So how was it? I'm thinking about 2 weeks in Florence at Koine. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Hi jenjenjen,

I'll be going to Koine in Lucca in August. I'll post a report when I come back.

I have also read good reports about the Koine in Florence. There are some reports from students in www.slowtrav.com

Hi!

I am going to be gone for a month doing a language course in Bergamo. The class is at the University of Bergamo. Bergamo is a great town because you can easily take day trips to the lakes, verona, venice, torino, and you are only 30 min away from Milan.

I am going with a university from the USA, but the school does allow people that don't come from a university.

Thanks!
Kimberley

Cruiseluv
I must have missed this thread earlier in the month. I spent two weeks at Saena Iulia in Siena, and had a really good time Despite being a slow learner, and very aprehensive I was made to feel at ease quickly. I see you have chosen Lucca.

This was on my shortlist as well, and would have been high on my list if the courses had started in the correct week for me. I am interested in how you get on.

I love Lucca as a town, it is really pretty, and the people friendly. I hope you have a great time. I found two weeks immersion was really beneficial - I might not have learnt a huge amount of grammer, but the confidence it gave me in talking nothing but Italian for 2 weeks became really noticable when I returned home.
I plan to go back for another course as soon as I can.

Hi Willit,

Yes, I remember reading your posts in Slow trav.

I had originally planned to go to Saena Iulia but my dates coincide with the Palio. Whereas for some this would be an advantage I was concerned that the city would not be "normal"( even Giorgia from Saena Iulia stressed this fact). Maybe a lot of fun but not really conducive to studying. It also became difficult to obtain reasonably priced accomodations, so I decided on Lucca.

I still would like to go to Saena Iulia in the future as everything I have read is so positive.

Hi nnolen

Great information you have given regarding Perugia.

What type of accommodation did you opt for - shared apartment (with other students), university lodging, local family, or did you make your own arrangements? Was you accommodation within walking distance of your classes?

Thanks in advance
Helen

Hi Helen - thanks for the compliment!

As far as accomodations, I was in a rented apartment with another fellow student from my same university. There are plenty of rental agencies in town that help you to find accomodations for anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. I can't remember the name of the agency we went through, but the Universita' per Stranieri should be able to direct you.

If I had it to do over again, I'd stay with other Italian speaking students because I think I would have improved my language skills more quickly that way.

Our apartment was definitely within walking distance of the school. We were approximately 7-10 minutes away on foot up Corso Garibaldi.

I attended a course at this school:

http://www.centropuccini.it/

I was very happy!

The last poster has pulled up several old threads to recommend a language school--no other posting history.

ttt

If you want to stay in smaller cities, I would recommend tuscany or Sardinia in the summer: it's big island with tons of things to see, there's a school in Olbia called I like It they're small but the teaching is good and also do a lot of extra activities

bye!

I instead reccommend Umbria, "the green lung of Italy": it is in the very center of the state, and the region itself is utterly beautiful. Plus, they speak a very good-sounding variety of Italian.

Anyway, for a better learning experience I always tend to suggest to stay at least one week in a big city such as Rome (always first choice) or Naples: schools are often better organized and you have a wider possibility of choice on the type of course to join.

Cheers!

Henry, do you have any suggestions for a program that offers both art and language? My husband speaks Italian and I'm am artist, and it would be great fun to find something like that. Thanks.

( Note, though, that this thread is from 2005!

Hi justretired,

I see you and I are still looking at this thread!
Since then I have attended Koine in Lucca, Saena Iulia in Siena and Il Sasso in Montepulciano. The last one is my favorite. I just adored being in Montepulciano and I'm planning to go back in the Fall of 2014.
Not sure if they offer art related courses although I know they offer a variety of programs. Take a look at their website http://www.ilsasso.com/eng/ and check it out. As you know, there's art all over Italy, I'm sure you would find something to keep you occupied there. Do you have any interest in taking Italian lessons as well?

DD took a 6 week immersion class in Siena and liked it a lot.