Italian: False Friends

If you’ve ever entered a 'libreria' in Italy hoping to borrow some books, only to realise you have to buy them, this course is for you!

Open to everyone from lower intermediate to upper intermediate level, this 9-week course will explore the fascinating (and sometimes misleading!) 'falsi amici' between Italian and English — words that look familiar but mean something entirely different.

Through examples, role-plays, quizzes, and interactive activities, we’ll work on vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax to avoid awkward mix-ups and funny misunderstandings.

About the Tutor

Dr Federica Ferrieri has lived in Northern Ireland since 2010, after spending time in the Netherlands and Greece. She holds a PhD in Modern Greek Language and Literature, and her expertise lies in both the theory and practice of language teaching.

She works as a Civic Engagement Officer at Queen's University Belfast, and she also continues to pursue her passion for teaching foreign languages – mainly Italian. She served as the Italian Honorary Consul in Northern Ireland from 2016 to 2025.

Federica is particularly interested in projects that connect language learning with arts-based approaches, restorative justice, diversity and representation.