Italian Facts
Diphthongs (two vowels following each other) in Italian are pronounced as two separate letters
Italian is a Romance language spoken by around 63 million people worldwide, primarily in Italy and Switzerland
Out of all Romance languages, Italian is considered to be the one most closely resembling Latin in terms of vocabulary
Get audio
Nell’alto Medioevo Firenze non aveva grande importanza in quanto la città principale della Toscana era Lucca. Solo verso il Mille la città comincia ad assumere un ruolo centrale e ad imporre il suo dominio sulle altre città toscane. Inoltre Firenze rimane famosa nella storia anche per le lotte sanguinose fra le fazioni dei Guelfi, appoggiati dal Papato e degli Angioini, e dei Ghibellini, fedeli all’imperatore di Svevia.
Questo splendido capoluogo toscano fu anche la culla natale dei più grandi artisti italiani come: Giotto, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Donatello, Andrea della Robbia, Benozzo, Gozzoli, Leon Battista Alberti, Michelangelo ed il celebre scrittore e poeta Dante Alighieri.
Questi artisti hanno lasciato il loro segno in ogni angolo della città che presenta bellezze architettoniche incredibili quali il Duomo con il suo celebre Campanile, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo a Santa Maria Novella e le sfarzose dimore delle famiglie che hanno dominato la città, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Strozzi e Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Le policromie di marmi, bianchi, verdi e rosati creano un'atmosfera davvero magica.
Uno degli angoli più suggestivi di Firenze è il Ponte Vecchio che va ammirato dal ponte di S.Trinità, quando il sole cala sull’Arno. La luce che si riflette fa assumere alla costruzione un colore ambrato, e il ponte sembra una nave carica di passeggeri che scivola lungo il fiume.
Anche al di là degli itinerari dei monumenti famosi si rimane affascinati dalle vie, dai cortili e dai palazzi di una capitale dell’arte che ha saputo conservare magnificamente i suoi tesori.
Italian links
Our native-speaking qualified Italian teachers can guide you and your group at your work or at home, at a time convenient to you. Classes can take place on any day of the week - even weekends - morning, afternoon or evening. If needs be, if meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you.
Book now / EnquiryThese courses in Italian are meant for those that feel that learning Italian would make a change in their work. For starters, it is expedient to learn how to say hello/goodbye, as well as basic business protocol; once the basics have been mastered, reading and writing come to the fore. Students who have greatly benefitted have been involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where another language is required, and those working in the international academia and government circuits. Even on our most fundamental beginner's course, students can anticipate ending the course with basic telephone Italian and e-mail Italian skills for communicating, as well as survival Italian if a short visit to the country is needed.
Book now / EnquiryItalian courses of this type are broader and are aimed towards students with a variety of requirements. While all beginner level students will cover survival Italian - needed for short visits to countries where English isn't widely spoken, or if you wish to 'go local'; those studying Italian usually go in different directions at this point, depending on what they need. Those who have benefitted from these Italian classes have been those investing in or buying property overseas, those married to overseas nationals, people setting off on a round-the-world trip, enthusiasts in Italian culture, and those enthusiastic to pass a specific exam in Italian.
Book now / EnquiryThe Italian courses are also available for 2 or more people studying together (Two-to-One Italian Course or Small Group In-Company Italian Course). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn do not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people although In-Company Taster Italian Courses can be run with up to 12 people.
Book now / Enquiry
Belfast
The historic capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast is the second largest city on the island of Ireland, after Dublin, with a population of over 275,000 in the city limits alone. Famous for its shipbuilding (the Titanic was built here in 1912, and Belfast also sports the largest drydock in the world), Belfast has been for a long time an industrial city, with industries such as linen, rope-making, tobacco and heavy engineering thriving by the end of the 19th century. However, the city is not without its greenery, with over 40 public parks; and is also a cultural and academic centre, earning it the nickname The Athens of Ireland.
Italian Testimonials
"This is just a quick note to say thank you for arranging our Italian classes. We really enjoyed them and we liked Maria very much. We are interested in having some more lessons, perhaps once a week now. We'd like them to focus on conversation so that we can practise what we've learned so far."