Istituto il David - The Italian language school

Teaching method

Our teaching method enables students to learn Italian well and quickly. Soon our students will acquire the four basic skills: understanding, speaking, reading and writing. Our method places emphasis on grammar, listening comprehension and oral expression. Grammar is essential for students to build correct sentences, while the development of both listening comprehension and oral expression enables students to understand and to speak properly and fluently. Classes are held in Italian, thus providing students with full immersion in the target language throughout their courses. Alongside the schoolbook, teachers use extra, up-to-date materials. In drafting lesson plans, they also pay particular attention to the special needs of each student, and their personalities.

The teachers

All our teachers are Italian mother-tongue speakers and have a degree. They are qualified with an experience in teaching Italian as a Second Language and are constantly kept updated. They are always at the students' disposal and help them individually. Their classes are lively, interesting and entertaining at the same time, also thanks to various teaching materials.

The classes and the students

Classes have a maximum of 12 and a minimum of 4 students, the average number of learners per class is 7/8. All our classes consist of students with compatible levels of competence. Each class is varied in nationalities, exchanging ideas,  opinions and experiences in Italian.

Levels and Certificates

Our courses are divided into six levels of language competence: beginners, elementary, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced, post-advanced. At the end of the course students receive a certificate of attendance which specifies the level achieved and hours completed. Students who wish to take a final examination can do so once the advanced or the post-advanced level has been reached. Those who pass it are awarded the David Certificate of Knowledge of the Italian Language.

All absolute beginners should preferably start their classes on the first day of the course, according to the school calendar. Students with a knowledge of Italian may start courses on any Monday. The shortest attendance time possible is one week. On the first day of each course, students take an entrance test in order to assess their level of knowledge. This does not apply to total beginners, who start their classes straight away as soon as they arrive. After the test, time is dedicated to new students meeting one another and a presentation of the school and of Florence is given, focusing on practical aspects of the city.

Timetable and duration of the courses

Teaching hours last 55 minutes. Each teaching session consists of two teaching hours and lasts 1 hour and 50 minutes. Classes are held from Monday to Friday with the following timetable:

9.00/10.50 AM Grammar - 10.50/11.10 AM Break - 11.10 AM/1.00 PM Conversation

1.00/2.00 PM Lunch break - 2.00/3.50 PM Intensive course - 3.50/4.10 PM Afternoon break

4.10/5.00 PM Combined course C

Each teaching session is held by a different teacher. This gives students the chance to hear different ways of speaking.