Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Schools and Programs in Italy

Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Studies in Italy

A cultural immersion programme combines Italian lessons with living in the language: staying with a family, cooking, visiting museums and practising what you learn in shops, cafés and markets. Italy suits this kind of stay well, because many schools sit in historic centres, small towns and seaside resorts where everyday life happens in Italian. Our directory lists 48 schools in Italy for this subject. Florence has the most, followed by Rome and Milan, and there are schools from Tropea and Taormina in the south to Venice and Udine in the north.

What an immersion programme includes

Most programmes follow a simple pattern: language lessons in the morning and activities in the afternoon. Istituto Venezia, for example, teaches intensive group courses of three hours a day and runs a programme of afternoon cultural activities in Venice and Trieste. According to ASILS, the association of Italian schools for foreigners, schools offer cultural courses, art and fashion courses, cooking and craft lessons, as well as guided visits, tours, excursions, tastings and dinners.

Italian plus culture

Several schools let you build a programme around a second interest:

• Art: Accademia del Giglio in Florence teaches fine arts, art history and Italian, including a preparatory course for applicants to Italian academies of fine arts
• Arts and crafts: Centro Italiano Firenze is both a language school and a cultural centre, with courses taught by photographers, graphic designers, painters, sculptors, video makers and craftspeople
• Food and wine: Istituto Galilei in Florence adds cooking classes, wine tasting and guided visits to its small-group Italian courses (a maximum of four students)
• Activities: Piccola Università Italiana combines Italian with cooking, painting, music or sailing

Universities offer a more academic version. The Università per Stranieri di Perugia runs monthly culture courses of 12 hours, such as art lessons on site. They require level B2 and cost €150, or €75 for students already enrolled on a language course.

City, small town or seaside

The setting shapes the experience. In large cities there are more courses and cultural events, but also more English around you. Smaller places make it easier to use Italian all day. Examples from our directory:

• Island of Elba: ABC Elba has taught Italian to adults in Porto Azzurro since 1985, with lessons in the shaded park of Villa Teresa from mid-May to early October
• Puglia: Scuola Porta d'Oriente in Otranto has courses for students over 50, cooking classes and an Italian course in homestay
• Umbria: La Lingua La Vita in Todi offers family cooking classes and an olive oil programme
• Sicily: Babilonia in Taormina runs a semester study abroad programme, a programme for students over 50 and a food culture programme

Where to stay

Living with an Italian host is the classic immersion choice. Koinè Center, which has schools in Florence, Lucca, Bologna and on the island of Capraia, offers host families with or without meals, shared or independent apartments, B&Bs and hotel rooms. The school recommends a host family because it gives more chances to speak Italian outside class; your host may be a single person, an older couple or a young family. If you prefer independence, an apartment shared with other students is the usual alternative.

Longer stays and visas

For a semester or a year, compare the total hours of teaching and what certificate you get at the end. If you plan to go on to an Italian university, Universitaly, the Ministry of University and Research portal, lists foundation courses that combine Italian up to B2 with academic preparation. EU citizens do not need a visa. Other students can usually stay up to 90 days under short-stay rules (with a tourist visa where one is required); according to ASILS, longer courses need a study visa and at least 20 hours of lessons a week. The school's acceptance letter must state the duration, hours and place of the course, and you must apply for a residence permit within eight days of arrival.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cultural immersion course in Italy?

It is an Italian course combined with cultural activities and, often, a stay with a local family, so that you use the language outside the classroom as well as in it.

Can I combine Italian lessons with cooking or art?

Yes. Many schools offer Italian plus cooking, wine, art, crafts or music; examples include Istituto Galilei and Accademia del Giglio in Florence and Piccola Università Italiana.

Are there immersion programmes for older adults?

Yes. Schools such as Scuola Porta d'Oriente in Otranto and Babilonia in Taormina run programmes for students over 50.

Do I need a visa for an immersion programme?

EU citizens do not. Others can usually follow a course of up to 90 days under short-stay rules; longer courses need a study visa.