Archives for 2021

The Christmas/New Year festivities are not much more than two weeks away!

But even that can seem like a long time if you’re waiting for Santa to come down the chimney with a jute sack over his shoulder…

To keep you busy then, we’ve scheduled our ‘2022 Italian Course Offer’ for the next fortnight!

You’ll be able to save 20% on group Italian courses at our school in Bologna.

Study for as little as a week, or as long as a year, at a fantastic discount!

You don’t even have to decide WHEN in 2022.

This is a busy period, after all.

Watch out on Monday 13th December 2021 for more details about the offer…

In the meantime, take a look at these articles about learning Italian.

For instance:

‘Why can’t I understand spoken Italian?’

and if you have time…

‘Ever wished for the super power of learning languages?’

There’s even…

Will an Italian course make me richer and more attractive?’

You’ll find more like this on our ‘best articles’ page.

Plus, Madrelingua also has a FAQ.

Suppose reading’s not your thing?

No worries!

Whatever you want to know about Italian courses in Bologna in 2022, just ask Stefi!

Ready to answer your questions!!

Just a quick announcement to all current, former and perhaps future Madrelingua students – our annual 20% discount promotion is coming soon!

The 2022 Italian Course Offer will begin on Monday 13th of December 2021, and end at midnight on Christmas Day, which is the Saturday of the week after.

During that period you’ll be able to save a full 20% on group Italian courses OF ANY LENGTH at our school in Bologna.

A lot of our regulars pay a small deposit during the annual December offer, then decide later, depending on their circumstances, when to do their course and for how long.

That’s just fine!

That way, there’s no need for you to spend time making definite plans during this busy period before Christmas. While we get an idea of how many people are interested in courses for the coming year, and can therefore more confidently plan staffing and so on

Anyway, there’ll be full details of the 2022 Italian course promotion on Monday 13th.

In the meantime, I want to alert anyone who is NO LONGER INTERESTED IN LEARNING ITALIAN that now would be the ideal time to unsubscribe from our email list, so ensuring that you won’t be bothered in future.

Articles that we publish on the school website (like this one) are emailed out automatically. But there will always be an ‘unsubscribe’ link, either at the top or the bottom, or both.

To remove your email from the list, just click that link and follow the simple instructions. It should take just seconds.

But if you are, definitely, still interested?

Remember, the offer doesn’t begin until Dec. 13th, so don’t go booking your course immediately (someone always does…), unless you don’t care about the discount, of course.

Instead, you could check out the Italian courses page on the website, look at course prices (remember to mentally deduct 20%), read the FAQ and, if you questions are not answered there, contact us.

My wife, Stefi, will be happy to respond to your email, talk to you on the phone, or welcome you if you decide to come by the school to take a look around.

Two final comments – firstly, anyone who has previously paid a course deposit but not actually come to do a course (perhaps because of the pandemic), absolutely need not pay again. Your deposit will remain valid. All you need to do is email the dates you intend to study. You could even do that now…

And secondly, what if you KNOW YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO DO A COURSE IN 2022 but still want to learn or improve your Italian?

Some of the school staff and teachers also work on other projects that might interest you.

For example, EasyItalianNews.com, which offers FREE audio + transcript ‘easy’ news broadcasts three times a week.

And of course there’s OnlineItalianClub.com, which features thousands of pages of FREE exercises and practice material, plus articles about learning Italian.

You could even take some Italian lessons online, without ever leaving the comfort of your home or office!

That’s everything, I think.

Buona giornata, allora.

P.S.

Don’t forget, if you’d rather not hear about the 2022 Italian course promotion, look for the ‘Unsubscribe’ link, at the top or bottom of any email you receive from us.

The Autumn/Fall session of Italian evening classes in Bologna is underway, so if you’re in our city, why not join us to improve your Italian?

For anyone working or studying here, taking two evening lessons per week is an ideal way to improve your Italian. It’s also a great opportunity to make new friends, and so speak the language socially.

We’ve got three continuing groups, all running from 18.00 to 21.00:

A1 (beginner/elementary) – Mon./Wed., 5 places left – new module begins Wed. 20th October 2021
A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate) – Tue./Thu., 4 places left – new module begins Tue. 19th October 2021
B1/B2 (intermediate/upper intermediate) – Tue./Thu., 2 places left – new module begins Tue. 19th October 2021

Plus there’s a group that will begin when we have sufficient enrollments:

C1/C2 (advanced) – Mon./Wed., start date to confirm

But what if you can’t make the evening classes, or are a long way from Bologna?

There’s always the option to take personalised individual lessons, even online, via Skype or Zoom!

Or you could plan a visit… our Italian courses page has details about standard and intensive Italian courses.

To find out more, follow these links: Bologna | Italian Courses | Prices | FAQ | How To Book | Contact Us

P.S.

Are you one of the over ten thousand five hundred students of Italian from around the world who have already subscribed (for free) to receive simplified news bulletins three times a week from EasyItalianNews.com?

The editor is Stefi, owner/receptionist at Madrelingua. The news broadcasts are recorded by her son, Tom.

Sign up here to receive the FREE simplified EasyItalianNews.com bulletins (text + audio) each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, directly in your email inbox.

Or visit the website and take a look around.

From next week (Sept. 27th 2021), we have two Italian evening classes starting at our Italian school in Bologna.

They are:

A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T.
A2/B1 (intermediate) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T.

We’re also hoping to open other levels – anyone interested should please let us know!

Why not join us to improve your Italian? With just two evening classes a week, and taking advantage of the gloomy months from October to December, you could improve an entire level!

The three-week (18 hour) ‘module’ starting next week will end by October 14th, after which there will then be three further modules, each also lasting three weeks (18 hours), from October 18th to November 04th, from November 08th to November 25th, and from November 29th to December 16th.

Full details, including prices, are available on our website.

If you’re unsure which class is right for you, please contact us to arrange a test.

So what about those of you who are not in Bologna, or who are not free in the evenings?

To find out more about our other Italian course options, follow these links:

Italian Courses | Prices | FAQ | How To Book | Contact Us

P.S.

Have you subscribed (for FREE) to EasyItalianNews.com, yet? It offers simplified news bulletins in Italian, three times a week (text plus audio). There’s no better way to maintain or improve your Italian, especially for anyone who isn’t currently able to travel to Europe, or as a supplement to your Italian course!

Enter your email address on this page and watch your inbox for the ‘please confirm’ email, which contains the usual link to click to confirm you wish to receive this free content each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (if you don’t see it, check your spam/junk folder!)

Take a look around EasyItalianNews.com!

Italian courses at Madrelingua in Bologna have been running throughout the summer ‘in presenza’, so no longer online, but things have obviously been a lot quieter than in a non-pandemic year.

But now, with the cooler weather, the universities starting their academic programs, and the ending of the requirement for visitors from Britain to quarantine for five days on arrival (you’ll still need a ‘green pass’ or recent negative test), things are finally looking up!

On Monday 6th of September we have a number of new students arriving, and so will be restarting our (free, supplementary) afternoon tutoring slot. The hours for that will be from 5 to 7 p.m. and we have a fresh, new university student tutor to help you with your homework, and practise speaking Italian with (this is in addition to your classes in the mornings, obviously.)

And because we’ll finally have a decent number of people in the school (don’t worry – it won’t be crowded, we have four spacious classrooms and two smaller ones, which permits ‘social distancing’), we’ll be emphasising the chance to participate in social activities, with other students and the tutor, so as to make friends to speak Italian with.

These might include going for a drink (tables on the sidewalk, not inside), a visit to a museum (visitor numbers strictly limited), or a walk around the city. So your course is more than just the basic lessons, but includes chances to interact with other people outside of the classroom, if you choose to do so.

Check the ‘information for tourists’ on this page to find out what the rules are for travelers from your country.

Find out about Bologna here, look at photos of the school here, read articles about learning Italian here.

Italian course information is here, the prices are here, and this page explains how to book.

And here’s how to contact us, if you have questions, or need more information.

Covid protocol notes!

The rules designed to keep you (and us) safe change often, and it’s not always clear who they apply to… For example, for over a month, schools were open ‘in presenza’ but language ‘courses’ like ours still had to be held online. Someone just forgot us, probably. Italy can be like that!

For the moment, we’re allowed to teach classes, with actual students, in physical classrooms, as long as we follow the sanitation rules, which we understand to be:

• everyone, staff and students, has to wear masks when they’re in the building, though not if you go out for coffee with your classmates, for example
• we check your temperature as you enter in the morning
• you’ll need to sit at least a metre away from other students (we arrange the tables to make this possible)
• we discourage crowding in corridors, the entrance, the toilets, etc.
• the classrooms have to be well ventilated, which usually means leaving windows and doors open (how this will work in the winter, we’re unsure…)
• there’s hand-sterilisng solution everywhere
• the classrooms are cleaned after each use

N.b. It’s not yet clear if/when we will be required to check students’ ‘green passes’ or equivalent. Not everyone has them, yet.

Italian kids are due to go back to school in a couple of weeks, and there’s still a lot of debate about the hows and the whos of green pass checking – for the staff, but also for the children, many of whom won’t have had the chance to be vaccinated.

There’s also discussion about whether employers in sectors other than education will have to check their employee’s green passes, or not. It’s controversial!

Watch this space for further details, as they become available!

Anyone considering travelling to Italy in the near future might be interested in this webpage, provided by Italia.it, which is Italy’s official tourism promotion agency, apparently.

You can find out what you have to do to enter the country (it depends on where you’re coming from) and what to expect when you get here. Take a look: http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-updates-information-for-tourists.html

One thing that comes across very clearly is how vital it already is, and will increasingly be, to have your ‘green pass’, as the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate is known (if you don’t live in the EU, your country may have an equivalent.)

From the beginning of September, it’ll be needed in order to board a flight, a train or a long distance bus. It’ll be checked when you enter a theater or similar public venue. You’ll need one if you want to eat inside, go to a gym, or are invited to a wedding reception. The website I linked to above has a long list…

On the other hand, at least for the moment, you DON’T need a ‘green pass’ to come and study Italian at our school (though getting here might be a problem without one…)

Students are required to wear masks in the school and we’re keeping windows and doors open to improve ventilation. We’ll measure your temperature when you arrive just to be on the safe side. (If you actually have a temperature, this is what happens…)

September and October are looking like they’ll be ‘busy’ months, at least relatively, given that a lot of our students have always come from Australia (borders closed) and the UK (5-day quarantine). The temperatures should be better, anyway.

A special note to all of you who have already paid a deposit, but not yet taken a course (for obvious reasons…) Assuming you now have a ‘green pass’, or equivalent, why not pay us a visit?

While your deposit won’t expire, ever, and so you should absolutely wait until you’re allowed to travel and feel comfortable doing so, things in Bologna seem more or less back to normal, hence we’re keen to get the school working normally as soon as we are can.

As always, Stefania answers the phone and responds to emails, so if you have doubts/questions do get in touch.

Italian courses in Bologna, Italy | Prices | How to book | Contact us

Following the news in May that vaccinated travelers from certain countries need no longer quarantine on their arrival in Italy, there are now good tidings for students of Italian from the USA.

The Italian embassy in Washington DC has this useful summary, the gist of which is that if you are a.) vaccinated, b.) have recovered from Covid, or c.) have a negative test result from within the last 48 hours, and can demonstrate one of these things to your airline before your departure, and to the immigration officials on your arrival, then you will have no requirement to self-isolate once you get to ‘il bel paese’.

Better still, from June 21st the ‘coprifuoco’ (curfew) has been abolished, so you can enjoy your time in Italy 24 hours a day, if you so choose! Basically, the summer fun is on (as, unfortunately, is the summer heat…)

So is it time to book your Italian course in Bologna, perhaps for a couple of weeks (or more) in July, August or September? Or for later, in the cooler autumn months??

N.b. Students from some countries are still NOT exempt from the quarantine requirement – for example, students from the UK will need to self-isolate for five days because of the Delta variant. Also be aware that, even if you are no longer required to quarantine on arrival in Italy, some countries may insist that you quarantine on your return home. The Italian rules on travel (in italiano) are here, but do check your own country’s situation carefully, too.

Anyway, for all those people who paid a deposit for a course, back before the pandemic began, but haven’t taken their course yet, we haven’t forgotten you! Please let us know, via email or using our booking form, when you’re thinking of coming.

For new students, everything you need to know can be found on these pages:

Italian courses | Prices | How to book

And if you can’t, in the end, make it to Bologna, perhaps because of a cancelled flight or a change in the pandemic situation?

Unlike some Italian language schools in Italy, we don’t expect you to pay for your whole course in advance. Instead, we just ask for a standard deposit, irrespective of how long you plan to study with us.

So as long as you tell us in advance (even a few days, even a few hours), you won’t even lose your deposit – we’ll keep the credit for you, hoping you’ll rebook your course for another time.

Got a question? Need more information? Phone or email us, even at the weekend!

Browse the school website.

Great news! Sort of.

From this weekend, travellers to Italy from certain countries need no longer quarantine on their arrival here!

“niente più quarantena anti-Covid per chi arriva in Italia dagli stati dell’UE, Gran Bretagna e Israele. Basterà infatti esibire un referto negativo del tampone effettuato nelle 48 ore precedenti, o l’attestato di vaccinazione (entrambe le dosi o l’unica dose Johnson & Johnson) o di avvenuta guarigione dal Covid, senza più i cinque giorni di isolamento seguiti da un altro test molecolare o antigenico.”

https://www.quotidiano.net/esteri/quarantena-obbligatoria-italia-1.6363188

“no more anti-Covid quarantine for those arriving in Italy from EU countries, Great Britain and Israel. It will be sufficient to show a negative test result for a test carried out in the previous 48 hours, or a vaccination certificate (both doses, or the Johnson & Johnson single dose) or proof of having recovered from Covid, without any longer having to isolate for five days followed by a further negative test.”

Students from many countries are as yet NOT exexmpt from the quarantine requirement, and ATTENZIONE, even if you are no longer required to quarantine on arrival, certain states (for example the UK) may insist that you quarantine on your return.

So is it time to book your Italian course in Bologna, perhaps for a couple of weeks (or more) in June, July or August? Or for later, in the cooler autumn months??

If you have ALREADY paid a deposit for a course, but for whatever reason not taken the course, we’d be delighted to welcome you back! Just let us know, via email or using our booking form, when you’ll be coming.

Otherwise, take a look at these pages:

Italian courses | Prices | How to book

You’ll see that, unlike some Italian language schools in Italy, we don’t expect students to pay for their courses in advance, we just ask for a standard deposit, irrespective of the length of the course.

And if you can’t make it to Bologna, perhaps because of a cancelled flight or a change in the quarantine regulations, would you lose your €150 deposit?

As long as you tell us in advance (even a few days, even a few hours) then no, don’t worry! We’ll keep the credit for you, hoping you’ll rebook your course for another time.

So is it time to book your Italian course in Bologna??

Check the regulations in your own country – is non-essential travel to Italy permitted? Would you need to quarantine on your return?

Check the availability of flights, and their cost, and the cancellation policies, in case the worst occurs…

For some of you, hopefully, the answer will be “Yes!”

Summer’s coming and Italy is safe and open for business!

Got a question? Need more information? Phone or email us, even at the weekend!

From next week (March 22nd 2021), we have a yet another module of our three Italian evening classes. They’re STILL in online mode, due to the Covid 19 restrictions imposed by the Italian government and by our local authorities.

The levels are:

A2 (pre-intermediate) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 23rd
B1 (intermediate) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 22nd
B2/C1 (upper-intermediate/advanced) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 22nd

The three-week (18 hour) ‘module’ starting next week will end by April 12th, after which there will be additional modules IF there is demand for them.

Why not join us to improve your Italian? With just two evening classes a week, given that there isn’t much else to do right now, you could improve a lot!

If you’re unsure which class is right for you, please contact us to arrange a test.

And for those of you who are not available to study in the evenings, C.E.T.? What about taking personalised online Italian lessons. Find out more:

Italian Courses | Prices | FAQ | How To Book | Contact Us

P.S.

EasyItalianNews.com offers simplified news bulletins in Italian, three times a week (text plus audio), completely free! They’re an excellent way to maintain or improve your Italian, especially when we’re not currently able to travel.

Subscribe (also FREE) by entering your email address on this page. Then look out for the ‘please confirm’ email, which contains a link to click to confirm you wish to receive the free ‘easy news’ bulletins, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (If you don’t see the email with the confirm link, check your spam/junk folder!)

View EasyItalianNews.com!

From next week (March 1st 2021), we have a further module of our three Italian evening classes. They’re STILL in online mode, due to the Covid 19 restrictions imposed by the Italian government and by our local authorities.

The levels are:

A2 (pre-intermediate) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 2nd
B1 (intermediate) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 1st
B2/C1 (upper-intermediate/advanced) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00 C.E.T., from March 1st

The three-week (18 hour) ‘module’ starting next week will end by March 18th, after which there will then be one more module, also lasting three weeks (18 hours), from March 22nd to April 12th.

Why not join us to improve your Italian? With just two evening classes a week, taking advantage of March and April when nothing much is happening, you could improve a lot!

If you’re unsure which class is right for you, please contact us to arrange a test.

And for those of you who are not available to study in the evenings, C.E.T.? What about taking personalised online Italian lessons. Find out more:

Italian Courses | Prices | FAQ | How To Book | Contact Us

P.S.

EasyItalianNews.com offers simplified news bulletins in Italian, three times a week (text plus audio), completely free! They’re an excellent way to maintain or improve your Italian, especially when we’re not currently able to travel.

Subscribe (also FREE) by entering your email address on this page. Then look out for the ‘please confirm’ email, which contains a link to click to confirm you wish to receive the free ‘easy news’ bulletins, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (If you don’t see the email with the confirm link, check your spam/junk folder!)

View EasyItalianNews.com!