Our courses consist of 25 hours weekly (100 hours in 4 weeks). The fall semester of study in Urbania lasts for a period of 16 weeks and is made up of a total of 400 hours of lessons. These are divided into 272 hours of Italian language (216 language and conversation, 32 supplementary afternoon conversation, 24 hours of revision and tutorials) and 128 hours of Italian culture (Italian history, 24 hours; Italian literature, 32 hours; Art history, 32 hours; Italian institutions, 28 hours; Italian geography and economics, 12 hours).

Our morning lessons in language and conversation are 60 minutes each. Afternoon lessons (supplementary conversation and culture) last 50 minutes. Our classes are small, generally from 6 to 12 students. Classes are formed on the basis of an ENTRANCE TEST that all students are requested to take on arrival in Urbania, with the exception of complete beginners who have never studied Italian before.

Syllabus of each level:

Weekly hours: 15 hours anguage and conversation; 4 hours supplementary afternoon conversation; 4 hours culture; 2 hours revision and tutorials (Saturday morning).

GRAMMAR: subject pronouns, formal Lei, negatives, articles, masculine and feminine nouns, plurals, demonstrative adjectives, titles, present indicative tense, the three conjugations -are, -ere, -ire, possessive adjectives and pronouns, dates, disjunctive pronouns, reflexive verbs, direct object pronouns, 24 hour clock, use of "ci " and "ne", present perfect tense, irregular verbs, simple future tense.

At the end of this level the student is able to understand simple phrases of common usage, both written and oral. He is "self-sufficient" as regards the practical aspects of everyday Italian life.

TEXT BOOKS: E. Jafrancesco, Parla e Scrivi, Cendali Editori; Claudio and Elio Guarnuccio, Ci Siamo, Ed. Cis-Heinemann.

Weekly hours: 15 hours language and conversation; 4 hours supplemtary afternoon conversation; 4 hours culture; 2 hours revision and tutorials (Saturday morning).

GRAMMAR: conditional tense, ordinal and cardinal numbers, adverbs, prepositions "articolate", prepositions of time and place, the past tense, the imperfect tense, personal pronouns "accopiate", future perfect tense, the past perfect tense, all types of conditional tenses, the use of the gerund,comparatives and superlatives of adjectives and adverbs, the imperative, all subjunctive tenses, the passive, the use of "si" impersonal, direct and indirect speech.

At the end of this level the student has covered all basic grammar which he is able to use both in writing and orally on subjects that go beyond the basic essential-everyday language.

TEXT BOOKS: E. Jafrancesco, Parla e Scrivi, Cendali Editori; Claudio and Elio Guarnuccio, Ci Siamo, Ed. Cis-Heinemann; Gruppo Meta, Corso comunicativo di italiano per stranieri UNO e DUE, Ed. Meta. Teachers also use selected reading passages to develop communicative skills.

Weekly hours: 12 hours language and conversation; 11 hours culture; 2 hours revision and tutorials (Saturday morning).

At the end of this level the student is able to communicate both verbally and in writing on a vast number of subjects, especially from a professional point of view. Specific language areas are introduced (medical, legal, etc) and also regional expressions and idioms. All grammar is thoroughly revised.

TEXT BOOKS: Sandra Radicchi, Corso di lingua italiana, livello intermedio, Ed. Bonacci; P. Marmini, G. Vicentini, Passeggiate italiane, livello intermedio, Ed. Bonacci.

Weekly hours: 12 hours language and conversation; 13 hours culture.

At the end of this level the student has reached a fluent command of the language and is able to express himself clearly and fluently on all occasions. Advanced grammar and syntax are revised, specific languages are covered, dialects are introduced, new contemporary expressions are studied together with notions on the history of the language. Texts are analyzed, style (both written and verbal) are covered.

TEXT BOOKS: T. Poggi Salani, Per lo studio dell'Italiano, avviamento storico-descrittivo, Liviana Editrice; C. Bettoni, G. Vicentini, Passeggiate italiane, livello avanzato, Ed. Bonacci; L. Massolo, Italiano per stranieri, Edizioni Quattroventi. Teachers also choose various literary texts for analysis e articoli di giornali ed esempi di testi di linguaggi speciali.