When choosing your Italian language school in Italy, pay attention to the professionalism of the language institute. The following attributes are indicators that willl help you find the right school for you.
1. State approval from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research
Be sure that your chosen school is state-approved and has been given permission by the ministry to teach Italian to foreign students.
2. IALC – International Association of Language Centres
Founded in 1983, IALC is a global community of leading independent language centres, providing outstanding language courses with accommodation, social and cultural activities in the country where the language is spoken. This association unites leading language schools worldwide and guarantees for highest quality standards of all member schools.
7. Language course regulation
Take note that the language school puts you a group at the right level for you even if the minimum amount of participants is not achieved for a certain group. Your language course should neither underchallenge nor overchallenge you.
For more detailed information about our Italian language school’s commendations and accreditations, click here.
Our Italian language schools have been approved by the following institutes. That is a seal of quality for you, that emphasizes the professionalism of Piccola Universita Italiana:
We would like to assist you in booking your language holiday to Italy as best we can. Please use the following guidelines for perfect planning of your language holiday.
The simplest way to book your language holiday is directly on our website. Simply click on ENROL NOW and fill out the form.
At the end of the registration form click on “send” and the first step is complete. You will receive a confirmation for your language holiday within 24 hours by e-mail. If you don’t have e-mail, you will receive a confirmation by fax or in the post. We ask you to pay the deposit within one week. The confirmation is only valid after we receive this payment.
You can of course register by filling out the registration form in our Italian language school’s brochure and by then sending it to us by fax or in the post.
Our Italian language school in Trieste is open all year round from Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, we only close on public holidays.
Our Italian language school in Tropea is open from March to November from Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and from 4pm to 8pm, we close on public holidays and during Christmas holidays of our language school.
Our Italian language school in Trieste is open all year round and is only closed on public holidays.
Our Italian language school in Tropea is open from March to November and is closed on public holidays and during the winter break.
Depending on the month of the year, age and nationality may vary.
The minimum age is 16 (for students aged 16-17,99 an authorization form signed by parents needs to be sent together with the booking).
Our Italian language school students can pay for their language holiday online by credit card at home.
We would like to highlight that we provide a certified secure online payment service that conforms to the most up to date security standards.
Attention: The 3% bank charges are paid for by the student in addition to the price of your language holiday.
Please note that any service booked on spot (cultural activities, extra nights etc.) has to be paid in cash.
Our courses can be started every Monday at every level (also for beginners). Our language students at our Italian language schools are guaranteed flexibility!
The special Italian programmes “L’Italiano navigando” and “Active Silver language courses” can only take place with a minimum number of participants and will only take place in pre-determined weeks.
Our Italian language school is open all year round, please observe public holidays and our school’s holidays.
Yes, all students have to take an oral and written placement test.
It is of great importance to us here at our Italian language school that our language students complete a language course at the right language level. Very clear basics of grammar are used to determine which of the 15 language levels of competence is right for which student.
Due to our student friendly course regulations, each student is placed in a group at his/her respective level.
It is not always possible to arrange class groupings to your pre-selected time frame. Therefore, your timetable may vary from week to week to accommodate your chosen times as best as we can.
The classes and the time table will be communicated on Monday at 11.00 am orally and at 1.00 pm in writing on the notice board in the hallway.
Should you have lessons in the morning you will start at 11.10 am and finish at 1.00 pm. From Tuesday on lessons will start at 9.00 am. The lessons for the afternoon are scheduled from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. It might not always be possible to organize the schedule according to your preferences, and therefore the time table may vary from week to week.
At our Italian language school you may also stay for only one week. This applies to all Italian language courses of our program.
Reconcile your learning target with us. The secretary’s office will be happy to help with questions and advise you to choose a language course for you.
The currency in Italy is the EURO. There are bank notes in the denominations EUR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500; coins are available in the denomination EUR 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00. 1 EUR is 100 Cent. The Euro has been the legal currency in Italy since 2002. It replaced the Italian Lira.
Please note that only Euros can be withdrawn from cash machines (ATM) here. These withdrawals can be made by EC card or credit card. The maximum daily amount is EUR 250. If a withdrawal is made by credit card at the Maestro cash machine (ATM) a bank charge of 3% usually occurs. Withdrawals by EC card are usually free of charge or come with a set charge of EUR 3.00 to EUR 5.00. In many shops and restaurants you can also pay by credit card.
Italy is in the Central European Time zone (CET).
At the end of March, the clocks go forward by one hour and the time changes to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
At the end of October the clocks go back again by one hour and CET commences.
The climate in Calabria can be described as Mediterranean. Because the region is in 3 geographical zones, Calabria is also divided into 3 climatical zones.
In January, depending on region, average temperatures lie between 7° C and 14° C and in July and August between 29°C and 40°C. In the coastal regions ( Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts) the winters are mild. Even in winter, temperatures do not drop below 10°C.
Due to the favourable climate conditions, a language holiday in Tropea can be enjoyed all year round. In the somewhat cooler months of the year however, our holiday apartments in Tropea are provided with gas heating.
The most economical way of all is to do self catering during your language holiday. Our aprtments in tropea come with all fittings, some even have an oven. The market, the local grocers (Alimentari) and the supermarkets in Tropea offer all you need to enjoy tasty Mediterranean cuisine.
Please note that tap water in Tropea is not for drinking and we recommend that our language students buy water in the 2 litre containers available in supermarkets. One bottle costs about 50 cents.
It is of course difficult to tell you a total amount of incidental costs that will occur during your lanaguge holiday as it will depend on what you cook but from EUR 90.00 per week you can live very well.
Restaurants normally have a EUR 1.50 to EUR 2.00 cover charge.
We hope you could get an impression of incidental costs from this list. If you have any further questions about incidental costs during a language holiday, we would be happy to advise you!
The mains voltage in Italy is 230 Volt.
The Italian L plug is being replaced more and more by the German Schuko plug in new installations.
At our language school we have several plug adapters which can be borrowed by students for a deposit of EUR 5,00. In this way, electrical appliances you bring with you from home can be used here too.
Seals of quality at Italian language schools in Italy
Is this school recognised?
Booking instructions
Opening hours
Public holidays and school holidays
How old are the students and where are they from?
Can I pay by credit card?
When is it possible to start a course?
Do I have to take the placement test?
Can I choose my time schedule?
Time schedule
Minimum length of stay
Currency
Time zone in Italy
Climate in Calabria
Living costs
Mains voltage in Italy