Italian Language Courses in Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Dante Alighieri, Siena:
Our Italian schools offer a wide range of italian language courses and italian cultural programmes suitable for all ages and for students from all over the world. You can choose to attend group, individual or combined courses, PLIDA certificate examination or to attend an internship programme. Since 1979 we have been welcoming students of a wide range of nationalities and all ages to study language, art, culture and cookery in the centre of this charming medieval city.

Standard
15 hours / weeks of group courses - This course consists of 15 group lesson hours per week, the minimum number of hours we offer on a group course. This course is designed for those students who, while wishing to learn the Italian language in group lessons with other students of the school, wish to have as much free time as possible outside of the school environment in order to fully take advantage of the extensive social activity program, to study independently, or to absorb the Italian culture in the many bars and local meeting places throughout our city. Students participating in this course can also opt to participate in the cultural courses that take place twice a week in the afternoon from 15:00 till 17:30, upon payment of a supplement. Each month various cultural subjects are offered and the courses take place if there are a minimum of 5 students for each subject. The choice of course available to each student also depends on his or her linguistic level.

Intensive
20 hours / weeks of group courses - This popular language course consists of 20 group lesson hours per week. There is a maximum of 12 students, with a normal average of 10 students per class. Lessons start at 09:00 and finish at 13:30 leaving the afternoons free for the students to participate in the school’s busy social activity programs, to study independently, to absorb the Italian culture in the many bars and local meeting places throughout our city. These courses teach the Italian language through the teaching of its culture, history, politics, and the many aspects of life that are unique to this fascinating country. They look to offer the students a chance not just to learn a new language, but also a new culture and way of life. The last hour of each morning is dedicated to workshops in which students study two of the four basic language skills in greater depth – either speaking and listening or reading and writing. These classes are held at four levels (elementary, intermediate, advanced and superior) and are designed to deepen the practical use of the language.

Combined standard / Intensive
15 hours / weeks of group courses + 4/8 individual hours / week - This course is designed for those who wish to make the very most of the opportunity to learn a foreign language. It consists, like the basic course described above, of 15 group lesson hours per week, from 09:00 until 12:20, but in the afternoon it offers the extra of either 4 hours (2 hours per day twice a week) of individual lessons per week of standard course or 8 hours (2 hours per 4 times a week) of individual lessons per week for intensive course. This course is suited for those students who wish to study intensively and on specific topics but have little time available: it can be taken for a minimum of 1 week. In the individual lessons students can choose to specialize in a particular area of the language – e.g., business Italian, Italian for journalism or politics, literature, conversation, history of art, etc. The advantage of the individual lessons is that they are tailored to the specific requirements of the student, and therefore the pace and content of the lessons are adapted according to the individual so that he or she may learn in a relaxed atmosphere with the undivided attention of the teacher.

Individual
The advantage of our individual courses is that they are tailored to the specific requirements of the student. The pace and content of the lessons are adapted according to the individual, so that he or she may learn in a relaxed atmosphere, with the undivided attention of the teacher. Many students take advantage of individual lessons to work intensively on specific areas of the language, pertaining to their particular interests or occupation. Our teachers are specialized in a wide range of subjects, such as medicine, economics, opera, history, journalism, and use a wide range of media - from newspapers and specialized magazines to cassettes and videos. We can also organize meetings and discussions with professionals from the same field as the student and visits to places of particular interest. For those who appreciate Italian cuisine as well as the language, we offer the optional extra of lunch with a teacher in the best restaurants of Siena, allowing students to learn the language while getting a real "taste" of Italy! We are proud to have worked with several international companies and embassies, such as: The British Embassy in Rome and the Embassies of the USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Ireland. Newspapers including Le Monde and the Financial Times, The European Parliament, Electrolux, Ericsson, Philips, Whirlpool, Bayer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Lufthansa, Deutsche Bank, EVC, Bosch, Credit Agricole, Internationally known artists and musicians.

Discovery Siena
This course is composed by 4 hours per week (twice a week 2 hrs per afternoon) in mini-group (from one to six students) and can be attended for one or more weeks. The course can be attend in combination on with a group course and it is in Italian language only. The aim of the course is to broaden the students’ knowledge and appreciation of Siena and its beauty through classroom instruction, visits to museums and places of particular interest. Please note that this course is reserved for our language and cooking students only.

Siena heritage 50++
The world is slowly becoming smaller and more accessible, and its travellers and explorers are no longer young men off to seek their fortune in the wilderness of the unknown. Nowadays study abroad is no longer restricted to university students looking for a gap year of new experiences. The world has opened its doors and windows to everyone and anyone and this is why we ,at the Dante Alighieri in Siena ,were inspired to create our Siena Magnifica course. This course is designed for those who wish to combine Italian language lessons with fun and varied cultural activities as well as cooking sessions. In this way, students not only improve the Italian language but also the secrets of its cuisine, history and art of Siena are unveiled. This program can be attended for one or more weeks, it welcomes participants of all ages and of all levels of Italian. It will meet all expectations for those who wish to explore and be fully immersed in the Italian life. We offer 3 programmes, two in Siena (Siena Magnifica and Siena hands on) and one in Ischia (Blu Senior 50+)

Siena hands on 50++
Would you like to come to siena as a slow traveller and experience a tasty culinary week with our chefs? You do not need to know italian to spend a fantastic week as a passionate of gastronomy. The lessons are run in italian and in english .This course offers you the opportunity to attend 4 culinary lessons scheduled in the morning from 9.30 am until 2.00 pm. Each day , you will learn how to elaborate 5 dishes , " hands on " under the guidance of the chef and then sit and taste what you have prepared. The afternoon program includes a visit of the city, a wine tasting and 4 hours of cultural seminar ( Duccio di Buoninsegna, Siena and the Contrada, the Republic of Siena ,etc .... ).

Intenrship
In a world in which an ever greater knowledge is required, not only of foreign languages but also of the work culture and the mentality of each and every nation, it is extremely interesting to be able to combine language study with internship, however long it may last, that coincides with one's own interests and training. Due to the recognition of the Formative Agency received from the Tuscan Region our organization proposes this series of internship programs in order to facilitate the exchange of experience and information between foreign participants and the firms or the Italian institutions present in the Siena area. This program has been carefully organized in accordance with official regulations which can be summarized as follows: the program does not provide for monetary retribution; it is covered by; insurance relating to work accidents and compensation for damage to third-person parties; it applies to approximately 6-8 hours of work a day.

Gastronomy courses
Our courses have a thematic flair which includes special seasonal recipes as well as traditional Italian and Tuscan cookery. Encounter the culinary arts like never before by creating wild meat and poultry dishes and delectable torts and cakes in the winter, fresh vegetable and meat dishes in the spring, tasty fish cookery in the summer and sample truffles, cabbage, chestnut and mushroom dishes in the fall. Plus, uncover the art of creating traditional and Medieval cuisine by studying some truly age old recipes dating back to the Middle Ages! At last, if you prefer to develop your skills in modern cookery, “Pane, Pizza, Pasta Week” will also put a smile on your face. Courses can be taken from one week or to one month, if you are a professional or real enthusiast. Considering the different levels of difficulties, courses are taught in Italian and English. Lessons begin with the study of ingredients, a brief description of the recipes and then one learns the true art of Italian cookery by participating in an elaborate step by step process of the four / five course meal you are about to create! The antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno and dolce are all significant parts of the art of fine and healthy dining. And for the time you’ve been anticipating the most: lunch on the feast you have created! We offer many programmes that can be combined with the italian language lessons like siena magnifica & internship or focus on just culinary programms like courses for amateurs, courses for professionals