Teachers
The teaching staff engaged by the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague consists of teachers who are all native speakers with a university education and specialised training in teaching Italian.
The didactic coordinator is available for any questions regarding the running of the courses and related activities.
Methodology
Our courses follow modern communicative methods.
The structure of the lesson is ensured by methods learned during university and postgraduate training.
In the lessons, all skills are activated: listening, reading, analysis of structures and vocabulary, and free attempts to actively reuse what has been learned.
Depending on the level, ample space is also given to a playful component, with “games” in pairs or groups, so as to make the lessons useful but also enjoyable.
Native-speaker teachers use Italian from the very first lesson, following well-tested theoretical methods.
The use of Czech (or English) during the lesson is kept to a minimum as much as possible, right from the start.
This is the best way to ensure authentic and modern language learning.
The free communicative component plays an important role in the lesson.
For this reason, guided moments, in which the teacher corrects the student in detail, alternate with free moments, in which the student tries to communicate their message “as in real life”: without focusing on mistakes and correction, but instead focusing on the attempt to get a message across that is understood by the listener.
As is well documented, it is through these spontaneous attempts, with their inevitable mistakes, that one gradually learns to communicate with confidence and without errors.
Written activities, which are often assigned as homework, are the moment to focus in greater detail on one’s ability to communicate more precisely and to receive from the teacher a personal check, word by word, of production errors.
Levels and courses
At our institute we offer all the levels set out in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages): A1 – A2 – B1 – B2 – C1 – (C2 on request).
These levels are in turn divided into sub-levels, in accordance with the learning times set out in the CEFR (for details see below).
Group courses are divided into FOUR PERIODS:
- Autumn (September–January): “standard” term courses of 14 weeks
- Spring (late January – early May): “standard” term courses of 14 weeks
- Spring “bis” (May–June): standard courses for beginners + reinforcement courses for all other levels
- Summer (July–August): intensive courses for beginners and post-beginners
Lessons in standard courses are mostly once a week, lasting 120 minutes. (In some cases we also offer twice-weekly courses.)
For the current offer see here.
Placement test
Only absolute beginners (A1.a) can enrol directly on our web pages, without taking a test.
For everyone else, after registration, an offer for a written online test arrives automatically and, afterwards, for an interview with a teacher. This test (written + oral) is compulsory before booking the course.
To register, go here.
Detailed explanation of levels (according to the CEFR)
A1
According to the CEFR, level A1 is the Breakthrough Elementary level. At this level the student is able to understand and use everyday expressions and simple sentences aimed at satisfying needs of a concrete type. They can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal matters. They are able to interact in a simple way, provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
In our courses, level A1 lasts on average 90 hours and is divided into the sub-levels A1a, A1b, A1c (+ optional in-depth lessons in the May–June two-month period)
A2
According to the CEFR, level A2 is the Waystage Elementary level. At this level the student is able to understand and communicate simple information on everyday and common topics. They can describe in an elementary way details of their life or the environment around them; they can express immediate needs.
In our courses, level A2 lasts on average 90 hours and is divided into the sub-levels A2a, A2b, A2c (+ optional in-depth lessons in the May–June two-month period)
B1
According to the CEFR, level B1 is the Threshold Intermediate level. At this level the student is able to understand (in clear and standard spoken language) and communicate aspects of familiar topics relating to school, work, leisure, etc. They can express, in a simple and coherent way, their opinion on familiar topics or those within their sphere of interest. They can recount an experience or event, briefly explain a project or idea and speak concisely about expectations, dreams or goals.
In our courses, level B1 lasts on average 150 hours and is divided into the sub-levels B1a, B1b, B1c, B1d, B1e (+ optional in-depth lessons in the May–June two-month period)
B2
According to the CEFR, level B2 is the Vantage Intermediate level. At this level the student is able to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, as well as specialist discussions in their own field of specialisation. They can interact with a fluency and spontaneity that make normal interaction with native Italian speakers possible. They can express themselves clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics and can explain their point of view on a topic, giving the pros and cons.
C1
According to the CEFR, level C1 is the Effective Operational Advanced level. At this level the student is able to understand a wide range of long and complex texts and to recognise their implicit meaning. They express themselves naturally and fluently. They use the language flexibly and effectively for social, professional and academic purposes. They can produce clear, well-structured and detailed texts on complex subjects, controlling the structures of discourse and the cohesive devices of the language.
For these levels, our Institute offers:
3 B2 “basic” courses and 3 C1 “basic” courses
+
3 B2 “reinforcement” courses and 3 C1 “reinforcement” courses
C2
At our institute we do not currently offer group C2 courses. However, for those who wish to move towards the CEFR’s C2 level, special paths can be arranged together, tailored to individual students or small groups with similar abilities and needs (for example, linked to a specific specialised language that one wishes to study in greater depth).
Please note that…
From advanced B1 / B2 onwards, the individual student’s ability to truly push towards the CEFR’s B2 – C1 levels depends greatly on personal commitment outside the lesson. The teacher encourages the student with suggestions for reading, listening and writing activities, which the individual student is invited to do privately, if they want to push their abilities forward.
In particular, from the point of view of speaking, to reach a B2 level and beyond, the student is invited to practise Italian also outside the once-weekly course. For those who do not have the opportunity to practise spoken Italian outside the language classroom, the advice for making progress in speaking is to take individual conversation lessons (individual or a maximum of 2-3 people).
Periodically we also offer special lessons (art, cinema, law, economics, Italian linguistics….) that are particularly suitable for students at advanced levels.