Reviews of Accademia Di Italiano, Milan

I have been told it is easier to write a bad review and it is pretty much true in this case.

I had enrolled in an intensive two week basic beginner's Italian language course at the Accademia di Italiano. My package included a home stay, two classes a day in addition to five private lessons.

From the onset I had begun to see the disorganization of the school's administration. I had been travelling Europe for two months. I had not received any information, regarding my class or, more specifically, my accommodations till less than a week before my arrival. A tremendous amount of correspondence was necessary to get a response.

When I arrived for my first day of class. I was unexpectedly informed that I would be joining two classes which had started two weeks prior to my arrival. They assured me that I would be fine. Looking back it was a big mistake to accept such a bold statement.

The next day, I informed them that I had not been able to retain any information in class. I had paid for a beginner course and that I should get a beginner lesson. They informed me that there had been people that dropped out of my class and that they could not accommodate me except to arrange my private classes.

I accepted, yet their intentions were bent on getting me caught up instead of ensuring that the quality of instruction was there. The teachers are wonderful but the administration is not there to support them. I essentially got pushed through the system and was overloaded with information.

The class then went from a minimum of 4 students (which my class could have been) and maximum of 12 students to a staggering 16 students. To have allowed for this to happen is certainly a reflection on the mentality which governs the school -- "get as many people to commit irregardless if they learn anything".

Now, It seems that I have blamed the school my short comings in learning Italian. This is not the case; nothing is impossible with time, quality instruction and commitment. This school certainly does not care about their students. When approached with a problem they are too ready to say "yes" without reviewing the repercussions of their words. There are too many compromises being made at the jeopardy of quality instruction.