Hello,

I was wondering if anyone can suggest and hopefully from their own experience, any Italian language schools in Italy that would not be dominated with high school or college kids. I am in my thirties and would be interested in possibly doing a month at a school by myself, possibly this winter, and would like to stay out of the Tuscany region. Any suggestions? Just from my research on the internet, many of the sites have tons of pictures of college kids on it, and not a diverse group of ages which I would totally prefer especially since I will be attending alone. Also, has anyone done a full 4 weeks at any of these schools? I would be a total beginner.

Thanks to all!!

P.S. I would prefer a small town to medium size city verse a large city.

THANKS!!

I spent a couple weeks in Siena with Dante Aligheri, but that was 15 years ago. Yes, a wide variety of ages, and Siena is a beautiful city.

a friend of mine ( age 48) took classes at University of Perugia for foreign students last year and is doing it again for two months this year.
She said the teachers were excellent and the students were mostly older adults.

I highly recommend Il Sasso in Montepulciano, I was there last October. I'm in my 50's and I wasnt the oldest person there. Not sure why you want to stay out of the Tuscany region. In that case Il Sasso would be out because Montepulciano is in Tuscany. But trust me, this is a serious (yet friendly) school in a lovely small town in Tuscany. I felt I had died and gone to heaven. As a matter of fact, I liked it so much I'm planning to go back next year.

Two years ago, my husband went to koine Language School in Bologna. He liked it so much that we went back last year and visited his host family and had dinner with one of his teachers. Let me know if you want more info on this, and I can have him chime in here at Fodors.

jbourdain.
I did 8 weeks (in total over 3 separate trips) in Siena at Saena Iulia and loved it.

I wouldn't get overly worried about the college kids. I originally had the same concerns being in my 40s, but the people attending are from a varied age range and after a while, age became irrelevant.

It is worth doing a search both here, and on the Slow travel websites because there are numerous discussions and recommendations as to different schools. Personally, I fell in love with the city of Siena.

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I was also considering the Le Marche region as there is a school in Ascoli Piceno. Has anyone been there and by chance have any input on the school? I really prefer a non touristy area but since it may be the winter when I attend, do not think that will be a problem. I have been to Italy several times and my family actually lives in a city in Tuscany and that is why I am sort of wanting to stay away from the region. I really prefer that more intimate feeling of being in a area where you can become one of the residents rather than be one of the tourists..an area where you may not be mistaken for a toursit just because the area does not receive so many.

Thanks!!

from what you describe, you're looking for a village.
i'd go a little different direction and think about hiring a private tutor. or part tutor/ part online course or online tutor through skype??

I know you mentioned non-touristy places but since I do have a recent experience I'll add my tuppence-worth on a school in Venice.

Last year DH and I spent 3 months at the Istituto Venezia in Venice and thought it was good. One of our classmates spent a year there, staying in their recommended accommodation at the Redentore convent, so she must have really liked it! And we met quite a few people who went back there every year.

Students were all ages from early twenties to seventies.

The school also offers activities like guided walks and visits every afternoon (all free except the cookery classes) & a film once a week, so that's good for the socialising aspect especially if you're on your own.

Everywhere including Venice is less touristy in the winter, anyway (assuming you avoid the Carnival) and despite what some people think, it's quite easy to avoid the very touristy parts of Venice. And you would almost certainly be known for a tourist in an area which doesn't receive many, especially in a village - and especially if you don't speak Italian! How would you get by in an area where nobody speaks English anyway? And why would an area with no tourists have an Italian language school?

I spent two weeks at Inclasse Scoula, Verona, during the fall of 2012. The ages were varied, students from throughout the world, and instruction superlative. I encourage you to research Inclasse on their website and facebook page. If you have any questions I would gladly answer them.

First, it depends on the kind of method you want to follow in learning Italian Language. I tend to prefer communicative approach rather than natural approach. As non-indoeropean native speaker (turkish) it is very useful for me to learn first how-to-do things with a language, and enlarge my vocabulary before actually working on hard grammar.

Secondly, it depends on which city you are planning to visit. In Rome (the city where I am currently staying) there is this small Language School named Kappa Language School: classes are up to 5 students with a great variety of ages (from 20 to 50) and the environment is very informal and friendly. I've been there for almost six months but they also offer 4 weeks courses.

Hope this has been of some help, cheers!