Intensive Italian Courses in Florence!

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Intensive Italian language Courses in Italy

Do you know that the modern Italian language is based on the Florentine dialect spoken by Dante, Petrarca and Boccaccio in the 14th century?

So, if you want to learn the Italian language and culture well but in a short time, the best thing to do is to come to Florence, Italy, choose one of our Italian language courses and immerse yourself in a completely Italian environment.

The ABC School is located in the heart of Florence: from our windows you can see Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery and we are just a few steps from Ponte Vecchio, piazza della Signoria, piazza Santa Crcoe and the Uffizi Gallery.

With ABC Scuola di Lingua Italiana you can choose the intensive Italian language course in Italy you prefer, the language classes take place daily, from Monday to Friday, in classes where the maximum number of students reaches 10 students per class (minimum 3 students to form a class)

Small groups and teaching method of our establishment allow our students to gain with ease a good knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary, to improve their Italian language skills, to practice the material learnt in classes and to start speaking Italian within several days from the beginning of the course.

Our Standard group course includes 20 classes in one week and provides an ideal foundation for the learning of the language. It is ideal if you also wish to have some spare time to explore the center of Florence, do some shopping or pursue your own agenda.

If you want to study more, there is the Intensive group course, which includes 30 lessons per week in classes with maximum of 10 students (minimum 3), or the Super Intensive Course.

If you are learning Italian in Italy for professional reasons, you need to learn a specific aspect of the language, or if you need to prepare for any Italian language exams, you can choose a Combined language course with group classes in the morning and individual lessons in the afternoon.

There is also a possibility of taking individual Italian language courses in Florence- it is possible to provide specific times that suit you, and themes that you would like to learn about, creating a personalised course just for you.

Duetto courses (two students and a teacher) and Trietto courses (three students and a teacher) are dedicated to small groups of friends with the same level of Italian that would like to study together. Even in this case it is possible to choose weekly hours that suit you.

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General information about the Italian language courses in Italy

At the ABC school it is possible to choose from an abundance of different Italian language courses which satisfy all needs.

The group courses , Standard and Intensive Italian Course in Italy, approach the Italian language from a general point of view however are complete regarding language and communication structures.

For those who have a particular interest or necessity to learn Italian, also for work purposes, we offer combined courses which include both group and individual lessons which can be focused on particular subjects (commercial or tourist Italian, sector-specific language, preparation for exams for certificates).

Language and culture courses focus on the Italian language as well as certain aspects of the culture which the student can choose (history of art, literature, history, fashion, design, food & wine)

If you are looking for a course of Italian for adults in Italy and you are interested in Italian culture as well, it is possible to choose the 50+ program. It is for those who are more than 50 years old and would prefer to study the language at a pace better suited for adults. This includes a special cultural activities program, with a teacher who will help them to understand and discover Florence, its history, artistic treasures and traditions.

As the Italian culture also involves a lot of good food, we have created some courses which combine Italian language lessons with this typically Italian aspect: Italian language and cooking will have no more secrets.

For secondary school students who are travelling together with their teachers in Italy, it is possible to have Italian language lessons together as a group as well as activities which take place outside of the school and visits to museums and monuments.

If you are planning a holiday to Italy and would like to learn the basics of the language in order to be able to communicate with Italians, you may find our individual or group lessons on Italian holiday language useful.

Italian grammar lessons: what you learn

In the first half of the morning (from 9:00am to 10:30am) the lessons concentrate on linguistic structure.

The teachers give the students the grammatical knowledge they need through texts and practical examples which are based on our direct teaching method. You will also work on pronunciation, vocabulary, reading and writing of texts whilst carefully balancing all aspects of the language.

The grammar books used in class are written, edited and updated by the ABC Italian language schools and are given to the students on their arrival.

Italian conversation lessons: what you learn

For the second half of the morning (from 11.00am to 12.30pm) we focus on speaking: students are encouraged to actively use knowledge gained during the grammar classes. Teachers take accuracy into account as well as expressiveness and the student’s listening comprehension abilities by making use of a broad and diverse range of educational materials including reading and listening materials, authentic audio-visual materials and other educational activities created to practice specific language skills.

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The levels

Students are placed into classes according to their abilities in the Italian language.

The level of the student is evaluated by a written grammar test which can be done online before arriving at school, sent by email or done on the morning they arrive. There will also be a small oral conversation where we are able to understand your expressive and communicative capacities.

Students are able to complete one level of our program in an average of four weeks, however attending lessons does not guarantee that you will pass onto the next level. Teachers will communicate the abilities and difficulties of the individual students with the directors so that every student can be put in the correct class suited towards their learning abilities.

At the ABC school we normally have classes for all levels (from A1 to C2 according to the CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) even if the higher levels are less requested.

The CEFR divides learners of any foreign language based on their comprehension and interaction as follows:

Basic user

A1

Can understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way, provided that the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

A2

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms and aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Independent user

B1

Can understand the main points of clear, standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple, connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

B2

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Proficient user

C1

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer clauses and recognise implicit meaning. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

C2

Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

Source: Council of Europe Table 1 & Council of Europe Table 3

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Discover Florence and Italian culture

In the afternoon, after classes, our school activities give you the opportunity to get to know various aspects of the Italian culture, to explore Florence, Tuscany and Italy and to continue to speak Italian with other teachers and students: we visit museums and monuments, we walk in the center of Florence and go to dinner together, we organise wine tasting sessions or seminars on various aspects of the Italian culture, such as literature, history, history of art, music, traditions, cinema… Choose the cultural activity you like the most and make your intensive Italian language course in Italy a full immersion experience!

ABC School is closed on Saturdays, but you can participate in field trips in another Tuscan cities, or visit museums and parks.

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Accommodation in Florence

We can also help you find accommodation in Florence.

There are single or double rooms in shared apartments with Italian families, or with other students.

If you are interested to see how Italians live and to get extra practice with speaking the language during dinner, we recommend a room with half pension.

However, if you prefer to be independent, we recommend a room with the use of kitchen (in this case you can shop and cook for yourself), or with breakfast included (but you will not have the access to the kitchen), which can limit the relationships with the other tenants.

If you would like to be completely independent, you can choose a small apartment with a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen where you can live on your own.

For more information about the school and our offers surf through these pages or contact us directly if you have precise questions. 

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ABC Italian language schools in Italy: Florence, Tuscany, and Sestri Levante, Liguria.

If you are looking for a language travel in Italy to learn Italian language and culture, visit museums, taste traditional food but you are also considering some relaxing days on one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy or breathtaking panoramic walking, you could combine the Italian language courses of the ABC school in Florence with the ABC school in Sestri Levante (Liguria). Our two Italian language schools offer the same courses and adopt the same teaching method and didactic material for high quality learning experience. Sestri Levante is a fascinating colourful village on a promontory only 30 minutes from the more famous Cinque Terre.

Write us for information or visit the website.

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