Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the
next starting date?
You may start your Italian
language course every 2 weeks on Mondays, even if you are
a complete beginner! Please consult our course starting
dates on the Program Overview
Page.
What should I
expect to do on the first day at school?
The staff will be anticipating
your arrival to the school's reception desk at 9 am. Students
who have little or no knowledge of the Italian language
will attend the first lesson in which oral capacity and
understanding will be tested. All other students will take
a written and oral placement test which enables us to find
their appropriate level.
What is a typical
course schedule?
Standard Italian
Language Course
9 am - 10:30 am
20-minute break
10:50 am - 12:20 pm
Intensive
PLUS-5Italian Language Course
group lessons: 9 am -
10:30 am
20-minute break
10:50 am - 12:20 pm
individual lessons: 12:30pm - 2:00pm (5 times in two weeks)
Intensive
PLUS-10 Italian Language Course
group lessons: 9 am -
10:30 am
20-minute break
10:50 am - 12:20 pm
individual lessons: 12:30pm - 2:00pm (every day)
Private Instruction
You can decide your schedule,
upon request.
For homework and exercises
you should calculate about one additional hour per day.
Which books do
you use in the lessons?
The texts and exercise
books have been developed by Giacomo Puccini language school.
These books are used in conjunction with authentic teaching
materials such as newspaper and magazine articles, audiovisual
materials, and activities inside the classroom.
Is the teaching
material included in the course price?
All text books and other
supplies are provided by the school, but you are expected
to bring your own dictionary.
What teaching
methods do you use?
Giacomo Puccini teaches
according to the Direct Method: from the first day on, at
all levels, only Italian will be spoken. The spoken language
is the most important part of the tuition. Continually promoting
the use of verbal communication permits you to learn Italian
'naturally', to unite theory and practice without great
difficulty and to increase your knowledge quickly and with
confidence. You are encouraged to practice your Italian
in real-life situations, with your teacher, and with other
participants, in pairs and groups. In advanced courses the
written language will also be promoted.
What is your
teacher's qualification?
All teachers are highly
qualified. Most of them have studied Italian language and
literature. All our teachers have been specially trained
in teaching Italian to foreigners.
Which course certificates
do students receive?
Centro Giacomo Puccini
offers 5 different course levels from beginner to advanced.
Each course level usually consists of 20 lessons a week over
a period of 4 weeks. If you are good at languages and you
work hard, it is possible to complete Beginner, Basic and
Intermediate levels in 12 weeks.
At the end of the Intermediate
level you will already possess considerable knowledge of Italian.
Your confidence for the language will have become stronger
and your range of expressions will have developed greatly.
You will be able to take the Centro Giacomo Puccini certificate
examination "Knowledge of the Italian language"
and the "Firenze-Diploma" DILI of the Accademia
Italiana di Lingua.
