In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Language Courses
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/12/2005 - 06:29In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Have heard that the commune in Orveito run a course for stranieri. Is this near where you will be living?
We live further south and would be interested in a course in Viterbo. Does anyone know if there is one?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The University for Foreigners in Perugia is excellent. I believe it is state subsidised and its prices are very cheap when compared to private courses.
The process of registration on the first day is a bit of a nightmare, but all the queueing will give you practice for the post office, questura etc if you decide to stay on in Italy. They have their own mini questura downstairs so the process of obtaining your permesso di soggiorno is much faster than normal.
When you first arrive you undergo a quick oral test to assess your level. Once you are above a level three there are many interesting courses to take in addition to Italian grammar etc. You can learn about Italian art, medieval history, culture, business Italian, literature, and so on all in the Italian language. You'll learn very fast once you get to this stage.
I took an intensive one month course a few years ago, and then followed it up with a further three month course which I enjoyed throughout.
I also met my wife whilst I was there which was an added benefit to the course!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We did a very short, but intensive 3 day course with a delightful Italian teacher who lives in Castiglione del Lago. After 3 days I could understand what people were saying on the radio instead of just getting the gist. This was in a group of 3 people only and I think she may do individual lessons as well as catering for small groups.
If you are interested in more details send me a PM and I will be happy to check if she can take on any more pupils. We found her absolutely fantastic.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I will reply as soon as i work out how to send a PM! We are interested in this option, thankyou for your help.
regards
Carole and Brian
[QUOTE=Licciana]We did a very short, but intensive 3 day course with a delightful Italian teacher who lives in Castiglione del Lago. After 3 days I could understand what people were saying on the radio instead of just getting the gist. This was in a group of 3 people only and I think she may do individual lessons as well as catering for small groups.
If you are interested in more details send me a PM and I will be happy to check if she can take on any more pupils. We found her absolutely fantastic.[/QUOTE]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Many thanks for this reply. Please tell us more about how to approach the Uni in Perugia.
regards
Carole and Brian
[QUOTE=neilmcn]The University for Foreigners in Perugia is excellent. I believe it is state subsidised and its prices are very cheap when compared to private courses.
The process of registration on the first day is a bit of a nightmare, but all the queueing will give you practice for the post office, questura etc if you decide to stay on in Italy. They have their own mini questura downstairs so the process of obtaining your permesso di soggiorno is much faster than normal.
When you first arrive you undergo a quick oral test to assess your level. Once you are above a level three there are many interesting courses to take in addition to Italian grammar etc. You can learn about Italian art, medieval history, culture, business Italian, literature, and so on all in the Italian language. You'll learn very fast once you get to this stage.
I took an intensive one month course a few years ago, and then followed it up with a further three month course which I enjoyed throughout.
I also met my wife whilst I was there which was an added benefit to the course![/QUOTE]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
It's a couple of years since I was there but I guess things haven't changed much since then.
The website for the university is at [url]http://www.unistrapg.it/inglese.htm[/url]. There you can download the application form. In the summer they do intensive courses for one month. They also divided the year into four quarters with three-month long full time courses. First lesson is at 9am, and there is a lunch break followed by lessons on and off until 6pm.
You can also call the university and they will send you the brochure and application form. The number and postal address is on the website.
The first day of the course is taken up officially enrolling in the course - you need some passport photographs. You go first to reception with the paperwork you receive in return for your application form. They then send you to go for the oral test, then you go and pay your course fees at the bank which is actually in the university front entrance, then you go downstairs to the administrative hub of the university to practice standing in a queue, and then you're almost done. They then send you to get a permesso di soggiorno (if you don't already have one) downstairs at their own mini-questura, and then finally you can return to get your photo ID card which shows you have paid and can go to courses at the university. Every step takes a while, but the course at the end of it is better value than anything else you'll find.
All of the books they tell you you need for the course can be purchased at a small bookshop across the piazza from the university front entrance so everything is very easy.
Hope that's a help. Any more questions feel free to fire away.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Thank you, very helpful. Do you need residency before you can do all this - or maybe the permesso di soggiorno is this? We are green as grass as you can see! No matter -from early June Italy will be our only home so we will learn fast. Do you live in the Perugia area?
regards
C and B
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
No, you do not need residency for the course, but you do need a permesso di soggiorno. Fortunately this can be obtained painlessly (assuming you are EU citizens) at the same time as you enrol in the course. Without it you cannot complete the registration procedure. Non-EU member have to pay for a stamp to go on a form and need loads of passport photos to get their permesso - and their queue is longer. EU students just show up with their passport and course acceptance letter and the jobs done in a minute.
Interestingly over a quarter of the enrolled foreign students never attend a single lesson. They enrol just to get the permesso di soggiorno di studio which lets them stay in Italy, and then they return to Milan or Rome or wherever to carry on (illegally) working. After 9/11 there was quite a stink about this, but I am sure it carries on today.
I don't live in Perugia any more, but if you need to know anything else feel free to ask away and I'll try and remember for you.
Cortona School
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/20/2005 - 11:00In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hello Carol and Brian,
I am moving to Pierle (Rocca di Pierle) in April (just up the hill from Mercatale), so, am only a few klsm from you!
Where are you relocating from? I am coming from San Francisco.
I am intending on taking classes at the language school in Cortona (20 minutes away). I have heard good things about it. They limit the classes to 8 participants.
It would be great to hear from you and hear your "story" about moving to Italia.
a presto, Patricia
We have no experience of this course, but have heard many good things about it on the grapevine:
[url]http://www.unistrapg.it/inglese.htm[/url]