Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Italian language classes in Italy

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Italian language classes in Italy

Has anyone tried the classes offered in "Centro di Cultura Italiana in Casentino" in Poppi in Umbria.? or can anyone recommend another place? Thank you. Graziella

Hi Graziella ! I would like to share my experience on the matter with you. I have taken four Italian courses up to day (1985,1986, 1990, 1994). I first visited Italy in order to enroll me in the Academy of fine Arts therefore the knowledge of the Italian Language was important. Apart the private schools like the one you mention (there are 1000s of that kind, in each town and village in Italy!) usually appealing to american tourists (and hence very expensive), there are also and others, less expensive, and in my opinion, more effective. These are the State-run "Universities for foreigners", the most famous (and biggest)of them being the one in PERUGIA (central Italy, Umbria region). In my opinion the best of that kind is the one in SIENA, because of its effectiveness and friendly yet serious staff. They have also minimal charges, and you can eat in the (extremely cheap) student's restaurant (mensa) using the issued students ID. They also help you to find cheap rooms to rent. And you can always enjoy the Tuscanian landscape and the famous "Palio di Siena", the horse-race taking place in mid August each year! The URL of the University of Italian Language in Siena is: http://www.unistrasi.it/inglese/index.html The URL of the Site of the University of Perugia is: http://www.unistrapg.it/homepage.htm And another site with Links to MANY other schools : http://www.it-schools.com/toscana/toscana.htm For any further info pls dont hesitate to contact me , yours, Georgio

I'd think there must be lotsa schools what teach the language in It-ly! How else would all them lit'le eye-talians learn how to talk?

Giorgio, I was just looking at the 2 websites that you listed, and even though I would prefer to be based in Siena, the Perugia normal course seems to have more hours per week, as well as more variety (art, history, literature). Do you know if that is actually the case, or perhaps the Siena website is just not as detailed as that of Perugia? Thanks for the info.

Try looking at http://www.scuolaleonardo.com/ they've got several locations.

Hi Russ, Perugia University IS infact better organized. Perugia might be -relatively- cheaper too, but the University is huge and there are thousants actually students from all corners of the world, especially in the summer. As a result, the classes at times can be "over-crowed" and seems that the professors didnot pay too much attention to the students. The "atmosphere" is much more serious (like a State- run university should be!) and I would reccomend this mostly to teenagers or young in generally people who love to socialize-meet new international friends (but not locals!),etc. Okay, I will e-mail you for more info on the matter. All the Best, Georgio.