Study Italian in Italy

The Scuola Italia - Urbania, Le Marche

Location

The Scuola Italia is to be found in one of the most scenic parts of Le Marche, surrounded by the rolling hills of the Le Marche countryside and in the ancient heart of one of Italy‘s loveliest towns, Urbania.

The School

You won’t find any unnecessary bureaucracy or formality here. This is a small, down-to-earth and very friendly place run by a group of bubbly thirty-something ladies and Roberto, the head of the school.

The small size means a great deal of flexibility, allowing them to tailor classes or private lessons to fit your needs. The private lessons can be scheduled when it suits you too.

All the teachers are language graduates and very experienced; classes are small, and there are a lot of interesting excursions around the area that the school will organize for you as part of your course.

Somehow the school always manages to make your lessons and your days interesting and enjoyable—even grammar is made as exciting as it can possibly be. Emphasis though is on getting you speaking Italian fluently and, even if you are a beginner, you will be really surprised at how quickly they'll have you chatting away in Italian. 

This is not only a language school, so if you fancy yourself a bit of an opera star, then their month-long opera course is for you. If you are like me and singing is best avoided, then perhaps the Italian cooking courses or the painting courses would be more appropriate. This area has a rich artistic tradition, and the absolutely lovely nearby town of Urbino was once home to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio).

Accomodation

Scuola Italia will help you with all your accommodation needs. They either organize a stay with a local family, which is the option I would recommend in that it ensures total immersion, allows you to practice your Italian skills, and is great value. If you prefer more privacy, then the school will assist you in finding a place of your own. The area is not overrun with tourists, so the prices, no matter the option you chooses, are far more affordable than in Rome, Florence, or Venice.

Why this Town?

Being in a small town where few locals speak English is a great advantage and ensures that a week here will see you making the most remarkable progress. Coming to this area also allows you to really experience genuine small-town Italian living, and the landscapes and towns of this gorgeous region will stay with you forever.

Take the month-long course if you have the time, and by the end of it, I can guarantee that you will feel like one of the locals and be chatting away to them too...in Italian! The problem is, though, that you will almost certainly not feel like leaving.

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