1130 Price for an Italian Language Course

Seems a lot to me, but I am about to start on a 10 week Intermediate course at a local language school which is free of charge! The school is a specialist language college and as such receives extra funding from the Local Education Authority for language tuition. This is the reason why they are able to offer free evening classes to adult learners.

My previous course was £120 for 30 weeks, with one 2-hour lesson per week. The same college (as last year) is offering 16 week courses at £68 for one 2-hour lesson per week.

Have you tried the local schools, I don't know about Ireland but our local school does Italian beginers classes - 20 weeks at 2 hrs a week £68.
Try your local education authority
I'm enrolling

I tried a course at our local community college last year. It cost Euro 150 but even though it was supposed to be a beginners class, most of the students had basic Italian and the course therefore started at a level I did not understand. Myself and four other students left after three weeks as we were sitting there understanding nothing and learning even less.

Several of us had a similar difficulty with our last course. We had all been studying Italian for several years and our course merged with another one so they could continue. Those from the other course were a year or two behind us and we felt that we were going backwards and didn't actually achieve anything.

[QUOTE=janie]Several of us had a similar difficulty with our last course. We had all been studying Italian for several years and our course merged with another one so they could continue. Those from the other course were a year or two behind us and we felt that we were going backwards and didn't actually achieve anything.[/QUOTE]

Language learning is generally considered to be a difficult thing but I have always found I pick up languages fairly easily, at least enough to get by, so ti was extremely disappointing to walk out of that course remembering only two phrases - 'cosi cosi' and 'non ce male' (spelling is probably off too...).

Hi Sano,

We're about to sign up for two separate courses at the ICI Edinburgh, one for me at Elementary level (with knowledge of presente and passato prossimo) and for my parter at Absolute Beginners level (there are 3 different beginner levels!). However, the classes are only 1 1/2 hrs per week, running from September to January, and then continuing in a second term.

Fees are £95 (Eur 140) per term (for each level), so given that the weekly hours at your institute are more than double ours, it would cost the equivalent of around Eur 350 at most. Looks like it's a bit more expensive in Ireland then. Would you be able to study up to a level where you could sit an exam for a CILS qualification (Certificazione di italiano come lingua straniera)? That way, at least, you'd have something to show off for your money.

I've looked at local college and school fees and found these to be even dearer too. The same everywhere eh??

Happy studying!! :)

Stephanie

[QUOTE=Iona]Hi Sano,

We're about to sign up for two separate courses at the ICI Edinburgh, one for me at Elementary level (with knowledge of presente and passato prossimo) and for my parter at Absolute Beginners level (there are 3 different beginner levels!). However, the classes are only 1 1/2 hrs per week, running from September to January, and then continuing in a second term.

Fees are £95 (Eur 140) per term (for each level), so given that the weekly hours at your institute are more than double ours, it would cost the equivalent of around Eur 350 at most. Looks like it's a bit more expensive in Ireland then. Would you be able to study up to a level where you could sit an exam for a CILS qualification (Certificazione di italiano come lingua straniera)? That way, at least, you'd have something to show off for your money.

I've looked at local college and school fees and found these to be even dearer too. The same everywhere eh??

Happy studying!! :)

Stephanie[/QUOTE]

Hi Stephanie,

Ireland is now the most expensive country in the Eurozone, so the price for this course is not surprising at all...

Our ICI only seems to offer the one beginners level, but the examination you mention is available, but only once a year in June, so will miss it next year but might consider it for the following year.

I did ring them to enquire if they use any English in their class and was told yes, that they would explain in English as needed, so that gives me some encouragement.

Sano,

I prefer instructions in English as well - it makes it easier to follow until you're good enough to get the drift in Italian!

Good luck!

Stephanie :)

[QUOTE=Iona]Sano,

I prefer instructions in English as well - it makes it easier to follow until you're good enough to get the drift in Italian!

Good luck!

Stephanie :)[/QUOTE]

Thanks! and I hope you enjoy your course as well!

I envy you your access to Valvona & Crolla by the way...

Hi Sano,
I'm assuming you're looking at beginner Italian courses in the Dublin area, starting September? Me too.
I work in central Dublin but live out in Meath, so one night per week is all I can really manage. I was was thinking about the ICI one night per week at €225, then someone recommended an organization called 'The Italian Alternative' [url]http://www.myitalt.com/index.htm[/url] - based in Donnybrook.
My contact, a TEFL teacher, said it was very good but they charge €280 for one 2 hour lesson per week, over 16 weeks. Alternatively, they do a 10 week conversation class for €150. Not sure yet.
Last on the list for me is an 8 week course at Ashbourne Community College. Definitely not sure about that one!

Cheers, Derek

[QUOTE=derekL]Hi Sano,
I'm assuming you're looking at beginner Italian courses in the Dublin area, starting September? Me too.
I work in central Dublin but live out in Meath, so one night per week is all I can really manage. I was was thinking about the ICI one night per week at €225, then someone recommended an organization called 'The Italian Alternative' [url]http://www.myitalt.com/index.htm[/url] - based in Donnybrook.
My contact, a TEFL teacher, said it was very good but they charge €280 for one 2 hour lesson per week, over 16 weeks. Alternatively, they do a 10 week conversation class for €150. Not sure yet.
Last on the list for me is an 8 week course at Ashbourne Community College. Definitely not sure about that one!

Cheers, Derek[/QUOTE]

Hi Derek,

If you have some grasp of Italian the courses at the community colleges are quite good - they are run by native Italian speakers and normally use the Rete 1 coursebook (did some homework on this). If you are a complete beginner, with barely the grazies and pregos sorted, then these classes are quite intimidating.

The Italian Alternative sounds like a viable option, but for the money ask the course had better be good!! I think working with the ICI makes sense because they offer accreditation, have a good resource library, and also run a range of additional cultural activities that caters for a broad field of interest.

The only downer for me is that they are based in Merrion Square and I work in the Phoenix Park - even though we are relatively close together the traffic is a problem in the winter especially, but I am toying with the notion of switching to a bicycle...

[QUOTE=Sano]
The only downer for me is that they are based in Merrion Square and I work in the Phoenix Park - even though we are relatively close together the traffic is a problem in the winter especially, but I am toying with the notion of switching to a bicycle...[/QUOTE]

I'm only 5 minutes walk from Merrion, so that would be a plus for me. Let me know what you decide.

Cheers, Derek

[QUOTE=derekL]I'm only 5 minutes walk from Merrion, so that would be a plus for me. Let me know what you decide.

Cheers, Derek[/QUOTE]

Will do.

If I can scrape together the cash for the ICI, I will go for the intensive option (the two nights a week one).

[QUOTE=derekL]I'm only 5 minutes walk from Merrion, so that would be a plus for me. Let me know what you decide.

Cheers, Derek[/QUOTE]

Hi Derek,

Just to update you - I will be taking the beginners class at the ICI - I can't scrape the cash together for the intensive class so will go for one night a week and rely on my audio tapes for the rest of the time. Very fortunately we have had an Italian start work here today. She was a teacher before and is quite happy to offer tutoring in Italian one or two nights a week for extra cash - plus there is now an opportunity to practice Italian on a daily basis.

Let me know if you decide to go with the ICI.

Sano,
There's a small language school in Navan where, I thought, they only did English lessons for foreign students. Anyway, it turns out that they do Italian classes to Leaving Cert standard. I'm going to give it a go because this means that my wife and I can go together.
However, if it's not great you may well see me at the ICI!!

Lucky you! Having an Italian working with you will be invaluable.

Cheers, Derek

[QUOTE=Sano]Hi Derek,

Just to update you - I will be taking the beginners class at the ICI - I can't scrape the cash together for the intensive class so will go for one night a week and rely on my audio tapes for the rest of the time. Very fortunately we have had an Italian start work here today. She was a teacher before and is quite happy to offer tutoring in Italian one or two nights a week for extra cash - plus there is now an opportunity to practice Italian on a daily basis.

Let me know if you decide to go with the ICI.[/QUOTE]

How very lucky for you to have an Italian colleague - and one who has teaching experience as well! Just make sure that your intent to speak on a daily basis is actually being carried out in practice... ;)

Good luck with the lessons!!

A presto!

Stephanie :)