About me
Christina Ball, Ph.D. – Italian and Speak! Owner/Director
Christina holds a Ph.D. in Italian from Yale University and has been teaching all aspects of the language and culture since 1992. A Fulbright Scholar to Italy, she has lived, studied, and traveled extensively throughout the country, leading groups to share her passion for language and culture.
In 2004, she founded Speak!, growing it from a one-room Italian school into a full-fledged language service company offering instruction in 20+ languages. As Director of Speak! and B-Speak! English, she leads an international faculty of 50 language professionals and a dedicated admin team.
In 2024, Christina launched Speak!’s new Online Academy, expanding the company’s mission to craft dynamic, interactive courses for travelers and language enthusiasts worldwide.
At heart, Christina is a bridge builder and connector, passionate about fostering cultural understanding through human-centered language learning. When not traveling the globe, she lives in Charlottesville, her home since 2000.
