[DMW1] Italian language and wine and cooking

I booked a language course as "Bildungsurlaub" (educational leave) , along with accommodation in a shared apartment.

The language school has a very pleasant, familial atmosphere, and everyone on the staff was always helpful. The female teachers are warm and committed, and I got along well with all of them.
One of the teachers was highly skilled, but i didn't shared his sense of humor. Also some other students felt this way. Some questions and comments during the lessons felt too personal or inappropriate to us.

I especially enjoyed the free, daily city tours offered in the afternoons after class. These small tours allowed us students to get to know the city better and to connect with each other.

At the language school, I also met many friendly people with whom I could spend my afternoons.

The school is top tier, highly professional. They take teaching Italian seriously, and they expect you to take it seriously as well. They give you homework and they expect you to do it, and if you didn't do it, they wanted to know why. My teachers, Alesia and Laura (I hope I spelled their names correctly!) were motivated, friendly, respectful, compassionate and inventive, and they made learning fun. The housing was a big disappointment, though. I don't want to say any more than that. I did not complain because the family was poor and I assumed they needed the money, so I stuck it out. But it was really draining, and it really took away from the overall experience. Next time I would find my own housing; it's not that hard to find on your own, apparently. Anyway, you don't need to stay with a family to learn the language, there are plenty of opportunities to interact with locals after the school day is done. A word of caution though: when you are walking be extremely careful about traffic, the sidewalks are very narrow, and it is easy to get distracted and to step into the path of a vehicle coming from behind you. When I first arrived, I almost got hit; I was rescued by a tour leader, who was coming from the opposite direction. I stepped into the street to let the tour pass, failing to look in the street behind me for oncoming traffic. The tour leader grabbed me and pulled me out of harm's way just in time. The look of horror in her eyes said it all, as she told me, "That was very close!" I had serious jet lag when I arrived, I was in a fog, really, which made me more vulnerable to accidents. Next time I would hole up in a hotel and sleep for a couple of days before I ventured out. My last word of advice is to study the language before you go; I studied for a year and a half on my own and it helped a lot. (I already speak Spanish as a second language and this helped too). It helped me learn faster when I finally arrived in Florence.

This beginners class had 8 students from 18 to 69 years old, all very enthusiastic to learn the language. The teacher (Maria) was excellent, explaining well, giving time for answers and motivated all students very much. Thus a very positive and animated atmosphere in the lessons where all students were actively involved all the time. All students made a big progress due to the excellent teaching quality. Various social activities on the side were offered and the school secretariat was always very helpful with advice whenever needed. Classroom equipment etc. is very adequate.

The school was extremely well run and organised with engaged teachers who went above and beyond to create a lovely learning environment. Teachers were very hard working and warm to students, nothing was too much trouble. The tours in the afternoon were fantastic and well organised.
Classes were light hearted but filled with information.

I had great timer. Teachers arę very dedicated and there is a lot of after class activities. I was living with very sweet and great Italia famili witch helped a lot.

The teachers were excellent - spoke all in Italian and explained everything clearly and comprehensively. They were both funny and kind, making the lessons highly enjoyable. The mix of students was also really wonderful - there were people from all nations and ages who were all learning together meaning you met lots of interesting people and were able to speak Italian with them and practice. There were tours or events run by the school three days a week around Florence, from wine tasting to historical tours of the city. I could not recommend this school any more highly - I have left Scuola Toscana with conversational Italian, only after a month! Thank you!!

I liked the classes and how flexible the school was in letting me change classes according to my progress (usually once a week).
The instructors were excellent and the grammar class + conversation class structure works very well also.

I am not sure how but I do wish the Scuola Toscana found a way (activities etc.) to help the students socialise with each other more. Other than that, excellent experience. Thank you!

This is one of the most comprehensive, easiest and fun ways to learn Italian. I still can't believe that I am able to understand the language fully after just one month, and I can also communicate with other pretty good!

Besides what I learned, the Scuola Toscana takes you into an immersive experience of Florence, and creates the most magical tours for you to know Italy like an Italian! I will definitely go back!

The teachers and class structure were excellent, and the school was flexible in adding more lessons on request. The activities were great (and run in Italian for extra practice) - they could be run more frequently though. My accommodation was also excellent, with a friendly host and air conditioning. I think the air conditioning was an exception not the norm though - if you require it, I recommend requesting it in advance as some other students had problems.

Overall i really enjoyed studying in scuola toscana and learning the basics of italian language. The class size was perfect, not too many people but still enough to form pairs and groups. The majority of teachers were nice and supportive. The location of the school was perfect. It was in the center where many of the sights were close. There was a possibility to join some activities trough the school. I didn't join any so i dont have an experience about them. I really liked my housing. The house where i stayed was only a 30 minute walk from the center and everything seemed to be close. The host lady was very nice and she took good care of me and the other girl who stayed in the same house.

One thing i didn't quite like about this trip was the lack of communication from the school. The answers to my emails seemed always to arrive very late. I think that it's important that the school communicates with students trough email thinking that there is many underaged students traveling.

The grammar class was intense with very detailed explanations from Maricela and a strong use of the excellent textbook designed by the teachers at the school itself. She also encouraged us on a daily basis to share our experiences in exploring the museums and churches in Florence and our visits to nearby Tuscan towns.
The conversation classes were also fascinating. Louisa was constantly encouraging us to interact with her and each other, gently correcting our errors and expanding our useful vocabulary of Italian words. Lorenzo came up with a wide variety of prompts including making up stories about random people in magazines, inventing a country and even having us act out random soap opera scenes, provoking huge amounts of laughter and engagement with the class process.

The constant influx and exit of students from Germany, Switzerland, the US, South America and even Japan was also great fun since we had to talk in our shared language of Italian to communicate. Our proficiency in Italian varied widely but everyone was constantly encouraged to talk and interact by the teachers and through the structure of their lessons.

The location of the school is excellent. In the first place, Firenze is a fascinating city with an intense mixture of tourist destinations, shopping opportunities and real neighborhoods. , The school is in the heart of central Firenze with many churches, museums such as the Uffizi , the Galileo museum and the Duomo in easy walking distance. The teachers were very helpful in recommending restaurants, gardens, and even a Mailboxes Inc store nearby so I could send a heavy package of all the books I bought straight to my house in Berkeley instead of lugging them on the plane.

The school had a variety of classrooms with plenty of extra spaces for individual tutoring sessions in the afternoon. It is located on the 4th floor but has a working elevator so we could save our energy for climbing the Duomo, the tower and other destinations such as the Boboli gardens and of course the Ponte Vecchio. I walked an average of 5 hours a day. It was great not to drive for a month.
In terms of activities, the school arranges walking tours around Florence (Dante’s house, the window to the apartment where Leonardo stayed “when He was in town” and numerous other locations in town.) We also had a chance to go as a group to
Fiesole, Arrezzzo, and Siena,teaching us how to use the trains and buses and expanding our knowledge of Tuscany. A van trip with Lorenzo was especially noteworthy giving us a chance to see geological formations at Piandisco’, a church built in 800AD at Gropina and an amazing town built in an ancient wall and over a rushing stream at Loro Ciuffena.

My housing arrangement was terrific. Martina was very friendly and welcoming. I was very comfortable in my own room with access to a shared balcony, a well equipped kitchen and a clean bathroom. There was space for two students and her son with a variety of people coming and going. The apartment was a brisk 27 minute walk to the school once I figured out the best route with the most crosswalks.

I HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME and everyone I met through the school was very friendly, helpful and welcoming!

The book provided was very good yet the actual classes could become exceedingly slow.

Other students prefer their afternoon one on one sessions for the conversational aspect of the course.

I really enjoyed my studies at the school. The instructors, class materials, and extracurricular activities were all great!

The teachers at Scuola Toscana are fantastic, I learnt so much in 7 weeks and went from an absolute beginner to being able to follow native speakers conversations depending on the topic, speak confidently slowly, use present, past (perfect and imperfect) and future tenses and have vocabulary on things like food, family, work, likes/dislikes, holidays, weather, clothes and body parts. I originally signed up for 4 weeks but I was learning so much and wanted to keep progressing so extended this for an extra 3 weeks and I wish I could have stayed longer (and am considering continuing with private lessons). Two months is not long enough to become fluent, but depending on the languages you speak initially, it is enough to have grasp on the basics of Italian and be able to speak based on what you want to say and not just set phrases. You can tell how much people like it because a lot of people were extending their time there, or had come back after coming to the school in previous years.

The grammar is didactic and presented logically, with lots of emphasis on putting it into practice, both in homework and on-the-spot practice in class. The workbooks are really good, they use relatable and varied examples and gradually introduce new vocabulary. The conversation classes were particularly enjoyable, incorporating small group (2-3 people) conversations, whole class conversations, songs, written articles and worksheets and often outdoor activities (e.g. speaking in Italian with shop owners at a food market). The additional afternoon classes were great for getting extra practice speaking, listening, reinforcing grammar, expanding vocabulary, games and also were a lot of fun. Doing the TOP class (9-10:30, 10:45-12:15, 1-2:30) as well as the afternoon activities (3-5 usually) and homework could be tiring at times. It was doable, but felt full-time and occasionally I wanted more time to solidify the previous topic before moving onto the next (individual study outside of homework is required to keep up). I'd recommend the TOP class if improving on Italian quickly is your aim. If this is not so important and you want time to be a tourist in Florence then the grammar + conversation morning only classes might be better.

The teachers are free to run classes in the way that works for them, so there is a range of teaching styles and structure. Most of the teachers were organized. In grammar class they tended to correct what you were saying while in conversation class tended to let you express yourself and only corrected if you asked for it or if the meaning wasn't clear. Class sizes were around 5-7 at the beginning of March (often smaller in the afternoon) and increased to 11 by mid-April, I felt I progressed faster with the smaller groups, but still learnt in the larger classes, just had less time to speak and for individual help. In the 6th week, teachers encouraged the beginners who started together to speak in Italian with each other outside of class to progress faster. The classes are in Italian even for absolute beginners, so the first week is a big learning curve if you haven't done any Italian before. The teachers all speak some English (and usually a bit of German or Japanese, depending on the teacher) so can help with the meaning of things if it can't be explained easily in Italian. Grammar is ESSENTIAL for absolute beginners (one student signed up for conversation only as an absolute beginner and struggled without the grammar class). When I arrived I couldn't speak any Italian but had done a few months of DuoLingo so had a little vocab and that was very helpful to be able to understand the teachers from the start.

The other students and the teachers were really friendly and the school felt a bit like a family. I really appreciated the slightly older average age (I am 31) and we had people aged 19 to 72 in the class. Especially being there for months, you get to know people in the other classes as well through the activities. Everyone is really friendly and encouraging and it's a lovely supportive, happy atmosphere. I had my birthday while studying there and we celebrated in class together. There are 3-4 activities a week in the afternoons or Saturday, that are also in Italian and included tours of Florence, visits to churches and significant buildings, classes on Opera, gestures, making MOKA coffee, and (on Saturdays) visits to nearby towns (Fiesole, Arezzo, Siena for example). I absolutely loved the activities, it was a wonderful way to see Florence/Tuscany, understand some culture, practice Italian and make friends. I did struggle in the first few weeks to understand the tour depending on which teacher was taking it (shout out to Mariella for being excellent giving tours to absolute beginners so we could understand enough to follow even after only a day or two of lessons).

The location is absolutely fantastic - central, walking distance within the center, about 20 min walk from S.M.N. train station / tram stops and connected by buses (although can be delayed in traffic). The view of piazza Santa Croce and Brunelleschi's Dome is also lovely. The facilities are fine for an old building - good classrooms, relatively basic but everything you need to teach. The WIFI could be a bit patchy and often there was line for the toilet. The classroom is on the 4th floor so lots of stairs or a small and a bit unreliable lift (note there are still stairs to get to the lift as it is on half floors, so not totally accessible).

The housing wasn't what I wanted from that experience. I was placed in a share house for 4 weeks with some local Italian university students, they were nice but weren't home much (one went back home to her family every weekend), they were often busy studying and working and there was no communal living room so they mostly stayed in their rooms. When on the rare occasion I did see them we did not speak much. The landlords were really friendly but I didn't see much of them. The apartment was also a 40 min walk from the school, and not much faster by public transport. I was hoping for more of a family setting and more of a chance to practice Italian and spend time with the people I was living with. If I did it again I would probably sort my own accommodation . That said, one of my friends in class had a really positive experience with his host family, they would cook for him every night and would often talk for an hour after dinner, so I guess it depends.

The school is extremely well located, right in the historic center of the city. I took a two-week course for beginners. The daily lessons were divided into a grammar class with Luisa and a conversation class with Susanna. Both teachers are professional but also very pleasant. The progress is enormous and the lessons are fun. The second week I took extra lessons in a small group to make a little more progress. I regret not having been able to stay longer at this school. I stayed with a very nice family and that also helped me a lot to improve my Italian while eating good Italian food.

I was there only one week for intensive class. In my grammar class we were only 3-4 students so it was like a private class and the teacher could easily see where I had problems with my grammar and help me with that. The level of the class was completely adapted for me.
In my conversation class we were 8 students and we all had the opportunity to talk in every classes and even if someone is more shy to talk, the teacher will ask them questions and everyone will listen to them. The level of the class was adapted for me and challenged me a little bit which I found really helpful.
The afternoon class vocabulary/conversation however was a bit too easy for me or maybe not challenging enough. We were 5 students and we all had different levels which made the class too easy for certain people and too complicated for others. I still think that it was a really good class and the teacher also was good (just a bit easy for me).
The location is in the center of Florence so perfect!
The school also proposes free activities and also excursions to other cities. (Activities were playful

Location of school is perfect. I would say that I really liked classes of grammar. The only one thing that is important - to divide students according to their level. It would be more efficient.
Also I think completely separate classes of grammar and communication don’t work good. You don’t need just to know grammar. You have to practice it in communication and not only discuss whatever topics. It would be really more useful.
Activities at school are brilliant. Almost All of them are cultural, but I liked them a lot.
My accommodation was also very comfortable. The only one thing that I have got that in winter period I wouldn’t recommend any person to have classes in Florence. It is very cold inside. According to Florence rules they have hearing only twice a day, what is obviously is not sufficient, especially when outside is temperature below 0.

In my email i mentioned that I liked my teacher Lorenço and also that I think there should be no more than 8 students per class

I loved my grammar and speaking classes that took place every day. My teachers were brilliant - and helped to teach organised classes that did not feel too rigid but allowed the students to ask questions and lead the class with our needs / desires.

Fantastic location next to Santa Croce and fine facilities. Activities were also provided though I didn't join any.

The school is very professional in teaching the language. Location is very convenient. It administers well everybody’s needs given not each and every student are registering the same programme, some may have cooking, painting or additional intensive oral classes after the general classes on grammars. Yet they could manage well everybody’s needs. I particularly like the school’s extracurricular activities arranged in the afternoons, three times a week, ranging from historic centre walking tour, visit to old churches, traditional craftsman shop and apéritivo. I know that they even arranged day trip on some Saturdays for students to go to historic small towns nearby like Adrezzo south of Florence but since I have left already I had no chance to join. Luisa and Lorenzo are very experienced teachers respectively teaching grammar and oral, which I enjoyed very much. Other teacher who took us out fir extracurricular activities are also very nice and zealous in explaining Italian culture. The school publish their own textbook for students which contains a lot of exercises to reinforce learning. If have chance, I would certainly go back for longer study.
Italian is too fully used in class. For beginner level I think some use of English should be allowed, for teachers to explain some tricky points on grammar. They don’t even use English about the homework that needs to be done for the next day and there were a few occasions that I was not even aware writing work had to be submitted the next day.
During the course, there is another young lady teacher who was not too experienced to teach on grammar. She did not write much on whiteboard to explain things. She just kept talking in Italian which I did not often understand. For example she just went through quickly in teaching the “past tense”. The conjugation of past tense actually have two sets of tricky rules for two sets of verbs. Fortunately I have already learnt “past tense” in my own country before going to the tour, and therefore I have no problem in understanding. But for students who come across conjugation of past tense fir the first time in class, I wonder whether they could understand well.

Both teachers were very good, and really made an effort to explain everything very carefully. They both had delightful personalities. When someone struggled to understand a certain aspect of the grammar, Mariella slowed things down until everybody understood. Luisa, however, in the conversation class came up with multiple innovative ways to get us to practice our Italian. The location was fine, very central, albeit a little small. I did not partake in any activities, preferred to explore on y own and with my wife. I missed the presence of a paid coffee machine on site, and would have wished to have some other grammar or reading books onsite sold by the school.

Upon arrival, check in wasn't completely seemless, and there was some confusion, but it ended up working out fine.

Once instruction started though, the process was absolutely phenomenal. Lorenzo Bastida is probably one of the best instructors I have ever had for language and for art. A brilliant man with a impressive skill to simplify and explain the uniqueness of the Italian language. He taught on the little details and corrected regularly to ensure proper use. I believe he truly cared about our interest to learn.

Elena Ciancolini was a perfect compliment to Lorenzo, super energetic and personable, she was much looser in her corrections, but allowed speaking to flow in class. She knows the language well and explained many day to day situations in useful ways.

Additionally, the afterclass tours were educational and interesting, creating a greater perspective on Florence and her rich history.

Facilities were certainly adequate with plenty of amenities in the immediate surrounding area.

The classes were really good and the level of grammar was pitched just right. The teaching staff were friendly but very professional and the size of the classes just right - enough people to give variety but not so many that the teaching was compromised. The building was very old, something you'd expect in the old city of Florence, but this didn't detract from the quality of the teaching. The school was located right in the centre of the city which made it a great place to go sightseeing from once classes had finished. I didn't take part in the extra-curricular activities, but this was by choice as I wanted to do my own sightseeing, but I know that there were a few laid on for those students who wanted to do them.

I really enjoyed my time in Florence at Scuola Toscana. Great staff, really competent teachers, lots of enjoyable activities in our free time! The school is situated right in the historical centre of Florence, such a beautiful location.
I would love to go there again...one day! It was a dream experience... everything was perfect!

I had 4 teachers and all of them were amazing! My housing was amazing, the family were i lived and location I couldn't dream of more. Classes were interesting and every time i learnt something new. I still keep in touch with people that i’ve met and i so grateful for this opportunity.

The exta curriculum activities were a success due to the personality and knowledge of the escorting teachers.
The teachers I happened to have are very well qualified and able to progress with their material despite the fact that the group of students was hardly ever the same changing from week to week.
I believe
this element is extremely demanding for the teachers yet she was capable of incorporating the newcomers and help them adjust.
The housing I was provided was not very close to the school yet better than others'...
With a friendly landlady and cosy enough for what I needed.

I liked the location of the school, the teachers and how well they achieved to put students with similar italian niveau in one class. They even noticed, that I could join an other class for conversation which suited my niveau better. They were very well organized and experienced with running a language school. Also the accomodation was very nice. I acutally do not have any negative thing to report you =)

Die Lehrer kümmern sich sehr gut um ihre Schüler. Sie setzen sich sehr ein für einen guten Unterricht. Sie sind auch alle sehr motiviert den Schülern etwas beizubringen.

I stayed in Florence for six months. Since I had already studied grammar before I only took the conversation classes at Scuola Toscana. I enjoyed these classes and the way of teaching a lot.

In the school there is a very friendly and open atmosphere that makes you dare to speak and this allows you to progress tremendously.

I am also more than satisfied with the housing, the location and the facilities.

The school is in a great location, the classes were at maximum ten students which it was great, teachers were amazing, I loved the grammar and the speaking class. All the staff were very nice, they always helping you in everything. The school also has various activities and extra classes which were very nice. I'm very happy with the experience.

Most teachers were very enthusiastic and nice. The secretaries very helpful and friendly.
The school itself is a bit chaotic concerning the lessons.

Professional approach, pleasant group size and good level. Nice and knowledgeable teachers. We were well received and despite the large age difference between us and the other students it was very nice and friendly.

The school was in a great location. Everything was in the immediate vicinity. I especially appreciated the newsagent and the bistro right next to the school. Supermarket and other shops nearby. The class was cool.

Our teacher was excellent, very funny and nice. I don't know where he gets so much energy. Teaching was only in Italian. Of course, this scared me the most, but the style of explanation was very entertaining. The nervousness subsided on the first day. The emphasis was mainly on speaking and mutual communication. As for extracurricular activities, I took cooking classes. I appreciated making the homemade paste the most. The other recipes were also good, not too complicated. There was a pleasant atmosphere during the joint dinner.

Again, a new group of friends who like to meet new things and people. Otherwise, the city is very touristic, even in the off-season. I was on the course for 14 days and there was still somewhere to go. Everyone can find the sights on their own, but go with friends to the NOF club, where live music is often played, or to the local markets of San Lorenzo. Lots of food and wine. The nervousness subsided on the first day.

I really enjoyed my experience at Scuola Toscana. I was promptly welcomed on my first day. The level of competence of the teachers there is top class. I was highly stimulated every single day I studied there. Thank you for the great experience!

I really enjoyed the lessons. The teachers are very good, dynamic and friendly. Our group consisted of 5 people so it was very nice because we could really all express ourselves in Italian.
The activities were very varied. My private lesson also allowed me to make great progress in conversation.

As the all-too-short week we had given ourselves to study and speak Italian @ La Scuola Toscana was about to elapse, there is no question that we could have continued for far longer. If only ”life“ didn’t have to get in the way! The staff at La Scuola were considerate and kind individuals. Our two teachers were outstanding in their ability to integrate slight differences in strengths and learning styles of our group of students.

The interest and dedication of our fellow students made the class more enjoyable and memorable. Because of our brief stay and enrollment, we could not participate in the after hours activities which sounded fabulous! We will surely return for more!

Our second conversation group was small and the level of conversational ability was lower than we would have liked. I think it was because both of the other students were bright and motivated but we might have benefited from other students at our own level. The teacher however, was great!

Scuola Toscana offered many kinds of course work with each class lasting 60-90 minutes.
In the morning I took grammar with Lorenzo, then conversation and grammar with Lorenzo, and finally a student-conversation based class with Alice.

Both instructors are very good. I appreciated how much I learned from Lorenzo in both classes. His expertise in literature and in university-level teaching made the context around our classes’ grammar lessons and debates interesting and memorable. Most students were at a similar level making it interesting and challenging.

The concept of Alice’s class was a great way for students to practice speaking to one another about common topics like things in a kitchen, holidays, pastimes, families, etc. Even though the levels of the students could have been more accurately assessed and matched by the school to make it an even better class, it was a good vocabulary refresh and quite fun.

I was only there for one week to check out the school.
I was delighted with the skill of my teacher.

Personable teachers with great teaching material and lovely extra-curricular activities (such as organised walking tours of Florence in simple Italian).

I could not have chosen a better city to study in than Florence. I was told there are over 30 languages schools in the city!! Wow! I don't know how I could have been more satisfied with my choice than studying at Scuola Toscana and in this fabulous city. Every option I wanted was available, from the pace of courses, to the scheduling, the location, the building, and especially the teachers! They are top notch professionals. I studied with five in total over three weeks and every one met my expectations. At first I thought I only wanted to study conversational Italian, but when I started my grammar class, I said to myself, what was I thinking?? You absolutely need to study the grammar if you want to speak the language. So every day, I studied grammar the first part of the morning, and then moved onto conversation class, and in the afternoon on to private lessons, and finally art history classes, the last week of three. I was so pleased with my progress after only one week!!

There were several social activities organized by the school. We would meet after class and head off as a group somewhere of interest. It was a great way to get to know other students. I have made several new friends and one in particular which I am sure I will always stay in touch with.

I loved the fact that the building had character and charm. The windows opened to views over the rooftops of a very historical area of the city. The location could not have been better. I walked everywhere. The first two weeks I stayed in the Altroarno, six minutes walk from the school and the third week I moved near the Mercado Centrale. The walk was longer, but oh my! What a walk! By the Duomo every morning and down charming narrow streets to arrive at school!

The whole experience really was a bucket list/dream come true. I would highly recommend Scuola Toscana!!

All three of my teachers, Maria, Benedetta and Lavinia were so thorough, knowledgeable and sensitive to the students’ individual needs, pushing our learning grammatically and in conversation, but in the most kind and inclusive way! They were so well prepared and pushed us hard so I learned so much in 3 weeks…even at the tender age of sessanta!

I could not be more satisfied with my experience with Scuola Toscana! I took the Art History course, which included 2 hours of Italian grammar and 2 hours of History of art every day. The History of art took place in different museums each day, which was amazing. The teachers were truly outstanding. The teachers were beyond amazing; so kind, very knowledgeable and great at explaining and making sure that you understand everything. I mainly had Maria as my Art history professor and Daniela as my Grammar professor, and they were both everything I could have wished for and more! I had barely studied any Italian before my trip, and I learned so much each day.

The location of the school couldn't be better, the size of the classes were small which was very good, and I made plenty of new friends from all over the world. The school organized small tours in the city every week which also was a great way to see Florence and connect with new people. I am also very happy with my housing as I got to stay only 3 minutes walk from the school with a very kind Italian host family.

The one thing which I wish I could have changed is that I would have liked to have conversation classes in Italian as well, but it was not included in this specific course. However, I still got to practice conversation a lot and this does not affect my overall experience.

This was one of the best trips of my lifetime and I would definitely like to come back, and I would also recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn Italian and appreciates Italian culture and art!

I had an Italian language (one month, advanced level) course for 2 hours a day and an art course for 2 more hours daily. The art course was once in a lifetime experienced! Maria Longo has been a unique teacher! And you should notice that this is not the enthusiasm of an ignorant speaking! I am a school teacher and I have a master in modern art history! She was just great! The language course was very helpful and my Italian has been improved.. Very good books, good teachers (too bad for me that Daniela had to leave on vacation after the second week).. No complaints at all!

My teacher Valentina was excellent. I had one on one instruction which was perfect for me. The school location was convenient and the after school activities added to the leaning experience.

During my stay in Florence, I went to the Scuola Toscana for 2 weeks. I was new to the Italian language so I took the A course. The teachers made it simple for us to learn the basics. Everyday we repeated former lectures, while learning new words and grammar. I would say I learned a lot during my 2 week stay.
The school is located close to the centre of Florence, so it was easy to reach and to find places to eat.

Sometimes the course was a bit too repetitive and too focused on the books, but overall I liked my course.

I more or less liked everything. Especially my speaking class with Maria.She's the sweetest person ever. As well as Alberto!
Classes were great. Location was perfect,both the school's and my apartment's.Would totally return!

what I likes about the trip is that the school has an excellent staff , the teachers are kind and friendly , I learned a lot from to be honest at the beginning it was very hard for me to understand Italiano but then i got improved by changing my class. the location simply is perfect no doubt all the important destinations and nice sandwich shops I can easily find there, about the facilities yeah it's pretty basic , the school has great activities inside and out of the school the trips where very nice I enjoyed it a lot, the housing was fantastic I met a beautiful husband and wife they where very kind and generous very with me they treated me as if I was there son. there is nothing I did not like overall the experience was Fantastic I would love to repeat it again but with a different language.

The location couldn’t be better!

My first teacher (Laura) was excellent, even though I thought I could go on a higher level and try a different class, I didn’t want to change teachers because of her, then I stayed. Unfortunately, in my last week there, she went on vacation, so they had someone replacing her.

I only took conversation classes and many times I felt like we were moving too slow, because of our different mother tongues it was hard to conciliate the speed of the lessons, maybe the school should consider splitting students based on that, because with Portuguese/Spanish speakers the learning could go way faster considering the similarities. Even if at the beginning we’re all in the same level. I think that’s my main disappointment.

The activities provided to the school are also a plus, they have all sorts of options, from wine tasting to touring medieval cities.
And my last complaint is about the housing. I don’t think they are good enough considering their prices. On many of them the owner lives with the students (this should have been said before), the apartments are VERY old, and I did’t liked them at all. ( yes, “them” because I tried 3 different ones).

I attended for two weeks Italian and art history courses, 4 hours daily. The school has an ideal location at the corner of Piazza Santa Croce. It is an old palazzo and from the windows of the classroom I could admire the famous cupola of Florence Cathedral at close proximity.

My teachers were qualified and they created a relaxed atmosphere for learning. To study Italian and the art history in "the cradle of the Renaissance" was inspiring. We made visits to interesting cultural sights with Caterina, a great expert of art history and the city of Florence.

I enjoyed participating also in some afternoon activities that Scuola Toscana offered in order to explore more Florence and to
socialize with other students from all over the world - of course in Italian.

I stayed at a family home which was organized for me by the school. The host family was nice, and the common dinner in the evening gave me an opportunity to speak more Italian and learn something about the every day life in Italy. From my Florentine home I had a fifteen minute walk to the school.

So, I had a great experience as an Italian student and I will recommend Scuola Toscana to all Italian enthusiasts.

The time management was very good, we really liked grammar and conversation in separated groups.
The teachers are very very good. We were impressed of how much knowledge in arts and literature they have. I've learned more in one week in Scuola Toscana than the whole year before that.That was really amazing.
The part that I enjoyed the most was the time dedicated to discuss and learn (in italian) about the masterpieces in Florence that we would see in the afternoon in the museums.
We took a really nice guided tour with the scholl staff and learned a lot while practising the language.
All the staff was very nice and kind.
I liked very much to know students from different parts of the globe and the teachers were able to bring on topics so we could understand, know an appreciate different cultures.
It was an amazing experience and I intend to come back to stay longer in the future.

My teacher Laura was very good and helped me a lot to improve my italian. Katerina is also great person and teacher and the trip that we had in Siena with her was great. The lady in kitchen seminars was also honorable. My day trip in Chianti was enjoyable.

According to my apartment, I was very pleased.

The only think that I did not like, is that the school administration was impersonal and the activities were not something special or interesting.

The school was very engaging to help the students and the staff members were very friendly.
The student groups were also not too big and we had a good atmosphere within the lessons.
All teachers were very friendly and well prepared and easy to understand.
The activities offered by the school were transparently communicated and informative and cost free.
The location was super and I had no trouble getting there on foot.
The facilities looked old and a bit shabby but it was OK for me.
The housing: the room was nice and big - the landlady was absolutely super and friendly
The only (small) problem was, it was not possible to lock my sleeping room.

All in all it was a wonderful stay and a very good experience for me. I will be back next year.

Friendly, uncomplicated atmosphere in Scuola Toscana, young dedicated teachers, central location, beautiful old building, interesting program beyond the group classes which allows us to get to know each other beyond the courses.
I especially enjoyed art and history course!

I didn't find anything that I didn't like. Small groups, very good teachers who motivated us and helped us a lot, very good program and strategy, my room was excellent, clean and beautiful. Everything was excellent. Great experience!!! I will go back and stay longer for sure!!!

I had three different teachers and all were top-notch. Various activities, such as museum visits and excursions, were available to all students and well-worth attending. The school administration is very efficient and helpful. I would recommend the school to anyone who wishes to improve his Italian, both in terms of grammar and culture. The art history classes are exceptional! I am myself an experienced foreign-language teacher so I am fairly demanding. In addition, I have attended several other schools in Florence in the past and, having chosen Scuola Toscana this time, I was fully satisfied.

I liked everything about Scuola Toscana and would definitely do this experience again. The only suggestion I would make is to have smaller classes; there were too many students to have as much conversation as I would have liked. I loved the varied afternoon activities and would sign up for more next time.

A couple downsides were that the classrooms were small and felt a bit crowded, and the Wi-Fi didn't work in many parts of the building.

The school and the teachers were amazing, and probably the best noes I've ever had. It was a really nice time. I would never forget this time and above all, the people who I met. The program was really good for me too, so I wouldn’t change anything. :)

At first I was a bit nervous as I did not know any Italian at all, but the warm staff and understanding teachers made me feel at home quickly. I think the accommodation was a bit old and had no air conditioning, so it was quite hot in the summer.

Overall though, it was a great experience and I would recommend it highly.

It is already worth it to visit Scuola Toscana because of its perfect location in the beautiful city, but I´d also like to emphasize that the classes and most of teachers are amazing there. Most of them have rich experiences and knowledge to teach Italian and are very attractive characters. It is especially very interesting that some teachers have their specific activities and that they are very flexible with a lot of topics. I am therefore quite sure that every student will find "his/her" teacher during their staying, which is not so easy in any other place, I personally think. In addition to this, the activities they offer are very interesting, though it might be a little bit difficult for Italian beginners to understand everything that the teachers explain. The real experiences through the communication and the foot working will be a huge help.

I'm going to back in the coming weeks, and am looking very forward to seeing the teachers again.

I took a week of art, history and language in July 2011. I had private art lessons because there were no other students at that time, and I had daily excursions to the most important museums of Florence with my teacher Caterina. It was very enjoyable and instructional. Speaking with her greatly improved my Italian, too. In the afternoon, I took a conversation course which was also great fun and instructional. I think also a daily grammar course is optional but, as I was on vacation, I was happy with 4 hours a day, starting at 11 am. The school is relaxed and welcoming, and the teachers and directors are enthusiastic and kind. Great value for the money!

The school arranged for me to stay in a bedroom with a shared bathroom (but no one to share it with!) near the Piazza S. Spirito. The landlord was kind and the apartment was very well situated at 15 minutes walk from the school, near a big supermarket (not so usual in the center of Florence) and near the Ponte Vecchio.

The school organizes walks and tours in the evenings 2 or 3 times a week and an outing on Saturday - I went to Lucca. The outing was fun and also very educational, I am amazed at the level of cultural knowledge of all the teachers at the school.

What can I say? I have nothing negative to say about the school. As I am a ‘mature student' (51 at the time), I was a bit lonely in Florence. My son's girlfriend took a course in 2013 and had lots of social activities with her classmates. She stayed at the same apartment and was also happy there.

Studying in Italy and especially in Tuscany Italy is a dream for any passionate language learner. I super recommend the course on History of Art, where we learned the Italian language and about the wonders of Florence, with great teachers who specialized in art.

Devo scrivere in Italiano o Inglese? Inglese mi va bene. I've been to the school 4 times now and I can't say enough good things about it. All the instructors are all so knowledgeable, kind, polite and extremely fun to be around. They really make learning interesting and exciting. They have after school events everyday, which are always fun, and they range from walking around Florence getting a fascinating history lesson to going wine tasting or doing a cooking class.

The after school events really help with your comprehension of Italian and it's always fun to be out roaming the streets of Florence or exploring the countryside around Tuscany. Everywhere you go is very enchanting and it's an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

My ability to speak and understand Italian has skyrocketed each time I have been to the school. It really helps to be there for at least a couple of weeks and get immersed in the language and daily life....and of course the food is beyond extraordinary....and the wine as well. It's a well known fact in Italy that the more wine you drink the better you speak the language. It works for me.

The school is also very accommodating, meaning you can pretty much structure your own lessons once you understand what you need to work on. Sometimes you may want lessons with a group, or you can do private lessons. You can choose to do conversation classes, or grammar classes, or whatever you feel you need to work on more. The school is absolutely accommodating to however you wish to study. Plus you always have the option after you finish school to continue on with classes on Skype. I've been doing weekly Skype classes, which are very affordable, so I don't forget everything that I've learned.

I don't have anything negative to say about the school at all. It has always been an educational and extraordinary experience for me.

Hello, my name is Dawn Dubriel. I'm a filmmaker from Fort Lauderdale, FL. I went with Florida Atlantic University to Florence, twice, for their study abroad program. During my graduate degree, I felt a calling to return to Florence and make a film and iBook about The Medici family's assistance of the Renaissance. This time, I wanted to go on my own and stay for three months to do my work.

I contacted Scuola Toscana and signed up for the Italian grammar classes at 9am. Before I even arrived in Florence, Scuola Toscana found me an affordable and perfect place to stay. Their professor, Sarah, spoke English very well, which helped me learn Italian faster. I literally cherish those mornings in her class, with students from all over the world, who I still keep in touch with. Downstairs from Scuola Toscana is Oibo, where students of Scuola Toscana get a discount on food. For breakfast every day, I would have a delicious brioche (rated the best in Florence), un cafe, and freshly squeezed orange juice for 3 euro and 50 cents. The same meal anywhere else in Florence would have cost 9 euro, and would not even been as good. Their barista, Sacha, is one of my favorite people in Florence. We also get lunch for 6 euro... delicious!

Every afternoon (around 4pm), Scuola Toscana has activities such as walking tours, boat tours, visiting Palazzao Vecchio or Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Their professors are true historians and were nice enough to be interviewed in my documentary film. So, a typical day for me in Florence was: delicious breakfast at Oibo; grammar, laughter, and Italian practice from 9am -11am; walking around Florence, visiting museums and making new friends plus practicing my Italian; lunch at Oibo; Scuola Toscana afternoon activities; Apertivo, maybe again at Oibo (because they are the best in everything!); going for a walk and seeing the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo or San Miniato al Monte. I would also go to sleep pretty early and wake up at 5am to film Florence before the city wakes up. This is when you see a different side of Florence.

In 2013, I won the international contest for Lavazza's the Italian Experience, and actually won a free trip to Italy. Of course I attended Scuola Toscana and they got me an even cuter studio loft for the week. Did I mention that I became an intermediate speaker? Also, I did not forget my Italian once I returned, and was placed in Intermediate Italian with one of the best Italian professors, teachers, historians, and poets: Lorenzo. It was so good to see everyone again, especially because they added to my film with expert historian interviews, and taught me Italian - the most beautiful language in the world.

So, these are my secrets to you, on how to maximize your time in Florence: Connect with Scuola Toscana and enroll in their language course, let them help you find a place to stay, eat at Oibo with the student discount, attend the afternoon activities - oh and the ladies at the front desk can also help you make appointments for important museums like L'Accademia (to see the real David), and the Uffizi (to see Botticelli’s art), so you don’t have to waste hours waiting in line.

The classes were excellent and very dynamic.
Before, I wondered how much I would be able to learn in the short time I booked, but in my first week I realized that it really would work.

The teachers were also excellent. All of them had different characteristics, and were very good.

There was wide variety in the activities. I really enjoyed. I only regret not touring to "Val Dorce", because I couldn't afford it. It seemed a little expensive.

Everything was also great at the house. They were a lovely couple. The only thing I would change (but isn't really a big deal) is that sometimes the bathroom for students downstairs was occupied even when the other one for the owners was available upstairs.

In Scuola Toscana everything was just perfect. Teachers were great, they knew how to teach, they were so friendly and patient. The location was great! Only thing that wasn't so perfect was the housing...but we got used to that. :) And the location of the housing was great, so peaceful and good neighborhood. The school organized nice activities. We liked especially Lorenzo's tour in San Gimignano! It was a great day!