Maria Taverna is of Sicilian origin and has been teaching Italian at the REC since 1985. She combines the teaching of the Italian language with getting to know Italy with its regions, food, fashion, culture and people. She is teacher-trained in delivering ESOL and EFL and has also worked for Bedford Sixth Form College since 1985 where she teaches GCSE and AS/A2 Italian, achieving OFSTED grade 1 for outstanding teaching.