ILS International Language School, Milan, Italy

Since 1976, ILS International Language School has been educating Italian speakers of all levels by pairing them with experienced native teachers who are trained in the best and latest teaching methods. At the foundation of these teaching methods is the communicative method which encourages students to start speaking immediately as they learn language through interaction rather than book study. The teachers at ILS have the ability to assess each student's level and specific needs and tailor their lessons to the learning style and learning goals of each student, guiding them through the seven recognized levels of Italian fluency (beginner through mastery). Due to the experience and resources of ILS, students are able to choose from a variety of courses. Students can choose between group courses or individual courses, or they may also choose a combination in which they learn in a group setting in the morning and with a private tutor in the afternoon. The intensity of each course ranges from 20 lessons a week to 30 lessons a week in the intensive program, and students can also combine their language lessons with an aspect of Italian culture such as opera, football, or Italian cooking. Specialty courses are also available for those who want to learn Italian specific to their careers, such as a career in fashion, economics, or business. Though students are free to arrange their own accommodations, ILS offers a home stay program for students who would like to live with a carefully-vetted Italian family. ILS is located in the heart of Milan, Italy's most affluent city that is known as the fashion capital of the world, on a tranquil street in the historic downtown area. The campus provides comfortable classrooms, study areas, and a student lounge, and from campus students can easily walk to any number of restaurants and cafes. The historic city center of Milan is pedestrian friendly, allowing students to easily visit historic fortresses, Gothic cathedrals, and famous works of art. Only ten minutes from the ILS campus is the gorgeous Duomo di Milano cathedral, and just twenty minutes away on foot sits Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," housed in the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent. Students can take in art, history, and culture at one of the area's museums, or they can spend a night basking in the beauty of a classic Italian opera at the Teatro alla Scala. Any visit to Milan also necessitates a dive into Italian fashion through window shopping in the chic areas around the ILS campus, giving students ample opportunities to use their Italian as they soak in Italian culture.