The Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo, founded in 1981, was one of the first schools of Italian in Italy and in Tuscany. Our courses are held in Pisa and Viareggio, two famous towns by the Tyrrhenian Sea, conveniently linked by rail and motorway to the most important towns such as Florence, Rome, Milan and Venice.

Our school of Italian for foreigners

Both schools are in the town centre, close to train and bus stations.
Pisa is 12 km from the sea and the beach can be easily reached by bicycle or bus, while Viareggio is right by the sea and the school is about 150 metres from the beach. Where we are.  The high level of teaching in our courses is guaranteed by the training and experience of our teachers. Moreover, our school is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, the Swedish CSN and is member of ASILS, the Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language that guarantees the quality of the courses.

The schools is not only a place where one can follow entertaining and high quality lessons, but also a place where students can enjoy pleasant moments of socialization.
 
On the first day, after the test, the students are invited to visit the town under the guidance of a teacher. The school also organizes a small party during the first week and, during the summer, some night parties on the beach. So the students are able to get to know each other and feel part of a group of friends rather than tourists. At our school there is a relaxed and familiar environment thanks to a friendly staff. The secretary is also permanently available to provide information about leisure activities as well as to help with bureaucratic problems.. The Pisa school has an Internet Point at the disposal of the students at the lowest prices in the town.
 
 
 Living among Italians
We chose two towns which are on a human scale and safe, where contact with people is still possible.
Pisa and Viareggio are medium-sized towns without mass tourism. Here it is still possible to meet true Italians, with their customs and way of life that are typical of our culture, and put into practice in real-life situations the linguistic structures and forms learnt in class.

Our method
Young teachers qualified in the teaching of Italian to foreigners will guide you in the learning of the language using an integrated method that facilitates the development of communicative abilities without neglecting the study of grammatical structure. The teaching material is produced by our Institute,but is appropriately supplemented, according to the judgement of the teacher, to meet the needs of the class. Indeed, while respecting the syllabus of each course, experience teaches us that each class has its own identity and needs which essentially means that the teaching has to be “personalized”.
One afternoon a week a teacher receives students by appointment for any additional explanations or clarifications relating to the part of the syllabus taught during the lessons.

Our courses
On the first day of a course each student is carefully assessed by means of an entry test so as to place him or her in a group that is suited to his/her knowledge of the Italian language.
The groups of students are on average small (6-7 students) with a maximum of 12 students per class.
There are eight levels from absolute beginner to advanced. The lessons take place from Monday to Friday, normally in the morning.
The cost of the course includes: lessons, course entry test and certificate of attendance, teaching materials, booking of accomodation, help with applications for visa and residence permit, some social activities organized by the school, the showing of films.
 

Grants:

Each year, the Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo awards a limited number of free courses (Grants A) or a discount of 50% on the cost of the course (Grants B) to Italian Institutes of Culture and some universities in various countries. Each course lasts four weeks and includes twenty hours of lessons a week. The criteria for the award of the grants are established by the Italian Institutes of Culture and by the universities to which they have been awarded.

General conditions:
1) Each grant, according to the type, includes:
a) free or 50% reduction on cost of a course in the Italian language lasting four weeks, with a total of eighty hours of lessons distributed from Monday to Friday with a timetable 09.00-13.00.
b) Textbooks
c) Free assistence by the school in looking for accommodation, for the period of the course, with a family, or in a flat, bed and breakfast or hotel, according to availability.
d) Certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

2) The grants regard exclusively the cost of the course, while the expenses for travel, food and accommodation are entirely born by the students.
3) The grants cannot be applied for directly to the school, but only to the Institutions listed in the table below. The criteria for awarding the grants to students who apply for them are established by the Institutions that have them available.
4) The grants are available only for the PISA school.
5) To avoid overcrowding of classes, a period of validity has been established for each grant (see table).

In addition to the grants indicated  other courses with a discount of 50% will be assigned to university students or secondary school pupils who apply directly to the school before the end of April. The applications, which must include a letter of introduction from the respective teacher of Italian, must include:
1. Personal data;
2. Full postal address and e-mail address;
3. Indication of period (or periods) in which it is desired to attend the course.

The courses will be assigned according to the availability of places requested by students. For this reason we invite applicants to indicate more thanone period.

Other possibilities of grants and benefits:

GRANTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Each year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards grants for attendance of language courses in Italy. Those interested can request information from the Italian Institutes of Culture or from the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representatives in their own countries of residence. Holders of grants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.esteri.it/lafarnesina/indirizzi/index.htm) are entitled to a discount of 20% on the cost of courses at our school.

CSN
Swedish citizens can apply for economic contributions to CSN (http://www.csn.se/) for attendance of courses organized at our school. Enrolments must be for courses lasting at least 13 weeks.

Other special discounts:

At the Pisa centre the following discounts on the chosen language course will be applied:
10% to the students who enroll for at least 12 weeks.
10% to the students of the "Erasmus" programme.
20% to holders of a scholarship awarded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
The price of the course includes:

- lessons, start of course entry test and certificate of attendance, teaching material, help with application for the visa and residence permit, reservation of accommodation, some social activities promoted by the school, the showing of films.
 
University specials (Pisa only) Preparation courses for admission to Italian Universities.

from 2 to 6 months.
4 lessons a day,
times: 09.00 - 13.00,

Faculties:
Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering,
Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy.

(For information please contact the school )