THE INSTITUTE: TO STUDY AND EXPERIENCE ITALIAN

The Istituto Italiano is the ideal reference point for those who want to start or continue studying the Italian language and culture.
The Institute, which is open all year, is well known for its competent, enthusiastic and highly qualified teaching staff, for its modern, multimedia teaching materials, for the wide range of courses offered, for its efficient organization, for the friendly atmosphere and for the many extracurricular activities that are available on a daily basis and free of charge. It is precisely these cultural, social and recreational activities that bring the students into close contact with Italian life. The school, a place to study, becomes the place to live the Italian experience, and thus the ideal setting for achieving excellent linguistic results.
 
THE SCHOOL: IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF FLORENCE 
 
The Institute is located in a magnificent XVII century building, the elegant Palazzo Testa, in one of the most beautiful streets of the heart of the city, Via Martelli. The Institute offers the students a wonderful and absolutely unique environment, with spacious, well-lit and comfortable classrooms, a well stocked library, a video-stereo equipped auditorium with a giant movie screen and an efficient secretarial office, always willing to help. The windows of the Institute offer an amazing close-up view of the Cathedral and the majestic Palazzo Medici-Riccardi.
 
THE FACULTY

All the faculty members are graduates of the University of Florence. They are competent, experienced, enthusiastic, friendly, patient ad sensitive to the students' needs. They have all completed a special course in teaching Italian as a second language and are a permanent team of specialists

THE CLASSES

Classes range from a maximum of 10 to 12 students, with an average of 6 or 7. The small classes mean that each student receives individual attention and achieves excellent results.
The groups are formed on the basis of the students' actual knowledge of Italian, and therefore are perfectly homogeneous. The management always tries to keep the classes diversified by nationality; this creates more stimuli and encourages the students to use Italian as their "official" language.
 
THE TEACHING METHOD

The Institute's teaching method is based on the directives of the Modern Languages Project of the Council of Europe. Every class has two teachers, each of whom has a specific teaching role. This allows the students to hear and become accustomed to different voice inflections. The teachers use various methods that enable the students to learn all the nuances of the language without the stilted phrases that are so far from the modern, spoken language. The Institute's teaching methods call for the use of text books supplemented by other materials: leaflets, carefully selected audio-visual aids and a wide range of "original" texts. This material, the fruit of years of experience acquired by the teachers and the educational director, is continuously enriched and updated.
 
SPECIAL FREE INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

Upon request, any student can have one or more private lessons, free of charge, with a faculty member. These lessons are held in the afternoons and serve to clarify or delve deeper into subjects dealt with in the classroom. This special option allows students to keep up with the group lessons without any doubts or uncertainties.

LEVELS OF GROUP COURSES
 
The program is divided into 7 levels. At the end of each level, there is an examination to pass before moving on to the next level, until the final diploma. Beginners start classes on the very first day while students with some knowledge of Italian take an oral and written examination to evaluate their skills and be placed in the proper level. 

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS 
 
The student is able to communicate simply and clearly in the most common everyday situations. S/he is able to use elementary grammatical structures correctly with a precise, basic vocabulary.  
 
BEGINNERS
 
The student is able to participate actively in a conversation with a correct use of basic grammar and an increasingly richer vocabulary. S/he acquires the ability to understand different voice inflections and the rhythms of the language. 
 
INTERMEDIATE I 
 
The student acquires more confidence in his/her communications skills. Thanks to enhanced vocabulary, the student is able to express him/herself idiomatically and with a fuller understanding of the Italian reality, and to deal with work situations that require a knowledge of Italian.  
 
INTERMEDIATE II 
 
The students are capable of participating in conversations on more complex subjects with a good mastery of the language and knowledge of linguistic elements. The students can understand the language of the media and comprehend the dynamics and development of Italian society.  
 
ADVANCED I 
 
The student has begun a process of "personalizing" the language learning the appropriate use of idiomatic expressions. By now the student has mastered the linguistic structures and uses them confidently. 
 
ADVANCED II 
 
The student can now handle all language situations, even at work, and discuss current issues competently and confidently. 
 
 
COURSE WITH FINAL DIPLOMA 
 
The student can participate in all types of discussions with a rich and appropriate vocabulary, correctly use various levels of oral and written expression and can "think" in Italian. 
 
 
SPECIALIZATION COURSE 
 
This course is open only to students who fulfill one of the following requisites: 1) superior command of Italian; 2) teachers of Italian abroad; 3) those who have obtained the Istituto Italiano Diploma.
The course objective is to update and refresh knowledge of Italian and review elements of style and grammar.
 
 
 
 

TYPES OF LANGUAGE COURSES 

Courses are held all year, from Monday through Friday, mornings and afternoons. The minimum course of study is 2 weeks. Each lesson is a full hour (60 minutes).
Every afternoon, when classes are over, the Institute offers many, interesting extracurricular cultural and recreational activities that are included in the course fee.

GROUP LESSONS

The class hours and extracurricular activities described below are based on a 4-week course, however all courses can be attended for longer or shorter periods.

 SEMI-INTENSIVE

2 hours a day = 40 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities.
This course can focus on only grammar or conversation, according to the student's needs. This course is not recommended for beginners.
 
 "CLASSICO"

4 hours a day = 80 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities.
This is the standard course and is recommended for those who wish to obtain excellent results in the development of their language skills.
 
 SUPER-INTENSIVE

6 hours a day = 120 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities.
In addition to 4 hours of lessons in the morning, there are 2 hours each afternoon dedicated to broadening vocabulary and practicing conversation skills.

 LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

4 hours a day of language classes + 2 hours of culture 3 times a week = 80 hours of language + 24 hours of culture = 104 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities.
This is a complete course that offers a vast overview of Italy today; it is designed for students with a good knowledge of Italian. In addition to the 4 hours of standard language lessons each morning, the students cover the following subjects under the guidance of expert teachers:

COMBINED COURSES

The class hours and extracurricular activities described below are based on a 4-week course, however all courses can be attended for longer or shorter periods.
These courses combine 4 hours of "Classico" course lessons in the morning with individual lessons in the afternoon, for more personalized and immediate results.
 
COMBINED A 

5 hours a day: 4 hours of group lessons + 1 hour of individual lessons in the afternoon for a total of 100 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities
 
COMBINED B

6 hours a day: 4 hours of group lessons + 2 hours of individual lessons in the afternoon for a total of 120 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities
C.I.L.S. COURSE

(Certificato di Italiano come Lingua Straniera)

5 hours a day: 4 hours of group lessons + 1 hour of individual lesson in the afternoon 3 times a week for a total of 100 hours in 4 weeks + a minimum of 40 optional hours of extracurricular cultural and recreational activities.

Preparation course for obtaining the Certificato recognized by the Italian Government, in cooperation with the University of Siena.

INDIVIDUAL COURSES

The individual courses from Monday through Friday and, on request, Saturday mornings, are particularly recommended for those who, for professional or personal reasons, must learn Italian quickly and with excellent results. The Institute's courses are designed specifically to meet any need and can truly be considered custom-made. In fact, upon registration the student is asked to specify his/her profession, interests and needs in order that the faculty may prepare suitable teaching materials. Our methods enable even the absolute beginner to achieve excellent results in a short time. Students enrolled in individual courses can also participate in the extracurricular activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY CULTURAL COURSES

ITALIAN LITERATURE

There are two courses that alternate each month. One covers literature in general from its origins to today, highlighting the most important periods and authors. The other course deals with one specific author or period.
 
ART HISTORY
The teacher presents an overview of art history starting with emphasis on the most important periods such as the Renaissance and the most significant artists including Giotto, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Slides and field trips complement the course.
 
CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN HISTORY
The course covers the most important periods in modern Italian history, from Fascism to the fall of the monarchy, from the birth of the republic to today. Rare period documentaries and audio-visual materials enhance the course.

 
THE HISTORY OF ITALIAN CINEMA
This course offers a complete and fascinating overview of Italian cinema through an analysis of the "classic" directors including De Sica, Fellini, and Visconti and contemporary directors such as Tornatore and Salvatores.

THE REGIONS OF ITALY

This course is like an interesting trip through Italy, from the Alps to Sicily discovering the customs of these regions that differ so widely in history and traditions.
 
ITALIAN WINES

This is a theoretical-practical course that explains the characteristics of the most famous Italian wines, with tasting sessions. The expert explains production methods and the secrets of wines such as Chianti Classico, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Brunello di Montalcino, spumante, Barolo and more. The course includes a visit to a vineyard (included in the course fee) in the Chianti country where students can taste the wines and enjoy a hearty Tuscan snack.
 
ITALIAN CUISINE

This is a complete, lively and interesting course for those who want to return home with a few secrets of Italian cuisine. At each lesson, the expert along with the students, prepares a complete meal: antipasto, pasta, main course, side dish and dessert. The students eat what they have prepared and enjoy the appropriate wines with the meal.
 
PROFESSIONAL COURSES   

THE LANGUAGE OF TOURISM

This course is for those who work in the hotel industry, travel agencies, or in restaurants, at any level. Students will learn the specific terminology needed to deal with all kinds of language situations at the written and oral level.
 

THE LANGUAGE OF FASHION

This is a course that teaches the specific terminology related to the world of fashion. The course includes visits to some important clothing manufacturers to enable the students to come into contact with Florentine fashions.
 

THE LANGUAGE OF BUSINESS AND TRADE

In addition to providing a general overview of the Italian system, the expert helps the students master oral and written business language. This course is particularly suited to those in the import-export fields and business.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Italian is the language of music. Studying Italian is essential for opera singers, conductors, theater directors and opera lovers.
The Institute has a truly unique Music Department. Here, in addition to learning the language, students come into contact with the world of Italian music. The department teachers are all accomplished professional musicians and singers. Instrument and voice courses are available for advanced students and for beginners.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LIBRETTI
HISTORY OF OPERA
STAGE TECHNIQUE
DICTION
SINGING 
INSTRUMENTS
VOCAL ENSEMBLE
CHAMBER MUSIC

ART DEPARTMENT

Florence is definitely an additional source of inspiration for those who want to learn all the secrets of art, drawing and painting.
The Istituto Italiano has an Art Department staffed by renowned Florentine artists, who in addition to being creative, have a talent for teaching and great skills in conveying their art to students of any level.

DRAWING
PAINTING

SCHOLARSHIPS

To apply for a scholarship, contact the Italian Cultural Institutes, universities, consulates or embassies in your home country, or contact the Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Dipartimento IX, Piazzale della Farnesina 1, 00194, Rome, Italy.