Need a Course in Italian?

Try The Centro Culturale Conero

I can think of no reason not to take a course in Italian at this school. If you are serious about learning Italian and experiencing the culinary, natural, and historic splendors that this most beautiful and almost tourist-free Italian region offers, then this school is a fantastic choice.

The school is located in the little village of Camerano right near the Monte Conero National Park – to get an idea of how beautiful this region is visit my page on the area. It is stunning and everything about the setting of this school is perfect.

Camerano itself offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Stroll through its narrow cobbled streets, and soak in the tranquil atmosphere. As you wander, savor the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Don't miss the enchanting underground city, known as Grotte di Camerano, which reveals a fascinating network of caves and tunnels. 

Unlike learning Italian in Venice, Florence or Rome, where everybody around you and many of the locals speak English and many of them are tourists from English speaking countries anyway, you can rest assured that nobody in Camerano, outside of the school staff, speaks much English. This is wonderful as it obliges you to try out your fledgling Italian in bars, shops, restaurants, etc.

The Centro Culturale Conero offers private one-on-one lessons, but even then the classes are so small that they almost seem personal; normally there are only five or six people per class. This is in sharp contrast to the huge classes I have experienced when visiting courses in Rome and Florence.

You can rest assured that you will be made to feel like one of the family here and not merely treated as a number. Christina and Elisa are wonderful teachers, but the others are too, and all of them will go out of their way to help you.

The lessons all focus on teaching through a conversation-based approach. Right from the beginning, you will be talking in Italian. Don’t worry about learning by rote verb after verb; yes, you do still need to learn them, but they are introduced in such a way that they soon become a conversational part of your Italian.

Also on offer are some fabulous extracurricular courses on cooking, art, wine, etc. The traditional Marche cooking courses taught by Mamma Ledi are legendary. Even if you didn't learn anything (you will though), it is worth doing the course just to eat the great dishes she prepares.