Dr. Sara Mattavelli

Sara Mattavelli holds a PhD in Italian with a Minor in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a laurea magistrale in Language Sciences and Foreign Literature from the Università Cattolica in Milan (Italy). She has previously taught at Duke University, William & Mary, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Virginia, and Scripps College. Her research interests include second language acquisition, literacy-based approaches to L2 instruction, translanguaging, and contemporary Italian literature.

At Chapman Dr. Mattavelli teaches language and culture courses at various levels and advises the Italian Club. Her lessons are rooted in the communicative approach and the multiliteracies framework and are planned around scaffolded activities to help learners focus on content and form. Issues of diversity, equity and inclusion are at the center of Dr. Mattavelli’s teaching practice and course content. She strives to make her classes as inclusive and accessible as possible for diverse learners and different learning styles.