Where & How to Learn Italian?

Why learn Italian?

Because the Italian language is without any doubt one of the most beautiful languages, a language that seems to capture the extraordinary essence and spirit of Italy. Learn Italian and you will find your time in Italy so much more enjoyable.

Italians really appreciate foreigners making an effort to speak Italian, no matter how poor the attempt, you will find Italians will encourage you.

How to Start Learning Italian?

Learning Italian is easy. I spoke very little Italian on arrival in Italy. I did perhaps the best Italian course with . I followed this with a course at the Dante Alighieri School, and I am now completely fluent. I can assure you I am far from a genius so if I can do it anyone can.

The ideal way to learn is through a school, ideally in Italy. Piedmont, Marche and Sardinia are ideal for this but Tuscany or Rome are not. The reason is simple, in Tuscany there are too many English speaking people. The result is that while at school you study Italian but outside of school hours you mix with English speaking people and speak only English.

I do need to make on exception though The Centro Puccini School in Viareggio on the Tuscan coast is excellent. Not being in the main "foreign tourist centres" in Tuscany the classes are smaller and the school is very well run.

For those who can make it over to Italy I have vetted a number of schools in Piedmont, Sardinia and Marche - at least my wife has. She's a teacher, Italian and knows exactly what to look for in a good school.

We don't bother to list the bad or mediocre schools - only the best feature here.

If you can't get to Italy then Maria has put together a list of the best courses and books. Let's start with these..

Recommended Italian CD Courses, Books and Schools

The best Italian cd course, and the one I did, was . It is truly excellent, if you put in the effort, the course will take you all the way to advanced level.

The Rosetta course is expensive and not everybody can afford to pay so much.

The good news though is that there are a lot of far cheaper and excellent Italian cd courses and learn italian books. This is a selection of the best of these

Learn Italian in Italy - The Best Schools

Marche Schools

• Centro Culturale Conero - Learn Italian at the Centro Culturale Conero and you can be sure of two things: you will learn to speak the loveliest of languages and you will experience one of the most memorable times of your life in one of the most beautiful and almost tourist free regions of Italy.

• The Dante Alighieri School in Mondavio - The Dante Alighieri school in Mondavio (one of the loveliest le Marche villages) has a lot going for it. First and foremost they are great at teaching Italian but that is just the beginning.

• The Scuola Italia in Urbania A fabulous place to study Italian in Italy. You won’t find any unnecessary bureaucracy or formality here. This is a small, down to earth and very friendly place run by a group of bubbly thirty something ladies and Roberto.

Piedmont Schools

• The University of Turin - They have wonderful short courses on the Italian language, art and culture. Click on the link to read the review.

• The Italiano Porticando school in Turin - The Italiano Porticando is a delightful, small and friendly school situated in Piazza Solferino, one of the most elegant Piazzas in Turin.

Sardinian Schools

• Centro Mediterraneo Pintadera - Situated in the fabulous town of Alghero this school is the perfect place to learn Italian while at the same time enjoying a fantastic holiday.

• L'Accademia in Cagliari - This is the only school I recommend in the South of Sardinia. It is a superb choice for anyone wishing to learn Italian in Italy and a very economical one too.

For more options please click on the banner below:

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