The School

SQUOLA transforms the meaning of teaching the Italian language through a simple question: Who speaks Italian and how is it spoken in Italy today? The contemporary approach of SQUOLA aims to go beyond traditional Italian studies by teaching students how to speak and live, and consequently live and speak in Italian society today. SQUOLA students will be exposed to the changing realities of the Italian language, its dialects, foreign influences, the advent of television and cinema, and naturally the historic evolution of the language. We want to take our students beyond memorized words and conversations, we want them to grasp the nuances and sounds of Italian words, understand why a Neopolitan speaks one language and a Ligurian another, what’s happening to dialects today – these objectives and many others will take place, incidentally and appropriately, in the city of that codified the Italian language and home to linguistic pioneers such as Boccaccio and Dante.

CCIS is a new private institution dedicated to the teaching of Italian as a foreign language, Italian literature and Italian studies to international students.

The center offers an innovative intensive language program suited for serious individuals interested in maximizing their progress during their studies in Florence.

Intensive courses may be combined with culinary and professional internship options to enrich their cultural and linguistic experience.

SQUOLA is the seat of the Italian language, literature and studies departments of Florence University of the Arts and thus also offers an Intensive Italian language and studies semester for US university credit.

The center is open to the local and international community by means of a regular public events program which includes: an afternoon lecture and film series as well as special evening events comprising book launches, lectures and discussion groups as well as conferences. To learn more about this activity, please visit the section on Contemporary Italian Studies.