Italian Language Courses in Italy - Learn Italian in Cortona

Course Prices Accommodation Prices School Facilities Course Details Accommodation Details

Italian Language Courses in Cortona, Italy

Cortona is a small town of the Valdichiana in eastern Tuscany offers the best of the country and the city. This classic hill town lies between Lago Trasimeno and the Appenine mountains. It is rich in archaeological wonders of the Etruscan, medieval, and Renaissance eras. During the summer, Cortona hosts numerous activities including film festivals, art and antique exhibitions, and a number of gastronomical fairs. The surrounding countryside offers stunning views and walks, hiking, and swimming at Lago Trasimeno. Cortona is within easy reach of some of the most beautiful and historic Tuscan and Umbrian towns and villages, including Arezzo and Gubbio. Through an arrangement with Cortona city officials, our school organizes guided visits and excursions not available to the general public.

Italian Language Courses in Cortona, Italy - Fees

Accommodation Fees

Our Italian Language School in Cortona, Italy

Thanks to the collaboration with the Cultural Association Polymnia, the classes of our Italian language school in Cortona, Italy are hosted in a building of the city centre. On the first day of the course participants will receive a folder containing the monthly program of afternoon cultural activities and excursions, a Cortona Tourist Office guide with useful addresses for a stay in Cortona and a list of cultural events planned during the period of the course. Classes are formed from 2 to 8 students for each level.

Our Italian language school in Cortona, Italy offers Italian language courses of different lengths and levels, using assorted teaching methods to satisfy a variety of students' needs. Language and culture are taught in some of Italy 's most scenic, historic locations. At the end of the Italian language course, each student will receive, on request a certificate of attendance stating the length of the course and the level of his/her ability in the language.

Our students come from all around the world. 45 per cent are from Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and England), 30 per cent from Asia (Japan and Korea ), and 25 per cent from North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).

The program and didactic method were developed over a 10-year period of research and testing by the didactic group of our school. Through this work, the school has developed teaching materials, books, and audiovisual tools, whilst also organized seminars and teacher orientation courses.

Our Italian Language Courses in Cortona, Italy

The group Italian language course is our most common activity. Within a class of no more than 8 students, you will be learning Italian through guided conversation exchanges with other participants from all over the world.

The classes concentrate on the spoken language that you will encounter in daily life in Italy. The method involves active participation in conversations, dialogues, games, and class readings.

Our Italian language courses in Cortona represent a program of communication based on the realities of everyday life in Italy and include social and cultural aspects. We have established a program which, through the selection of specific reading materials, helps the student to experience Italian society in an individual, personal way and not merely through the eyes of a tourist.

Our school in Cortona utilizes a method which, while including various didactic methods, is based principally on creative and induced activities. These kinds of activities are aimed at developing the confidence and autonomy of the student who is required to participate actively in classes. In this way, the students become the protagonists while the teacher becomes a discussion leader. Leading scientific research shows that, in order to be truly effective, teaching should involve not only the rational part of the memory but also the unconscious part. The goal is to achieve practical abilities. First, talking and speaking and then reading and writing, to avoid building up knowledge that has no link with communicating effectively.

On the first day, students take a language test to determine their level and to enable us to create homogeneous classes. There are five levels divided into two cycles. Each level takes a month to complete. It is therefore possible to attend for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 5 months to complete the entire cycle.

Standard Group Courses

Four hours a day of language lessons from 9:00 to 13:00 with a short break of 20 minutes, Monday through Friday, for a total of 20 hours a week. Classes are organized in small, homogeneous groups of from 4 to a maximum of 8 participants. There are 5 different ability levels, each with its own teaching methods designed specifically for that language level.

In Cortona the Italian language courses include afternoon art, cultural, and gastronomic activities 2-3 times a week in the course fee. This includes an orientation tour of the town, lesson about the Etruscan with visit of the Etruscan Museum of Cortona, and a cooking course on a vineyard near Cortona. Tickets, food and beverages will be charged extra.

Courses take place from Easter to the end of October.

Beginners start classes on scheduled dates; intermediate and advanced students can start classes on Mondays.

Fees include classroom materials, certificate of attendance.

Combined Intensive Course

In addition to the four hours of group tuition in the morning, it is possible to attend a one-to-one afternoon lesson of two hours with a teacher, in which you will have the chance to sort out any particular learning problem and deal with your specific interests. The group session meets in the morning from 9:00 to 13:00, Monday through Friday, and one-to-one lessons are conducted from 14:00 to 16:00.

This kind of course enables you to get a grasp of general linguistic notions through a group and exchange work in the morning, whereas the afternoon lesson is dedicated to the subject or the linguistic register the single participant needs to learn.

Individual Courses

Individual intensive lessons are offered for those with a personal or professional interest in the Italian language and with time restrictions. You may select a specific focus, such as Italian for economics, business, medicine, banking, history, art, or architecture.

Minimum duration: 1 week (Monday to Friday). Minimum frequency: 2 hours a day. Structured lessons for 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 hours/day. The 6 and 8-hour course is divided into 2 parts and taught by 2 different teachers, one from 9:00 to 13:00, the other from 13:00 to 15:00 or to 17:00, the 8-hour course includes a conversational lunch with one of the teachers.

For greater student convenience, our school has introduced flexible scheduling and pricing of the Individual Intensive Lessons at the students' homes too. Starting dates every working day of the year. Intensive lessons 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 hours a day.

Italian Language Courses in Cortona, Italy - Accommodation

Single and double rooms in hotels and convents recommended by our school in Cortona.

Generally bookings are made from Sunday until Saturday. 1 week = 6 nights, 2 weeks = 13 nights, 3 weeks = 20 nights, 4 weeks = 27 nights

Convento Betania

Simple convent of nuns, just outside the old city walls, with a fine park with a view of the valley, single and double rooms with shared bathroom.

Convento S. Margherita

Old convent just outside the city walls, single and double rooms with bathroom and breakfast.

Albergo Italia

3-star hotel in town center across from city hall, recently rebuilt rooms with breakfast, bathroom, air conditioning, and telephone.

Albergo San Michele

3-star hotel centrally located and decorated with antique furniture, elegant atmosphere, breakfast included.

Youth Hostel

Located in a renovated convent. Offers a bed in room with 4, 6, or 8 people.

Payment for accommodation should be made directly to the hotel or hostel management. Any reservation made through Languages in Action is considered guaranteed. Any expenses the school incurs for reservations made but not kept will be added to a student's bill.

Please note: All prices are quoted in Euros. For the equivalent in your currency, please visit www.xe.com/ucc.