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The
director of the school, Roberto Tartaglione, answers some Frequently Asked
Questions on the courses:
LEVELS
How many levels do
you have?
We have seven levels: Elementary 1 (absolute beginners), Elementary 2
(false beginners), Intermediate 1, 2 and 3, and two advanced levels.
How do
these levels match the European Framework of Reference (A1, A2, B1, B2,
C1, C2)?
The European
Framework is a very useful reference guide, however, we try to meet the
needs of each individual student so they make the most of their course.
Will
I have to take an entrance test?
Yes.
What is it like?
The entrance test
will enable us to put you in the class and level that best suits you. It
consists of a short written test and a brief conversation with me.
Sometimes it may only take a few minutes to understand what is the best
group for a given student.
Can
I change group if I feel that the one I am in does not fit my level?
Sometimes a
student may end up in a level that does not suit him/her. Don’t
worry, the teacher will be the first one to notice and they will let me
know straight away. I have no problem in repeating a test or letting
students change groups.
TEACHERS
How can I
communicate with teachers who don’t speak my language?
This is our
job: we have been teaching Italian to thousands of students whose
languages we don’t know. The difficulties in teaching a language may be
many, but this is definitely not one of them.
What
qualifications do the teachers have?
It
is not easy to measure the “quality” of a teacher. All our teachers
have a degree in arts and have been trained at this school, mostly by me -
and for a long time. We have trained many teachers and have kept only a
few of them: the best ones!
Will I
have one or more teachers?
The teacher is
usually one per group, at least during the first two weeks. However
teachers may change after two weeks.
THE
COURSE
Can I enrol
and start a course on a different date?
This is not
possible if you want to join the Elementary 1 courses: a few days
difference can create a large learning gap between students. It can be
done at the other levels. Please contact the school, if this is your
situation.
How big are
the groups?
We start from a
minimum of 2 students (in low season) to a maximum of 12 (in high season).
But the average number of students is 7.
How old are
the students in this school?
We have people
of all ages; younger people are usually here during their school or
college holidays, more mature students may come at different times of the
year. It all depends on time, class, and mainly…. by chance.
Can
I continue studying, for longer than one month?
Yes.
The new course you enrol in will always have a higher level than the one
you have just finished.
Can
I switch to a different kind of course, (for example, switch to an
extensive course after starting in an intensive one), without losing my
money?
This is not
a problem, if we have the level you need. The sum you paid will go towards
the new course.
If I enrol in
an intensive four-week course, will I have the same teacher for the
duration of the course?
Not necessarily.
The class might be altered after the initial 2 weeks, depending on the
results after the first 40 hours. Every 4 week-cycle is made of two
learning cycles comprising two weeks each.
Can I try out
a class?
Of course. We are
only happy to oblige.
TEACHING
METHOD
Do
we study grammar?
Yes, "pedagogic
grammar", that is, some suggestions on how to be better at
communicating in the target language. However, we consider grammar as a
tool, not the goal of our classes. We don’t consider mistakes as the
result of not studying grammar. Errors can occur for a variety of reasons
not simply a lack of a grammar, grammar may even impede fluency, but this
is a long discussion and can’t be explained in a few lines.
Do
we get the chance to talk?
All
the time. We are Italian!!!
How
much time is devoted to grammar and conversation?
There is no distinction between the two; our goal is to get you
communicating correctly. In order to do that, you will have to talk a lot
and find a way of avoiding errors.
Do you use the
“communicative approach”?
The
communicative approach is a milestone in the teaching of foreign languages,
however, we don’t stick to a strictly communicative teaching approach.
Which
teaching approach do the teachers adhere to?
We don’t like
labelling our teaching approach, we try to adapt to our students’
learning mode and needs, and our teaching strategy changes depending on
this. I guess we could call our method a “cultural approach”, close to
the “affective approach” currently used by the University of Venice.
Which textbook
do you use?
There is no given
textbook. Our teachers are trained to use different didactic material
according to the needs of the group they have. Using a textbook would only
slow down the group’s progress.
TYPES
OF COURSE
I
want to improve my writing skills. Which course is the best one for me?
If
you need to improve one particular language skill, we recommend one-to-one
classes.
Who should
choose a one-to-one class?
Those who need to
improve one main language area (written language, language for special
purposes, phonetics, etc) or those who need to improve one particular
skill (for those people who can understand the language well but need to
concentrate on its structure – especially foreigners who have learnt
Italian as a second language just by living in the country). One-to-one
classes are also perfect for those who want to maximise their results in a
short period of time.
Are
one-to-one classes much more expensive?
An individual
class is about three to four times more expensive than a group class. A
group usually consists of about 7 students, so a group class can actually
be cheaper, though not always suitable for everybody.
Isn’t four hours
a day (an intensive course) a bit too much?
No. Our
teachers are really good at keeping the classes interesting and exciting,
so that our students are never too tired or stressed. Try it out!
I will be in
Rome for two weeks only. Can I enrol in an extensive course?
Unfortunately,
no. The minimum period for an extensive course is four weeks. With
less (only two hours a week over a period of two weeks) you simply
wouldn’t get good enough results. If you are staying for a short time,
we recommend our intensive, super-intensive, or one-to-one courses.
I
want to enrol in a course but I don’t know which type would best suit
me.
Come
to the school, take an entrance test, and have a chat with me. Together,
we will find the best course for you. There is no need to choose in
advance.
Can one-to-one or
small group classes be held at my home, or in my office?
Yes. The
teacher is paid a “transfer” sum, depending on the time needed to get
to the location.
How do I pay?
Please check
our enrolment
information page.
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