National Board

President: Alessandro Vidoni – presidente@asils.it
Founder and Managing Director of LINGUAVIVA Group

He opened the first Linguaviva school in Florence in 1976. For 10 years he is trainer of Italian teachers abroad on behalf of various Italian and international institutions. In 1985-86 he attended a Master in Business Administration at SDA Bocconi. In 1986 he opened Linguaviva  branch in Tokyo, in 1990 he opened the school in Milan, in 1994 he won a tender for the teaching of European Union languages at the European Institutions in Luxembourg, in 1994 he opened Linguaviva International’s office in Geneva, in 1998 he opened the Italian Summer Camp in Lignano for international students, in 2011 he opened Linguaviva’s branch in Shanghai.
He is a founding member of ASILS in 1991, of which he was President for 10 years.

Vice-President: Francesca Romana Memoli – vicepresidente@asils.it
Founder and General Director of ACCADEMIA SALERNO NAPOLI

Francesca Romana Memoli was born in Salerno and graduated with honours in Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures with a philological-linguistic specialisation in 1996. She speaks English, French, Russian and Spanish fluently. Since her university years, she has taught Italian as a second language. Her passion for languages and intercultural dialogue led her to teach Italian as a second language (L2) in Italy (Rome and Florence) and as a foreign language (LS) abroad in St. Petersburg and in Paris. Later, in 1997, she founded Accademia Italiana, Centro di Lingua e Cultura Italiana in Salerno, where she still serves as General Director. In 2003, she earned an Executive Master in Business Administration from the STOA Business School in Naples. Her strong interpersonal skills and her determined, resolute nature quickly led her to carry out various activities both in Italy and abroad, and to hold decision-making roles in both Italian and international institutions. During her numerous trips abroad, she has acted as a spokesperson for the culture and excellence of the Salerno region, a role that earned her the title of Official Delegate for the cultural promotion of Salerno, a position that has already been renewed twice. From 2008 to 2011 she was also involved in the training of Italian L2/LS teachers in Italy and abroad. In 2008 she joined the Board of Directors of ASILS (Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language), becoming President in 2011 — a role she held for four terms until February 2019. In 2010–2011 she was a member of the Strategic Working Group of IALC (International Association of Language Centres), and since 2011, she has been a member of the Quality Assurance Council. In 2021 she earned a Master in “Competitive Strategy and Innovation” from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Besides her family, her interests include travel, sports, art and cuisine, with a particular focus on classical and modern music and opera.

Treasurer: Wolfango Poggi – tesoreria@asils.it
Director of SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI MILANO

Wolfango Poggi, born in 1976, lived in Florence until 2004 and then moved to Milan where he manages the Leonardo da Vinci School and deals with marketing and administration. Degree in Economics and Management of Tourism Services, passionate about tourism, foreign languages, web marketing and sports. He has joined the Asils board in 2009, in 2011 he was appointed treasurer.

National Secretary: Fabrizio Fucile – info@asils.it
General Director at CENTRO LINGUISTICO ITALIANO DANTE  ALIGHIERI OF ROME

Born in Friuli in 1963, Fabrizio Fucile attended Ca’Foscari University in Venice, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Medieval and Humanistic Philology. He then taught religious studies in secondary schools and Italian language and literature in technical institutes and science high school. From 1990 to 1995, he trained as a teacher in a program of Latin and Humanistic Philology Studies at Bergamo University. In 1996 he received his PhD in Italian Studies from Messina University. During this time he moved to Rome and began teaching Italian as a Second Language at Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri where since 2000 he has been Director and Head of studies. In 2008 the International Rotary Foundation designated him a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation and with gratitude for his significant contribution to promoting better mutual understanding and relations among peoples around the world.
Mr. Fucile has, in addition to his passion for language, a great passion for vocal music and has served as a choir director for more than 30 years.

Sonja Helm
Director of LABOLING – LA SCUOLA DI ITALIANO IN SICILIA – MILAZZO

Born in Winterthur, Sonja Helm is a Swiss citizen in love with Italy. She arrived in Sicily in 2002, after completing her studies in commerce and tourism. She began her Italian adventure as a student at Laboling in Milazzo, where the following year she begame head of the school office and, in 2011, with two other partners, she took over the management of the Italian school.
She speaks 4 languages, loves travelling and ethnic cuisine.

Guido Poggi
Director of SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI ROME