Italian Language Courses in Italy: Pros and Cons

Are you dreaming of getting from basics to fluency in Italian? There are pleasant ways to achieve this goal, and traveling to the country of love is one of them. We will help you understand better if this option is suitable for you or not. Let’s go!

Admission Details to Know About

Admission to an Italian language school is possible only after collecting a complete package of documents, including a questionnaire with personal data, confirmation of payment of the school’s registration fee, and cost of the language course in full. The price for the study program may be partial if the student intends to study Italian in Italy for several semesters. The school sends the student an official invitation to explore Italy, which is the basis for obtaining a student visa.

Language students in Italy get to know the teachers, the school, and the city, are tested to determine the level of proficiency in Italian on the first day of school. Students are engaged in the chosen program on the following days, combining study with rest, including Italian culture, architecture, and art. Students take an assessment test, which allows the Italian teacher to determine the academic progress of the group as a whole and each student individually at the end of the educational week. The curriculum is adjusted by the goals and success of the students in the future.

Pluses and Minuses of the Language Courses in Italy

Language courses in Italy are an excellent opportunity to get to know the country’s culture and the lifestyle of its residents better. Italy is still on the list of the most popular educational and tourist destinations among foreigners for the following reasons:

  • Low cost of language courses in Italy in comparison with other European countries;
  • A wide range of specialized programs, for example, combining Italian lessons with Italian cooking lessons;
  • Excellent climate – warm summers and warm winters;
  • Fine Italian cuisine;
  • Italy is the forerunner of high fashion, and language courses are a perfect opportunity to spend your free time enjoying shopping;
  • The low crime rate in the country.

Studying language courses in Italy may also have several disadvantages:

  • A small selection of Italian language schools in some parts of Italy;
  • A relatively modest choice of schools for children and adolescents, mainly Italian;
  • Language courses in Italy are focused on adult students;
  • Rather complicated procedure for obtaining a student visa;
  • Sweltering summers in the southern regions of Italy.

Visa to Study in Italy

Getting a student visa to Italy will not take much time if the applicant follows all the requirements specified on the embassy’s website and authorized visa centers. The choice of the visa category depends entirely on the student’s goals and the planned period of stay in Italy. Students who decide to immerse themselves in the Italian culture and language environment for a couple of weeks can apply for a “C” visa, which allows the applicant to stay in the country for nineteen days.

Are you planning to stay more than ninety days? You have to apply for a national Schengen visa category “D.” An important point: applicants for Schengen visas are required to provide biometric data; the procedure can be completed on the territory of embassies or authorized visa centers.

Work While Studying in Italy

Schengen visa category “C” is a tourist visa. It is issued to students planning to study in Italy for short-term language courses, depriving them of working in the country. A student of an Italian language school may try to get a job illegally, of course. Still, such a decision can entail many negative consequences, such as deportation to the homeland and life deprivation of the right to enter the territory of the Schengen countries. Holders of category “D” national visas are allowed to work part-time – no more than 20 hours per week. The primary condition is that employers should not prevent students from attending language courses since missing more than one-third of classes can also lead to deportation from Italy.

Language Schools in Italy

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci

The Italian language school named after the great Italian Leonardo da Vinci has offices in four beautiful cities – Florence, Rome, Milan, and Siena. Students of the Leonardo da Vinci school during their studies can improve their knowledge of the Italian language and enjoy living in recognized centers of world culture of any age and level of knowledge and preparation programs for entering the university. The “Talk” school uses the communicative method of learning a foreign language, using teaching materials and the latest technologies to optimize the learning process.

Societa Dante Alighieri

The Dante Alighieri School focuses most of its attention on learning the Italian language and getting to know the art, culture, and cuisine of Italy. It is essential to obtain a visa that the Italian Ministry of Education accredits the school. College Director Cristina Moratti personally welcomes newly arrived students and helps them choose for themselves.

Florence University of Arts Language Courses

Summer vacations at Florence University of Arts can provide an unforgettable experience of living and studying in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The city is a genuine pearl of Italian and European culture, a whole open-air museum, almost wholly serves as a monument of the Renaissance: it was here that Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Dante, and Leonardo da Vinci once worked, it was here that the legendary Medici dynasty was born. Florence keeps about 20% of the world’s cultural values: there are countless museums, galleries, palaces, and temples, a considerable number of paintings, sculptures, and frescoes are kept. Florence has an excellent modern infrastructure that is perfectly combined with the historical appearance of the city: there are cafes and restaurants, theaters and cinemas, clubs and bars – there is hardly an equally attractive place for connoisseurs of art and culture, gourmets, and creative personalities.

Wrap Up

Being aware of some of these details, you might pick up the best place to study Italian, work, and not get deported, which is essential if you want to connect your life with Italian. Don’t worry, do all the steps and stay tuned!