What the people saying about us
| New Beginners
(A1) |
· Thursday 10 am – 12 noon
· Thursday 7 – 9 pm |
During the term, you will learn how to introduce yourself, your friends and your family. You will be confident in ordering an Italian cappuccino and pick your favourite pizza in the best restaurant in Naples while talking about your free time and your busy life (present tense). You will be able to understand advertisements, short texts and basic conversations. And once you learn about Italian pronunciation, you are ready to get in touch with Italians! |
| False Beginners
(A2) |
· Monday 7 – 9 pm. | For students who have studied for at least three months.
You will learn how to book a room in a cosy agriturismo in Tuscany and how to give and ask for directions not to get lost in Venice. You will be able to describe your house and your city and also the places you would like to visit, write lovely postcards from the romantic Verona and tell your friends how you have spent your holiday in Sicily (past tense). You will also explore some Italian cuisine and learn about food habits, Italian festivities and Mediterranean secrets! |
| Improvers I
(A2/B1) |
·Tuesday 7 – 9 pm | For students who have studied for at least 6 months.
You will be confident having conversation about your daily life using present and past tenses. You will also learn how to write short texts such as letters and messages to your friends and how to give advice (imperative) and make plans with them about the future (simple future). In other words, you will learn how to be an indipendent user of spoken and written Italian, so that your trips to Italy will become easier than ever, through lots of activities related to different cultural topic.
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| Improvers II
(B1) |
· Wednesday 7 – 9 pm | For students who have studied for at least 1 year.
You will be confident talking about your daily life, describing people you know and famous personalities. You will learn how to give advice (imperative with pronouns) and make wishes (conditional) about shopping, food, holiday and more. You will become a master in arranging your timetable in Italy and you will be able to invite your Italian friends for a trip or for dinner and talk for hours about your past experiences (past tenses) and your future plans (future tenses and conditional). You will be ready to go on a journey across Italy feeling confident about your Italian when asking for information or writing your travel journal.
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| Intermediate
(B1/B2) |
· Tuesday 7-9 pm | For students who have studied for at least 18 months.
You can use the past tense and talk about general topics with a certain degree of confidence. You will get ready to talk about your experiences (past tenses), face unexpected situations, express your opinion, your doubts and your concerns (subjunctive). You will learn how to make wishes and talk about your future projects… or regrets! (if clauses). A focus on Italian for travelling and work will make you feel more confident even in formal situations and phone conversations will not be a problem anymore. You will also be able to read and tell short stories and share with your friends your opinion about Italian books, films or facts. |
| Upper-Intermediate
(B2) |
· Tuesday 10 – 12 noon | |
| Advanced
(C1) |
· Friday 6 -7 pm | This is your chance to become fluent in Italian: joining our inspiring conversation sessions you will achieve a higher level in Italian while sharing your opinions and views about Italian cinema, books, traditions, and major current affairs in Italy. When you go to Italy, you will definitely feel at home. |
| PLIDA preparation course | · Monday 7 – 9 pm | La Dante is running preparation courses to succeed in passing the four tests of the Plida exam. These tests are: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Content of the course:
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Our courses are based on the conversation with structured grammar, thus enabling students to master the Italian language faster in a natural and congenial environment. During the course, teachers use YouTube, projectors and other contemporary material to introduce Italian language and culture.
A communication-based approach, including role-play activities, facilitates Italian conversation among the students who participate actively and enjoy our lessons.
Our Italian language courses give you the best language and cultural experience in Cambridge:
- The only place in Cambridge where students learn and practice Italian on a monthly basis thanks to our wide range of Cultural Events
- Meet the Italians and have Language Tandems
- The best and most effective teaching in Cambridge: our native Italian teachers are trained in-house with the most up-to-date methodology
- You achieve quick progress in communicating in Italian within a few weeks
- The privilege of learning in a small class and learning about Italian culture
- Our courses are good value for money and you progress quickly
As a member of our cultural association, you can enjoy:
- lunch-time/tea-time conversations FREE for members (at the moment, 1 hour per month)
- FREE film club once a month
- Discount price for the Cambridge Early Music concert
- FREE access to our library: books and DVD
- FREE seminars on Dante’s reading, in partnerships with the Dept of Italian, Cambridge University
- Radio Dante bilingual programmes
- Cultural events which consolidate your language
Rapid progress
Whether you need to learn Italian for your job or university studies, or want to speak it on holiday, we guarantee that you will make rapid progress. We have small classes, which ensure a high level of individual attention from our qualified teachers. What is more, our communicative approach gives you lots of ways to improve your spoken and written language and enhance your understanding of Italian culture.
What makes La Dante Unique
We know that being in a classroom is not enough to make you fluent, so we encourage you to join in with the large number of cultural and social events we arrange in Cambridge and further afield. At these, you can meet friends who enjoy the culture while speaking the language. When you are immersed in Italian conversation in a relaxed setting, you can’t help but improve your language skills.
Exams
If you wish, you have the option of taking the official PLIDA exam (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri), ranging from GCSE Italian to A-level Italian equivalents. We pride ourselves on offering a high level of support to all our students and give advice on study-abroad programmes.
Special Offers
If you know someone who’s interested in learning Italian, bring them along and save £10 on the price of your next course! And if you book two courses together you’ll save £20. Alternatively, book in June for courses with a September start date and save £15.
For more information, follow the links on the Contact Us page.
Our courses are based on conversation with structured grammar, thus enabling students to master the Italian language faster in a natural and congenial environment. During the course, teachers use YouTube, projectors, and other contemporary material to introduce the Italian language and culture. A communication-based approach, including role-play activities, facilitates Italian conversation among the students who participate actively and enjoy our lessons.
*DISCLAIMER: Apologies, we are unable to offer tuition for special needs.
BENEFITS
- A placement test to determine the right course level
- The teacher will advise you and prepare a course plan to cater for your individual objectives
- Lessons with a highly experienced native teacher of La Dante
- Regular homework
- FREE student’s course book for all courses over 20 lessons
- Flexibility of studying at La Dante in Cambridge or at your premises
- Use of the library at La Dante
- Possibility to take an internationally recognised PLIDA exam
- GCSE and A level Italian
- Membership
Who is this course for?
The Italian Online programme is open to everybody. It is particularly suited to anyone who needs flexibility in how and when they study, or who lives outside Cambridge.
WHY CHOOSE THIS BLENDED LEARNING COURSE?
The course is designed to give you enhanced language skills, whether for personal, travel or professional purposes. By the end of the course, you will have improved your written and oral communication, and received a recognised Dante Alighieri Society certificate in the Italian language. Unlike many distance learning programmes designed for individual and totally independent learning, the Italian Online course is based on a collaborative, communicative approach where students are encouraged to participate in virtual class activities with their E-Tutor.
Give us a call to find out how we can help you! 07887 606227 or just email us.
Course overview and blended learning
Individual Skype Lessons
Italian Online is a ground-breaking experience which employs the latest skills in e-learning. It will enable you to study a language in your own time, wherever you are, with a qualified Italian teacher.
- Lessons with a highly experienced native teacher of La Dante
- A placement test to determine the right course level and your personal objectives
- 10 hours-package with your La Dante-Tutor
- 11 hours of your own study time required each package
- One/Two hours per week
Four levels for Italian Online:
using Al Dente 1 (by Casa delle Lingue Edizioni) or Nuovo Espresso 1 (Alma Edizioni) for the beginner level, and Nuovo Espresso, 2, 3, 4 , or 5 (Alma Edizioni) for the other levels.
Beginners for those who are starting to learn Italian for the first time. False-Beginners for those students who have studied for at least three months. Improvers for those who have already studied for at least three months. Improvers 2 for those who have already studied for at least one year. Intermediate for those who already have studied for about a year and a half or have B1+ level. Upper-Intermediate for those who have studied for more than a year and a half or have B1+ level. Advanced for those who are fluent in Italian.
All courses concentrate on the four main language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and use carefully selected, authentic material to introduce or consolidate the structures and functions of the language. Tutors will also introduce Italian culture, authentic videos, and listening material to stimulate discussions.
We use Skype.
Beginners course, A1
At the end of the course, you will be confident to order a cappuccino and choose a pizza in the best Italian bars and restaurants. You will be able to talk about your free time and your busy life. You will understand advertisements, short texts and basic conversations. And with your Italian pronunciation skills, you will be ready to get in touch with Italians!
False – Beginners course
For students who have studied for at least three months.
Improvers Italian, A2
This course will give you confidence to talk about your daily life, describe people you know and well-known personalities. You will learn how to give advice (using the imperative) and express wishes (using the conditional) on a range of topics. You will be a master in arranging your timetable in Italy and you will be able to invite your Italian friends out for a day trip or for dinner, and talk for hours about your experiences (using past tenses) and your future plans (the future tense and conditional). You will be ready to go on a journey across Italy using Italian to ask for information or write your travel journal.
Improvers 2
For students who have studied for at least 1 year. You will be confident talking about your daily life, describing people you know and famous personalities. You will learn how to give advice (imperative with pronouns) and make wishes (conditional) about shopping, food, holiday and more.
Intermediate course, B1
You will be confident talking about past events (using all the past tenses), future predictions and dreams (conditional clauses), and you will be able to have more wide-ranging conversations. You will learn how to use reported speech, the subjunctive in all its nuances, and other less common grammatical structures. You will learn more about Italian society and business, and feel more confident using Italian when travelling or for work. You will also start writing interesting articles and entertaining short stories. And once you pick up some more idiomatic expressions, you will finally feel Italian!
Intermediate and Upper Intermediate B1-B2
For students who have studied for at least 18 months, can use the past tense and talk about general topics with a certain degree of confidence.
Conversation for advanced level C1
This is your chance to become fluent in Italian! Join our inspiring conversation sessions and achieve a higher level in Italian while sharing your opinions and views about Italian cinema, books, traditions, politics and major events in Italy. You will pick up good grammar usage and learn many idiomatic expressions and phrases while working on authentic videos and articles in a wide range of topics. All of which means that when you next head to Italy, you will definitely feel at home.
ITALIAN E-LEARNING COMMUNITY – JOIN OUR BLOG (TO BE INITIATED)
Italian Online where you can sample some course materials and experience what it is like to learn in an online environment: (one created on www.i-d-e-e.it for La Dante Online Portal)
Entry requirements
Ideal for all students and ages with an interest in learning online. Students under the age of 16 need parental permission.
Awards: La Dante Online Learning Certificate
Meet our Italian teachers
The teachers and E-Ttutor (including native speakers) will guide you through this interactive and participative programme, which is focused on collaborative learning and designed to give you confidence and encouragement all the way through the course. Lecture packages will be delivered weekly online and will include comprehension tasks, individual and group work, conversation and intercultural topics.
Want to do better business in Italy?
Learn how to be more successful by understanding the Italian ways of doing business. Come and talk to us!
We can create a course to suit your needs, focusing on vocabulary specific to your line of business. We’ve got Italian native experts available in finance, law, banking, food & wine, car manufacturing, technology, science and medicine.
Among our clients: Cambridge University Press, BBC Cambridgeshire, Glaxo, Magic Solver.
Courses can be taken at La Dante, or in the comfort of your workplace.
In company Italian for business courses
Are you interested in developing your team’s skills in Italian?
As well as designing ad hoc language courses suitable to your team, we also help you to understand how to deal with business meetings when in Italy.
Our package includes:
- A placement test to determine the right course level
- A course plan for your specific needs and individual objectives
- Classes of 10 students max
- Lessons with a highly-experienced native Italian teacher of La Dante
- Regular homework given by the teacher
- FREE use of the library at La Dante
- Cultural events at a special discount
- A certificate from La Dante
Need help with a last minute meeting in Italy? Need to understand business etiquette? Need help with business negotiation?
Come and talk to us and we’ll help you with a suitable one-to-one programme.
Give us a call to find out how we can help you! 07887 606227 or just email us.
