F.A.Q. - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- ABOUT ITALIAN TUITION -

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Which is the next starting date?

You may start your Italian language course every 2 weeks on Mondays, even if you are a complete beginner! In Siena every monday for non-beginners. Please consult our course starting dates.

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What should I expect to do on the first day at school?

We will wait for you at 8:30 am at the school office. Students having little or no knowledge of the Italian language will attend the first lesson in which the oral capacity and the understanding will be tested. All other students will take a written and oral placement test which enables us to find the appropriate level.

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Which is a typical course schedule?

Standard Italian Language Course

Florence:

9 - 10:45 , 30-minute break, 11:15 - 13:00

Milan:

08:45-10:15, 15-minute break, 10:30 - 12:00 or 12:15 - 13:45, 15-minute break, 14:00 - 15:30 or 14:00 - 15:30, 15 minutes break, 15:45 - 17:15

Rome:

09:00 - 10:30, 15-minute break, 10:45 - 12:15 or 14:00 - 15:30, 15 minutes break, 15:45 - 17:15 In high season also: 10:45 - 12:15, 15-minute break, 12:30 - 14:00 12:15 - 13:45, 15-minute break, 14:00 - 15:30

Siena:

9 - 10:30, 15-minute break, 10:45 - 12:15 or 14:15 - 15:45, 15-minute break, 16:00 - 17:30

Intensive Italian Language Course

Florence:

9 - 10:45, 30-minute break, 11:15 - 13:00, 14:00 - 15:45

Rome:

9:00 - 12:15, break, 12:30 - 14:00

Intensive PLUS Italian Language Course

Florence:

group lessons: 9 - 10:45, 30-minute break, 11:15 - 13:00 individual lessons (one or two lessons): 14:00 - 15:45 or 16:00 - 17:45

Milan:

08:45-10:15, 15-minute break, 10:30 - 12:00 or 12:15 - 13:45, 15-minute break, 14:00 - 15:30 or 14:00 - 15:30, 15 minutes break, 15:45 - 17:15 individual lessons (one or two lessons): 12:15 - 13:45 14:00 - 15:30 15:45 - 17:15

Rome:

group lessons: 08:45 - 10:15, 15 minutes break, 10:30 - 12:00 or 12:15 - 13:45, 15 minutes break, 14:00 - 15:30 or 14:00 - 15:30, 15 minutes break, 15:45 - 17:15 or 15:45 - 17:15, 15 minutes break, 17:30 - 19:00 individual lessons (one or two lessons): 12:15 - 13:45 or 14:00 - 15:30 or 17:15 - 19:00

Siena:

group lessons: 9 - 10:30, 20-minute break, 10:50 - 12:20 or 14:20 - 15:50, 10-minute break, 16:10 - 17:30 individual lessons (one or two lessons): 12:30 - 14:00 or 14:20 - 15:50 or 17:30 - 19:00

Part Time Twice a Week

Milan:

18:30 - 20:00 (Tuesday and Thursday)

Rome:

17:30 - 19:00 (Tuesday and Thursday)

Extensive Standard Course

Milan:

18:30 - 20:00 (from Monday to Friday)

For homework and exercises you should calculate about one additional hour per day.

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Which books do you use in the lessons?

Our basic text and exercise books have been developed by our school. These books are used in conjunction with authentic teaching materials such as newspaper and magazine articles, audiovisual materials, and activities inside the classroom.

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Is the teaching material included in the course price?

All text books and other supplies are provided by the school, but you are expected to bring your own dictionary.

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Which teaching method do you use?

SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI teaches according to the Communicative Aproach Method: from the first day on, at all levels, only Italian will be spoken. The spoken language is the most important part of the tuition. Continually promoting the use of verbal communication permits you to learn Italian 'naturally', to unite theory and practice with no great problems and to increase your knowledge quickly and with confidence. You are encouraged to practice your spoken Italian in real-life situations, with your teacher, and with other participants, in pairs and groups. In advanced courses the written language will also be promoted.

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Which is your teachers qualification?

All teachers are highly qualified. Most of them have studied Italian language and literature. All our teachers have been specially trained in teaching Italian to foreigners.

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Which course certificates do students receive?

SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI certificates:

• At the end of each course, students with regular attendance receive the certificate of attendance indicating the level of proficiency attained.

• At the end of 3rd ability level, students who passed a test receive the "Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana".

• At the end of 5th ability level, students who passed a test receive the "Diploma di Lingua Italiana".

Diplomas "Firenze" of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua (AIL):

• DELI A2 - basic level: at the end of the first ability level;

• DILI B1 - intermediate level: at the end of the third ability level;

• DILC B1- intermediate Diploma of Business language: at the end of the third ability level;

• DILI B2- upper-intermediate level: at the end of the forth ability level;

• DALI C1- advanced level: at the end of the sixth ability level;

• DALC C1- Diploma of Business language, advanced level: at the end of the sixth ability level;

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Which is the average age of students attending the school? I'm interested in attending a course for older students aged 30 and above. Do you have suitable courses for this age group?

Sixty percent of our students are aged between 17 and 30 seeking to improve their Italian language skills and awareness of Italian culture.

Sixty percent of our students are already working; about ten percent are business managers and executives of different nationalities.

Five percent are retired and wish to improve their Italian and familiarize themselves with Italian culture.

Usually students aged 30 and more feel comfortable in our classes and enjoy to meet people from all over the world. In the Intensive Plus and Small Group Courses the average age is higher.

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After twelve weeks, how much Italian will I be able to speak, assuming I am a complete beginner upon arrival, I work very hard and I am good at languages?

SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI offers 6 different course levels from beginner to advanced. Each course level usually consists of 20 lessons/week over a period of 4 weeks. If you are good at languages and you work hard, it is possible to complete Beginner, Basic and Intermediate levels in 12 weeks.

At the end of the Intermediate level you already possess considerable knowledge of Italian. Your feeling for the language has become confident and your range of expressions has developed greatly and is more differentiated. You will be able to sit for the Leonardo da Vinci certificate examination "Knowledge of the Italian language" and for the "Firenze-Diploma" DILI of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua.

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