Group courses

Part-time course (2 hours a day) either grammar, conversation (afternoon) or language workshop (afternoon), on request on the part of the learner.

Standard course (4 hours a day) grammar and conversation (morning).

Intensive course (6 hours a day) grammar, conversation (morning) and language workshop (afternoon).



A lesson in the classroom

In the course of grammar lessons new structures are presented, drilled and reinforced, language features already dealt with are regularly reviewed and practised. Teachers bring in materials of their choice, to be used in addition to exercises and drills contained in the school textbook. During conversation sessions teachers put forward current topics and encourage learners to take part in discussions, make their own contributions, bring up controversial issues, etc. The degree of difficulty is carefully gauged up to the level of competence of learners. Language workshop lessons are a combination of applied grammar and conversation. Role plays and class games are used to simulate daily situations, in which relevant vocabulary is constantly elicited, presented and drilled.

Combined courses

The course has been devised for those who want to make the most of their short stays in Italy.

A) standard group course (morning) + 1 hour's one-to-one lesson (afternoon)

B) standard group course + 2 hours' one-to-one lessons

C) intensive group course + 1 hour's one-to-one lesson.

In addition to classes, tailor-made one-to-one lessons are available, giving students the chance to deepen their grammatical knowledge and to enhance their awareness of the Italian language and culture. As learners themselves are encouraged to suggest the contents of their individual lessons, one-to-one hours can be used to tackle or review specific grammar points, to discuss and deepen cultural topics, etc.

Complementary courses
Art history, Italian fashion, Business Italian, Italian cooking and wines

Complementary courses are short classes, which enable foreign students to acquire a general knowledge of the subject they are interested in. These courses are held in the afternoon twice a week. Each lesson is made up of two hours. They can be one-to-one or group courses. The price for each week of attendance is 45 Euro (didactic material included).
The price for each week of attendance of Italian cooking and wine classes is 60 Euro (including the cost for the ingredients).
On request on the part of the students it is possible to deepen or widen the programmes.

>Programs and prices<

One-to-one lessons

The school offers a choice of one-to-one tutorials on a number of topics and subjects, such as architecture, art history, fashion, commercial correspondence, Italian cooking and wines, drawing, painting, literature, and so on. These tutorials can be held any time from Monday to Saturday. Students arrange schedule and contents of one-to-one tutorials together with the school administrative and teaching staff. On request, the school organises lessons for couples. Also in this case schedule and programme of tutorials are arranged between learners and staff.

Preparation for the CILS-Exam

The C.I.L.S. (Certificate of Italian as a Second Language) is the certificate of knowledge of the Italian language issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena (University for Foreign Students of Siena). The CILS is acknowledged by the Italian Ministry of Education, by all public bodies, by all international schools and by most national and international companies. On request, the Istituto Il David prepares learners for the four levels of competence required to take the CILS examination.

The arts and crafts workshops

Together with the Association of Artisans of Florence our school organises workshops combining Italian language and one of the following craftsman's skills: furniture restauration, painting restoration, goldsmith's and jeweller's art and leather goods manufacture. In the arts and crafts workshops students learn these ancient skills in a typical Florentine bottega. Courses comprise Italian lessons focused on technical terminology as well as craftsmanship training. These courses are available to beginners as well as to those students who are already familiar with artisan skills.