Learn Italian in Rome

Torre di Babele - 2006

ROME

Rome is a modern and lively metropolis offering a vast range of sights and entertainment to delight its visitors, in addition, of course, to the beauty and variety of the monuments for which it is famous throughout the world. In fact, the possibilities to enjoy its beauty, history and lifestyle are truly infinite while its mild climate makes it possible to visit and appreciate the city at any time of the year. To help students become acquainted with the city, courses are supplemented by a varied program of cultural and leisure time activities. An excellent public transportation system makes the surrounding areas easily accessible, including the Castelli Romani, the lakes of Nemi, Bracciano and Albano, the Etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri and Tarquinia and the beaches along the coast.

THE SCHOOL

In operation since 1984, the Italian Language and Culture Center "Torre die Babele" is a school specializing in teaching Italian to foreigners, authorized by the Italian Ministry of Education. The school is located in the central "Esquilino" district near the main train station and only a few minutes walk from the Coliseum and the Basilica of San Giovanni. The school's air-conditioned building houses classrooms on four floors and offers a spacious terrace and inner garden for the students' enjoyment. Courses run year round and are attended by students from all over the world. All courses are taught in small groups, with an average of 7 or 8 people and a maximum of 12. This limited class size offers students individual attention as well as a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in which to learn the language.

THE STAFF

All courses are taught by highly trained teachers specializing in teaching Italian as a foreign language. The permanent teaching staff is directed by a curriculum coordinator, who also supervises the development of new and up-to-date teaching materials.

GENERAL INFO

METHOD The teaching method is based on communication. Students actively exercise the four fundamental functions of the language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Particular attention, however, is given to conversation, in order to develop students' capacity to express themselves and communicate in Italian from the he very beginning of the course. Naturally, this method includes the study of the rules of syntax and grammar, so essential to language learning but which, alone, are not sufficient for acquiring a real command of the language.

TEACHING MATERIALS In its non-stop effort to offer the finest methods and materials, the school has developed its own textbooks and related cassettes. In addition, authentic materials have been carefully collected and are used throughout the courses: slides, video-cassettes, radio excerpts, newspaper and magazine articles, films, literary texts, songs, etc.

TEST Before the beginning of their first course, students are given an oral and a written test to determine their knowledge of the language and thus ensure that they are placed in the appropriate level. Students must pass a test at the end of each level in order to move up to the next.

LEVELS Each type of course is offered at all levels, from absolute beginner to the most advanced and skills-perfection levels.

CHOOSE YOUR COURSE

- Group courses begin every two weeks - Groups have an average of 7 or 8 people and a maximum of 12 - The mini-groups of the Intensive-Plus Course have no more than 3 people - Groups include participants of many different nationalities - Lessons are held mornings and afternoons Monday through Friday - Each type of course is offered at all levels - Each hour of the lesson lasts 50 minutes - Group courses are conducted daily by two different teachers, each of whom teaches two hours at a time

INTENSIVE COURSE 4 hours of group lessons

No. of Weeks No. of Hours Price in Euro 2 40 350 4 80 632 Extra Week 20 158

INTENSIVE-PLUS COURSE 4 hours of group lessons in the morning 1 hour in a mini-group in the afternoon The mini-group makes it possible to further pursue and perfect the material covered in the first part of the lesson.

No. of Weeks No. of Hours Price in Euro 2 40 group & 10 mini-group 590 4 80 group & 20 mini-group 1,092 Extra Week 20 group & 5 mini-group 273

SUPER-INTENSIVE "A" COURSE 4 hours of group lessons 1 hour of individual lesson daily minimum duration: 2 weeks This individual lesson offers the chance to personalize the material and program of the rest of the course.

No. of Weeks No. of Hours Price in Euro 2 40 group & 10 mini-group 680 4 80 group & 40 mini-group 1,272 Extra Week 20 group & 5 mini-group 318

SUPER-INTENSIVE "B" COURSE 4 hours of group lessons per week 2 hours of individual lessons daily

No. of Weeks No. of Hours Price in Euro 2 40 group & 20 mini-group 990 4 80 group & 40 mini-group 1,872 Extra Week 20 group & 10 mini-group 468

INDIVIDUAL COURSE The school offers individual courses that cater perfectly to personal and professional needs at all linguistic levels. Made-to-measure programs are constructed around students' specific needs and are based on the pace an rhythm of their learning ability. Private lessons One-on-One.

No. of Hours Price in Euro 10 370 20 740 30 1,110

NON-INTENSIVE COURSE These courses are designed for people staying in Rome for longer periods of time, and consist of two-hour lessons held twice a week in the morning, afternoon or evening. Non-intensive courses are available from October to June.

No. of Weeks No. of Hours Price in Euro 5 20 175 10 40 350 15 60 525 30 120 1,050

SENIOR CLASS Vacation/study for participants of the age of 50 and up. The two-week courses are offered three times a year: March 13th, May 8th and October 9th 2006. 4 hours per day in small groups Afternoon: rich cultural program with guided tours, excursions and seminars on Italian food and wines

2 Weeks 40 Hours of Cultural Program Euro 760

CLASS DATE CALENDAR 2006

JANUARY - 9, 16 ,30 FEBRUARY - 13, 27 MARCH - 27 APRIL - 10, 24 MAY - 22 JUNE - 19 JULY - 3, 17, 31 AUGUST - 14, 28 SEPTEMBER - 11, 25 OCTOBER - 23 NOVEMBER - 6, 20 DECEMBER - 1, 11

SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED from December 23rd 2006 - January 7th 2007

ITALIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 2005 April 17th, 25th May 1st June 2nd, 29th August 15th November 1st December 8th

CULTURAL PROGRAMS

Living in Rome - even if it is only for a short time - is a unique experience, full of opportunities. Rome is a lively metropolis, which an exciting cultural scene. The city offers a broad range of events throughout the year to satisfy the tastes of all age groups. It has the world's largest outdoor museum, hundreds of churches, countless monuments, museums, galleries, theaters and cinemas. There are frequent concerts of all types of music - opera, classical, jazz, rock, etc. The school's cultural program makes it possible to enjoy the city and its events more fully. The following activities are offered on a regular basis: Introduction to Rome: The city, its services, and its cultural events Guided tours of Rome. Art history itinerary. Architecture itinerary Presentation and viewing of films of representative Italian directors Italian Literature. The new Italian writers The Regions of Italy: History, culture, traditions, and life today Italian "Opera" Italian songwriters Excursions during the week-end to Naples, Pompeii, Orvieto, Florence and the seaside Evenings out at restaurants with teachers Excursions and visits to the city's glorious parks Italian cooking Sports: soccer and beach volleyball games During the summer, the city hosts the famous "Estate Romana" (arts festival), offering and impressive number of outdoor events, including concerts, dance, theater, cinema, etc. In this period, the school organizes evenings out where teachers accompany students to various different events. Participation in the school's cultural program is free of charge. Students pay only when trips, meals, museum entrance or other paid events are involved.

SEMINARS The school organizes seminars led by experts in various fields of culture. These seminars are designed for those who have at least an intermediate knowledge of Italian. The minimum number of participants in each group is five. The cost of the seminars is additional. Italian literature Architecture Italian cinema Art history Italian cooking Italian wines Italian Culture Seminars: Cinema, Literature, Art History | (min. 5 participants) | 2 weeks - 10 lessons | Euro 70 Italian Wine Tasting: (min. 5 participants) | 2 weeks - 6 lessons | Euro 60

ITALIAN COOKING CLASSES

For those who love Italian food, "Torre di Babele" offers the possibility to attend two types of cooking courses:

PROFESSIONAL COURSES For those interested in a professional career as a chef, pizza maker, pasty cook, gourmet or sommelier, the school offers the possibility to attend professional courses at a cooking school recognized by the Lazio Chefs Association. Each professional course includes a final exam and certificate. Course dates and rates available on request

COOK Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Levels. Practical courses teaching basic and more advanced cooking techniques. First Level is a practical course teaching basic cooking techniques and the use of different ingredients. Third Level is a practical course teaching the preparation of more elaborate meals, divided into lessons dealing with the various courses (aperitifs, appetizers, first courses, meat and fish dishes, vegetables and desserts). First Level: 26 lessons - 2 four hour lessons per week Second Level: 10 lessons - 2 four hour class a week Third Level: 20 lessons - 2 four hour classes per week Course dates and rates available on request

ITALIAN COOKING FOR NON-PROFESSIONALS For those who love Italian food and want to learn to prepare traditional dishes (appetizers, pasta, meat, fish, vegetables, pizza, desserts, etc.), "Torre di Babele" offers a practical individual course in the home of the cooking instructor. These courses can be combined with our language courses. Each meeting lasts 3 hours during which a complete menu is prepared - aperitif, appetizer, first and second courses, vegetables and dessert - and eaten (lunch or dinner). These courses can be booked in advance and can take place at any point in the year, except August. The number of meetings will be decided by the student. 3 Individual Lessons = Euro 100

HOUSING & ACCOMMODATIONS - 2006

On request, the school offers participants a variety of housing options for the duration of their course. *We recommend reserving rooms as much in advance as possible. In both types of shared apartments, you can reserve a single or double room from the Sunday before the course begin to the Saturday morning immediately following the end of the course. The rent must be paid at the beginning of your stay. Rent includes gas, electricity and sheets. Towels are not provided. If a room is not available in one of the student apartments, the school will reserve a room in an apartment with locals, or vice versa. In the private local apartments, it is possible to request breakfast or half-board service. Rooms are not booked for participants in the non-intensive courses.

ROOMS IN AN APARTMENT WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND SHARED APARTMENTS Accommodations in apartments of two or more bedrooms, with other students from our courses and/or with Italian students. Kitchen and bathroom are shared.

No. of Weeks Price in Euro for a Single Room Price in Euro for a Double Room (per person) 1 155 115 2 255 180 4 450 340 6 675 510 Additional 2 weeks 225 170 Additional 1 week 125 100

MEAL PLAN The school can offer half board or breakfast service to students lodged in shared apts, or families Breakfast per day - Euro 3 Half-board per day - Euro 18

ROOMS IN SHARED APARTMENT Accommodations in apartments with local people (rarely families with children, more likely young couples or people living alone). The kitchen and bathroom are shared with the others in the apartment.

RATES FOR ROOMS IN A 2 STAR HOTEL It is possible to reserve a room in hotels of various categories.

Room Price in Euro for day Single 60-100 Double 90-120

OTHER SERVICES

INTERNET Internet points are available for all students free of charge.

TANDEM SERVICE Free of charge, the school offers an inter-linguistic exchange program with Italians, so students can practice and improve their knowledge of Italian outside of the school.

TRANSPORTATION & TRANSFERS

For students who wish to be met at the airport or the railway station: - From Airport to Accommodation (one way) - Euro 70 - From Railway Station to Accommodation (one way) - Euro 40

ENROLLMENT

The registration fee of US $100 ensures a place in the class. This fee is non-refundable but is flexible for use on future dates should your plans change for any reason. Checks are to be made payable to LANGUAGE STUDY ABROAD. The full tuition and housing fees, as quoted above, are due 30 days prior to class date. Check with us for currency exchange rates on the final payment date. Major Credit Cards are accepted. You may register from our web page by completing our SECURE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM and pay the registration fee by check/mail or telephone/credit card details to complete the enrollment. Final confirmation documents will be sent to you upon completion of these arrangements. The final US $ prices are guaranteed and do not fluctuate.

REGISTRATION

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