Italian language school

F.A.Q. - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Would you like to know more about: • Tuition • Cultural and Leisure Programme • Arrival / Housing / Transfer • Other Useful Tips

• ALL ABOUT TUITION

Which is the next starting date?You may start your Italian language course every 2 weeks on Mondays, even if you are a complete beginner! Please consult our course starting dates

What should I expect to do on the first day at school?We will wait for you at 9 am at the school office. Students who have little or no knowledge of the Italian language will attend the first lesson in which oral capacity and understanding will be tested. All other students will take a written and oral placement test which enables us to find their appropriate level.

Which is a typical course schedule?

Standard Italian Language Course

• 9 am - 10:30 am
• 30-minute break
• 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Intensive PLUS-5Italian Language Course

• group lessons: 9 am - 10:30 am
• 30-minute break
• 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

• individual lessons: 12:45am - 2:15pm (5 times in two weeks)

Intensive PLUS-10 Italian Language Course

• group lessons: 9 am - 10:30 am
• 30-minute break
• 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

• individual lessons: 12:45am - 2:15pm (every day)
  

Private tuition

You can decide your schedule, on request.
For homework and exercises you should calculate about one additional hour per day.

Which books do you use in the lessons?

Our basic text and exercise books have been developed by our school. These books are used in conjunction with authentic teaching materials such as newspaper and magazine articles, audiovisual materials, and activities inside the classroom.

Is the teaching material included in the course price?

All text books and other supplies are provided by the school, but you are expected to bring your own dictionary.

Which teaching method do you use?

CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI teaches according to the Direct Method: from the first day on, at all levels, only Italian will be spoken. The spoken language is the most important part of the tuition. Continually promoting the use of verbal communication permits you to learn Italian 'naturally', to unite theory and practice without great difficulty and to increase your knowledge quickly and with confidence. You are encouraged to practice your spoken Italian in real-life situations, with your teacher, and with other participants, in pairs and groups. In advanced courses the written language will also be promoted.

What is your teacher's qualification?

All teachers are highly qualified. Most of them have studied Italian language and literature. All our teachers have been specially trained in teaching Italian to foreigners.

Which course certificates do students receive?

CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI certificates:

• At the end of each course, students with regular attendance receive the certificate of attendance indicating the level of proficiency attained.

• At the end of 3rd ability level, students who passed a test receive the "Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana".

• At the end of 5th ability level, students who passed a test receive the "Diploma di Lingua Italiana".

Diplomas "Firenze" of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua (AIL):

• DELI - basic level: at the end of the first ability level;

• DILI - intermediate level: at the end of the third ability level;

• DALI - advanced level: at the end of the sixth ability level;

• DALC - Diploma of Business language, advanced level: at the end of the sixth ability level;

What is the average age of students attending the school? I'm interested in attending a course for older students aged 30 and above. Do you have suitable courses for this age group?

Sixty percent of our students are aged between 17 and 30 seeking to improve their Italian language skills and awareness of Italian culture.

Sixty percent of our students are already working; about ten percent are business managers and executives of different nationalities.

Five percent are retired and wish to improve their Italian and familiarize themselves with Italian culture.

Usually students aged 30 and more feel comfortable in our classes and enjoy to meet people from all over the world. In the Intensive Plus and Small Group Courses the average age is higher.

After twelve weeks, how much Italian will I be able to speak, assuming I am a complete beginner upon arrival, I work very hard and I am good at languages?

CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI offers 5 different course levels from beginner to advanced. Each course level usually consists of 20 lessons a week over a period of 4 weeks. If you are good at languages and you work hard, it is possible to complete Beginner, Basic and Intermediate levels in 12 weeks.

At the end of the Intermediate level you already possess considerable knowledge of Italian. Your feeling for the language has become confident and your range of expressions has developed greatly and is more differentiated. You will be able to sit for the Centro Giacomo Puccini certificate examination "Knowledge of the Italian language" and for the "Firenze-Diploma" DILI of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua.

• ALL ABOUT CULTURAL AND LEISURE PROGRAMS

We offer a nearly unlimited variety of leisure activities, which our students can undertake by themselves. We also organise on a regular basis:

• dinners, which enable teachers and students to get to know each other better

• guided visits in Art History

• film evenings at school

• day and half-day excursions • spaghetti parties on the beachEvery month our school distributes a cultural activities calendar. In this way participants will always be well informed concerning exhibitions, concerts, films and other events. For the weekends we hand out special leaflets for individual trips. All students receive a written guide indicating active and passive sporting activities and the secretary’s office can also help with the organization of sporting activities.

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Can you give me an example of a monthly activity calendar?

• Half-day excursion to the Pisa, Lucca, Pietrasanta, Torre del Lago Puccini, normally every week.

• Dinners with the school in a typical Versilian trattoria: students and teachers have a good chance to get to know each other; every 2 weeks (at cost price).

• Free cinema italiano: every 2 weeks.• The Italian music: an afternoon listening to Italian music and learning about different groups and singers; every 2 weeks.

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• ALL ABOUT ARRIVAL, TRANSFER & HOUSING (A - Z)

Accommodation in a shared apartment

You share an apartment or part of a house, either with other students from our school, with other Italian students, or with the owner.

Kitchen and bathroom are of common use.

The apartments are furnished and the kitchens are supplied with all essential kitchen utilities (cutlery, plates, pans etc.).

You can prepare your meals separately or together with your flatmates and fellow students.

Electricity, gas water, local costs and taxes are included in the price.

The apartments are cleaned before your arrival. During the stay, you and your flatmates are responsible for the cleaning of your room and of the rooms used in common (kitchen and bathroom).

Normally there is no telephone in the apartment.

You should bring some food with you when you arrive on Sunday and Monday morning, as food stores are closed on Sundays.

Italy uses a 220 Volts/AC system. Plugs may differ from those in your home country and it’s possible that you need an adapter.

Accommodation in a private apartment

Private apartments are more comfortable than shared apartments and therefore more expensive. They are available for one or more persons. Prices are available on request. Please note that private apartments must be reserved well in advance and the prices may vary depending on the city and season.

Accommodation in a Hotel

We work with Hotels situated close to the school (basic offer always: bed & breakfast. One star Hotels have rooms without private showers or bathrooms. Two or three star Hotels have rooms with their own shower or bathroom. Prices are available on request and according to the categories of hotels and the season.

Availability

Housing reservations run from the Sunday evening before the beginning of the course to the Saturday morning (12:00 am) at the end of the course. If you need to arrive a day earlier or to stay a day longer, please contact the school for help with extra accommodation arrangements. Different arrival or departure days must be confirmed in writing.

Arrival date and time

We need to be informed at least 4 days in advance of your arrival day and time. Therefore, upon receiving the accommodation address, you have to contact the school (by telephone, fax or e-mail) or the Hotel to communicate the date and time of arrival in order to make the waiting time for both parts as short as possible.

Bed-linens / towels

Bed-linens are provided and changed every 2 weeks but you need to bring your own towels.

Laundry

Normally, there is no washing-machine in the apartments. You may use the many self-service laundromats.

Location

Our accommodations are located in the city center and within walking distance from the school and from the beach.

Sharing a room with another student

We recommend to book a ‘bed in a double room’ only for young people. According to our experience mature people normally do not feel at ease in a double room as they may have to share it with very young people who have different habits and attitudes.

Transfer

At arrival, we recommend that you take a taxi to your accommodation. Taxis are:

1) easily found at the TAXI stations, which are always in front of the train station and the airport

2) the best way to bring your luggage to your ‘new home’

3) not expensive

Centro Giacomo Puccini also offers a transfer service from the airport in Pisa. For prices please consult our current price list - transfer costs. If you wish the school to arrange a transfer, please send us the arrival information (date and time of arrival and flight or train number) possibly with the enrollment form or at least one week before your arrival date.

• ALL ABOUT....USEFUL INFORMATION (A - Z)

Check list:

- Valid passport or identity card- Tickets and reservations- Insurance documents- Money, traveler’s cheques and credit cards- Personal medicine or medical prescriptions- E111 form (for citizens from EU countries)- Italian address given to parents etc.- School informed about arrival time- Transfer requested from school

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Climate

All through the summer in Italy, from the Alps to Sicily, it is generally warm. During the winter in northern and central Italy it can get quite cool. However winter in Viareggio is relatively mild. The best weather is in spring and summer.

Average summer temperatures range from 18°C to 30°C (64°F to 86°F), the average winter temperature is around 4°C to 16°C (39°F to 61°F).

Credit Cards / Euro-Cheques / Traveler's Cheques

Euro-Cheques, Traveler's Cheques and Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere. You can receive money at Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), if you have an ATM card linked to an international network (Eurocard, Cirrus, Plus, Maestro etc.). Mastercard and Visa (with PIN number) may be used to withdraw cash from an ATM machine. In Europe, ATM’s do not often accept PIN’s with more than 4 digits.

Cash from ATM’s only in Euro / daily amount is limited.

Credits for American Universities

We can send transcripts to American Universities, where our courses are usually accepted as valid language credits. Please ask us for more information.

Electricity

Italy uses a 220 Volts/AC system. Additionally, wall sockets and plugs may differ from those in your home country. Be sure to get information about the possible need for an adapter before your departure.

Exchanging money

When exchanging large amounts of money it is usually better to do it in Italy. However, you should also bring cash for the first few days (for the taxi, for purchasing small things, etc.). Avoid changing money in change offices because of high commission rates; the best exchange rates are at the bank.

For a stay of more than 3 months, it may even be useful to open a bank account. Our staff will give you further information on it.

Fax

Faxes can be sent from the post office, from a lot of stationary shops (cartoleria) and from copy shops. At our schools you can receive faxes free of charge and send them (for a fee).

Financial support?

CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI awards 10 school or university students scholarships entitling them to a 100 percent reduction in the cost of a four-week standard course, not including accommodation. If you wish to apply for one of our scholarships, you are requested to submit an application and registration form to the Italian Culture Institute or your University, enclosing a reference from your Italian teacher, and stating the precise name and address of your school/university, and of the teacher concerned.

Insurance

Illness and accidents: During your stay at our school, you must be personally insured against illness and accident. Contact your insurance company to ask whether your personal insurance is valid abroad; otherwise purchase a travel insurance. Members of national health insurance-companies in EU countries should demand the E111 form to obtain free health service in Italy.

Theft coverage: Is often included in personal insurance; if not, we suggest you purchase coverage for your stay in Italy.

Internet access and sending & receiving emails

The e-mail addresses of our school can be used for the receipt of private messages. For sending a message our school has an Internet/e-mail terminal. Close to our schools there are Internet centers, where you can buy time for Internet and e-mail services.

Italian Currency / Euro

The basic unit of Italian currency is the new European Union Currency, the "Euro" (abbreviated EUR, symbol ).

Health, Medical Doctors and Pharmacies

The first-aid service in the Emergency Room of the hospital is free for anyone who is in need.

CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI can provide a doctor whenever you are in need of a consultation or medical care.

In every city you will find 24-hour pharmacies. You should not forget to bring, if necessary, your own medical prescriptions.

National Holidays

Our schools are closed on national and local public holidays. Lessons are not held, not made up, and not refunded.

Pocket money

This is not the same for every person but we think that Euro 100 per week, in addition to the costs for accommodation and food, should be enough.

Prices indicated in Foreign currency & Euro

What is the equivalent amount in.......? Please use the currency converter  - Exchange rates.

Telephone

International telephone calls can be made from all public telephones (in the telephone offices, in bars). Also, the schools in Florence and Rome have a public and a credit-card telephone. The country code for Italy is "39", always followed by the "0" before the area code.

Traveling by train

There are several night- and Eurocity-day-connections with Italy. People under 26 years may receive special discounts. Reservations for sleeping car or couchettes should be made as early as possible. Viareggio is connected with Florence, Pisa, Lucca by a public bus or by the train.

Traveling by car

Once you have exited the national motorways (having followed the exit signs for Viareggio) our school is easy to find due to its convenient location in the town center.

In the city centres parking is normally allowed. In all other districts parking is free of charge except for specially marked short term parking zones. Paid parking in garages is usually available near our schools.

Traveling by air

Our schools can be reached from the airports in Florence and Pisa.
Here a list of airlines companies operating in Pisa airport

Visa

Citizens from the European Union do not need a visa and can enter Italy with an Identification card or Passport. Citizens from other countries should check with the nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate.

If you need a visa to extend your stay for more than 90 days you should apply for a ‘Type D’ (student) visa. CENTRO GIACOMO PUCCINI will provide you, after enrolment and payment of the deposit, with a certificate of enrolment for your visa application.

World time zones Italy uses Middle-European-Time (MET), i.e.: Rome = 0 / New York = -6 / Tokyo = +8.

During the summer months (mid March to mid October) the clocks are turned ahead one hour to Middle-European-Summer-Time (MEST = MET + 1h), i.e.: Rome = 0 / New York = -5 / Tokyo = +9.

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If you didn't find what you were looking for please feel free to enquire by phone, fax or e-mail:

• Phone ++39.0584.43 02 53
  • Fax ++39.0584.96 12 75
• e-mail: infopack@centropuccini.it

Italian language courses - learning italian with fun