Firenze

The school 

The school since 1976 has been offering international students the opportunity to study Italian in Florence, to know our culture and to experience Italian life.

It’s centrally located, in a quiet street in an elegant 19th century building next to the main railway station in few minutes walk to the historic centre of Florence. The school offers comfortable, well-equipped and air conditioned classrooms, provided with audio and video equipment, a small garden, free internet and wireless access, an excellent social activities program and high-quality accommodation at walking distance of the school.

• Levels: from A1 to C2
• Minimum age: 16 anni.
• Students per Class: Max 14
• Lessons : 45 min.
• Minimum: Two weeks
• Starting dates : Every Monday.

Standard Course 

20 Lessons per week

The Italian standard course is designed for participants who need to improve their Italian skills for general use. Group sizes are small and you will be able to develop your Italian skills, focusing on listening, speaking, reading and writing. The aim of the course is to develop your practical and communication skills in Italian. By learning and practicing Italian in fun and focused lessons you will increase your confidence in using Italian, consolidate your language knowledge and achieve greater fluency.

During the course you will use a textbook which you can purchase at school and your teacher will provide extra learning material for each class. As no translation is used in the classroom you will be making rapid progress in Italian.

Intensive Course

30 lessons per week

This course is designed for motivated students who need to improve their Italian language skills either for general use or for their study or work. In the morning in the Standard course you will develop your general Italian language skills. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to spend more time to focus on specific aspects of Italian language and culture. 

Depending on the level, in the afternoon classes will focus is on spoken communication through discussions, role plays, conversations. You will also be given an insight into Italian culture and lifestyle through lectures and practical language activities. 

Super-Intensive Course

30 lessons per week (20 in group + 10 individual)

This option allows you to combine a Standard course in the morning with individual lessons in the afternoon. This is a flexible language course suited to your individual needs. You can concentrate on improving specific aspects of the language and on developing the abilities and the vocabulary needed in your professional life or for your studies.

While learning in a group is stimulating and challenging, the individual tuition provides maximum concentration on special requirements which are established by a questionnaire we previously send you , in which you can indicate the language needs you would like to focus on. 

You will benefit both from group interaction and a personalized language training.

One to One Course

20 / 30 / 40 lessons per week

This fully personalized, intensive language training is particularly suited to professionals and executives. This course is tailored to meet the needs of the participants with requirements in specific language areas. The one-to-one course includes a detailed language needs analysis which is previously sent to you and allows you to specify your needs and objectives before the course starts. Your input will help us draft a fully tailor-made course of direct practical relevance for you and for your specific needs. You will be working with two or more teachers, each with a special program suited to your needs. A one-to-one program will quickly improve your general or specialized Italian knowledge.

Italian + Arts

This school offers, in partnership with an International School of Art, a rich program combining Italian language with courses in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Photography and Painting. 

The program provides monthly and semester courses.

MONTHLY PROGRAMME

28 lessons per week

The program is suitable for participants who wish to combine Italian language lessons and art, design or photography and to enjoy the opportunity of following an art course in the heart of Florence.

An elementary knowledge of the Italian language is required as the art programs are held in Italian.

No previous experience in art is requested. If you have already studied arts, design or photograph before or work in one of these fields you should send your portfolio in order for the school to evaluate your ability and to check if the course is suitable for your competence.

Italian lessons take place Monday to Friday in the morning at the school, art classes take place in the afternoon at the Art School according to a schedule which will be given to you at the beginning of each program.

Students may choose one of the following programs:

• Fashion Design

• Interior Design

• Digital Photography

• B/W Photography

• Painting

Starting dates 2016: 4th Jan, 1st Feb, 29th Feb, 29th Mar, 26th Apr, 23rd May, 20th Jun,4th July, 29th Aug, 26th Sep, 24th Oct, 21st Nov

Art courses are suspended from 1st to 26th August 2016.

Art Courses – Monthly Programme

FASHION DESIGN

This multi-level course introduces students to the industry of Fashion. Class-time will be a mixture of in-class presentations and practical assignments where students will develop projects and assignments based on lessons given in class. Individual and group critiques are an important component of the program.

Beginner level

The structure of the course allows students to have a basic understanding of fashion design and trend. Students will learn to sketch the fashion figure with the correct proportions and in different poses, they will learn to draw garments on the figure and will learn to render different materials using markers and colour pencils.

Special attention will be given to the understanding of the timing and planning of a fashion collection.

Intermediate and advanced levels

Intermediate and advanced students will improve drawing skills and will work on specific market categories such us: High fashion, menswear, accessories and so on.

INTERIOR DESIGN

This multi-level course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of planning and furnishing interior spaces. Special attention is given to the study of Italian interior design. Class-time will be a mixture of in-class presentations and practical assignments where students will develop projects and assignments based on lessons given in class. Individual and group critiques are an important component of the program.

Beginner level

The course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of planning and furnishing interior spaces. Students learn both manual drawing skills as well as computer graphics programs.

Students study both the history of interior design as well as discussing contemporary trends. Special attention is given to the study of Italian interior design. Students learn to read architectural models, drawings and plans as well developing knowledge of materials.

Intermediate and Advanced levels

Intermediate and Advanced students begin to develop an individual or group project based on the knowledge gained in the first part of the program

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

This course is designed to teach the fundamental skills and basic techniques of shooting images with DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras. Classes are a mixture of hands-on demonstrations, slide presentations, critical theory, individual group critique and open supervised lab work. You are expected to have a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) that permits manual adjustment of shutter speeds and apertures. You will also be required to have the camera USB cable as well as a memory card (1GB is suggested).

Beginner level

This course is designed to teach the fundamental skills and basic techniques of shooting color and black and white images with DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras. Special emphasis will be placed upon aesthetic and visual concerns as well as presentation and craftsmanship. The course will base itself on the understanding and operation of the camera, manual exposure, composition, studio lighting and basic image correction through Adobe Photoshop.

Advanced level

Advanced students who already have a strong foundation in basic digital photography will be introduced to advance techniques of photo edition through Adobe Photoshop and Light-room software. By the end of the course, students will have developed an understanding of their own photographic language, and have acquired a more critical eye.

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

In this course students will learn basic principles and techniques of classical black and white darkroom photography. Classes lessons are a mixture of hands-on demonstrations, slide presentations, critical theory, individual / group critique and open supervised lab work. You are expected to have a 35mm camera that permits manual adjustment of shutter speeds and apertures.

Beginner level

At the beginning level students will be introduced to the basic functions of the manual 35 mm camera. And students will focus on producing clean well-developed images and mastering the technical aspects of traditional of the field.

Advanced level

Advanced students that have mastered the basic technical aspects of the darkroom will be introduced to alternative process and advanced darkroom development techniques. All advanced students will begin to create a body of work that reflects their personal style and ideas.

PAINTING

Students will be introduced to the technical and theoretical aspects of painting in a variety of medium. Studio assignments will be enriched by discussions, critiques, illustrated lectures, museum visits and the analysis of historic and contemporary paintings.

Beginner level

Beginning level students will work from still-life, nude models and on-site in the city. Lessons will focus on use of color, value, and composition.

Intermediate level

Intermediate students will continue to build on the skills learned at the beginning level and will start developing their own personal visual language.

Advanced level

Advanced students are expected to have mastered the technical aspects of painting and will begin to build a body of work that reflects a personal style and ideas.

SEMESTER PROGRAMME

32 lessons per week

This program offers a balanced curriculum of studio art courses providing a very comprehensive experience for students who have chosen Florence as their place of study.

All studio art courses are taught in English. These hands on courses meet twice a week for a total of 6 contact hours per week for each chosen subject. Studio courses combine practical lessons, in-class demonstrations and slide presentations. Classes may include in-class lectures, discussion and on-site visits and instruction. Most academic courses are reading and writing intensive and will require also work outside of regular class-time.

Students may choose 2 Studio Art courses from the following:

• Fashion Design: Italian Fashion Industry

• Fashion Illustration

• Fashion: Garment Construction

• Interior Design

• Photography

• New Media: Video, Sound and Installation

• Painting

• Drawing

• Printmaking & Books Arts

Spring: from 4th Jan to 22nd Apr 2016

Fall: from 29th Aug to 16th Dec 2016

Studio Art Courses - Semester Program

FASHION DESIGN: ITALIAN FASHION INDUSTRY
This course is structured to familiarize students with the history of Italian fashion design. From textile design and accessories, to haute-couture and prêt-a-porter, students will explore the many aspects of the Italian fashion industry. Visits to design studios, fashion exhibits and textile factories introduce students to the industry first hand. The history of Italian fashion component of the course will begin pre-World War II, explore the High Fashion in Rome during the 50’s, the birth of the Italian Fashion Industry in Florence, and ready to wear in Milan. There is a special focus, through videos and visits, on the lives and careers of the most relevant Italian designers of the 20TH century in order to offer a general understanding of the foundation of Made in Italy.

FASHION ILLUSTRATION

This course covers the fundamental notions in fashion illustration: fashion figure and garment interpretation. Students study and develop the basic structure unique to the fashion figure and its characteristics, history, stylization, influence, and use in fashion illustration. Students will learn to interpret draping quality and surface texture of fabric. Individual interpretation and creative drawing skills are emphasized.

FASHION: GARMENT CONSTRUCTION

This course will introduce students to the basic techniques of drawing, draping and sewing with constant individual help and always stimulating personal creativity. Students will learn how create fashion collections following their own fashion project development from the idea to the actual execution and presentation of the project. Students will learn technical skills such as sketching a fashion figure, sketching garments and how they fall on the body, learn how to use coloring media, such as markers, color pencils, collage techniques etc. and at the same time learn how to organize a fashion collection. Field trips to museums like the Costume Gallery at the Pitti Palace and the Ferragamo Museum as well fashion/art exhibitions will be an important source of inspiration to develop personal projects.

INTERIOR DESIGN
This course will explore the history of Italian Interior and product Design over the last century and the influence and importance that the “made in Italy” label has had in Europe, the United States and the world.Students will explore the history of Italian Design over the last century through slide lecture, reading assignments and on-site visits to show rooms and museums. Attention will be given to the major artistic, socio-political and technological events and their influence on Italian Design. 

PHOTOGRAPHY
You will learn photographic principles and techniques along with darkroom and laboratory procedures. Aimed at encouraging creativity, emphasis is given to developing a critical sense of the visual language that modern photography uses so expressively. An understanding of technical and critical skills in photography enables you to translate your ideas from other areas of art into the medium of photography.

NEW MEDIA: VIDEO, SOUND AND INSTALLATION

This course is designed to engage intermediate and advanced students in a contemporary art dialogue that is not medium specific. A conceptual understanding of the framework of the art context will bring students to engage in new sites of cultural production, new methodologies, technologies, or genres and expand on each students’ creative potential by introducing innovative and diverse approaches to art making.

PAINTING

Students will learn the basic techniques of pictorial representation. Initial projects introduce the workings of paint handling, which include: how to construct and begin a painting, the modeling of form through paint application, and the fundamentals of color mixing. Through studio assignments, students will explore a variety of approaches to painting and gain competence using these techniques and materials. Studio assignments will be augmented by discussions, critiques, illustrated lectures, museum visits and the analysis of historic and contemporary paintings. Through a series of studio projects based upon a variety of historical approaches to painting, more advanced students will strengthen their mastery of materials and techniques while developing an increased understanding of the relationship between form, subject and content. Museum visits, illustrated lectures, critical readings and critiques will supplement studio projects. 

DRAWING

This course is designed for students wishing to learn, or improve, the essential techniques of object and observational drawing along with intermittent drawing of the human figure. During the program, students will be introduced to all principles and elements of drawing as well as the key techniques and media. Every lesson will have a precise goal and forms a progression of skills that students will build up over the course of the semester with the aid of weekly sketchbook exercises. Lessons are enhanced by lectures, onsite visits, and slides that include both old master and contemporary works.

PRINTMAKING & BOOKS ARTS

This intensive hands-on course will introduce students to the art of printmaking in relation to the creation of bookwork. Students will learn both printmaking and hand-bookmaking techniques which will culminate in the creation of original finished bookwork. Printmaking techniques we will explore include (though may not be limited to) linoleum relief printing, mono-printing and letterpress printing.

Art History 

The Art History course aims to introduce the student to an appreciation of important works of Art in their original settings. From Romanesque to Mannerism in Architecture, Painting and Sculpture in Florence. The students will be given an overview of the main art historical periods from Romanesque Architecture and the peculiar Florentine interpretation of the Gothic style to the wonderful XIVth Century paintings of Cimabue and Giotto.

Special attention will be paid to Florentine Renaissance and Italian Mannerism.

The program foresees classes on site (museums, churches, building).

This course is offered in the afternoon throughout the year, combined with a Standard Course in the morning. The course is held in Italian an elementary knowledge of Italian is required in order to attend it.

Italian + Cooking in Florence

26 lessons per week

This school offers, with its Culinary Art School Partner, an exciting program combining Italian language in the morning with cooking classes in the afternoon. The culinary program is held in Italian, therefore to attend this course a basic knowledge of Italian is enough. No previous experience in culinary arts is requested. 

Italian lessons take place every day in the morning at the school, cooking classes (6 hours per week, 2 weekly sessions of 3 hours each) take place in the afternoon at the Culinary Arts School according to a schedule which will be given to you at the beginning of each program. You will have the opportunity to participate “hands-on” in the preparation of the dishes. Each session is followed by the tasting of the dishes prepared during the lessons. At the end of the course students receive a participation certificate.

Cultural Program for Seniors 

During Spring and Autumn this school offers in Florence a holiday language course for mature and senior adults, wishing to combine a pleasant holiday in Italy and enjoy the opportunity of discovering fascinating cultural itineraries.

The program offers a pleasant mixture of Italian tuition, excursions to the most interesting places of Tuscany, visits to artistic and historical centers, cooking lessons, lectures on cultural subjects, food and wine itineraries. 

For accommodation participants will be able to choose among the options we offer: homestay, independent flat or hotel of various categories.

Preparatory Course for University

25 lessons per week

This school prepares students for degree programs with selective entry which require an admission test: Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry.

Please check also our general outline of Italian Higher Education System.

First part: Italian for academic purposes.

The program is designed to help students achieve the academic Italian language requirements to access Italian Universities. The course will provide students with the language and study skills needed for the Italian examination which is a mandatory requirement for international students applying on Bachelors Degrees in Italy.

The course will teach following skills: comprehending academic texts, writing and making oral presentations, discussing ideas or information taken from a scientific text, independent learning skills, vocabulary expansion.
Second part: Academic subjects.

The course curriculum is tailored to the fields the students plan to study at the University and to the exams they need to take to be admitted to a particular department.

Students are given a specific training for scientific subjects as as Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Logic etc. according to the degree course chosen by the student.

The course is structured according to the indications given by the Italian Ministry of Education on the content of the test.

In the courses students will learn about how the exams works and they will get plenty of practice using the types of questions they will see in the exam. Student will exercise also on past exam tests.

Lessons    30 lessons per week (45 minutes per lessons) 

Duration 5 weeks

Groups Max. 15 students

Requirements CEF Level B1

Period  6th June – 29th July 2016

Individual Preparatory Course for CILS Exam 

10 Lessons per week

This school, being accredited by the Università per Stranieri di Siena as examination centre for the CILS certification, organizes throughout the year one-to-one preparatory courses.

CILS examination assesses 6 levels of Italian language knowledge according to the Common European Framework: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. For each level the exam tests following language abilities: listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking.

The individual course will allow you to focus on strengthening your knowledge, understand the areas you need to work on the most and will prepare you to pass the exam successfully.

CILS Certification at B1/B2 level is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education and can grant acceptance in any Italian University or higher education institution in Italy.

Holders of a B1/B2 CILS certification are exempted from taking the Italian language test which is mandatory for Academic studies in Italy.

Italian + Internship

Throughout the year we offer you the opportunity to participate in day-to-day business activities and practice your Italian skills in real-life situations through an unpaid internship experience in an Italian company or organization. The first part of the program includes a language preparatory course of minimum 4 weeks to improve your Italian skills in Florence. In the second part of the program you will be placed in a company or organization in your field of interest. The purpose of this type of placement is to enable you to improve Italian language skills with daily practice in an Italian working environment, improve your professional skill, understand how work is conducted in Italy and, understand work ethic and experience cultural diversity.

These internships are unpaid and students are expected to fund/pay for their entire stay in Italy. 

Accommodation 

Homestay 

All our accommodation is of high quality and close to our schools – often just a short walk, and never more than a 15-minute journey by public transport. We take great care in selecting our homestay accommodation. We visit each host family before using them, and continue to visit regularly. Being in constant touch with our hosts means that we get to know them very well and that also helps us to match clients with hosts. Many homestay families have been working with us for several years, they understand that we have high expectations. Importantly, we also carefully check feedback to make sure that course participants who stay in homestay are happy and that standards remain high.

Your hosts - Not all our private home accommodation is with a traditional family of a couple with children living at home. We have a wide variety of families. Some consist of young couples, either with or without children, some are older, some are single parent families and others are widows living alone. Living with an Italian family will be very helpful for practicing your Italian. Of course it will take a little time to settle in and get used to your new environment, but it will be without doubt an interesting experience. Whoever your hosts are, they will be accustomed to having visitors stay with them. They will want to make sure you are happy and comfortable in their home.

Other guests in the same accommodation - You may not be the only guest staying in this accommodation. If there is another visitor he/she will speak a different language to you, so you will have plenty of opportunity to practice speaking Italian.

Options:

• Half Board – Breakfast and dinner, served every day including week ends.

• Breakfast – You will be served a typical Italian breakfast every day of the week. This option does not foresee using the hosts kitchen to prepare other meals.

Location. Homestay are located both in centre or residential areas surrounding the centre at maximum distance of 15 minutes by bus from the school.

Rooms. Single or twin (only available for two students travelling together).

Bathroom. To be shared with hostfamily. Private bathroom available only on request.

Internet. Available in most homestays family.

Min. Age 16+. Minors can be only booked in homestay accommodation with half board.

Duration. This accommodation can be booked for minimum 2 weeks.

Booking. The accommodation is booked from the Sunday before your course starts to the Saturday after it ends.

Shared Flat 

This self catering option is for students who want to be more independent by renting a room in a flat shared with other students. For this accommodation option the minimum age required is 18+. You have complete freedom and are not expected to join in family life.

You can choose a single or a twin room (available only for two students coming together) in a completely furnished flat with 3 or more bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom to be shared with other students. Sheets and towels are provided. All our accommodation is of high quality and close to our schools – often just a short walk, and never more than a 15-20 minutes journey by foot. We take great care in selecting our accommodation. 

The other guests in the flat will speak a different language to you, so you will have plenty of opportunity to practice speaking Italian.

Location. Shared flats are centrally located often just a short walk to school.

Rooms. Single or twin (only available for two students traveling together).

Bathroom. To be shared with other students in the apartment.

Internet WI-FI. Available in most flats.

Utilities. Heating, electricity, water are included in the accommodation fee.

Min. Age. 18+. 

Duration. This accommodation can be booked for minimum 2 weeks.

Booking. The accommodation is booked from the Sunday before your course starts to the Saturday after it ends.

Independent Flat 

This option is suitable for those who prefer more privacy and independence.

For this accommodation option the minimum age required is 18+.

The flats can be furnished studios or small apartments for one or two people, of varying size and category, fully equipped.

Kitchen tools, bedlinen and bath towels are provided. The school does not manage independent apartments directly but through carefully selected estate agencies specialized in offering housing services to international students. To those interested we will give the website of estate agencies where they can choose the flats most suitable to their requirements. The estate agencies will inform students about their booking procedures. 

Location. Independent flats are centrally located often just a short walk to school.

Flats. Studio flat or small apartments for two persons.

Internet WiFi. Free of charge in all flats.

Min. Age. 18+ . 

Duration. This accommodation can be booked for minimum 1 week.

Booking. The accommodation is booked from the Sunday before your course starts to the Saturday after it ends.

Utilities. To be paid based upon consumption.

A rich program to experience the Italian way of life

During your stay in Florence you will have the possibility to experience the social and cultural life through a program of cultural and leisure activities organized by the school.

These usually include guided visits to the most important museums and galleries, lectures on various aspects of contemporary Italian culture and society, a selection of famous Italian movies shown regularly at school, evenings out for aperitivo in trendy Florentine cafés, walks in typical and interesting areas of Florence.

The program allows you to practice your Italian, to broaden your knowledge of Italian culture and to enjoy yourself with your new friends.

It is run with a team of teachers who will always be with you to help you improve your Italian and better understand the Italian way of life.

At the beginning of every course you will be presented with the final program, including detailed information about each activity.

EXCURSIONS

Full day excursions to famous Italian cities and to most renowned sites are organized during the weekends, usually on Saturday. Half day excursions to places of interest close to Florence and to wine producing farm are organized during the week in the afternoon.

Siena and San Gimignano, Pisa, Roma, Venice, Verona, 5 Terre (seaside), Chianti (visit to a winery).

ART HISTORY VISITS

These are guided visits to the most important museums and galleries: Duomo, Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Gallery, Bargello, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, The Medici Villas.

There will be always a member of the school staff with you.

LECTURES

Various aspects of contemporary Italian culture and society are presented: Italian Songs, Italian Fashion, Italian Cuisine, Italian Wines, Italian Gestures, Italian Art, Italian Opera.

FILMS

A selection of famous Italian films is shown regularly at school.

FLORENCE BY NIGHT

Welcome and farewell dinners, musical events, disco and typical bars.

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