- There are Italian language programs in all parts of the country. Before you choose a program, learn about the different regions of the country, and decide where you would like to be based. This will have a profound influence on your experience. For example, Florence, Rome and Milan are major Italian cities. Many of the programs offered in these cities may specialize in fashion, art or history. If you choose a program in Sicily, it will be a different experience. Sicilians have their own dialect, and people from this part of Italy are less formal than those who live in the larger and northern cities. Perugia is a medieval town, located in the central Italian region of Umbria. Compared to the rest of Italy, Perugia is relatively inexpensive, and it is a four-hour train ride from Rome. The program in Perugia is offered at a major university, and the town also has a medical school.
- Most programs will offer assistance with lodging. You will usually have a choice between a hostel, a hotel or staying with an Italian family. The third choice is the best way to learn the language, and in many ways it is the least expensive. However, if you value your privacy, this may not be your best option. You will be expected to respect the family's curfew rules, as well as their various traditions.
- You will have an easier time traveling to your school if you have a basic understanding of the language. Once you are in Italy, keep in mind that there may be students of different nationalities in your Italian class, so don't expect to be able to communicate in English.
- One of the most enjoyable aspects of studying in Italy is the after-class socializing. Expect to spend time practicing your Italian with people of different nationalities. However, this is often done at a cafe, over a glass of wine, and the waitstaff will not want to split the bill and place each order on separate credit cards. Be ready to pay in cash.
- If the program is offered five days a week, travel throughout the country over the weekend. If possible, travel solo. This will help you make the best use of your Italian language skills.
- The University for Foreigners, or Universita per Stranieri, is located in Perugia. Programs are usually one month long. If you prefer to make arrangements in the U.S., Virginia Commonwealth University has a summer program in Perugia, which you can take for credit or non-credit. While the classes in Perugia have an academic orientation, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci specializes in language courses for travelers, in Florence, Rome, Milan and Siena. Classes are offered in two-, three- and four-week sessions; there are special programs for people focusing on fashion, art, music and cooking. This school also offers assistance with accommodation; keep in mind that Florence, Milan, Rome and Siena are more expensive cities than Perugia. Babilonia offers Italian immersion courses in Taormina, Sicily. They also offer some courses that combine Italian language with hiking, biking or golf.
