Italian Course

Contents overview:

Level 1: Getting Started with Italian

At this stage, learners are introduced to the very basics of Italian. They learn how to use definite and indefinite articles, how nouns and adjectives change based on gender and number, and how to use the verbs "to be" and "to have" in the present tense. Students begin forming simple sentences using regular verbs ending in -are, -ere, and -ire. They also practice greetings and introductions, learn the numbers, days of the week, months, and seasons, and ask and answer simple personal questions like "What's your name?", "Where do you live?", or "What do you do?". Basic prepositions such as a, in, di, and con are introduced, along with singular possessive adjectives and how to form negative sentences using non.

Level 2: Expanding Everyday Communication

Now learners move beyond the basics to express themselves more clearly in daily situations. They learn how to use reflexive verbs and become comfortable saying what exists in a place using c'è and ci sono. They begin using indefinite adjectives and pronouns (like "some" or "none") and start working with modal verbs like can, must, and want. The present perfect tense (passato prossimo) is introduced, including verbs that take essere and avere. Students learn how to talk about past events, describe people’s appearance and personality, express simple opinions and preferences, and use direct pronouns. They also begin using basic conjunctions like because, when, and if in simple sentences.

Level 3: Describing, Narrating, and Connecting Ideas

At this point, learners start to distinguish between different past tenses — when to use the imperfect versus the present perfect. They explore commonly used pronominal verbs like andarsene or cavarsela, and begin working with the future tense and basic hypothetical sentences (e.g., “If it rains, I will stay home”). More complex conjunctions are introduced, such as although or so that. Students learn to use indirect and combined pronouns (e.g., glielo), report speech both in the present and past, and form impersonal expressions with si. They practice expressing feelings, hopes, and desires, and expand their vocabulary across themes like travel, health, the environment, and work.

Level 4: Expressing Complexity and Nuance

Here, learners delve into more advanced grammar and expression. They learn to use the subjunctive mood in both the present and past in subordinate clauses, and explore second conditional structures (e.g., “If I were rich, I would travel”). Logical connectors become more sophisticated, and students start using gerunds and present participles. Time agreement across complex sentence structures becomes important, and learners are introduced to passive forms in different tenses. They also explore idiomatic expressions and more nuanced relative clauses. At this level, they practice writing formal emails and complaint letters, adjusting their tone and language accordingly.

Level 5: Refining Style and Argumentation

Students now tackle some of the most challenging aspects of the language. They learn the third conditional (e.g., “If I had studied more, I would have passed”) and become adept at handling indirect speech with complex shifts in tense and pronouns. The subjunctive is used in more nuanced contexts, including complex concessive clauses like even though or despite the fact that. Learners explore stylistic uses of the passive and impersonal forms, practice expressing subtle opinions and constructing well-developed arguments. They learn how to analyze and write argumentative texts, work with colloquial expressions, adapt to different levels of formality, and begin to understand and use figurative language and metaphor. Advanced sentence structures and word order are also practiced.

Level 6: Mastery and Sophistication

At the highest level, learners refine their command of Italian for both academic and professional contexts. They use the subjunctive and conditional for stylistic and rhetorical effect, and critically analyze literary and journalistic texts. They are able to understand and produce complex academic or technical writing, translate challenging structures between Italian and other languages, and navigate various language registers — from bureaucratic to poetic. There's a focus on regional variations and formal vocabulary, including Latinisms and scholarly terms. Learners become able to recognize and produce irony, sarcasm, and allusions, and practice summarizing and paraphrasing complex texts. They confidently express critical opinions and nuanced judgments with clarity and precision.