The U.S.- Italy Fulbright Commission - US Pages
You are here: Home → Study in Italy → Italian Language Courses in Italy and Abroad
Fulbright on
 
Document Actions

5. Italian Language Courses in Italy and Abroad

Italian language course offerings in Italy

Italian language courses are offered in Italy by three types of educational institutions:

  • Universities for Foreigners
  • State and private universities
  • Private language schools

These institutions offer a wide variety of courses on both Italian language and culture, and courses that focus only on the study of the language. Many of them also offer courses of business Italian and Italian for professionals, as well as courses tailored for specific target audiences and educational objectives.

 

How to choose an Italian language course

When examining the courses, it is advisable that prospective students consider the following criteria carefully to help decide whether a program is appropriate for their academic or professional objectives:

  • program type and length (course type - standard, semi-intensive, intensive; level, possibility of acquiring an official language certification, program length)
  • program quality (program/subjects of study, teaching material used, teachers' qualification and experience)
  • location and setting (city, available services, infrastructures, IT/ technical facilities)
  • class structure (class size, student-teacher ratio, class composition)
  • cost and admission requirements (tuition, enrollment fees and financial arrangements for enrollment in courses, cost of didactic material)
  • housing availability (cost, type, location)

 

Universities for Foreigners

Universities for Foreigners are Italian higher education institutions, which are part of the university system, specialized in teaching and research for the development and diffusion of the Italian language and culture. Universities for Foreigners offer courses of Italian language and civilization throughout the academic year and during the summer, as well as degree and post-graduate programs with an international perspective for both Italian and foreign students in many subjects such as Communication, Marketing and International Relations. They are located in Siena (Tuscany), Perugia (Umbria) and Reggio Calabria (Calabria).

 

USEFUL WEBSITES:

 


State and private universities

Both state and private universities in many Italian cities throughout the country also offer courses of Italian Language and culture. Courses are usually organized by University Language Centers (Centri Linguistici d’Ateneo) that provide educational services in the field of foreign languages teaching and learning, and are specialized in the development of innovative methodologies and techniques in the field of language education and research. Courses are generally offered to students enrolled in degree programs at the university, to faculty and staff, and to private citizens during the academic year and during the summer, when courses are usually offered within the university Summer schools.

A complete list of the University Language Centers affiliated with the Italian National Association of University Language Centers (Associazione Italiana Centri Linguistici Universitari – AICLU ) can be found on AICLU website at : http://www.aiclu.it/soci.html . Below is a partial list of universities that organize Summer Schools of Italian language and culture:


USEFUL WEBSITES:

 

For a complete list of Italian Universities you can search the CINECA database of Italian Universities of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) at http://cercauniversita.cineca.it. Italian Language course offerings during the whole academic year is usually presented in the university International website.

 

Private Language schools

There are many private schools in Italy not connected with a university that offer Italian language courses. When searching the schools, prospective students should check to see if the schools are accredited by a national Association that oversees the quality standard of the educational services provided such as ASILS - Associazione Scuole di Italiano come Lingua seconda (http://www.asils.it ) and AIL - Accademia Italiana di Lingua (http://www.acad.it).

Many Italian schools are under the umbrella of the Dante Alighieri Society (Società Dante Alighieri - http://www.ladante.it ), which is a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting the Italian language and culture in the world. Through more than 400 Committees all over the world, the Dante Alighieri Society establishes and funds schools, libraries, circles and courses of Italian language and culture; it also promotes books and publications, conferences, cultural events, activities and scholarships.


Italian Language Courses Abroad

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes the Italian language and culture abroad through its network of 90 Italian Cultural Institutes, which organize Italian language and culture courses in many cities all over the world. In recent years, Italian Cultural Institutes have diversified their course offerings. The majority of them offer, in addition to language courses and courses that lead to official language certificates, also courses in conversation, courses in Italian language and culture (literature, history, art, food, music, cinema, theatre), courses in business Italian and Italian for professionals, and courses for children.

 

USEFUL WEBSITES: