
• Chiara Carfì, marketing and PR consultant
• United Nations Staff Recreation Council, Il Circolo Culturale Italiano, New York
• August Minke, MaasHudson Inc.

 

• Francesco Fornara