Italian course for beginners in Italy: how to choose the right course

If you want to study Italian from scratch, it’s important to choose an Italian language course that allows you to follow a coherent, structured path tailored to your specific needs.
Whether you want to learn Italian for professional reasons, because you have Italian roots, because you enjoy coming to Italy on holiday, or because you live in Italy and want to improve your language skills, the first fundamental step is choosing the right school where you can study Italian through a structured and certified program.

The ABC School of Florence, with over 40 years of experience in teaching Italian as a foreign language, is certainly the right place to approach Italian even with no prior knowledge or only minimal basics, regardless of your age or the reason why you have decided to embark on this new experience.
You will study with highly qualified, specialized native-speaker teachers, using effective teaching methods refined through long experience, in an international, pleasant, culturally vibrant environment, in classrooms with panoramic views of the city and frescoed ceilings, and with an afternoon program of socio-cultural activities that will give you the opportunity to get to know not only the language but also Italian culture.

Why choose an Italian course for beginners: the advantage of starting from zero

The course for beginners is structured to facilitate gradual language learning through a program that combines the study of basic grammar with basic Italian vocabulary.
You will be able to form your first simple sentences in Italian from the very first day of school.
Classes are held in groups of no more than 10 students, respecting everyone’s learning pace.
The use of original teaching materials produced by the school, supported by audio and video, makes learning dynamic and engaging, with the aim of gradually developing all language skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary).

Start dates for Italian courses for beginners: flexibility and accessibility

If your knowledge of Italian is truly zero—if the only words you know are ciao, grazie, pizza, spaghetti, and gelato—you can start the course every other Monday. You can check our course start calendar or write to the school office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
If, on the other hand, you already have some familiarity with Italian and know at least the present indicative tense, you can start on any Monday of the year. You will be asked to take an online language test and have a short oral interview on your first day of school so that we can place you in the most suitable Italian class for you.

In this way, you can choose your start date with great flexibility and fully personalize your stay in Florence. Courses have a minimum duration of one week and a maximum of one year, allowing everyone to build their own personal Italian-learning journey with us.

Main objectives and contents of the Italian language course for beginners

The basic Italian language course at the ABC School of Florence is developed around concrete communicative objectives that you can apply immediately.
From the very first day of school, you will learn how to introduce yourself, and soon you will be able to communicate daily needs at the market, at the café, at the restaurant, in shops, in hotels, ask for directions, go to the pharmacy, and more.

During grammar lessons in the first and second weeks of study, you will learn present indicative verb forms, adjectives, nouns, and articles—the basic rules needed to start forming sentences that will help you in everyday life in Italy. Vocabulary will mainly focus on food, the home, the city, time, numbers, professions, and physical descriptions.

Italian grammar and conversation for beginners: course structure

At ABC School, we maintain a clear division between grammar lessons—focused mainly on sentence structure, syntax rules, and morphology—and conversation lessons, during which students are encouraged to put into practice what they have studied.
Guided by the teacher through a modular, practical teaching method, students gradually gain greater confidence and security in speaking, listening, and linguistic interaction.

Group Italian courses take place from Monday to Friday in the morning, while afternoons are dedicated to cultural activities and/or individual lessons. On weekends the school is closed, but on Saturdays we always offer guided tours of Florence’s monuments, visits to other cities in Tuscany, urban trekking walks, or other activities, allowing students to continue listening to and practicing Italian outside the classroom.

Teaching method of Italian language courses: resources and materials

Since 1982, when ABC School began its activity, we have adopted the direct teaching method, in which teachers speak Italian from the very first day, encouraging students to do the same by forming their first simple sentences.
Classes are made up of people of all ages from Europe as well as the United States, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Canada, Turkey, the Philippines, Central and South America, and more—and they quickly learn to communicate with each other using Italian as their common language.

The grammar books used in class are written, updated, and published by ABC School, and are structured around the real needs of international students in our Italian classes.
Teachers guide students step by step in acquiring skills, with the main objectives of building a solid knowledge base while also encouraging active language practice.
The use of multimedia materials further enhances the effectiveness of the learning experience.

Practical exercises and cultural insights

To learn a language actively, it is essential to integrate practical exercises into lessons. Alongside listening, writing, and conversation activities, these exercises make the learning experience engaging and interesting.
Cultural insights help contextualize the language, making it a true tool for integration and communication in different settings.

CEFR A1 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages): what we do

The A1 level (basic user) of the CEFR requires that, at the end of the course, learners are able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions, introduce themselves, and provide information about where they live, people they know, things they have, and immediate needs.
At ABC School, we cover the A1 syllabus in approximately 4–5 weeks, studying nouns, articles, adjectives, present indicative verbs, reflexive verbs, prepositions, possessives, and the passato prossimo.

CEFR A2 level: what we do

The A2 level (elementary user) of the CEFR establishes that learners can communicate using simple and routine expressions related to work, local geography, shopping, travel, and holidays.
At ABC School, we dedicate about 4–5 weeks to the A2 program, studying the imperfect tense, future tense, future perfect, direct imperative, and pronouns.

Official Italian language certifications for A1 and A2 levels

The ABC School of Italian Language and Culture in Florence is an official examination center for CILS (University for Foreigners of Siena) and AIL (Italian Language Academy) exams at all levels. It is therefore possible to tailor language learning toward certification, also for the purpose of integration in Italy.
Our Italian courses can also help you gain greater independence in social and professional life in Italy.

Types of courses available: total immersion in the Italian language

All our group courses are intensive and offer total immersion in Italian language and culture.
Italian lessons take place every day from Monday to Friday, with a maximum of 10 students (minimum 3) under the guidance of experienced, specialized teachers. You will have the opportunity to approach Italian in a friendly, informal yet professional and stimulating environment that encourages direct interaction with teachers and fellow students.

The school is located just steps from Ponte Vecchio, in the Oltrarno district, which still hosts many artists’ and artisans’ workshops, cafés, and traditional restaurants, and where Florentine life has remained more authentic. It is also the ideal starting point for visiting famous tourist destinations as well as lesser-known but equally interesting ones.
Our rich socio-cultural activity program—including monument visits, Italian culture seminars, cooking classes, painting classes, walks, aperitifs, and trips to other Tuscan cities—is designed to allow students to practice Italian in different contexts, expanding their vocabulary and skills in a practical and enjoyable way.

If you have limited time and want to deepen or practice specific skills, or prepare for official Italian language exams, you can choose a combined course that adds private Italian lessons to group classes.

In-person and online lessons

Beginner Italian lessons, like all other Italian levels, take place mainly in person at ABC School.
Coming to study Italian in Italy offers a total immersion experience: after lessons, you can have a coffee at a café, shop at the market, eat at a restaurant, go shopping, take part in our cultural activities, attend a concert or theater performance—all while speaking Italian. If you wish, you can also choose to live with an Italian family to experience everyday Italian life.

If you cannot come to Italy right away but want to start studying from your home country, online Italian lessons are also available on an individual basis.
We do not offer on-demand recorded lessons because we believe personal interaction with the student is essential and that lessons should be built around each person’s real needs. We will send you the teaching materials we will work with together, and your teacher will guide you step by step through the Italian language, just as if you were sitting at the same table.

Reviews and testimonials from other students

Choosing an Italian course or a school in Italy can be challenging, as there are many aspects to consider. Perhaps those who studied with us before you can help. For this reason, we strongly invite you to take a look at what others have said about us on our website—where we have collected opinions left in letters and notes—or on Google.

What emerges, and what we are proud of, is that:

• the welcoming, family-like environment allows everyone to feel accepted and not judged;
• the passion and preparation of our teachers are clearly felt and appreciated by students;
• our grammar books are well structured, with many exercises and readings, and our teaching materials and methods are evaluated very positively overall;
• the international nature of the classes allows students to discover other cultures and build friendships that often continue even after the course ends;
• our cultural activities truly enrich the learning path, making the experience complete and unforgettable.
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