For beginner and intermediate speakers
7th grade and up

This class is designed for young adults between 11 and 16 years of age who have never taken Italian before, as well as for those who have already been exposed to the language. Learning Italian as a foreign language offers the students the possibility to extend their own communicative competences and creates the basis of an intercultural education that leads to acceptance of others and their diversity. In other words, learning Italian enables the elaboration of a global education for our students since it involves the cognitive, the affective and the expressive sphere all at once. The methodology used in this class is based on the communicative learning approach that considers the language as an essential instrument to communicate. This method also allows the gradual development of the four linguistic abilities (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Therefore during this class particular emphasis will be given to dialog and oral expression, but we will never forget the importance of the written language and its grammar. Grammar and written language will be approached according to the following pattern: comprehension, assimilation and production. Particular importance will be given to the Italian cultural aspects because the Italian culture represents an intrinsic element in learning Italian as a foreign language.