About Istituto Europeo

The Italian language school

ISTITUTO EUROPEO, situated in the heart of Florence on the corner of Via Tornabuoni, one of the city’s most beautiful and famous streets, has specialized for several years in teaching the Italian language, art, music and culture to students from all over the world.

The Istituto Europeo is the best place to study abroad in Florence.

Italian Language Course. The teaching method of the Italian language course, based on the most innovative concepts of language instruction, gives students the opportunity to live the language on all levels and learn its spoken and written usage. Attention is placed both on the correct use of grammar and syntax as well as on the use of everyday language. A wide array of teaching materials and audiovisual aids are available to the students and are constantly updated, to better foster this purpose. The teachers are all highly qualified professionals, with teaching degrees, specialized in teaching Italian to foreigners. The classes are small, usually 8 to 9 students, with a maximum class size of 12 students. This guarantees that our students will have excellent assistance and full attention from their teachers. The Institute’s philosophy is to make learning fun, so that you can study both the Italian language and culture in depth, in a friendly and enjoyable environment. You also have the opportunity to discover the lesser-known side of Florence, both by day and night: at the Institute you will meet people and make friends from all over the world, and go out together to parties, restaurants, clubs and discos. The institute is not only a language school, but an active cultural center that offers its students the opportunity to learn about many diverse aspects- ancient and modern- of Italian life, including Italian history, art, literature, music, as well as food, wine, and places of interest. A Music Department and a Department Of Fine Arts have been created to allow students to deepen their knowledge of art and music. The Music Department, developed for both amateur and professional instrumentalists and singers, offers an intense and stimulating artistic environment, and organizes monthly concerts, held inside the institute or in prestigious Florentine concert halls. The Department Of Fine Arts offers students the opportunity to develop their artistic skills with specialised teachers, and organises individual and group art shows.

ITALIAN COURSES

ITALIAN COURSES

INTENSIVE COURSES
A course may last from 1 to 24 weeks. Each course meets from Monday to Friday in the morning. The courses, divided into 6 levels, aim to give students an accurate knowledge of written and spoken Italian as well as the ability to express themselves. For this reason both grammatical structure and the practical side of the language are thoroughly covered at all levels, with particular attention given to correct and complete forms of expression. Any student who is not an “absolute beginner” must take a written and an oral test on the first day of school in order to be placed at the most appropriate level. Each level has a 4-week program. There will be an exam at the end of each 4-week course. At the end of the study period, students will receive a certificate for the levels or courses that they have successfully completed.
THE YEARLY COURSE
The course, taught over 12 months, allows the beginner student to gradually learn the language and culture, until the student completely masters both the spoken and written language. The classes are held for four lessons a day, Monday through Friday, for a total of 960 lessons.

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ART COURSES

ART COURSES

The Department of Fine Arts runs an intense program of teaching and creative activities, offering courses for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced students. The Art Courses are held in the afternoon and can be started at any time during the year (except during holidays). Both group and private lessons may be arranged.
A1 Watercolor
Students in this beginner course will learn the first elements of painting using watercolor as a medium. The basic concepts of color theory, the building up of volume, the uses of form, line, composition and imagery will be studied, as well as both transparent and opaque techniques. Some lessons will be held outside of the classroom, in the squares and gardens of Florence in order to better understand landscape painting.
A2 Oil Painting for Beginners
This course is designed to provide beginner art students with a traditional training in oil painting technique and its various phases. Through the use of still-life compositions, students will learn the fundamentals of mixing colors, building of form and composition and the use of chiaroscuro (light and dark) to give depth and volume to a two-dimensional surface. During the lessons, there will be practical demonstrations and exercises

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MUSIC COURSES

MUSIC COURSES

The Music Department of ISTITUTO EUROPEO has carried out an intense program of teaching and creative activities by offering high-level professional courses and monthly concerts, both inside ISTITUTO EUROPEO and in important historical places. Lessons take place at the Institute, where there are 4 classrooms with pianos.
Individual Courses for Musical Specialization (*Also offered as a group course)
*M1 Course on the history of Italian music
From the Middle Ages to the development of polyphony – Puccini and the 20th century – The revival of instrumental music – Contemporary composers – The new musical theatre.
*M2 Course on the history and language of the melodrama
From madrigalistic comedy to the Recitar cantando – C. Monteverdi – Comic and serious opera (from the 17th until the 18th century) – The Neapolitan School and Neoclassicism – G. Rossini – V. Bellini, G. Donizetti and belcanto – G. Verdi – Melodrama after Verdi and Verismo – G. Puccini – Opera after Puccini and contemporary composers.
M3 Course in musical melodrama with a strong focus on

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INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM

INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM

IE’s Internships Program gives students the opportunity to achieve beneficial work experience in their field of choice by interning in one of Florence’s businesses, studios, offices or modern industries. Students are able to gain knowledge of international business etiquette while working in Florence and studying Italian in a professional setting.
We offer a wide variety of opportunities in the following fields:
Accounting, Advertising/Marketing, Air and Ocean Transportation, Architecture, Art, Bartending, Coaching, Communications (Radio, TV and Film), Concert and Event Coordination, Culinary, Cultural Management, Customer satisfaction, Disc Jockey, Education, Fashion, Finance and administration, Industry, Government, Graphic Design, Handicraft Apprenticeship (Leather, Ceramics, Pottery, Ironwork), Healthcare, Hospitality, (Hotel and Restaurant Management), Information Technology, International Business, International Education Advising, International Logistics, Journalism, Law, Legal Compliance, Marketing research, Natural stones inlaid work (Florentine Mosaics), Pharmacology, Photography, Public Relations, Quality control, Security, Social Services, Sports Management, Sports Physiotherapy, Study Abroad Office, Tourism, Vending, Warehouse Management, Web Design, Wine Industry

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Hanna Emelie Jonasson from Sweden, internship in Fashion

Hanna Emelie Jonasson from Sweden, internship in Fashion

When I arrived in Florence 3 months ago, I had some doubts about my stay here in Florence. But my experience here was so good that I decided to stay longer: one year. My internship was by a fashion company. In this company I made a lot of things, but above all I...

Arianna Ghazi from USA, internship in Arts

Arianna Ghazi from USA, internship in Arts

I’ve worked at an art gallery in Florence for almost two months, and I like it a lot. I studied art at university, and now I study Italian here, so this job is perfect for me. When I work, I can practice my Italian while I learn the business. Usually I speak with...

The Ultimate Internship in Florence: Laura Tressel

The Ultimate Internship in Florence: Laura Tressel

I’ve dreamed of Italy since a young age, when my parents first gave me a book filled with wonderful images and descriptions of the country. My college, University of San Diego, offers some of the best study abroad progams in the country, and when the time came to...

James Capuana from USA, internship in Sports

James Capuana from USA, internship in Sports

When I initially arrived in Florence I thought that I was going to work with a professional basketball team. But there was one huge problem that deterred me from attaining this goal. The problem was that I had never studied Italian before, and therefore was not...