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Location
  • Italy
    • Sicily
Length
1 to 52 weeks
Language
Italian

Program Details

Language Level
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Immersion Level
Intensive Standard
Certifications
TELC (several languages)
Specialized Courses
Specific Purposes
Class Size
Small Class (1-7) Medium Class (8-15)
Weekly Classroom Hours
15
Housing
Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hostel Hotel
Age Min.
16

Pricing

Price Details
1 week of General Italian language course: €210
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Visa Wifi
Nov 06, 2019
Nov 17, 2017

About Program

The Italian Academy offers Italian language courses at all levels from beginner to advanced. Students may choose from a range of Italian language courses, including one of our study holiday Italian+ courses: Food & Wine, History & Culture, Sports & Adventure and Photography.

- Highly qualified teachers of Italian to foreigners.
- Classes in a historic villa in the city centre with large private garden and outdoor study are
- Modern premises, WIFI and air-conditioning throughout
- Multimedia center and library
- 24/7 student support
- Daily excursions and cultural activities to explore authentic Sicily
- Free Tandem language exchange aperitifs with local students
- Homestays or private / shared apartment accommodation
- CILS (University of Siena Certification of Italian as a foreign language) preparation and examination center
- DITALS Italian teacher training center

The Italian Academy mission is to set the gold standard in quality Italian language teaching in Italy.

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Video and Photos

Outdoor conversational class in the Italian Academy gardens
The Italian Academy school and gardens
View of The Italian Academy campus from St John's basilica
Walking tour of Ortigia island
The Italian Academy campus
Cooking class in The Italian Academy kitchen
Guided tour of Mt Etna
Italian+ History Myths and Culture
Ortigia by night
Noto - UNESCO Capital of Baroque
Friendly and welcoming team
Ortigia

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Program Highlights

  • Learn Italian by the Sea.
  • Top rated teachers and school premises.
  • Walk on the craters of Etna volcano, visit the marine reserves and valleys.
  • Weekly social and culinary events: Sicilian cooking classes, wine tastings, language aperitifs.

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Program Reviews

9.5 Rating
based on 6 reviews
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  • Instruction 9.5
  • Support 9.8
  • Fun 9.5
  • Housing 9.2
  • Value 9.2
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Natasha
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Siracusa - the ideal place to study

Nov 17, 2017

Amazing experience, well beyond my expectations. Siracusa is the best place to study and spend a beautiful holiday! I really enjoyed traveling around Sicily, discovering wonderful places and rich history. I sincerely recommend The Italian Academy to all those looking for a fun and productive language holiday experience. I will definitely be back! Big thanks to all the friendly staff, a presto! Nataliia

18 people found this review helpful.
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Aeolian islands
Gelato in Palermo
Beautiful Modica!
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Agnes
43
Female
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Siracusa !

Jul 11, 2016

I stayed one week at The Italian Academy. It was a lovely experience. The school is new,
beautiful, lightful, and well designed. The staff is very friendly and helpful. My teacher was very careful to listen to my study needs and adapt the lessons. I really like my homestay.

Siracusa is a beautiful city surrounded by the sea, full of history, arts, and welcoming people.
I would definetely like to come back a Siracusa and in Sicilia, and see them again.

20 people found this review helpful.
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Máiri
67
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Bus stop pick up!

Jun 14, 2016

One example of the kindness shown to us during our course was the day we were waiting (and waiting!) at a bus stop in Siracusa after lunch in a local caffè, when Arianna, the course coordinator passed by and stopped and gave us a lift back to our apartment in Ortigia.

It was her lunch break and she didn't have to spend it ferrying us home! Incidentally, she had recommended this wonderful caffè and several other excellent restaurants which were not listed in any guide books.

This personal warmth and kindness was extended to us by all the staff at The Italian Academy making our stay in Siracusa most enjoyable.

What would you improve about this program?
We have only compliments so it would be hard to suggest any improvements!
19 people found this review helpful.
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Elizabeth
66
Female
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

A wonderful, action-packed fortnight

Apr 7, 2016

My friend and I had the most wonderful fortnight in Siracusa in no small part thanks to the brilliant organisational efforts and teaching of The Italian Academy. Our morning lessons with Giusi were excellent and fun and every afternoon or weekend outing was well-organised by endlessly patient and kind Francesco who provided knowledgeable guides. There seemed no end to the beauty and hidden wonders of the region and we could easily have stayed longer. We especially enjoyed the full day 'Montalbano' tour which took us to Ispica, Modica, Scicli and other places that feature in the fictional detective series.
All the staff at the Academy were friendly and helpful.

What would you improve about this program?
I would have liked more clear information about our programme in advance of our arrival, although everything came as a very pleasant surprise!
19 people found this review helpful.
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Caroline
71
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Just perfect!

Apr 1, 2016

From the first contact with the Academy, I felt I was being treated as a friend rather than a client. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful, and keen to make sure that I enjoyed my stay in Siracusa. The classes were excellent and tailored to what I wanted to learn, and I felt I made real progress every day. The excursions were delightful and the guides friendly and knowledgeable. I'll be back!

What would you improve about this program?
Maybe some evening social functions
16 people found this review helpful.
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Pedro
52
Male
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Sicily on my mind

Nov 17, 2015

I don't have a unique story to tell but a lot of thrilling moments that I did experience in those 3 weeks; it is so to say a patchwork of images that are in my mind whenever I think of Sicily; even though I knew before arriving, that Sicily would not disappoint my expectations , I was really touched not only for its huge historical heritage but mainly because of the friendly and marvelous sicilian people I met and knew, who made my stay in Siracusa unforgettable and made my last day so sad when I had to leave from Catania ... I will come back for sure

What would you improve about this program?
I honestly don't have big complaints about the program; the only small thing was the uncertainty we had some days about the schedule of the classes and who was going to teach us; anyway, that was not really a big problem because it was always solved on time. Besides that I did enjoy very much the atmosphere of the Academy and the quality of the teachers
16 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Janina Mäkirinne

Program
Italian Courses in Sicily with Cultural Immersion Activities
Job Title
Student Services assistant
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Janina has a deep passion for immersing herself in new cultures, languages, and societies because she has always been intrigued by the social nature of humans. She is a travel enthusiast which has led her to master the economics of tourism and to choose a career path that is complementary to her personal interests and values.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel experience is my first trip to Sicily with a group old friends. We decided to rent a car and drive around the island along the coast since we all were crazy about beaches. We started the journey by driving straight to the Etna volcano and have a little hike amongst the clouds and watch the sunset on the horizon.

The next moment we found ourselves hitting the waves with our surfboards near the city of Syracuse which had crystal clear waters and clean white sand to galore. One of the memorable moments of the trip was a chocolate making session in Modica where the professionals taught us how to make your own chocolate from scratch.

And of course, I will never forget the wine tasting where we were introduced not only to Sicilian wines but also to the local cuisine. Sicily is definitely a place where you eat well and never run out of things to do and places to see.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

It’s hard to choose only one from the many that we offer, especially since my interests go further than just one area of the programs. However, I would choose the Italian+ option just in general (which means that the Italian language classes and activities are included), and then pick out and combine different excursions and activities from different programs.

This way it’s possible to have a little taste of everything; a cooking class on how to make Sicilian specialties from the Food and Wine program, a hike to Etna volcano from the Sicilian Adventure program and a visit to Greek amphitheater from the History, Myths and Culture program.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are unique because every single member of our staff is dedicated to creating memorable experiences and always ready to go the extra mile to guarantee satisfaction and make sure everyone’s stay is as productive and enjoyable as possible. We are the best at what we do and that is what makes us unique.

I am always proud of my team when we receive good feedback from students. Every time we get a returning student to the Academy to study, it is a confirmation that we have done something right. I cherish the feeling of joy when a student is excited to re-enter the program for the second time. It makes me feel very proud of myself and the whole team and moreover, it tells us that we have accomplished something important with all of the efforts put into our work.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think in order for a company to be successful it is essential to have a team that works seamlessly and effortlessly together. Good team work is the key for everything. It is always up to the management of the company to recognize the blend of experiences and to see each individual’s strengths in order to place them in the right positions inside the company, and to build a strong, qualified team of people.

About The Italian Academy

Soak up the Mediterranean culture in Sicily! Located on the south-eastern coast of the island and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the enchanting city of Siracusa is a treasure trove for all lovers of history, art and authentic Italian lifestyle. The Italian Academy has over 30 years of experience in providing high quality courses for...
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