Students come first

You can find the school of Italian language in the heart of the historic centre of Florence in the lively quarter of San Niccolò at 3 minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Nearby there are many shops and artisanal workshops with all of the most important museums and monuments only a short distance away. From the windows and terrace of frescoed classrooms in Palazzo Canigiani you can enjoy the view of the Palazzo Vecchio, the cathedral, Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the rest of beautiful Florence situated along the river Arno.

The small size of the school allows us to take care of our students in an attentive and personalised way to suit everyone’s needs. The students can always count on our staff who are very friendly and always ready to help.

On the first day students are welcomed and accompanied to their classes based on their level of Italian. Students should send their placement test at least one week before coming to school; on their first day at school all students must do a small oral test. After this their Italian language course in Italy immediately begins.

In the next few days students will have the opportunity to participate in many activities organised by the ABC school teachers after lessons, to deepen their knowledge of the language, the culture and the city in an interesting and fun way.
The staff at the ABC school are always available for any type of information and advice that can improve the students’ stay in Florence during their Italian study-holiday: booking museums, timetables for trains and buses, restaurants, social-cultural events in the city, medical assistance and much more.

School Safety  

The health of both our students and staff has always been one of our top priorities at ABC School. Currently, our cleaning and sanitation procedures of communal areas comply with the rules stated by the Italian government regarding Covid-19. To prevent the possibility of contamination, all students, teachers, and secretarial staff are required to sanitize their hands frequently with the hand gels located around the school.  

As members of the Association of Italian Schools in Italy (ASILS), the ABC Schools of Florence and Sestri Levante adhere to the security protocols that you can read by downloading this link: https://www.asils.it/en/safe-schools-asils/

Intensive Italian course in Italy: lessons in small groups

Group courses have a maximum of 10 students (an average of 7/8) to assure a better quality of teaching and learning.
When a class is composed of several people from different origins, languages and cultures, it is important that the teachers are able to care for everyone’s individual learning needs so that students feel at ease during their studies and have enough encouragement and opportunity to be able to express themselves independently and to improve their language skills.

We ask all non-beginner students to take our online grammar test at least two weeks before the course starts. The level of oral competence will be assessed with a video interview or on the first day of school.

 

 

Qualified teachers

Motivated and professional, the teachers at the ABC school are all mother tongue speakers, specialised in the teaching of Italian to foreigners.
Bringing enthusiasm and passion to their work, they all have different characters and interests however share the same ability to create a relaxing and stimulating environment in class where students can learn Italian in a natural way without stress.

 

Italian for adults in Italy: we speak Italian!

The direct teaching method adopted by the ABC school means that students start to speak in Italian from the very first day. In all classes, from absolute beginners to those who are more advanced, teachers only speak in Italian: students are encouraged to express themselves using the linguistic instruments of their knowledge in order to become more and more confident in the language.
The first part of the lessons focuses on the deepening of knowledge of linguistic structures using a solid base of grammar where rules are combined with many practical examples as well as authentic texts which aim to actively engage students.
The second part of the lessons focuses on communication with the use of a range of teaching materials as well as the creation of original activities in order to make the topics interesting for the class.
Both the grammar and conversation lessons focus on enriching your vocabulary and improving your pronunciation in order to understand and express yourself both orally and written.

Educational materials

Our grammar and exercise books have been written and edited by the ABC school. They are the product of many years of experience and are constantly updated according to our students’ needs. We use these books alongside authentic materials such as newspapers and magazines, literary texts, audiovisual materials, games and many more activities in the classroom.

Experience and awards

The ABC Italian language school in Italy has successfully taught the Italian language since 1982. The school has been officially recognised by MIUR, the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (document no. 1052/C20).

We are also a member of the A.S.I.L.S®, (Association of Italian language schools as a foreign language) which guarantees the professional expertise of the schools of Italian language to foreigners.
We are authorised for the CILS exams at the University for Foreigners of Siena, and AIL (Italian Academy of Language) for all levels and all certificates.
We are also recognised by CSN (Swedish National Agency for assistance in studies) and the Federal Republic of Germany for Bildungsurlaub.

Varied and organised study programs

Thanks to an experience of 40 years, we organise Italian language and culture courses to satisfy the widest range of requests and interests: general Italian, basic courses, professional courses, intensive Italian language courses, preparation for exams and certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, AIL), cultural courses, special courses for adults over 50, courses for families with children, courses for school groups, Italian language and history of art courses, Italian translation courses, courses to prepare for the entry exam of an Italian university, individual courses or courses in small groups (of one or two people), courses for Italian teachers abroad, online Italian lessons and customised courses.

A stimulating and multicultural atmosphere

After the lessons in the morning and early afternoon, the day at the ABC school continues for those who would like to participate in the socio-cultural activities organised for the afternoon and the evening at school or in the center of Florence. We also offer Italian culture seminars (history, art history, literature, idiomatic expressions, gestures, curiosity, traditions, music, cinema...), walks in the historic centre, visits to museums, wine tasting and other typical Italian product tastings, cooking lessons with a dinner together, evenings spent in a pizzeria or a cinema, yoga practice in Italian, excursions to the Chianti vineyards, afternoons together in the swimming pool and much more. On Saturday we organise outings to other Tuscan cities (Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo, San Gimignano) or even the seaside.
Thanks to the afternoon activities, students can continue to speak and listen to the Italian language outside of normal lesson hours. They can also get to know the students from the other classes who come from all over the world who have different interests and cultures however share the same love for Italy and the Italian language and culture.

Start dates

Students of the ABC school of Italian language can choose how many weeks they would like to study Italian, according to their needs making it a completely personal experience. Elementary, intermediate and advanced students can start the course every Monday. Complete beginners can start the course every second Monday, on specific dates.

 

 

Accommodation

The accommodation office at the ABC school works to find accommodation for the students who request it in the city of Florence.
Those who would like to immerse themselves in a typical Italian atmosphere 24/7 can do so by choosing a single or double room living in a Florentine family (couples with or without children, singles, young people). However there is also the possibility to live in an apartment shared with other students who are learning Italian in Florence, for those who are curious to meet other people from different cultures.
Of course we can also book independent apartments, bed and breakfasts or hotels for you.
All of the accommodation is in the historic centre of Florence and is maximum 25/30 minutes walking from the school.

 

Italian language courses in Florence and in Sestri Levante

The ABC school of Italian language has its first school in the centre of Florence, a world-famous city for its art and its cultural climate.
We opened another ABC school in 2015 in Sestri LevanteSestri Levante, a small, charming, colourful town on the Ligurian coast very close to Cinque Terre, in a beautiful building which has direct views of the Bay of Silence, one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.
Naturally, the teaching method is the same at both locations and the Italian language courses offered are almost identical. This means that you can easily have a study-holiday in both Tuscany and Liguria, to enjoy the artistic and cultural treasures of Florence as well as relaxing on the Ligurian coast or going on equally fascinating walks through nature in Sestri Levante.
For those whose holiday to Italy is driven by culinary curiosity, you will no doubt be spoiled for choice. The traditional dishes and wines from both Tuscany and Liguria are famous all over the world.  Learning Italian in Italy at the ABC Italian schools in Italy will be a full immersion experience.