Learning Italian: The Esperienza Way

About Our Teaching Approach

At Esperienza, our approach to learning Italian is centered on growing students’ ability to handle a variety of real-life situations while benefitting from the unique opportunities we offer for deep immersion. 

The Esperienza Way is clearly expressed not only in the title we chose for the program, Living the Language, but also in its reversal: Language for Living. We offer a genuine task-based immersion learning opportunity for adults, blending comprehensive exposure with explicit instruction. As students progress, the material and teaching will gradually change the ratio between the two, with increasing emphasis on applying the students’ skills through real-life interactions.

While grammar practice and vocabulary enrichment are present, the main focus is on so-called situation-based learning. In the course of our program, we will visit (and revisit) many of the most typical tasks one may encounter when traveling or living in Italy. In class, role-playing, songs, poetry and use of high-frequency vocabulary and phrases will build confidence faster than passive listening or mere memorization, and consequently, will lead to a more relaxed attitude during the many opportunities we offer students to practice what they are learning. We will gradually move students from conversations in class to a “Buddy” program - pairing advanced learners with less experienced students to further extend their conversational skills in a larger group of students, and ultimately, interacting with locals.

Esperienza’s Italian Language Immersion program curriculum maps out instruction from beginning to fluent mastery, following the general guidelines of the international Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Naturally, the curriculum will be adjusted to the level and needs of the specific students participating and class levels formed in each program.

The overriding goal is to take each student’s skills from the classroom to the piazza - whether that means ordering an aperitivo with confidence or meeting people and building friendships.