Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, Rome, Italy

The Italian Language School, or "Scuola Leonardo da Vinci," is able to offer students a variety of courses across its four campuses in Rome, Milan, Florence, and Siena. The school has received numerous accreditations from both national and international organizations and maintains the standards set by the European Council for foreign language programs. Interactive lessons and outgoing teachers encourage students to start speaking and communicating in Italian from day one. Teachers are all native Italian speakers who have been trained in the communicative method, an evidence-based method that has been proven to achieve quick results in oral communication as well as ongoing success in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students are able to choose the length of their course, from a week-long intensive course to ongoing lessons. Students can also choose the intensity of their courses with evening and part-time courses available in some locations. Specialty courses include AIL examination preparation, citizenship exam preparation, Business Italian, fashion and design courses, music courses, and language classes that incorporate some aspect of Italian culture such as art or cooking. The school helps students find the appropriate accommodation for them with options including home stays with a local family, shared apartments, private apartments, or even a home rental. Rome is the historic heart and soul of Italy, the former seat of the Roman Empire, and the city around which the world has turned for much of written history. From the Leonardo da Vinci campus, which is housed in an old aristocratic home, students can cross the Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge and arrive at the gates of the autonomous Vatican City in just fifteen minutes. Inside the holy city are iconic structures such as the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's masterpiece ceiling as well as Saint Peter's Basilica. In the other direction from campus is the ancient Roman Colosseum, one of the seven Wonders of the World, and in yet another direction is the famous Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. The central location of the Rome campus places it right in the middle of all of the main sites in Rome, allowing students to explore the city on foot, and the staff at the school lends their expertise by leading students on guided excursions. Rome is the perfect place to learn Italian while also soaking in Italian culture through history, art, food, and relationships.