Learn Italian in Venice: Language Courses

This is the ideal long term Italian language course for those who wish to learn Italian in Venice at a first class Italian language school with other well motivated Italian language students. You can learn Italian from beginner level, or build on current linguistic skills with a serious and well thought out immersion programme.

If you are looking for a short term Italian language course in Venice aimed at those who need to build on current skills or who want to kick start their Italian language learning from scratch with an immersion course in Italian, this course is ideal. Courses begin every month and are divided into 4 week sessions of 80 lessons (20 lessons per week). You are welcome to attend for longer or shorter course duration, but 4 weeks will allow you to complete a structured amount of work that will progress you one language level closer to Italian fluency. The course is organised across all language levels. At the beginning of your course, you sit a simple written test and there is a short interview (unless of course you start as a beginner to Italian, in which case you go straight into class), this allows the school to place you in a group at the correct language level.
Beginners can enrol only during the first week of every monthly course. Students who already have some Italian knowledge have a greater range of start dates on offer.

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An excellent Italian language course for those who want the combined study experience of and Italian group course (with it’s class dynamic and camaraderie) with the individual focus and attention offered through Italian private tuition classes with a personal tutor.

Combined Course: 20 + 5 private lessons

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Combined Course: 20 + 10 private lessons

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The Italian Combined courses are the best preparation for the CILS exam, but the Standard Course (or better yet the Languages for Life course) will also be able to improve all the linguistic and communicative skills you are required to know. However, for a more targeted preparation you should book the Combined Course for the last 4 weeks of your studies prior to the exam date, to ensure specific exam technique preparation for CILS exam.

What is CILS?

The Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language (CILS) is the official title that denotes the degree of linguistic competency of Italian as a foreign language. The CILS is awarded by the University of Siena for Foreigners and is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Who is it designed for?

The CILS is useful for those who study Italian, who work and study within an Italian context, and for those who wish to evaluate their Italian language skills. Each CILS level refers to a specific ability to communicate in different contexts and situations, and exams are offered at A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 & C2 levels.

Where can you sit the exam and what are the CILS exam dates?

Outside of Italy, the exam may be taken at Italian Institutes of Culture as well as at other selected venues. In Italy, the exam takes place at the University of Siena for Foreigners and at other selected sites. The CILS exams are scheduled twice a year, at the beginning of June and December, and will be held on the same day across all CILS test sites.

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Since the lessons are held in Italian and since they deal specifically with Venetian art, history, culture and traditions, an intermediate level of knowledge is required (A2 of the European framework).

All the tickets for the entrances at the museums, churches, etc. are included in the course fee.
We recommend students book a place on this course at least one month in advance of their required programme (or longer where possible).

Combine your Italian Course with Art History lectures on the Italian masters, from the Byzantine age to neo-classicism and through to contemporary art and architecture.
The Art course lessons are held either in the morning or in the afternoon for three hours (15 hours a week), according to the opening-hours of museums, palaces and the Great Schools, that are included in the weekly programme (presented during the first day at school).
Get to know and really appreciate the masterpieces of the greatest Venetian artists in painting, sculpture and architecture from the middle-ages to the contemporary age. This experience will be unforgettable, since all the artistic works can be seen in the places they were designed for by Carpaccio, Bellini, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Veronese, Tiepolo, Sansovino, Palladio, Canova, Scarpa and many others.

We have quoted the group Art course (held in Italian) as a supplementary programme in the notes on the CESA Course Finder reports, if you’re interested in private classes (in Italian or in English) on Art History in Venice, please contact the CESA office.

Private Tuition Art classes offered in Italian or English.

Start Dates & Prices: See the notes at the end of the Standard Course on CESA Course Finder

Saturday Cookery course option

On Saturday AM students shop in the famous Rialto fish and vegetable market, with the cookery teacher and take a local aperitif. Returning to school they prepare and cook the meal together and serve the food, with an excellent selection of regional wines (in total taking around 6 to 7 hrs).
A further day of cooking and cookery history lessons can also take place on Sunday.
Minimum number of students required: 2

• Saturday Cookery course
• Saturday/Sunday Cookery course

Thursday Cookery course option

Each Thursday PM, supervised by a talented cook, in the school’s kitchen, students can prepare traditional local and regional food and then enjoy them with a glass of good wine. Runs from 5.00 pm to approx 8.00 pm (available every Thursday, unless it’s a public holiday).

Start Dates & Prices: See the notes at the end of the Standard Course on CESA Course Finder

Private tuition is ideal if you are not free everyday, if you wish to take a crash course that only lasts a few days, or feel you are not suited to group courses. It is also popular with Italian students who want to improve particular aspects of their language for work or study related reasons. An extremely intensive Italian language course, ideal for those who wish to make maximum language progress over a one or two+ week period in Venice.

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