Learn Italian in Italy
Practical Information.
Our objective: to make your life easier
We’re proud to see that the quality of our service is confirmed by our students’ high satisfaction rate. What’s the best indicator of this? Most students come to us via word of mouth, having been recommended ILC by a friend or acquaintance.
Course dates / Start of courses
In theory, general language courses start every Monday.
Some schools propose beginners courses at fixed dates. Official exam preparation courses are proposed 2 to 3 times per year at fixed dates.
Enrolment deadline
If you have made up your mind to travel abroad, do not delay in undertaking all of the steps. By enrolling on time, you benefit from more attractive prices on your flight and have more time to complete the necessary administrative steps (visa request, extension of your health insurance, announcement of your departure etc.). In addition, your wishes concerning accommodation will be more easily satisfied if we can begin searching in advance.
How to enrol
Request the enrolment form and mail/fax it to us or send it to your enrolment agency.
* We will confirm the course enrolment, accommodation and flight within seven days of receipt of your enrolment form. This confirmation has all the details of your course, accommodation and journey. A deposit is then to be paid within 10 days.
* Information on low-cost flight prices will also be included, without any obligation.
* We will send you the final invoice 5/6 weeks before your departure.You have to pay the outstanding amount, in Swiss Francs or in Foreign Currency before your departure.
Flights
ILC – Language studies abroad also proposes the booking of flights for all destinations, at very competitive prices, to you. Do not hesitate to ask us for an offer without obligation. If you mention it on the enrolment form, we will send you a price offer for a favourable flight, on an informative basis.
Insurance
ILC offers a wide range of insurance options, including cancellation fee insurance, baggage insurance and flight replacement insurance. You will receive detailed information with the confirmation of your course. For health insurance, you should contact your health insurer and make sure that you are covered abroad.
Last minute
Do you wish to travel abroad in the next few days? If circumstances don’t allow for you to enrol a long time in advance, we can organise your stay in the space of a few days!
Arrival / Departure
The arrival day is Sunday, the departure therefore takes place on Saturday. It is possible to arrive before the weekend on request. In this case, the additional nights will be invoiced.
Transfers
For every destination, transfer to your accommodation from the airport or railway station can be organized. This option is particularly suitable after a long flight. Depending on your degree of autonomy abroad and your knowledge of the country you are visiting, you can also get to your accommodation by taxi, train or bus. These solutions are often cheaper than those suggested by schools.
Travel documents
All of your travel documents are provided to you approximately 10 days prior to your departure. They include a travel guide, the detailed description of your accommodation, your plane ticket, your flight plan as well as general information on the school and your destination. In addition, we provide you with documentation which is as complete as possible on the chosen country.
Pocket money
It is difficult to articulate a precise amount. This depends on your personal needs, the cost of living of the country, the type of accommodation (without meals/half board/full board) as well as the desired activities and excursions. We recommend between CHF 150.–/EUR 100.– and CHF 300.–/EUR 200.– of pocket money per week.
Bank holidays
Teaching does not take place on bank holidays (national holidays etc.). If the classes are not compensated for by our partner schools, the missed hours are not refunded.
Size of schools:
Small schools (S)
Studying in a school with 30 to 70 participants has many advantages: a relaxed friendly environment, concerned teachers, and small classes. However, the full range of levels and course types is not always available.
Medium-sized schools (M)
With 70 to 100 students, they combine the advantages of small and large schools: good technical equipment, a wide range of activities, many levels, personal contact and good flexibility.
Large schools (L)
Schools with 100 to 300 students offer courses for almost every level, an excellent technical infrastructure and a wide range of activities.
Very large schools (XL)
Schools with over 300 participants offer the same advantages as large schools, although it will be very difficult for you to meet all the other students!
Destinations.
Choose your destination…..
We offer you a wide range of destinations and carefully selected schools. Our courses cover many of the world’s most popular languages, along with some that are not so common. In addition to the large choice that we offer, we are usually able to satisfy a specific request.
Learn Italian in Italy.
There is an Italian mystery, and this not only lies in the age-old recipe for pasta with gorgonzola nor that of various antipasti. How did a former empire, which occupied two-thirds of the known world by force of its terrifying armies only two thousand years ago, become the uncontested kingdom of the Dolce Vita?
It is enough to visit the theatres, thermal baths and stadiums of Rome to understand that the ancient culture was also based around knowing how to live well.
Since its earliest days, in fact since the time when the Etruscans laid the foundations of a new civilisations on seven hills, Italy has alwys welcomed empire builders who know how to enjoy life’s pleasures. Is it something to do with the climate? Yes, but it’s also about a faith in beauty which the Italians possess. How else could the miracle that is Florence which, during the Renaissance inherited all of the architectural delights of the era, be possible? It is also subject to a real competition of elegance with other cities, with Venice in the lead. Milan, too, the Holy See of the fashion world, has largely carried the torch. Italy has developed around these multiple centres, where, each time, you find dfferent desires, particular accents. The cuisine, for example, varies considerably from North to South, each area having its own specialties. Enjoy the wide-open spaces of Tuscany, where mild sunshine caresses the vineyards. Or escape to the southern coast, where volcanic soil fertilises the olive trees. Italy is a rich mosaic of sensations.
Italian Language Courses:
* Bologna
* Florence
* Milan
* Rome
* Perugia
* Salerno
* Posada
* San Remo
* Siena
* Syracuse
* Taormina
* Tropea
* Venice
* Verona
* the teacher’s home
Choice of Courses.
In order to fulfill your requests, however specific they might be, language schools offer a wide range of different courses. This can be confusing and it is sometimes difficult to find the most suitable course for you. In order to help you make the best choice, here is an overall view of the main types of courses offered by our partner schools:
General courses
These courses cover all areas of language study in optimal conditions (small groups of 8 to 12 students). Each student will enjoy personalized guidance. In this way you can easily make rapid progress and improve your language level, which will enable you to move onto the specific courses programme if you wish to do so.
Standard courses
The standard course teaches the fundamentals of the language, both written (reading and writing skills) and oral (listening and speaking skills). It focuses on the use of the language in everyday situations. This type of course is appropriate for students who want to enhance their language knowledge and put it into practice.
Intensive courses
The intensive course is based on the same model as the standard course, but the pace is more intense and the subjects are covered in more depth. During the afternoon, the class has a more communicative approach and a wider range of conversational subjects is covered. The intensive course is ideal for students who want to make rapid progress.
Combined courses
This kind of course is a combination of both a group course (standard or intensive) and a private course. This type of course would be the ideal solution for those students who wish to learn the language in a group and to further and improve their skills individually.
Exam preparation courses
Official certificates that indicate your language level have world-wide recognition and represent an important tool for your future. Each examination focuses on specific aspects of the language. We offer courses leading to the following internationally renowned official certificates: Cambridge FCE/CAE/CPE, TOEFL, IELTS, ZD, ZMP, DELE and CILS.
Business courses
These courses enhance your language level, your spoken fluency and your communicative skills in a business context: taking part in meetings; speaking on the telephone; writing briefings, business letters and emails. Business courses are offered in combination with general courses.
Specific courses
These types of courses provide intensive language practice in specific subjects. Our partner schools offer a variety of specific courses focusing on different professional domains: finance, law, banking, marketing, etc. A minimum Italian level of intermediate is required for these courses.
Private courses
This kind of course is the best option for students with precise objectives and limited time. The teacher designs the course according to your needs and your goals. Courses can take place in classrooms for academic purposes, or, for instance, in a restaurant to practice a business lunch scenario.
Courses in the teacher’s home
Ideal for participants with urgent needs and limited time, this is a very intensive program that enables a direct focus on your needs by studying and living with your teacher. Courses are private, which means that they will be tailored to fit your specific requirements after an analysis of your needs and your language level. This option will enable a linguistic immersion which is both highly efficient and rewarding in terms of personal interaction.
Course combined with internship
After a general language course, student have the opportunity to consolidate their language skills during an internship. Internships are adapted to your level and your field of interest. This combination is a great occasion to discover by the practice the world of work in another country.
Teacher training:
Initial training
Some of our partner schools offer initial teacher training qualifications for anyone considering a career in language teaching. Mixing methodology with language skill development, they represent an essential first step towards an exciting and enjoyable new career.
Refresher courses
Some schools offer refresher courses for language teachers. These courses are an excellent way for teachers to expand their linguistic and didactic knowledge. The world of teaching being in constant development, these courses allow you to keep direct contact with new methodologies and to share your experiences with other qualified teachers.
Accommodation.
Each school offers a range of accommodation options, providing a rich and stimulating extra-curricular life for every student. We consider that accommodation is a key aspect of any language course abroad. That’s why, when choosing our partner schools, we select institutions that can guarantee the same high quality of accommodation as they do for their courses. We take great pleasure in helping you find the type of accommodation that is most suitable for you.
Host family
Host families are carefully chosen by our partner schools and are regularly monitored by student feedback. In general, students with the same mother tongue are not accommodated together, unless requested. Specific requests concerning the host family (children, teenagers, animals, special diets, non-smokers, etc.) are taken into account whenever possible. It is very important to let us know if you suffer from any allergies or medical conditions so that we can inform the host family. Your interests and hobbies will also a factor in choosing the most suitable family for you. Host families generally live near the school. There is no doubt that staying with a family is the best type of accommodation for language studies. Daily contact with the family enables you to practice the language regularly, as well as to explore the language, customs and way of life of the country. This great experience is an excellent complement to the courses. Friendships are often forged and many students keep in touch with their host families long after their stay has ended.
Residential accommodation
Residential accommodation facilities are hotels/hostels that offer very attractive prices because of their links with our partner schools. You will stay with other students as well as tourists and other foreign clients of the school. Residence dining rooms and bars are excellent places to meet people.
Shared apartment
In a shared student apartment, you will stay with other students and/or locals. You will have a single room to yourself and enjoy complete independence, including use of a kitchen, while living with people sharing a similarly independent outlook. This option is very popular in Italy.
Campus
An ideal option for students aiming to enjoy maximum independence, this type of accommodation is the best way to meet other students. You can choose a single or (more commonly) a double room, and you will usually have to share the bathroom and kitchen with other students. The level of comfort in campus accommodation depends on the general standard of living in the country you have selected.
Hotels / apartments
It is also possible to plan a stay in the comfort of a hotel room or a rented apartment. In most cases our partner schools offer a hotel or apartment reservation service. This type of accommodation is obviously more expensive than the other options.
Courses without accommodation
It is possible to enroll with ILC for the courses only and make your own accommodation arrangements. If you have friends abroad or wish to arrange your own accommodation, please let us know. You will only pay the price of the course without any supplement. If you are interested in renting an apartment alone or with other students, the best way is to enroll in one of the accommodation plans for the first week(s), giving you time to make friends and make the necessary arrangements.
Deposit
Most partner schools require a deposit if you wish to stay in halls of residence or a shared apartment. If that is the case, you will find details of the deposit on our website, in the “options, extras” section of each school’s price list. The deposit is EUR 170.- on average, payable on arrival with cash or credit card, just like when you check into a hotel. It will be refunded upon your departure, once it has been confirmed that everything is in order.
Leisure.
One of the main advantages of learning a language abroad is that you can practice the language you are studying on a daily basis. The extra-curricular activities offered by the schools help to build a relaxed and motivating environment in which to meet and practice the language with other students. This is the reason why schools offer a range of cultural and sporting activities in addition to the quality courses that have built their reputation. Depending on the course you have selected, you can discover scuba diving in Sicily, visit Uffizi Gallery in Florence, go shopping in Milan or have a glass of wine in Rome.
Excursions and other activities are partially included in the standard courses program.
The Best Prices.
Course material
All ILC-Language Studies Abroad’s partner schools provide course material for their students. Learning materials vary according to the choice of course. The latest teaching course books or authentic documents may be used. Some schools include the course material fees in the school fees, others charge it separately depending on the duration of the course and possible change in level or according to the specialization of the course. In that case, it will cost you EUR 40 on average.
Price calculation
ILC prices include course costs, accommodation and school administration fees. Possible additional costs such as exam board fees, course materials, accommodation deposits, airport transfers, etc.) always appear at the bottom of the price list, under the “options, extras” section.
We strive for transparency and list all prices in the currency of the country of destination, so Euros for Italy or France, Swiss Francs for Switzerland, Yen for Japan and so on. It is important to convert these prices into your local currency so you can get a good overall idea of the budget necessary to realize your project.
If you wish to get a detailed, free quote with no obligation for the destination of your next language study trip (in GBP or EUR), do not hesitate to fill out the price request form, we’ll be happy to process your request and send you a personalized quote as soon as possible.
To the quoted price, the only addition would be the price of the flight or train journey, based on the availability of your selected dates.
We can book a flight for you at an excellent rate, due to our strong relationship with various airlines. Of course, you can search online if you would rather make your own flight booking… it’s important to be informed before making your decision.
Finally, depending on the country and the length of your stay, a visa may be necessary and this should be taken into account when calculating the total cost.
Contact us for more information, advice or a personalized price quote. We would love to send you a no-obligation quote for your trip. We’re here to help with your decision, to guide you through the strengths of each individual school and destination and to deliver you a package that corresponds to your needs, wishes and priorities.
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 