Program Structure
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.
Caffè Corretto is a special class we’ve created with Mattia, designed to make learning Italian as effortless and enjoyable as sipping a good cup of coffee.
In this class, Mattia will guide students in reading, speaking, and engaging in meaningful discussions about a renowned Italian book, helping them enhance their language skills naturally and effectively.
In the Summer Term – Session 2, we will be reading “Quello che so di te” by Nadia Terranova, a deeply personal and powerful novel that explores the role of memory—both individual and collective—and our capacity to confront it to understand who we truly are. Through the story of a woman retracing her family’s complex past and uncovering the mystery of her great-grandmother Venera’s institutionalization, Terranova weaves a moving narrative of inherited trauma, resilience, and identity.
Join us for an immersive Italian learning experience, where literature and conversation blend seamlessly—just like a perfectly made caffè corretto.
Gianna will guide you on a journey of discovery through Italy, with each Term focusing on a different region or area of the country.
In the Summer Term, our focus will be on Liguria, a coastal region in northwestern Italy known for its dramatic landscapes, colorful seaside villages, and rich maritime traditions.
Our literary guide will be the delightful and witty novel “I garbati maneggi delle signorine Devoto ovvero un intrigo a Sestri Ponente”, a story set in the charming neighborhood of Sestri Ponente, near Genoa. The novel offers a humorous yet affectionate glimpse into the lives of its characters, while painting a vivid portrait of Ligurian culture and everyday life.
Through the pages of this carefully selected book, along with short videos and class discussions, you’ll explore Italy’s regional culture, traditions, and contemporary issues, all while improving your Italian language skills. The course encourages conversation and analysis, offering a dynamic and immersive learning experience.
In addition to reading and discussion, you’ll also review key grammar topics, using the book and videos as a springboard for natural, engaging conversation.
Join us for this unique exploration of Italy—one region, one story at a time!
A series of 9 classes, 2 hours each, dedicated to studying, reading, and discussing one of the most significant works of Italian literature.
In the Summer Term – Session 2, the group will focus on the book “L’ora di tutti” by Maria Corti.
Set during the 15th-century Ottoman siege of the southern Italian town of Otranto, the novel uses this historical event not merely as a backdrop, but as a vivid canvas alive with ships, scimitars, and cannon fire. Rather than focusing solely on the epic scale of the invasion, Corti gives voice to the intimate, often overlooked experiences of the real men and women—heroes and martyrs—who lived through it.
Through a series of interconnected first-person narratives, she composes a poetic, emotional portrait of the people of Terra d’Otranto, bringing their passions and humanity to life with lyrical beauty. This story resonates deeply not only with the history of the region but with timeless themes that remain relevant today.
Under Mattia’s guidance, you will discover the cultural richness, emotional depth, and linguistic nuances of this powerful novel, while deepening your understanding of Italian language and Southern Italy’s historic identity.
Join us for an exclusive 6-week advanced reading group starting July 31st, where we will delve into “Cassandra a Mogadiscio” by Igiaba Scego.
This group is perfect for advanced learners eager to challenge their Italian through rich literary analysis and meaningful conversation.
Guided by our experienced instructor, Martina, you’ll engage in in-depth discussions to explore the themes, characters, and cultural context of this powerful novel. Cassandra a Mogadiscio is a deeply moving and poetic story that weaves together the voices of a mother and daughter—one rooted in Somalia’s turbulent history, the other navigating life in Italy as part of the African diaspora. Through this dual narrative, Scego addresses themes of identity, migration, colonial memory, and the search for belonging.
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 in the same Term, 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
