About Me

My name is Julia Pulizzotto — though most people call me Giulia, the Italian version of my name.

I am a native German speaker from Munich, and I have been teaching German for nearly two decades. This page is where I tell you a bit about who I am, where I come from, and how I ended up doing what I love.

Growing Up Multilingual

I was born in Munich in 1983, and I grew up in a multilingual household. Looking back, I think that is the real reason I became a language teacher — not because I planned it, but because living between languages felt normal to me from the start.

Today I speak German and Italian at a native level. I am nearly native in Polish. I am fluent in English. And I can get by in French to a reasonable degree.

Languages have never felt like a chore to me. They feel like doors.

My Studies at LMU Munich

I studied Linguistics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), one of Germany’s oldest and most respected universities.

My degree gave me a solid foundation in how languages work — not just German, but language as a human system. That background still influences how I teach today. When a student makes a mistake, I do not just correct it. I try to understand why it happened. And then I explain it in a way that makes sense.

How I Started Teaching

My teaching journey began in 2007 in Munich, at a few language schools where I taught German to groups of adult learners.

I still remember my first class. I walked into the room, looked at the students, and froze. They looked at me and froze too. I am still not sure whether they were more afraid of me or of the German language. But we got through it together, and something clicked — for them and for me.

Between 2007 and 2012 I taught in language schools, private courses, and group classes. I taught German and Italian to students from all over the world.

Going Independent

The longer I worked in language schools, the more I noticed how much room for improvement there was in the way German was being taught. Classes were too rigid. Materials were outdated. Students had different goals but were forced into the same mold.

So I decided to go my own way.

At the end of 2012 I started my own teaching project: Studio NaVivo. The idea was simple — one-on-one lessons, tailored to each student, face-to-face. No fixed curriculum. No “one size fits all.” Just teaching that actually fits the person sitting in front of me.

Studio NaVivo grew steadily over the years and has helped hundreds of students from many different countries and backgrounds. I am genuinely proud of that.

Moving Online (and Why It Works)

In 2020, when the pandemic changed everything, I made a decision: I would focus entirely on online teaching.

Honestly? It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Online lessons are not a watered-down version of in-person teaching. When done right, they are just as effective — sometimes more. You can learn from home, at your own pace, without wasting time commuting.

That is when Germanlesson.online was born.

My Teaching Philosophy

If I had to sum up my approach in one sentence, it would be this: I teach the person, not the textbook.

Some students need structure. Others need conversation. Some want to focus on grammar. Others just want to speak without being afraid of making mistakes. I adapt to each one.

I do not believe in making things harder than they need to be. German is already challenging enough — my job is to make it clear, understandable, and (dare I say it) even enjoyable.

Over the years I have worked with:

• Professionals who need German for their careers — see my corporate language training
• Students preparing for university or the TestDaF
• Expats who moved to Germany and needed to get by in daily life
• Absolute beginners who thought they would never learn the language
• Advanced learners who wanted to polish their accent and fluency

Every one of them had a different path. And every one of them got there.

Why You Can Trust Me

I do not claim to be a miracle worker. What I offer is simple: nearly 20 years of experience, a degree in linguistics, a native speaker’s intuition, and a genuine interest in helping people learn.

If you are thinking about taking German lessons, I invite you to try a session and see for yourself. There is no pressure. No long-term commitment. Just good teaching.

You can choose between private 1:1 lessons for undivided attention or a virtual classroom group course if you prefer learning with others. Whichever fits your style, the same guarantee applies: you get a native speaker who actually cares about your progress.

You can read what my students say in the testimonials on my courses page — those are real Google reviews from real people.

Or you can just write me an email and tell me about your goals. I will be happy to help.