Archives: Programs

Understanding the exam structure + writing lab

Once a month on Sunday at 4:00 pm PST – 90 minutes
Cost: $100

The Program

Come and join us in this workshop to get a better understanding of the B1 exam. We’ll go over an overview of different exam sections, we’ll focus on the written test, and take some time to complete an exam writing task and revise it.

Class breakdown:
- Exam overview
- Written tasks of the exam
- Writing lab
- Revision
B1 TEST OVERVIEW
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
Sunday August 18
4:00 - 5:30 pm PST
Price: 100
REGISTER
Sunday September 15
4:00 - 5:30 pm PST
Price: 100
REGISTER
Sunday October 20
4:00 - 5:30 pm PST
Price: 100
REGISTER
Sunday November 17
4:00 - 5:30 pm PST
Price: 100
REGISTER
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
via Zoom
90 minutes

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
Have a glimpse of how taking the exam will feel.

Once a month on Sunday at 2pm PST – 2 hours

The Program

We’ll provide a mock test of the language exam so that you can practice with examples of different types of questions and tests.

Mock-up exam breakdown:
- 1h - written tests
- 15 minutes - listening tests
- 15 minutes - speaking tests
- 30 minutes - revisions and notes
B1 EXAM SIMULATION
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
Sunday August 18
2:00 - 4:00 pm PST
Price: 150
REGISTER
Sunday September 15
2:00 - 4:00 pm PST
Price: 150
REGISTER
Sunday October 20
2:00 - 4:00 pm PST
Price: 150
REGISTER
Sunday November 17
2:00 - 4:00 pm PST
Price: 150
REGISTER
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
via Zoom
2-hour class

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
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The Program

Each 5-week course is dedicated to one single language competence required by the official language test B1.

Classes are intended for applicants to the official test, and to anyone else interested in taking the test B1, who has already reached a level B1 of general Italian proficiency. Level B1 as defined by the European criteria corresponds to an intermediate level in most of the language schools in the US.

Though a variety of exercises proposed by the instructor, you will master and improve your language skills in the four competencies listed below.
Reading – comprensione del testo
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
July 12 to September 13
T 5:15 to 6:30 pm
Price: $160
Writing – produzione scritta
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
April 7 – May 5
T 6:45 to 8:00 pm
Price: $160
Listening – ascolto
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
April 7 – May 5
T 5:15 to 6:30 pm
Price: $160
Speaking – produzione orale
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Price
April 7 – May 5
T 6:45 to 8:00 pm
Price: $160
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
6:15-hour courses
Class meets every tuesday on: April 7 – May 5

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
Intermediate-level conversational practice in preparation for the B1 exam. Review of common formulas and conversational elements to improve sentence-making in Italian. 

Tuesdays at 10am PST from August 13th

Cost: $250

The Program

Classes are intended for applicants to the official test, and to anyone else interested in taking the test B1, who has already reached a level B1 of general Italian proficiency.

Level B1 as defined by the European criteria corresponds to an intermediate level in most of the language schools in the US.

There will be a total of 8 classes of 1 hour each, to review and practice with key grammar points.  

Materials: summary booklet included in the course cost

Students will learn to:
- ask and give advice
- make comparisons
- express opposition, worry, eventuality, likes and preferences, opinions and more
- talk about needs and duties
- describe a picture (as required in the exam)

Cost: $250
For additional information, please contact us via email at:
REGISTER
REGISTER
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
via Zoom
8-hour course. Once a week (1h)
HOURS
Tuesday
10:00 - 11:00 am PST
WHERE
via Zoom

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You can use and understand Italian with ease, being verbal or written communication. You can take part in lengthy conversations and write and understand all texts. You can basically understand anything you read or hear with spontaneity, fluency and precision.

Program Structure

Register to a perfezionamento sub-levels:
Perfezionamento, Lettura & Grammatica
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will strengthen your Italian knowledge using Nuovo Espresso 6 and reading an Italian novel chosen by your teacher. Your Italian will get stronger, perfectioning your grammar knowledge and your reading skills. 

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 9 to Sept 10 (10 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30pm PST
Teacher: Luigi (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 30 to Sept 24 (9 WKS)
T 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
Teacher: Barbara (IN PERSON)
$440/term
REGISTER
July 31 to Sept 25 (9 WKS)
W 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
Teacher: Barbara (ONLINE)
$435/term
REGISTER
Aug 1 to Sept 26 (9 WKS)
TH 10:30am - 1:00pm PST
Teacher: Barbara (ONLINE)
$435/term
SOLD OUT
Aug 3 to Sept 28 (9 WKS)
SA 10:00am - 12:30pm PST
Teacher: Barbara (ONLINE)
$435/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 6
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Viaggio a Venezia, Laura Rubino
Luigi - T 6:30 - 8:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Dimenticami Trovami Sognami, Andrea Viscusi
Barbara - T 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Il cane di terracotta, Andrea Camilleri 
Barbara - W 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Il cane di terracotta, Andrea Camilleri 
Barbara - TH 10:30am-1:00pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Carolina dei delitti, Lia Celi
Barbara - SA 10:00am-12:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
A spasso per l'Italia
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Gianna will guide you in a journey of discovery of Italy, focusing each Term on a different Region.

The focus for the Summer Term will be on Trentino Alto Adige.

 

The reading and short tube videos will inspire you to discuss and learn about this region and explore current Italian issues as well.

You will also revise some grammar topics, starting from the conversation that the book and videos will inspire.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 26 to Sept 27 (10 WKS)
F 10:30 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE)
$480/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 6
GET THE BOOK
Reading Book
Il cuore è uno zingaro, Luca Bianchini
GET THE BOOK
Leggiamo Insieme
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will read along with your classmates high Italian literature novels, written by renowned Italian novelists, discussing their main points exclusively in Italian, under the guidance of your expert teacher Martina.

In the Summer Term students will read the novel “L’eta’ fragile“, by Donatella Di Pietrantonio in a total of 4 weeks, with a 1-hour class per week (11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST).

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 8 to Aug 29 (4 WKS)
TH 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Teacher: Martina (ONLINE)
$85/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Reading book
L'eta' fragile, Donatella Di Pietrantonio
GET THE BOOK
Classics Book Club
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

A series of 15 classes. 2 hours long, focused on studying, reading and discussing one of the main Italian classic literature novels.

In the Summer and Fall Term, the group will focus on “La storia“, by Elsa Morante.

With our instructor, Mattia Milone, we will read through this Classic of Italian Literature and discuss this novel published in 1974 and set in Rome during and after the last war (1941-47). It represents the pinnacle of Elsa Morante’s life experience.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 30 to Dec 13 (15 WKS)
F 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (ONLINE)
$480/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Reading book
La storia, by Elsa Morante
GET THE BOOK
Caffe Corretto
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

2 hours of reading, speaking and conversation at an advanced level, to enjoy speaking Italian as if you were having a cup of coffee with your Italian friends.

During this class, Mattia will help his students to achieve the goal of reading, speaking and having a conversation about a famous Italian book.

In the Summer Term we will have 2 separate Sessions, each one reading a different book.

In the Session 2 we will have 4 classes (9/9-9/16-9/23-9/30), reading the book “Lacci”, by Domenico Starnone.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Sept 9 to Sept 30 (4 WKS)
M 11:00am – 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (IN PERSON)
$165/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Caccia ai Tesori, Antonella Filippone and Sandra Radicchio
GET THE BOOK
Reading Book
Lacci, Domenico Starnone
GET THE BOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
from 8 to10 week courses, classes meet once a week
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29h to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You can use Italian effectively, taking part in extended conversations, writing and understanding most texts. You can easily watch the Italian TV or an Italian movie and you can express opinion fluently and spontaneously without searching for expressions.

Program Structure

Register to a avanzato sub-levels:
Avanzato 1
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will work on chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Nuovo Espresso 5 and will read an Italian novel chosen by your teacher, discussing its content and improving your reading skills. 

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 5 - Chapters 1-2-3
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Avanzato 2
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will work on chapters 4, 5 and 6 of Nuovo Espresso 5 and will read an Italian novel chosen by your teacher, discussing its content and improving your reading skills. 

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 5 - Chapters 4-5-6
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Avanzato 3
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will work on chapters 7, 8 and 9 of Nuovo Espresso 5 and will read an Italian novel chosen by your teacher, discussing its content and improving your reading skills. 

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 5 - Chapters 7-8-9
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Avanzato 4
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will work on chapter 10 of Nuovo Espresso 5 and will review the entire book as a strengthening exercise. You will also read an Italian novel chosen by your teacher, discussing its content and improving your reading skills. 

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 5 Chapter 10 + General review
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Avanzato
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

You will review your grammar knowledges and will read an Italian novel chosen by your teacher, discussing its content and improving your reading skills.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 23 to Sept 17 (9 WKS)
T 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
Teacher: Valentina (ONLINE)
$445/term
REGISTER
Aug 19 to Sept 30 (6 WKS)
M 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
Teacher: Alessia (ONLINE)
$285/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 5
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Book
La forma dell'acqua, Andea Camilleri
Valentina - T 6:00-8:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Lacci, Domenico Starnone 
Alessia - M 6:00 - 8:30pm PST
GET THE BOOK
A spasso per l'Italia
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Gianna will guide you in a journey of discovery of Italy, focusing each Term on a different Region.

The focus for the Summer Term will be on Trentino Alto Adige.

The reading and short tube videos will inspire you to discuss and learn about this region and explore current Italian issues as well.

You will also revise some grammar topics, starting from the conversation that the book and videos will inspire.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 26 to Sept 27 (10 WKS)
F 10:30 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE)
$480/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 6
GET THE BOOK
Reading Book
Il cuore è uno zingaro, Luca Bianchini
GET THE BOOK
Classics Book Club
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

A series of 15 classes. 2 hours long, focused on studying, reading and discussing one of the main Italian classic literature novels.

In the Summer and Fall Term, the group will focus on “La storia“, by Elsa Morante.

With our instructor, Mattia Milone, we will read through this Classic of Italian Literature and discuss this novel published in 1974 and set in Rome during and after the last war (1941-47). It represents the pinnacle of Elsa Morante’s life experience.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 30 to Dec 13 (15 WKS)
F 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (ONLINE)
$480/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Reading book
La storia, by Elsa Morante
GET THE BOOK
Caffe Corretto
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

2 hours of reading, speaking and conversation at an advanced level, to enjoy speaking Italian as if you were having a cup of coffee with your Italian friends.

During this class, Mattia will help his students to achieve the goal of reading, speaking and having a conversation about a famous Italian book.

In the Summer Term we will have 2 separate Sessions, each one reading a different book.

In the Session 2 there will be 4 classes (9/9-9/16-9/23-9/30), reading the book “Lacci”, by Domenico Starnone.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Sept 9 to Sept 30 (4 WKS)
M 11:00am – 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (IN PERSON)
$165/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Caccia ai Tesori, Antonella Filippone and Sandra Radicchio
GET THE BOOK
Reading Book
Lacci, Domenico Starnone
GET THE BOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
10 weeks groups, classes meet once a week
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29h to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You can speak Italian with some confidence. You can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics. You can have a conversation with native speakers with ease, fluency and spontaneity.

Program Structure

Register to a pre-avanzato sub-levels:
Pre-avanzato 1
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Telling an event
  • Talking about habits related to school memories
  • Description of a teacher, a classmate, a course, a school
  • Expressing agreement/disagreement
  • Expressing regret
  • Showing amazement and disbelief
  • Admitting something
  • Criticizing an opinion or a statement

 

  • Talking about food
  • Talking about taste
  • Expressing a preference
  • Description of a dish
  • Describing a procedure in detail

 

  • Reporting information
  • Expressing percentages/statistics and commenting on them
  • Framing a fact in a past century
  • Reporting an event or a historical fact
  • Expressing and discussing your point of view in informal contexts

GRAMMAR

  • Use of the auxiliary verbs ESSERE or AVERE in the Passato Prossimo
  • Verbs with double auxiliary in the Passato Prossimo
  • Cavarsela and Entrarci
  • Review of past tenses : passato prossimo, imperfetto, passato remoto
  • Relative pronouns Chi, Ciò che

 

  • Indefinite words
  • Future perfect (Futuro anteriore)
  • Subjunctive with indefinites
  • Dislocation to the left (?) Dislocazione a sinistra
  • Passive voice

 

  • Verbs + prepositions
  • Time indicators Allora, Un giorno
  • Indirect speech introduced by di
  • Use of conditional to express uncertain information
  • Non perchè + subjunctive
  • Indirect interrogative sentences
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 4 Chapters 1-2-3
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Pre-Avanzato 2
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Talking about work
  • Making a request and respond formally
  • Talking clearly and politely in a formal situation
  • Communicating a desire or an intention
  • Exchanging complex information and advice about work

 

  • Expression of emotions in formal and informal situations
  • Talking about oneself
  • Description of people
  • Complaining
  • Interviewing someone

 

  • Film genres
  • Expressing taste and preferences
  • Telling the plot of a movie
  • Review a movie
  • Expressing criticism

GRAMMAR

  • Use of subjunctive with relative sentences
  • Use of subjunctive with relative superlative
  • Difference between Finalmente and Alla fine
  • Gerund with causal and hypothetical function
  • Tense correlation: conditional with subjunctive
  • Professions (feminine and masculine)

 

  • Adjectives formed from nouns
  • Use of the postponed possessive adjectives
  • Uscirsene
  • Use of possessive Proprio
  • The formation of the opposite of nouns and adjectives
  • Different ways to express SE in the hypothetical sentence
  • Hypotheticals (irrealtà)
  • Come se – Senza che + subjunctive

 

  • Position of adjectives
  • Subjuncive with the negative main clause
  • Subjuntive with Purché
  • Fare + infinitive
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 23 to Sept 24 (8 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Alice (ONLINE)
$305/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 4 Chapters 4-5-6
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Nel mare ci sono i coccodrilli, Fabio Geda
Alice - T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Pre-Avanzato 3
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Visiting a museum
  • Starting and ending a presentation
  • Telling by specifying details
  • Focusing on a specific part of the speech
  • Description of an image
  • Expressing agreement/disagreement

 

  • Sustainable Italy
  • Expressing an opinion and an evaluation
  • Taking about environmental problems
  • Making proposals
  • Expressing wishes

 

  • Curiosities about Italy
  • Expressing doubts
  • Explaining something
  • Congratulate
  • Asking and giving advice

GRAMMAR

  • Prepositions In and A
  • Subjunctive tenses correlation
  • Infinitive used as a noun
  • Relative pronouns
  • Relative pronoun Il cui
  • Relative pronoun Il che

 

  • Position of pronouns with gerund, past participle, infinitive and imperative
  • More about the position of the adjective
  • Future (Different uses)
  • Position of the adverbs

 

  • Definite articles with geographic nouns
  • Gerund present and past
  • Some expressions with pronominal verbs : A dirla tutta, Sbrigarsela da soli, Arrampicarsi sugli specchi
  • Homonyms
  • Words with two plurals
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Unfortunately we don't have available classes for this program. If you need more information, please contact us.
CONTACT US
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 4 Chapters 7-8-9
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Pre-Avanzato 4
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Conducting an interview
  • Contradicting a common opinion
  • Discussing a topic

 

  • General Review

GRAMMAR

  • Subjuntive with comparative sentences
  • Subjunctive with : In modo che, Far sì che
  • Plural of compound words
  • Use of Mica
  • Some idiomatic expressions : Prendersela, Darci giù…
  • Comparative of equality Tanto quanto
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 29 to Sept 30 (9 WKS)
M 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Elena (ONLINE)
$345/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
GET THE BOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 4 Chapter 10 + General review
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (optional)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Storia di un figlio. Andata e ritorno, Fabio Geda
Elena - M 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Conversazione Pre-Avanzato
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Short 5 weeks course aimed at improving our students’ conversational skills on everyday topics.

No books required.

Classes are 90 minutes long.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 28 to Sept 25 (5 WKS)
W 6:00 - 7:30 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
from 5 to 10 weeks groups, different duration
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29h to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You can communicate in Italian in a variety of everyday social contexts, like at work, in school, at home. You will learn to talk and interact in Italian with more confidence, especially when traveling to Italy. You will also widen your grammar and vocabulary range.

Program Structure

Register to a intermedio sub-levels:
Intermedio 1
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Making analogies
  • Inviting someone to do something together
  • Asking for an opinion
  • Expressing surprise, relief, happiness, empathy
  • Expressing doubts
  • Asking to borrow
  • Telling about a cultural or a linguistic accident
  • Expressing opinions
  • Expressing agreement and disagreement

 

  • Asking for help
  • Complain
  • Expressing hope
  • Expressing disapproval
  • Expressing wishes
  • Expressing a prohibition
  • Asking for the cause
  • Motivate
  • Insist
  • Making plans
  • Expressing preferences

 

  • Description of products
  • Description of objects (material, usage, features)
  • Asking/confirming an intention
  • Explaining the cause
  • Making a guess
  • Expressing emotions and mood
  • Expressing fear
  • Expressing a condition
  • Making a complaint
  • To forgive / to justify yourself
  • To blame

GRAMMAR

  • Trapassato prossimo
  • Prima di + infinitive
  • Verb Dovere to express a hypothesis
  • Pronomi combinati
  • Negative prefix in-

 

  • Past conditional to express an unfulfilled wish
  • CI – NE
  • Some pronominal verbs
  • Possessive pronouns

 

  • Past subjunctive
  • Subjunctive review
  • Tenses and moods correlations
  • Suffix -accio
  • A patto che, purchè, a condizione che + subjuntive
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 20 to Sept 24 (6 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Antonella (ONLINE)
$225/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 3 Chapters 1-2-3
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Linea A, Antonella Santini 
Antonella - T 6:30-8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Intermedio 2
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Different means of communication and appropriate language
  • Making comparisons
  • Giving an explanation
  • Starting a conversation on the phone
  • Offering help and availability
  • Asking about a person
  • Reporting an error
  • Reporting what somebody else said
  • Transcribing a message left by a person

 

  • Telling the plot of a book
  • Expressing interest/disinterest/ preference
  • Suggestions
  • Giving advice
  • Asking for reason and explaining
  • Giving an opinion

 

  • The family and social changes
  • Introducing a new topic with a question
  • Participating in a discussion
  • Asking for confirmation and confirm
  • Comment a statistic
  • Expressing the consequences of a fact
  • Advantages and disadvantages of a condition

GRAMMAR

  • Imperfetto Subjunctive
  • Come se + subjunctive
  • Indirect speech
  • Verbs andare and venire in an indirect speech

 

  • Che io sappia
  • Tenses and moods correlation
  • Passive voice with Essere and Venire
  • Passato remoto
  • The historical present tense (narrative present)

 

  • Sebbene, nonostante, malgrado, benché + subjunctive ,
  • Anche se + indicative
  • Special comparatives and superlatives
  • Fare + infinitive
  • Impersonal form of a reflexive verb (ci si)
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 30 to Sept 24 (9 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Elena (ONLINE)
$345/term
REGISTER
Aug 1 to Sept 26 (9 WKS)
TH 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Barbara (ONLINE)
$345/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 3 Chapters 4-5-6
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Io non ho paura, Niccolò Ammaniti
Elena - T 6:30-8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
La fuga di Bach, Regina Assini, Susanna Longo
Barbara - TH 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Intermedio 3
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER
  • Holidays
  • Expressing the lack of desire to do something
  • Explaining the reason of a dissent
  • Making fun of something
  • Expression of irony
  • Reminding a promise
  • Expressing preferences
  • Telling about an embarrassing experience
  • Giving advice
  • Hypothesize
  • Talking about one’s behavior in certain situations

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Italians in history
  • Telling the life of an historical figure
  • Telling a journey
  • Expressing disbelief

 

  • Discover Italy
  • Asking a question indirectly
  • Asking about the characteristics of a place
  • Asking and giving information
  • Asking for confirmation
  • Report what another person said
  • Report the beauties of a place
  • Expressing disappointment

GRAMMAR

  • Adverb Mica
  • Past conditional as future in the past
  • Hypothetical sentence secondo tipo (possibility)

 

  • Modal and temporal gerund
  • Adjectives in -bile
  • Loro with an impersonal function
  • Position of pronouns with gerund

 

  • Indirect interrogative sentence
  • Indirect speech with the main clause in the past tense
  • Prima di – Prima che
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 23 to Sept 24 (10 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 25 to Sept 25 (10 WKS)
TH 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 3 Chapters 7-8-9
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
I promessi sposi, Alessandro Manzoni
Jimmy - T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Ritorno allle orgini, Valentina Mapelli 
Gianna - TH 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Intermedio 4
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Italian language today
  • Talking about linguistic and cultural mistakes
  • Expressing irony
  • Soften and invite to soften the tone of a discussion
  • Expressing a strong disagreement
  • Making assumptions in the past
  • Talking about language learning

 

  • General Review

GRAMMAR

  • Passive voice with Andare
  • Subjunctive past perfect
  • Hypothetical sentence (terzo tipo) in the past
  • Past gerund
  • Past infinitive
  • Dopo + past infinitive
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 13 to Sept 14 (10 WKS)
SA 9:00 - 11:00 am PST
Teacher: Luigi (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 3 Chapter 10 + General review
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (mandatory)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Aperitivo a Firenze, Sandro Cappelli
Luigi - SA 9-11 am PST
GET THE BOOK
Ripasso Intermedio
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

A class to review some of the main topics students learn in our INTERMEDIO classes, with a special focus on grammar, under the guidance of teacher Jimmy.

There will be a total of 5 classes, 2 hours long, once per week.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
June 18 to July 16 (5 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$190/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 3
GET THE BOOK
Conversazione Intermedio
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Short 5 weeks course aimed at improving our students’ conversational skills on everyday topics.

No books required.

Classes are 90 minutes long.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 1 to Aug 29 (5 WKS)
TH 6:00 - 7:30 pm PST
Teacher: Elena (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
Sept 5 to Oct 3 (5 WKS)
TH 6:00 - 7:30 pm PST
Teacher: Elena (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
from 5 to 10 weeks groups, different duration
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29h to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You can understand the Italian language used in everyday situations and you can have a basic conversation, only if the speaker speaks slowly and clearly. We will help you improve your skill, learning to talk about your likes/dislikes, your family and your routines, order a meal in a restaurant and go shopping.

Program Structure

Register to a elementare sub-levels:
Elementare 1
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Shopping
  • Clothing
  • Colors
  • Expressing doubts
  • Expressing taste and opinions
  • Giving advice
  • Asking for advice
  • Comparisons

 

  • Talking about memories
  • Description of habits in the past
  • Description of situations

 

  • Physical and personality description
  • Comparison between people personality
  • Polite form
  • Hypothetical sentence
  • Making a proposal
  • Giving advice
  • Expressing wishes

GRAMMAR

  • Piacere
  • Indirect pronouns
  • Troppo
  • Questo/quello
  • Informal Imperative (Tu)
  • Comparative

 

  • Imperfetto
  • Imperfetto and Passato prossimo
  • –CI
  • Alterati (-ino and -one)
  • ————-
  • Né… né
  • Verbs farcela, sapere, andarsene
  • Comparison quanto/come
  • Passato prossimo Cominciare and Finire
  • Present conditional
  • Qualcuno-nessuno
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 24 to Sept 25 (10 WKS)
W 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
July 25 to Sept 26 (10 WKS)
TH 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 3 to Oct 5 (10 WKS)
SA 10:30 am - 12:30 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 2 Chapters 1-2-3
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Elementare 2
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Accepting/rejecting a proposal
  • Motivating a refusal
  • Making an appointment
  • Booking a play by phone

 

  • Expressing surprise and disappointment
  • Inquiring about something
  • Asking about the duration of a trip
  • Asking for the price

 

  • Interactions on a social media
  • Expressing needs
  • Talking about food and eating habits
  • Commenting the taste of food
  • Expressing opinions

GRAMMAR

  • Progressive form stare + gerundio
  • Direct pronouns and avere (ce l ’ho)
  • Agreement between direct pronouns and past participles
  • Adverbs già / non… ancora
  • Position of direct and indirect pronouns with infinitive verbs
  • Relative pronouns che and cui
  • Tranne

 

  • Imperfetto VOLERE
  • SAPERE e CONOSCERE Imperfetto and Passato prossimo
  • Imperfetto vs Passato prossimo
  • Volerci

 

  • Quello che
  • Irregular Imperative (tu)
  • Negative Imperative (tu)
  • Verb Servire
  • Position of pronouns with the imperative (tu)
  • Informal imperative (irregular verbs)
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 27 to Sept 28 (10 WKS)
SA 9:00 - 11:00 am PST
Teacher: Jimmy (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 5 to Oct 14 (10 WKS)
M 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 2 Chapters 4-5-6
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Mistero tra le baite, Maria Grazia Di Bernardo  
Jimmy - M 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Mistero tra le baite, Maria Grazia Di Bernardo  
Jimmy - SA 9:00 - 11:00 am PST
GET THE BOOK
Elementare 3
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Talking about health issues
  • Description of symptoms
  • Confirming a possibility
  • Giving advice about health
  • Giving advice about sport activities Talking about workout habits
  • Trying to convince someone

 

  • Talking about the future
  • Talking about wishes and plans for the future
  • Writing a letter for a job
  • Suppositions
  • Conditions
  • Talking about work

 

  • Apologize
  • Telling a story
  • Telling what happens in a specific moment
  • Showing curiosity about a story and the person who tells the story
  • Expressing disappointment

GRAMMAR

  • Imperative (Lei and voi)
  • Negative Imperative (Lei and voi)
  • Position of pronouns with the imperative (Lei)
  • Comparative and superlative of buono and bene
  • Nouns in -tore and -ista
  • Some nouns with irregular plural

 

  • Futuro semplice
  • Bisogna
  • Metterci with the meaning avere bisogno di tempo
  • Periodo ipotetico della realtà (se + present tense or future)
  • Pronouns la and le

 

  • Mentre/Durante
  • Stare per + infinitive
  • Passato prossimo of modal verbs
  • VOLERE-DOVERE-POTERE
  • Conjunctions però, quindi, perchè, mentre, quando
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 22 to Sept 30 (10 WKS)
M 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
Jul 25 to Sept 26 (10 WKS)
TH 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 2 Chapters 7-8-9
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Modelle, pistole e mozzarelle, Alessandro De Giuli e Ciro Massimo Naddeo 
Gianna - M 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Il mistero di Veronica, Cinzia Medaglia
Jimmy - TH 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Elementare 4
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Description of an apartment
  • Expressing needs and wishes
  • Being for or against specific subjets
  • Comparisons

 

  • General review

GRAMMAR

  • The adjective Bello
  • Present subjunctive (regular verbs)
  • Present subjunctive (some irregular verbs)
  • Usage of subjunctive to express necessity, hope, personal opinion
  • Comparative più… di/che
  • Adverb Magari
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
Aug 20 to Sept 24 (6 WKS)
T 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Alessia (ONLINE)
$225/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
Nuovo Espresso 2 Chapter 10 + General review
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (mandatory)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Reading Books
Il sosia, Marco Dominici
Alessia - T 11am-1pm PST
GET THE BOOK
Conversazione Elementare
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Short 5 weeks course aimed at improving our students’ conversational skills on everyday topics.

No books required.

Classes are 90 minutes long.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 20 to Aug 17 (5 WKS)
SA 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
Aug 24 to Sept 21 (5 WKS)
SA 10:00-11:30 am PST
Teacher: Mattia (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
from 5 to 10 weeks groups, different duration
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29h to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES
You are completely new to Italian, or you can speak and understand Italian in a very limited way. We will teach you the fundamentals of basic Italian communication, like introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details.

Program Structure

Register to a beginner sub-levels:
Beginner 1
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Greetings
  • Introducing yourself/introducing other people
  • Asking about someone’s place of origin
  • Asking and giving phone number and address

 

  • Start a conversation
  • Asking and giving personal information
  • To be sorry for something
  • To thank

 

  • Ordering in a café and in a restaurant
  • Asking for things in a polite way
  • Asking for the bill
  • Making a reservation
  • Spelling

GRAMMAR

  • Subject pronouns
  • Present tense ESSERE-AVERE-CHIAMARSI
  • The alphabet
  • Nouns
  • Definite and indefinite articles
  • Nouns and adjectives agreement
  • Introduction to interrogatives and demonstratives
  • Numbers 0-100
  • Prepositions a – in
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 11 to Sept 19 (10 WKS)
TH 4:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Antonia (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 15 to Sept 9 (8 WKS)
M 12:00 -2:00 pm PST
Teacher: Camilla (IN PERSON)
$310/term
SOLD OUT
Jul 23 to Sept 24 (10 WKS)
T 4:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Antonia (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 31 to Oct 2 (10 WKS)
W 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Teacher: Valerio (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 1 to Oct 3 (9 WKS)
TH 9:00 - 11:00 am PST
Teacher: Alice (ONLINE)
$345/term
REGISTER
Aug 3 to Oct 5 (10 WKS)
SA 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 6 to Oct 8 (10 WKS)
T 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Estella (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - Chapters 1-2-3-4
GET THE BOOK
Book 1 workbook (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - workbook
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Beginner 2
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Free time and leisure activities
  • Talk about how often one does something
  • People’s interests and occupations
  • Express agreement and disagreement
  • Asking and telling time

 

  • Booking a hotel room
  • Asking for the price
  • Home furniture and urban environment
  • Complaining about a specific problem
  • Description of an apartment

 

  • Description of a place
  • Description of an itinerary
  • Directions
  • Expressing regret
  • To apologize

GRAMMAR

  • Regular verbs -IRE
  • Verbs ANDARE -GIOCARE–LEGGERE- USCIRE (present tense)
  • Frequency adverbs
  • The days of the week
  • Mi piace- Mi piacciono
  • Indirect pronouns (singular)
  • Perchè

 

  • C’è- Ci sono
  • POTERE-VENIRE (present tense)
  • Prepositions da…a…
  • Prepositions with articles
  • The months
  • Ordinal numbers
  • The date
  • Numbers 100 +

 

  • Ci + andare
  • Noun-adjective agreement
  • Adjectives in -CO -CA
  • Partitives (plural of indefinite articles)
  • Molto
  • DOVERE-SAPERE
  • More interrogatives
  • A CHE ORA ?
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 8 to Sept 16 (10 WKS)
M 5:00 - 7:00 pm PST
Teacher: Antonia (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 24 to Sept 25 (10 WKS)
W 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Estella (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Jul 27 to Sept 28 (10 WKS)
SA 11:00am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Estella (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Jul 28 to Sept 29 (10 WKS)
SD 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
Jul 30 to Oct 1 (10 WKS)
T 4:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mariantonia (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - Chapters 5-6-7-8
GET THE BOOK
Book 1 workbook (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - workbook
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Beginner 3
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Talk about past actions and events
  • Holiday activities
  • Specify when a past event took place
  • Talk about the weather

 

  • Food
  • Grocery shopping
  • Description of a store
  • Recipes and dishes

 

  • Work habits and working hours
  • Daily routine
  • Congratulations and wishes for special occasions and holidays
  • Italian public holidays

GRAMMAR

  • Past tense : passato prossimo
  • Time indicators
  • Regular and irregular past participles
  • Absolute superlative
  • Double negative
  • Qualche

 

  • The seasons
  • Quantities
  • Partitive (singular)
  • Direct pronouns (lo ,la, li, le, ne)
  • Impersonal construction (si + verbo)

 

  • Reflexive verbs
  • Time and frequency indicators
  • FARE (specific usage)
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 8 to Sept 16 (10 WKS)
M + W 5:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Luigi (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 20 to Sept 14 (9 WKS)
SA 9:00 - 11:00 am PST
Teacher: Camilla (IN PERSON)
$345/term
REGISTER
July 22 to Sept 30 (10 WKS)
M 4:15 - 6:15 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
July 22 to Sept 30 (10 WKS)
M 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 23 to Aug 20 (5 WKS)
T 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE) - Beginners 3 Session 2 (this group will cover the first half of this level's program)
$190/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - Chapter 9-10-11-12
GET THE BOOK
Book 1 workbook (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - workbook
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (recommended)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Beginner 4
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT

  • Family
  • Description of a photo
  • Expressing possession
  • Gifts and weddings

 

  • General review

GRAMMAR

  • Possessive adjectives
  • Relative superlative
  • Reflexive verbs (Past tense)
  • Perchè- Siccome
AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 31 to Oct 2 (10 WKS)
W 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
Teacher: Mattia (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 31 to Oct 9 (10 WKS)
M + W 5:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$380/term
REGISTER
July 31 to Oct 2 (10 WKS)
W 6:00 - 8:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 3 to Oct 5 (10 WKS)
SA 4:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Valerio (IN PERSON)
$390/term
REGISTER
Aug 27 to Sept 24 (5 WKS)
T 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Teacher: Gianna (ONLINE) - Beginners 4 Session 1 (this group will cover the first half of this level's program)
$190/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
Book 1 (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - Chapters 13-14-15 + general review
GET THE BOOK
Book 1 workbook (mandatory)
New Italian Espresso - workbook
GET THE BOOK
Book 2 Grammar (mandatory)
Nuova Grammatica Pratica della Lingua Italiana
GET THE BOOK
Conversazione Beginners
PICK A DATE AND REGISTER

Short 5 weeks course aimed at improving our students’ conversational skills on everyday topics.

No books required.

Classes are 90 minutes long.

AVAILABLE CLASSES
Dates
Day/time
Teacher
Price
July 25 to Aug 22 (5 WKS)
TH 4:30 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
Aug 29 to Sept 26 (5 WKS)
TH 4:30 - 6:00 pm PST
Teacher: Jimmy (ONLINE)
$170/term
REGISTER
TEXTBOOK
PRICE
Prices are listed next to each group.

A 10$ nonrefundable registration fee will be automatically added at checkout.

Books are not included in the enrollment price.


DISCOUNTS

BRING A FRIEND: If you enroll with a friend (new to IIS), you both get a 10% discount

ENROLL IN 2 GROUPS: if you enroll in 2 groups, you will get a 15% discount on the second group's enrollment (the less expensive)

PRIVATE CLASSES: if you are enrolled in a group, you can purchase private classes with a 10% discount

BULK REGISTRATION: if you enroll in 2 or more Terms at the same time, you will not pay the $10 registration fee and will get an additional 10% discount

To get these discounts, send an email to italianschool@sfiis.org
DURATION
Group Classes
from 5 to 10 weeks groups, different duration
Term 1
January 8th to March 16th
Term 2
April 1st to June 8th
Term 3
July 29th to October 7th
Term 4
October 14th to December 14th

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
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