Lingua Viva: Advanced Italian in Context – Saturday evenings

Lingua Viva: Advanced Italian in Context will elevate your Italian by expanding your vocabulary—whether through technical terms, colloquial expressions, or various styles of the language—and refining your grammar, especially complex sentence structures. You will engage with contemporary literary texts, explore Italian culture, and dive into current events through excerpts from TV shows, films, and more. Lingua Viva offers an immersive experience that deepens your understanding of Italy’s rich heritage and its present-day realities.

This course is for students who have completed Advanced 2 or 3 course, or for those who have advanced experience with the Italian language and are comfortable having conversations in different verb tenses, are able to converse with native speakers, follow debates and discuss current issues using more complex structures.

What you will learn

  • You will enhance your ability to understand and follow a variety of spoken Italian, from everyday conversations to complex arguments, and engage with native speakers with greater fluency and spontaneity.
  • You will also learn to express yourself clearly and in detail on diverse cultural topics, including Italian literature, current events, and contemporary issues that shape Italy today.
  • Additionally, you will immerse yourself in figurative, metaphorical, and idiomatic expressions of the Italian language, mastering words with double meanings, refining your use of the subjunctive in conversation, and gaining confidence with complex prepositions and grammatical structures.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Students will be provided with handouts and class materials.
No textbook is required.

Schedule

Saturday evenings, FROM January 18 TO March 8, 2025
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm PST
8 weeks – Classes meet ONCE a week on ZOOM.

Course Fee

180$ (+5% GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24th

200$ (+5% GST) FROM December 25th

 

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Advanced 1 (Online) – Monday evenings

Advanced 1 will help you become more fluent in the language, deepen your understanding of the nuances of Italian, and approach authentic material (i.e. TV news, newspapers, films). The focus will be on speaking correctly and learning new grammar topics, distinguishing between the past, present, and future tenses. Italian culture is an integral part of this course: through interviews and readings you will learn about many aspects of Italian art, history, politics, and contemporary society

Once completing Advanced 1, 2, and 3 you’ll be able to converse with native speakers, follow debates and discuss current issues using more complex and linguistically accurate structures and a greater range of vocabulary.

This course is for students who have completed the Intermediate 3 course or for those who have high intermediate experience with the Italian language and are comfortable having conversations in different verb tenses.

What you will learn

  • Students will continue to add to your vocabulary and develop the complexity of your sentences in everyday situations, including travel, food, shopping, transportation, family, and business
  • Students will learn how to the correct registers of the language in various situations
  • You’ll improve your command of topic-related vocabulary and ability to vary your style according to the situation.
  • You will learn critical grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive in various tenses, perfect conditional, past perfect, and pronominal verbs.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso 3 is required. The course consists of chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4

Schedule

Monday evenings, FROM January 13 TO March 24, 2025
6 pm – 8 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet ONCE a week on ZOOM.

Tickets

250$ (+ 5% GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24th

270$ (+ 5% GST) FROM December 25th

 

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrollment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Intermediate 2 (Online) – Monday evenings

Our Intermediate 2 course will focus on expanding fundamental notions and presentation of elaborate structures, present, past and imperative tenses, and different modes. You will enhance your ability to comprehend, interact and express yourself in common personal and social contexts. Enriched opportunities to explore Italian culture and develop intercultural skills. Aligned with CEFR level A2 objectives.

Completion of the Intermediate 1 course is recommended.

What you will learn

  • Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and develop the complexity of their sentences in everyday situations, like learning how to express surprise, ask for the duration and cost of a trip, talk about their holidays, learn to interact on social media in Italian
describe food and taste
  • Focus on speaking correctly and distinguishing between regular and irregular past, present and imperative tenses, pronouns, and verbs pronominal
  • Deepen understanding of the nuances of Italian, including correct registers of language to use in various situations.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso 2 – The course consists of Chapters 5, 6, 7

Schedule

Monday evenings, January 13 to March 24, 2025
6 pm – 8 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet ONCE a week ONLINE on Zoom.

Courses Fee

250$ (+ 5% GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24th

270$ (+ 5% GST) from December 25th

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund policy.

Conversation 2 (In-Person) – Tuesday evenings

Conversation 2 is for intermediate learners of Italian and is intended to improve your Italian speaking skills in everyday situations through conversational practice. 

Teachers will bring new topics to discuss every week and will prompt the conversation in different ways such as questions, requests for opinions, and brief exercises. Spoken accuracy and fluency are the focus of this course, but the teacher will signal and correct the main grammar mistakes too and will be at the student’s disposal in case there is a need to clarify some concepts in order to improve learners’ accuracy and confidence while speaking.

 

What you will learn 

  • Students will strengthen and refine oral fluency through guided conversations and presentations in Italian. 
  • Students will enrich their vocabulary and verbal expressiveness in a way that will benefit both general conversation and discussion of specific topics 
  • students will enhance familiarity with various current issues relating to Italy through different sources (short readings, websites, videos, music, etc.)

Completion of the Intermediate 3 Course is recommended.

 

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!

Students will be provided with handouts and class materials.

No textbook is required 

Tuesday afternoon, FROM January 14 TO March 18, 2025
5 pm – 6 pm PST
10 weeks – Classes meet once a week in our downtown school

 

Course Fee

140$ (+ GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24th

160$ (+ GST) from December 25th

 

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.

For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund policy

 

Intermediate 2 (In-Person) – Monday evenings

Our Intermediate 2 course will focus on expanding fundamental notions and presentation of elaborate structures, present, past and imperative tenses, and different modes. You will enhance your ability to comprehend, interact and express yourself in common personal and social contexts. Enriched opportunities to explore Italian culture and develop intercultural skills. Aligned with CEFR level A2 objectives.

Completion of the Intermediate 1 course is recommended.

What you will learn

  • Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and develop the complexity of their sentences in everyday situations, like learning how to express surprise, ask for the duration and cost of a trip, talk about their holidays, learn to interact on social media in Italian
describe food and taste
  • Focus on speaking correctly and distinguishing between regular and irregular past, present and imperative tenses, pronouns, and verbs pronominal
  • Deepen understanding of the nuances of Italian, including correct registers of language to use in various situations.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso 2 – The course consists of Chapters 5, 6, 7

Schedule

Monday evening, January 13 to March 24, 2025
6 pm – 8 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet once in our downtown premises

Courses

289$ (+ GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24th

310$ (+ GST) from December 25th

Course Cancellations

Please note that courses may be canceled by the school administration at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund policy.

Beginner 3 (In-person) – Tuesday evenings

Beginner 3 is a continuation of foundational elements of the Italian language. Development of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills in the context of everyday situations in the present and past tenses.

This course is being delivered virtually with live instruction and interaction.

What you will learn

  • How to communicate in a variety of social situations, such as practicing talking about your daily life, past events, holidays, and your family. For instance, you will talk about your purchases, simulating the situation of a grocery shop.
  • Basic grammar structures such as past tenses of regular and irregular verbs, reflexive verbs, pronouns, superlative assoluto, and adverbs of frequency. Increase grammar skills to build more conversation
  • Italian culture.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso – The course consists of Chapters 8, 9, 10

Schedule

Wednesday evenings, FROM January 14 TO March 25, 2025
6:00 pm-8:00 pm PST
Classes meet once a week in our downtown school

Courses Fee

Early Bird 289$ (+5%GST) – available until December 24

Regular Price 310$ (+ GST) from December 25

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Beginner 2 (In-Person) – Thursday evenings

Beginner 2 is an introductory course that teaches the four basic skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) that uses and expands on what was learned in Italian for Beginners I. A basic understanding of Italian pronunciation and grammar is expected.

What you will learn

  • How to communicate in a variety of social situations, such as traveling around Italy, asking and giving information
  • Basic grammar structures such as past tenses of regular and irregular verbs. Increase grammar skills to build more conversation
  • Italian culture, including daily life, film, cuisine, and vacationing.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso – The course consists of Chapters 5, 6, 7

Schedule

Thursday evenings, FROM January 16 TO March 27, 2025
6:00 pm-8:00 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet once a week in our downtown office.

Courses

289$ (+ GST) Early Bird Rate available until December 24

310$ (+ GST) from December 25

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Italian Art Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide

Dive into the captivating world of Italian art with this beginner-friendly course, tailored specifically for those eager to explore Italian Renaissance masterpieces. You’ll uncover the techniques, themes, and historical contexts that shaped this transformative era, enhancing your appreciation of the art and enriching your travel experiences in Italy. Whether you’re an art lover or simply curious, this course will empower you to confidently interpret and enjoy the stunning works of the Renaissance. No prior knowledge of art or art history is needed—just come with curiosity and a willingness to discover!

Syllabus

Textbooks are not required

Schedule

Tuesday evenings, FROM February 18 TO March 18, 2025
6:00 pm-8:00 pm PST
5 weeks – Classes meet once a week online, on Zoom

Courses

160$ (+ GST) Early Bird Rate available until February 05

160 (+ GST) after February 06

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Intermediate 2 (Online) – Thursday evenings

Our Intermediate 2 course will focus on expanding fundamental notions and presentation of elaborate structures, present, past and imperative tenses, and different modes. You will enhance your ability to comprehend, interact and express yourself in common personal and social contexts. Enriched opportunities to explore Italian culture and develop intercultural skills. Aligned with CEFR level A2 objectives.

Completion of the Intermediate 1 course is recommended.

What you will learn

  • Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and develop the complexity of their sentences in everyday situations, like learning how to express surprise, ask for the duration and cost of a trip, talk about their holidays, learn to interact on social media in Italian
describe food and taste
  • Focus on speaking correctly and distinguishing between regular and irregular past, present and imperative tenses, pronouns, and verbs pronominal
  • Deepen understanding of the nuances of Italian, including correct registers of language to use in various situations.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso 2 – The course consists of Chapters 5, 6, 7

Schedule

Thursday evenings, October 3 to December 12, 2024
6:00 pm-8:00 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet once a week in our downtown premises.

Courses Fee

Early Bird Rate 250$ (+5%GST) – available until September 15

270$ (+ GST) – available after September 16

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund policy.

Intermediate 1 (Online) – Thursday evenings

Our Intermediate 1 course is great to build knowledge and strengthen your skills. Whether you’re buying a holiday home in Italy or taking a road trip along the Amalfi Coast, this course will equip you with helpful vocabulary for everyday conversation. You will continue to build on previously acquired competencies in A1 and you will be introduced to more complex language structures used to communicate in a variety of situations by using different tenses and modes. Aligned with CEFR level A2 objectives.

Completion of Beginner 3 and Conversation 1 Courses is recommended. Or if you can have simple intermediate-level conversations on familiar topics, this level is ideal.

What you will learn

  • Students will understand and ask for information about how to shop for clothes, describe someone’s physical appearance or personality, express wishes, and desires, and talk about childhood memories. Furthermore, you will make comparisons, you will argue in favor or against something, and you will be able to provide advice
  • You will focus on the imperfetto tense, so you can talk about the past and how this differs from passato prossimo, which we will also revise.
  • Italian culture from newspaper articles extracts from novels, films, and audio clips are also used to add authenticity and context to your learning.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!
Textbook: Nuovo Espresso 2 – The course consists of Chapters 1,2,3,4

Schedule

Thursday evenings, October 3 to December 12, 2024
6:00 pm-8:00 pm PST
11 weeks – Classes meet once a week in our downtown premises.

Courses Fee

Early Bird Rate 250$ (+5%GST) – available until September 15

270$ (+ GST) – available after September 16

Course Cancellations

Please note that the school administration may cancel courses at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.
For any further info about our cancellation policy please visit Cancellation & Refund policy.