CapriAnniversary

Please offer your comments on the program, if you have. I am interested in enrolling for anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks of their studies but don't find any reviews from former students.

Valeria_82

I've been told from some teachers friend of mine that http://torredibabele.com/

Torre di Babele school is very well organized and offers professional courses, too. I've also found some good reviews about it. Just have a look and let me know.

Hope this helps! ;-)

CapriAnniversary

Thanks for the info.

willit

I cannot be specific on the program, but might be able to redirect you. On the slowtravel website there have been severeal long discussions on Italian language schools over the years. I think at least one poster there has been to several including a Scuola LdV course.

I have spent several weeks at a language school in Siena, and loved the experience. It was challenging but extremely worthwhile, and I felt my language skills really benefitted.

CapriAnniversary

Willit, may I ask what school it is in Siena that you attended? Do you have a URL for the school that you could post here? My wife and I are partcularly interested in Siena as a location for a school. And, thank you for the tip on the Slow Travel site. I will do some searching for what you referred to but should you conveneniently have a link, post it here. Again, thanks.

willit

1) Slowtravel discussions
http://preview.tinyurl.com/649arl

http://preview.tinyurl.com/5z3hcm

2) I studied at a school called Saena Iulia (http://www.saenaiulia.it/) - I have been three times - twice for 2 weeks, and once for 4. It is the only language school which I have attended, so I have nothing with which to compare it, but I loved my time there.

I particularly liked the small class sizes (typically 4-6; nowhere to hide, but not as intense as individual lessons).

The lessons (4 hours a day - afternoon sessions possible as extras) were a nice mixture of serious grammer, loose discussions, reading activities etc. There is a fair amount of homework, but still plenty of time for sightseeing.

Being in Siena was a great bonus (albeit one I didn't realise until I got there) - It quickly became one of my favourite places in the world.

CapriAnniversary

Thank you!

In reference to the program you attended, which I may choose as where my wife and I would go, what would you have to say about the following? I have self-studied Italian about 2 years from books, CDs and tapes. I am not fluent but I can speak, read, write well enough to do more than just get by. My unique work life allows me the time to do this--self study--as I travel much away from home weekdays and use my spare time in that manner; however, my wife speaks, reads, writes, no Italian, other than what she picks up from me when we travel to Italy. So, the question becomes, if we were taking a two week course with your school you've used, would they split us up based on the vast differences in our abilities? This would be fine. Or, if they have only a small enrollment, do they put students of widely varying abilities in the same class, under the same teacher?

If a student who really doesn't speak, read, or write any Italian were to enroll at the school you attended and took a 2 week course, would it really be a waste of time? I understand the immersion ideal that all instruction is in Italian, including directions on what to do, etc. For a complete beginner, is it self-defeatiing to take a two week course, in so many words?

My apologies if my questions ramble on and if you don't have time to reply further, non c'e problema! I I very much appreciate what you've already provided.

willit

They would split you according to your abilities. The first thing that happens is that you have a 10 minute chat with one of the teachers who assesses your level of knowledge, and equally importantly, what you wish to get out of the course.

Classes are flexible in that if people are battling or finding it overly simple, they will can move to where they feel more comfortable.

Do I feel 2 weeks would be a waste of time for a beginner? No - several people have done exactly that while I have been there, and have seemed to get a great deal out of it. Several have immediately started planning when they can do the "next two weeks"

Without wishing to sound like an advert for the school, it is worth Emailing them. The administrator, Giorgia, is exceptionally helpful and you will get tons of advice and recommendations from her.

Wherever you choose to go, best of luck. For me, studying a language abroad was a revelation and I have never regretted it.

CapriAnniversary

Lei e' molto gentile! Io vorrei imparare a parlare il meglio dell'italiano migliore ma dove sono gli italiani? Loro non sono qui, negli Stati Unit, ma loro sono in Italia. Devo parlare la lingua potere impararla. Io scrivo a Giorgia. Ancora, grazie!