In 2007 Matteo La Grassa was awarded his PhD in Linguistics and Teaching of the Italian Language to Foreigners at the University for Foreigners of Siena. His main research topics are: The educational use of new technologies; language learning by young learners; the teaching of Italian vocabulary to foreign students and the teaching of written Italian to deaf people. On these topics, he has two monographs (Apprendere le lingue straniere nella terza età, Guerra Edizioni; La Lingua dei Segni per gli udenti, l’italiano per i sordi. Riflessione per la didattica delle lingue, Aracne) and numerous scientific publications to his credit.