Italian is a sonorous language famously used in opera.  It has many similarities with French and Spanish and comes easily to people familiar with those languages or with some knowledge of Latin.  Italian is also widely spoken in Switzerland. It is traditionally used in musical terminology and is now widespread in the fashion industry.  Those interested in the history of the Renaissance period and in the history of art will find it an indispensable asset.

Beginners

Course Level

This is for learners with little or no prior knowledge of Italian.  You will learn basic skills to enable you to make yourself understood and to find out information in everyday situations.

Course Content

Topics covered at this level will include the following: exchanging personal information, describing one’s family and friends, simple shopping transactions (at the bar, restaurant, and supermarket), dealing with time (i.e. telling the time, understanding timetables) and spaces (describing one’s house, asking for and understanding simple directions).

Post-beginners

Course Level

Is for those who can manage in everyday situations using the present tense.  You will probably have reached level A1 in the European Language Portfolio or completed a beginners course.

Course Content

Topics covered at this level will include the following: likes and dislikes (i.e. what one does in their free time, what leisure activities people prefer in Italy and in other countries), how to give suggestions and advice (i.e. from cooking instructions to other forms of guidelines), more complex shopping transactions (i.e. involving the comparison of different products and prices), how to talk about the past (i.e. how to understand and respond to a past narrative in a variety of informal contexts).

Intermediate

Course Level

These learners will have some knowledge of past and future tenses.  Your level in the European Language Portfolio will be around A2/B1.

Course Content

Topics covered at this level will include the following: more complex past structures (i.e. understanding and responding to a news report or a short written text in the past), talking about the future, expressing and understanding simple opinions on a variety of contemporary topics to be negotiated with the learner’s group.

Advanced

Course Level

Is for learners who can understand the main points of everyday spoken and written material and are quite confident in the past and future tenses.

Advanced:

Topics covered at this level will include the following: exchanging and expressing more complex and articulated opinions on a variety of contemporary topics to be negotiated with the learner’s group (i.e. the new media, Italian and British education system, recent Italian cinema and its language, working in Italy, Italy as a tourist destination, etc).

Please view our timetable for details of when classes take place.

How to enrol