ВРАЖЕННЯ СТУДЕНТІВ

What a fantastic school! I am writing this email in English so anyone considering taking a course in Italian with Scuola Leonardo (Rome school) this is the one to choose!
I spent literally hours searching the web and blogs for the right Italian school. All big cities are full of language courses and schools and to find the right one is not so easy.
In the end I selected Scuola Leonardo based on the initial reception I received from Tea and Cinza. They were so helpful and accommodating which gave me a good feeling of what the school was about.
I selected an intensive 2 week course (group + 10) which consisted of group lessons in the morning and private lessons in the afternoon. Right from the very start, the school was brilliant in helping me select the right course, for the right period of time I was in Rome. I was tested on the first day and put in a level that was exact to my ability.
Laura was my teacher for group lessons. She was simply marvelous, punctual, prepared and perfect lesson planning, timed right down to the last minute of class, and as an ex teacher, this is exactly how lessons should be. At all times, I feel completely comfortable and I never felt embarrassed or shy to speak in front of the class. Laura made us all feel like a family, and encouraged us at all times to express ourselves and more importantly to SPEAK and not be concerned about errors, which is always a fear for a student learning a new language. My teacher for the afternoon was Alessandro. For 1.5 hours, we just spoke about so many interesting topics and he improved and instructed me on so many areas of grammar where it was needed. A very relaxed, comfortable and a educational experience.
Since being in Rome for 2 weeks, my Italian has improved incredibly to the point that my business partners here in Rome were “gob smacked” that I had learnt so much in such short time!
Thank you to all at Scuola Leonardo and I will definitely be back soon.

Elizabeth Rosa
Managing Director
Campo Marzio Australia

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Cara Geraldine,
cari insegnanti

In ottobre ho partecipato al corso per insegnanti di italiano per stranieri. Sono stata molto soddisfatta. Il corso per me è stato molto interessante. Tutti gli aspetti importanti sono stati presi in considerazione. Ringrazio di cuore tutti.

Cari saluti da Zurigo.

Anita, Switzerland

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Now a week after the end of my 12 week course, id like to finally thank you. This whole almost-three month italian experience was absolutely perfect. The food, the culture, the great family with lady Marcella :) and finally the teachers I'm studying so i know how hard is to meet good,kind and calm teachers. You all were absolutely fabulous. As far as I can remember for the 12 weeks, I had Julia, Martina,Sonia,Sylvia and Serena and they were by far the best teachers i have ever met. And Izzy told me her teachers were awesome too :) I hope i will return to Siena, to this school one day. So once again thank you for everything......

Matej Rademacher, Czech Republic

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When I want to brush up on my Italian, I book a language course at Scuola Leonardo Da Vinci. I already went to this school in Milano for an intensive course, to the affiliated school in Viareggio for a standard course and now I planned to follow a course in Rome. What I like about the schools is the concept: decent lessons, a varied activity program and good accommodation for a reasonable price. The school in Milan is located in a very nice area and the school facilities are great. I attended the full activity program, because that is how you meet other students while learning Italian and having fun. At that time my Italian was very poor, but with their professional approach I managed to get a sound basis of the language. The school in Viareggio was also great, especially because I went there in the summer time. The location is perfect and you have easy access to the city centre, the beach and the train station. So, enough reasons to come back!

Ilona, The Netherlands

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Il corso di formazione per insegnanti di italiano è stato bellissimo.
Un’esperienza importante per più ragioni. Prima di tutto per la quantità e qualità di lezioni teoriche relative alla glottodidattica e all’analisi delle tecniche per sviluppare le abilità linguistiche, accompagnate da esempi pratici di unità didattiche e dall’osservazione dell’attività didattica nelle classi. Davvero un corso intensissimo. Non è stato “soltanto” un accumulo di conoscenze, ma un’esperienza collettiva in cui ognuno ha messo in comune molto di sé. Un gruppo di adulti di diversa formazione, età, provenienza (da varie regioni italiane e dall’estero) ha condiviso per due settimane buona parte della giornata affrontando un grosso impegno con entusiasmo, disponibilità, condivisione delle aspettative e dei problemi. Nessun attrito o spirito di competizione, ma disponibilità al sorriso e, in alcuni casi, al gioco. Tutti hanno affrontato il corso come un momento importante di formazione per il lavoro. Le insegnanti hanno svolto il loro compito con grandissima competenza e altrettanta passione, sicuramente cogliendo la serietà delle motivazioni dei loro allievi. Hanno inquadrato la complessa materia in modo da consentire a tutti di proseguire l’apprendimento con lo studio individuale, hanno dato consigli preziosi, rivelato “trucchi”. Anni di esperienza e di insegnamento non hanno intaccato entusiasmo e disponibilità ad essere coinvolte. Insomma è stato bellissimo e le ringrazio tanto…

Mariella

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Grazie mille per le due settimane in cui ho avuto il piacere di imparare l’italiano da voi. Il corso è stato così intenso che tuttora ho sogni in italiano. Stasera comincio a prendere lezioni d’italiano nella scuola ceca. Il mio soggiorno a Roma era troppo corto, ma bellissimo. Sono stato alloggiato proprio in centro, così ho dovuto attraversare tutta la città da sud a nord, due passi da Colosseo. E questo tutto senza la navigazione e senza problemi, eccetto uno: io non capivo quando qualcuno ha detto i numeri. Spero che l‘anno prossimo farò progressi.

Carissimi saluti,

Pavel, Czech Republic

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Il mio giudizio sul corso di formazione per gli insegnanti di italiano è positivo: ho trovato molto interessante l'approccio di tipo "comunicativo", un approccio che ho sperimentato molto raramente come allieva e che ritengo possa essere di grande motivazione ed utilità.
Adesso mi sento più consapevole ed attiva: per farti degli esempi, nel corso del tirocinio che svolgo da un mese circa in una scuola, analizzo meglio gli atteggiamenti e le necessità dei nostri allievi e mi rendo conto della tipologia di didattica proposta.
Cercherò di apportare nelle classi almeno parte di quello che ho imparato durante il corso, sperando che ci possa essere una certa "apertura mentale". Domani avrò modo di sperimentare l'approccio con gli "adolescenti", tra l'altro descritti dalla mia collega come "annoiati" ed "irrequieti".
Ho trovato molto utili le simulazioni delle prove d'esame che avrei volentieri sviluppato maggiormente; purtroppo, i tempi ristretti non lo hanno permesso.

Giulia

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Gli insegnanti della Scuola Leonardo da Vinci non parlano solo l'italiano, vivono l'italiano

Michel, Germania

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"Dear Director, as you will see from the enclosed school certificate, our daughter has not only made the best exam in Italian of the whole class but she has also been awarded with the school annual "prix d'excellence". During her short stay at your school she has been able to improve her language skills from absolute beginner to the level required by her new school. Not only, she even got an excellent result. Once again, many thanks to you and your staff! Viva la Scuola Leonardo da Vinci!"

University Professor, Lausanne, Switzerland

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"Excellent. My host family spoke no English. However they were kind, congenial, and attempted to make my stay a pleasant one."

Teacher High School, Springfield, MA - USA

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"I enjoyed the enthusiasm that both the instructors and students showed. The 'extracurricular' activities arranged by the school were very worthwhile."

Retired, Saint Paul, MN - USA

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"The thing I enjoyed most was the language knowledge I gained that allowed me to relate to local people and develop lasting relationships."

Inside Sales Representative, Addison, IL - USA

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"Everything was timely, accurate and complete."

Educator, Salisbury, MD - USA

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"Our experience with individuals whose culture, language and the way of life different from our own was outstanding. Also the opportunity to see our heritage in art and appreciation of history of America's background settlers was overwhelming. Teachers were very good - content & quality excellent - facilities just fine. "

Retired, Lilydale, MN - USA

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"I enjoyed the perfect combination of schooling/learning and free time, vacation. The curriculum of the school was excellently structured, facilitating a rapid learning of the Italian language. My family stay was most conducive to my rapidly picking-up the language. The teachers I had were very good - very much professionals. It was very good to have a grammar lecture followed by a conversation period. The family stay allowed me to live my 2 weeks in Florence as a 'real' Italian. This was probably the highlight of my stay, and was the primary reason I picked up the language as rapidly as I did. It has enriched me personally and has made me more of an 'expanded' person. I hope to return to the same school for additional schooling. This is a testament to my very strong positive feelings about the program. "

Teacher, Addison, IL - USA

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"As usual it has been a pleasure to read the evaluations of the students that attended your schools. Since several years they are among the very best reports we receive from any school in the world we work with."

Language Travel Agent, Northern Europe

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"The school staff did many extra things to acquaint us with local activities. I highly recommend the school. I certainly enjoyed the food. "

Student, Lilydale, MN - USA

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Vi volevo scrivere se Roma mi piace o non mi piace.
Insomma, mi sono trovato benissimo a Roma. A scuola tutti erano grandiosi, particolarmente la mia insegnante Rossana. Anche fuori la scuola facevo le esperienze buonissime: Roma, la cui atmosfera, la gente, la vità, la passegiata sulla Piazza Navona o Campo di Fiori di sera... e naturalmente le raggazze italiane, le ho trovato molto interessante... Ma purtroppo le non ho conosciuto veramente - magari la prossima volta... perché io devo ritornare...

Elektrotechniker, Heiligenstadt, Deutschland

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"We had excellent value. Very pleased."

Retired, Educator, MD - USA

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"I am in a better position to advise my students on study abroad programs."

High School Counselor, Springfield, MA - USA

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"The instructors were excellent and approached the students in a good natured positive way. They showed considerable imagination in developing and presenting their material, especially in conversation class."

Retired (former Architect), Saint Paul, MN - USA

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"The conversation portion of the class was most interesting in that we discussed current social and cultural aspects of the 'Italian way of life'!"

Inside Sales Representative, Addison, IL - USA

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"I liked the people at the school, learned a lot, and also enjoyed family dinners with our hostess and other students."

Educator, Salisbury, MD - USA

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"The homestay was probably one of the most valuable and enjoyable of all my experiences." (Florence)

"It was interesting being one of the few Americans enrolled. I had the opportunity to meet and become close friends with people from all over the world." (Rome)

Student, Hollis Hills, NY - USA

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"Our experience at the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci was a very growing one for my wife and I... The school was excellent and the staff was extremely professional."

Real Estate, Boise, ID - USA

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"I feel that my experience at the Scuola Leonardo Da Vinci has significantly improved my level of communicating in Italian, and I now feel much more 'marketable'!"

English Teacher, New York, NY - USA

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"Alessandra was a great teacher with a sense of humor - very important. I liked playing games, interviewing other students, and role-playing."

Student Political Sciences, Split (Croatia)

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"The tour of the Duomo given by Cinzia was outstanding. She took time to explain a lot, and made the visit fun. Everybody I met at the school was positive and always tried to be helpful."

Banker, Dordrecht (Holland)

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"There are classes on so many different levels that each student can be placed in a class on the right level. Everything is so well organized. We are so warmly welcomed! Perfetto!!"

Electrical Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA - USA

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"The teachers were outstanding. Lessons with a lot of variety (video, songs, newspaper articles etc) a good balance grammar / oral work."

Legal Secretary, London (U.K.)

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"I found positive the way the teacher encouraged and paid attention to the needs of the whole group. There was a convivial atmosphere where old and young and different nationalities mix well. Thank you all for your patience, kindness and understanding."

Nurse, Oak Park, IL - USA

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"Anything is great. The secretaries were the best. Keep up the great work. The staff is so friendly - thank you!"

Tour guide, San Francisco, CA - USA

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"I liked that the intensive instructor allowed me to learn what I wanted and offered suggestions where I might improve."

Student, Fukuoka City, Japan

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"The teachers have a very good pedagogic method. The fellow students extremely pleasant. The atmosphere in the class very friendly."

Seminarian Roman Catholic, Glendale NY - USA