We hope this can be for you a start for a cultural exploration of Italy. We will be pleased to endow you with an instrument capable to improve your knowledge of our country: the italian language. Look at it as a key to open the many doors of our reality. We wish you good work and a very nice trip!

Koinè is a special kind of school. In fact it was set up in 1980 as an association of teachers, all coming from personal and professional experiences in the area of teaching Italian as a foreign language. Since these teachers were dissatisfied with their experiences, they decided to create a new structure which would differ from other private schools in the style of work and teaching methods.

Our courses lay emphasis on spoken language, not disregarding grammar rules, but considering language in its actual function, that is a means of communication between people. Therefore our lessons are focused on making students communicate in italian, helping them to achieve a better expression and comprehension. In this we have always been accurate and our method has been established over a 20 years activity of constant research and applied studies.
Our school gained official recognization by the Italian Ministry of Education last year and belongs to the Asils association of Italian schools for foreigners.

The program and didactic method were developed over a 10-year period of research and testing by the didactic group of the Koinè Centre. Through this work, the Center has developed teaching materials, books, and audiovisual tools and organized seminars and teacher orientation courses.
THE PROGRAM Our courses represent a communications program based on the realities of everyday life in Italy, and include the main aspects of social and cultural reality. We have established a program which, through the selection of specific reading materials, helps the student experience Italian society in an individual, personal way and not merely though the eyes of a tourist.
THE METHOD Our program follows a method which considers different didactic methods, but is based principally on activities requiring the use of creativity and induction. These kinds of activities are aimed at developing the confidence and autonomy of the student who is required to participate actively in classes. In this way, the students become the protagonists and the teacher becomes a discussion leader. According to the best scientific research, in order to be truly effective, teaching should involve not only the rational part of the memory but also the unconscious. The goal is to conquer concrete abilities. First, talking and speaking and then reading and writing, to avoid learning blocked by the inability to communicate effectively.

 
On the first day, students take a language test to determine their level and to enable us to create homogeneous classes. There are five levels divided into two cycles. Each level takes a month to complete. Therefore, it is possible to attend for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 5 months to complete the entire cycle.

 

 

BASE LEVEL The attainment by passing three proficiency levels of the “threshold level B1”; that is, the level of communicative ability recognized by the Common European Framework for Languages as permitting participation in an Italian language environment. 
ELEMENTARY LEVEL Allows means to handle most daily situations, to satisfy basic needs, and to understand relatively simple information.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL Allows means to handle most daily situations, to express one's point of view, and to explain, describe, and recount in a sufficiently precise manner. 
ADVANCED LEVEL This enables one to reach the threshold level, i.e., to obtain those linguistic instruments of communication necessary to move easily within Italy and in direct contact with Italians. The entire cycle places emphasis on the spoken language. 
SPECIALIZATION LEVEL At two teaching levels: the rationalization through the systematic procedures of knowledge of the language, of correctness of expression of the richer aspects of the spoken and written language.

Upper Level 1: Morphology and syntax 1st part. Analysis and in-depth study of various tone levels in the spoken language.
Upper Level 2: Morphology and syntax, 2nd part. Analysis and in-depth study of the various tone levels in written language. Introduction to dialects.

La Accademia Italiana de Salerno es un centro lingüístico y cultural italiano, fundado en Salerno en 1997 por la doctora Francesca Romana Memoli, licenciada y experta en literatura y lenguas extranjeras.

 

La escuela está especializada en la enseñanza de la lengua italiana a extranjeros y representa actualmente una de las instituciones más fuertes y consolidadas del Sur de Italia. Por esa razón, cada año, muchos estudiantes extranjeros eligen la Accademia Italiana para aprender italiano y compaginar el estudio de la lengua con unas vacaciones, en una de las zonas turísticas más bellas y sugestivas de Campania, junto a la famosa Costa de Amalfi.

 

La escuela permite que los estudiantes aprendan y estudien la lengua y la cultura italiana, viviendo al mismo tiempo unas inolvidables vacaciones- estudio. La Accademia Italiana organiza un variado programa cultural y ofrece diversas posibilidades de alojamiento: alojamiento en una familia italiana, en apartamento compartido o independiente, en hotel o en hostal.

 

La escuela dispone de 14 aulas, 1 sala multimedia con 8 ordenadores con acceso a Internet (cable and wi-fi), 1 aula cine, 1 biblioteca y videoteca, 1 sala café.

 

El personal y los profesores están altamente cualificados (doctores y licenciados) y especializados para la enseñanza del italiano como L2/LE.

 

La Accademia Italiana es centro de exámenes para las certificaciones oficiales DITALS, CILS y CELI y está autorizada por la Universidad para extranjeros de Siena y por la Universidad para extranjeros de Perugia

 

CIAO !

if you are searching among Italian courses in Italy and among the different Italian language schools in Italy and you are looking for study abroad programs and a course of Italian in Sicily, then we have it! Please, read what follows to know more about our school of Italian and our Italian language courses in Sicily, Taormina.

Our Italian courses can be language courses in a group or private language courses. Our Italian language school in Taormina, Sicily, offers study stays from one week up to one year! We can assist you in finding accommodation in Taormina

If, beyond a full immersion study abroad stay, you also want a full cultural experience, we offer a wider choice of culture courses from which to choose:

· cooking courses
· arts & crafts: ceramics, painting, sculpture and wood restoration courses
· Italian literature courses
· Italian history courses
· art history courses

Or, maybe you prefer something more active, dynamic, sporty? Then you can choose from:

· eco-tours
· sport & adventure
· golf

On the other hand, if you need courses for specific purposes, we can offer:
· business & executives courses
· commercial correspondence

With our Italian language courses we offer a program of social and cultural activities

Beyond all of that, our Italian language programs are officially recognized by:

· THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
· A.S.I.L.S. - Associazione delle Scuole di Italiano come Lingua Seconda -, the only one south of Naples
· I.A.L.C - International Association of Language Centres -, the only one south of Rome

And our School of Italian has signed agreements with:

· UNIVERSITY FOR FOREIGNERS of PERUGIA as Official Authorised Exam Centre for CELI Exams - Certificato di lingua italiana. The CELI exam is conform to the ALTE- Association of Language Testers in Europe – directives on the European standards fixed by the European Council. The exam sessions are in June and November
· UNIVERSITY "Ca’Foscari” of VENEZIA as authorized language centre for the apprenticeship of ITALS Master for teachers of Italian as foreign/second language


Do you already know our town, Taormina, and our island, Sicily?

Taormina has very ancient origins: in its Bay of Naxos, in 735 b.C., the first Greek colonizers landed and founded their first colony (Naxos) which was later to become the Magna Grecia. After them, whoever ruled over the Mediterranean Sea left their “footprints” on this wonderful island. Would you like to know Taormina a little bit better? Click on Taormina and have a look at our photo album and, if you have time, go for a virtual walk in town among its monuments, its history and its beaches.

Taormina can also be the basis for a trip in Sicily to discover the roots of the Sicily's culture and traditions. As W. J. Goethe wrote in 1786: "Without Sicily, Italy cannot be fully understood. It is here one finds the key to all things.”. Sicily has been at the centre of the Mediterranean See, and therefore of the European interests, for more than 2.000 years, until the “discovery” of the New World.

At the time of Dante Alighieri there was already a discussion among academics about which should be the national Italian language: that of the writers and poets of the courts of Frederick II or that of the court of the Medici in Florence. Then the divine Comedy was written and this put an end to the discussion… But it is in Sicily that the national theatre has its origins, with the tragedies written by Eschilo, Euripide, Aristofane. It is here that the genius of Archimedes anticipated the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. And it was the culture of the Magna Grecia that fed the Etruscan civilisation, first, and the Latin civilisation, afterwards, making Rome “Caput Mundi”. Click on myths of Sicily, if you want to know more about them.

Two of the Nobel Price for literature were Sicilians: Pirandello e Quasimodo. But many are the Sicilian writers who are fundamental in the history of the Italian literature: Verga, Capuana, Rosso di San Secondo e Tomasi di Lampedusa. And still nowadays the contribution of Sicily to the Italian literature is immense: : Vittorini, Sciascia, Bufalino, Consolo e Camilleri.

The same in music: from the “cantastorie” telling the stories of the French Paladins to the Opera composer Vincenzo Bellini.. The same in paintings: from Antonello da Messina to Renato Gattuso. And in fashion: from Mariella Ferrera to Dolce & Gabbana.

Not to be forgotten are also the treasures of the eno-gastronomy: from pasta alla Norma to caponatina, from cannoli to pasta reale, from Marsala wine to Malvasia.

Our Italian language courses can be the beginning of an unforgettable journey in Sicily. From Taormina, it is very easy to get to Syracuse, volcano Mount Etna, the Eolian Islands, Catania, Piazza Armerina and Noto. And, travelling a little bit further, to: Palermo, Selinunte, Segesta, Agrigento, Erice. And many more are the treasures of Sicily.

We would love to welcome you to our Italian language school in Taormina, Sicily for an unforgettable cultural and learning experience.

Ciao e… a presto!

 
   Alessandro Adorno
founder & school director


PROGRAMMA

Our Italian language course program has been developed from a communicative based approach and focuses on the four language abilities (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Our first goal is comunicazione, both oral and written. Our courses are structured to conform with the European standards set by ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) and by the Council of Europe.
 

Our Standard group course is divided in two parts: 2-hours of language analysis followed by 2-hours of practice with communicative tasks. The analitical activities includes controlled oral and written production, while the communicative tasks involve listening and reading comprehension and free oral and written activities. The instructors rotate weekly to add variety and interesse to the group dynamic. Grammatical structures are presented in order of frequency and relative complexity. The material is always introduced in some form of authentic text (newspaper or magazine article, taped dialogue, video-taped situation, letter, short story, etc.). Progress is monitored and all teachers meet weekly to facilitate organization and ensure proper student placement.
 

There is a massimo number of 10 students per class, although depending on season our average class size is generally between 4 and 6 people. This limit ensures a small group environment conducive to communication and offers each student the opportunity to speak as much as possible.
 

Ranging from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, our Italian language course
program is divided into six different levels of abilità. Students may enrol in our weekly
classes for up to 6-months of coursework, depending on their goals. All students
are placed in a level based on their entrance exam (both written and oral).

Though we are somewhat flexible, we highly recommend that all students begin
on our specified start dates, which occur roughly every two weeks
(please consult Course Schedule). Absolute beginner courses start only according
to our course schedule.

Our Italian language courses are structured to conform with the European standards set by ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) and by the Council of Europe.

The Formation Program is diviso into three levels and allows students to reach the “threshold level”, the level of communicative competence according to the Modern Language Project of the Council of Europe.

Formation:

Beginner (1st level)
Intermediate (2nd level)
Superior (3rd level)

The Specialization Program is also divided into three levels and allows the students to reach a level of competenza in the Italian language which is necessary for entrance into an Italian university.

Specialization:

Advanced 1 (4th level)
Advanced 2 (5th level)
Advanced 3 (6th level)

Each level last four weeks. However, completion of a particular 4-week course does not guarantee advancement to the next level. Language learning is not a mechanical endeavour. It is an academic endeavour which also involves a personal and psychological component. Some studenti have elected to repeat a particular level or delay advancement by a week or two, so as to continue study and practice of particular structures. Since our Italian language program is developed by a communicative-based approach, our materials, activities and tasks are quite extensive and it is rare that the student will repeat the same activities, using the same materials. We have designed our program with this in mind.

Most of our students take full advantage of the authentic materiali we use in the classroom and the communicative activities and tasks we employ, which often extend out of the classroom and into the students’ free time.

Upon request, we also offer completion exams to solidify and measure progress achieved. As an accredited language institution, our school corresponds to various International continuing educational programs.


I NOSTRI INSEGNANTI

All the teachers of  our Italian language courses are university graduates and many speak at least one or two other lingue.
Most of them have studied foreign languages at università and/or language schools abroad and all have been trained to teach Italian as a second/foreign language.


As a member school of A.S.I.L.S. our teachers take advantage of the regularly scheduled teacher training seminari and workshops offered by the Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language as well as by other professional organisations.In addition, we organize our own, ongoing, in-house teacher training program.

Progress of the students is continuously monitorati and all teachers meet weekly to facilitate organization and ensure proper student placement.

We consider extremely importanti our weekly teachers' meeting during which teachers can also exchange their own experiences in class and the results of the different activities proposed to the students.