THE SCHOOL
Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri (CLIDA), founded in 1965, is Italy's first private Italian language school specializing in the instruction of Italian language and culture to foreigners - both students and professionals alike.

CLIDA offers a wide range of courses in the world's most popular Italian-speaking regions. As our previous students from around the world can confirm, you can always rely on the quality of our teaching, the services we provide and the school's resources.

The school uses it own teaching methods and texts, which have been developed and perfected by the school's professors and staff. CLIDA's teaching methods and materials are used in all its schools in Florence, Rome and Greece. Learn more about our teaching methods and levels... 

In Spring 2006, a new CLIDA branch will be open in the city of Treviso. Soon, other schools will be available in other towns.

DIRECTORS
The directors of the CLIDA in Florence are Dr. Gabriella Accorti Materassi and Dr. Alberto Materassi. The husband-and-wife team founded the school and has been fully devoted to it throughout the years. Alberto, Gabriella, and their son, Stefano, ensure high academic standards are maintained while creating cultural courses and recreational activities that are both fun and beneficial. Thanks to them, CLIDA students and faculty can be considered one large family!

STAFF & CLASSROOMS
The school resides in a 19th-century building facing the Piazza della Repubblica, the heart of Florence's historic center. All members of the CLIDA administrational staff are highly attentive and speak at least 3 languages to accommodate a wide variety of students.

CLIDA is made up of 16 large, air-conditioned classrooms equipped for television and video viewing, two large rooms equipped with stereo-sound video projectors and a large salon for recitals and lectures. Several well-equipped classrooms are also available for one-on-one courses. Plus, ample space is available for students to relax, study and socialize between lessons. The school also hosts a wireless Internet hub for students to connect to the World Wide Web.

METHOD & LEVELS
After decades of study and successful instruction to a vast range of students, the Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri (CLIDA) has devised an effective teaching method leading to immediate results in learning the Italian language.

Through teaching Italian grammar, then putting it to use immediately in conversational techniques, such as dialogues, question-and-answer, asking for information, etc., students learn quickly and retain lessons longer. Gradually, students increase their individual Italian vocabulary as well as their knowledge of common Italian expressions and workplace language.

FACULTY
All CLIDA teachers are university graduates, specialized in their field and have extensive experience teaching the Italian language to foreigners. Whether in the individual or group courses, the teaching techniques our faculty use allow for rapid and lasting results.

TEACHING MATERIALS
All teaching materials, such as texts, exercises, presentations, etc., are the result of the collaboration of CLIDA academic faculty and their years of teaching experience. CLIDA textbooks are also used in numerous private language institutes and universities throughout Italy, Europe and North America. View CLIDA’s textbooks online here: http://www.ciellei.it/ 

Curriculum

The program is developed in progressive stages that focus on learning the essential and most important elements according to the student's level. For this reason students won't be left behind or feel discouraged, but will instead gain a rapid and lasting knowledge of the language.

Directed conversation, together with reading passages and oral comprehension tests, will increase one's vocabulary and ability to communicate fluently day by day. Correct pronunciation is developed by phonetic exercises under the guidance of specialist teachers in our professional language lab. Daily exercises in classes of small groups allow the teacher to follow and appraise each student individually.

CLIDA LEVELS
CLIDA's language courses are divided into three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Each level is then subdivided into three further levels. This wide range of classes at different levels means that students can join the level most suited to their needs based on their placement test results.

All group courses are available in all nine levels. Each group course lasts four weeks, although some Italian languages courses have a minimum of two weeks.

Group Italian Language Courses

Group Italian language courses offer students the chance to make friends from all corners of the globe and form a common bond in the Italian language. Learning along side with other students with your same Italian language skill level, these courses are mostly taught in the traditional, yet comfortable, classroom setting. Class size is small --normally no more than 13 students -- so students can be confident they'll receive lots of attention from the teachers.

Learn Italian in Italy with our group Italian language classes. Both our group and One-on-One Italian language classes are composed of three levels: Beginner Italian, Intermediate Italian and Advanced Italian, each of which are subdivided into three further levels. This wide range of Italian course levels means that students can join the level most suited to their needs based on their test results.

Each Italian course level lasts four weeks although one can attend the school for a minimum of two weeks or for a maximum of thirty-six weeks. Beginners must start their Italian language courses at the beginning of the month. Each Italian language lesson lasts 60 minutes. All group Italian courses are available in 9 levels.

One-On-One Italian Language Courses

CLIDA was one of the first Italian language schools to organize one to one or individual Italian classes to answer the specific needs of our students. The One-on-One Italian language classes vary from a minimum of 2-4 hours a day to a maximum of 100 hours in nine days. Each student is considered individually for whom we organize, prepare and execute an ideal Italian language program which combines the personal needs of the student with the time he or she has to study Italian in Italy.

Each student receives personalized care, and depending on his or her language goals and available time to study, CLIDA organizes an individualized lesson plan for that student.

In as little as two to three weeks, One-on-One students can expect a solid level of proficiency in both written and spoken Italian language and will be able to communicate effectively. CLIDA offers a variety of scheduling options to meet every student's needs.

All-Inclusive Italian Course Packages

CLIDA offers all inclusive Italian course packages for students who wish to participate in a variety of different learning experiences while studying in Florence. The IT Italian course package combines group Italian lessons, one-on-one Italian lessons, Italian cultural courses, Italian meals in restaurants and cultural visits. Students live with an Italian family, where they can practice what they learned in a typical Italian environment.

PV packages offer group Italian language courses in addition to Italian cultural courses with interesting and dynamic subjects, which let the students actively participate in the classes and in the discussions. These hours offer the opportunity, not only to put into practice the acquired Italian vocabulary, but also to deepen the knowledge of the Italian reality, culture and society. Cultural course topics include: Italian arts, history, geography, cinema, literature, opera, politics, economics, Italian business, Italian media and more. The subject matter is presented in a clear and detailed manner so that students of all levels are encouraged to actively participatie in class discussions.

For more courses, ask the school.

Note: Each group course level lastsfour weeks. With the exception of Beginner level, students may attendthe CLIDA for a minimum of two weeks or for a maximum of 36 weeks.Beginner level students must begin their course on the first day ofclass.

Financial Aid

If your school, university or district will accepts our language school for study you should be able to use the Financial Aid you are presently receiving for Study Abroad. Have your Study Abroad Advisor or Financial Aid Advisor discuss this with AAAI.

Discounts on language courses

G - Group Language courses

-->10% if you pay for 3 or more months in one payment at the beginning of the course.

-->10% for students belonging to Order of Sons of Italy in America

-->10% for au-pair students.

-->20% for students over 60's.

-->Special discounts for religious people. Please provide the order belonging.

D - Individual Language courses

-->10% if you pay for 3 or more weeks in one payment at the beginning of the course.