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.