Archives for 2025

The second ‘module’ of the Summer session of Italian evening classes at our language school here in Bologna will begin next week.

The three-week (18 hour) evening class ‘module’ will begin on May 19th/22nd 2025 for the lower levels and on June 4th for the more advanced class, after which there’ll be two further three-week modules.

There’s plenty of time, then, for anyone living or studying in Bologna to improve their Italian before the summer break.

Evening class groups starting next week are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 19/05/25
• A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 22/05/25
• B2/C1 (upper-intermediate/advanced), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 04/06/25

Each group has space for newcomers or returning students. Ask us for details!

All dates for the Summer evening class modules can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website.

And/or contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

Prices are on the Prices page.

But what if you’re not in Bologna, or aren’t free in the evenings? Then take a look at our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Do you read/listen to EasyItalianNews.com? (If not, you really should!)

The thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian are a fantastic, FREE way to improve your knowledge of the language, as well as being valuable skills (reading/listening) practice, so ideal to supplement a more traditional Italian course.

Subscribe (it really is FREE) by entering your email address on this page, then clicking the link in the ‘please confirm’ email to verify that you wish to receive the free bulletins via email each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

(If you don’t see the ‘please confirm’ email, be sure to check your spam/junk folder!)

Go here – EasyItalianNews.com – to check out this great free material for Italian learners!

Then subscribe (for FREE) here.

Taking online Italian lessons?

If you and your teacher use Skype, read this. It’s important!

Microsoft will be ‘retiring’ Skype on 5 May 2025, which is just two weeks away.

Skype users should agree with their online teachers to switch to one of the free alternatives listed below.

You and your teacher should allow a few minutes during your next lesson to try out a new video-calling solution (why not do that IN Italian??)

It should be simple, and will usually take just a few minutes, but not everyone is great with technology, so better get it done before Skype ‘retires’, if possible.

If you need help, ask your teacher for suggestions and support.

If things are still unclear, email us at info@madrelinguabologna.com

Skype Alternatives to use from May 5th 2025

Zoom

Many of us used Zoom during the pandemic, so this is one of the most straightforward Skype alternatives.

If your teacher has an account, all you’ll need to do is click on the link sent to you before your online lesson, and follow the prompts to install the necessary (free) software on your device.

Zoom’s free plan allows online lessons of up to 40 minutes. If you wish, you can sign up for an account at https://zoom.us/it/signup#/signup in which case you’ll be able to use it for other things, not just lessons.

Or just wait for your teacher to send you the lesson link, in which case you don’t need an account.

Google Meet

This is also very easy, as long as you already have a Google/Gmail account. The only hard part is finding the app…

From inside your Gmail, look for the grey icon comprising nine dots. On my PC, it’s in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Click on the nine grey dots to view the various apps that are included with your Google account. The one you want is called ‘Meet’ and the icon is a multi-coloured square with an overlaid green triangle, presumably a movie camera. I had to look carefully to find it, but it’s there!

Click on the ‘movie camera’ to open a new window on your PC (or download the Meet app from your device’s app store). Using it should be simple, assuming your teacher also has a Google account (check with him/her first…)

Google accounts are free, and in any case, useful. Lessons on Google Meet can last up to  60 minutes. For more details: https://meet.google.com/landing

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft’s alternative to Skype is  ‘Microsoft Teams’. As with Google Meet, ‘Microsoft Teams for home’ allows online meetings of up to 60 minutes on the free plan. Find out more at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/teams-for-home

You’ll need to make sure you have the app on your device. Here’s the link for PCs: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app Or check your device’s app store.

Once you have the software, you should be able to log in with your Skype username and password, assuming you still know them.

That’s handy, as your Skype contacts (i.e. your teacher, but also any friends you’ve called in the past) will automatically be transferred to Teams.

WhatsApp

And of course there’s WhatsApp, which most people will be familiar with from their smartphones.

Besides being the most popular messaging app, you can also use it to make audio and video calls.

And if you’re not happy about doing lessons on a smartphone, there’s a free app for your computer or tablet: https://www.whatsapp.com/download

Buona Pasqua da tutti noi a Madrelingua!

The school will be open tomorrow as normal, given that ‘Venerdì Santo’ is not a public holiday in Italy, but closed on Monday (‘Pasquetta’), which is.

We’re also closed for public holidays on Friday April 25th (‘il giorno della Liberazione’) and on May 1st (‘Festa dei lavoratori’).

Students taking courses of one or two weeks duration which include these dates will pay less for their course to compensate for the missed day or days. The prices of longer courses are already discounted, so not further reduced for public holidays.

The start/end dates of Italian evening clases take into account public holidays, so an 18-hour evening class module always lasts 18 hours.

And talking of Italian evening clases, the Summer session begins at the end of April

The first three-week (18 hour) evening class ‘module’ will begin on April 28th/29th/30th 2025 (depending on the level of the class), after which there’ll be three further three-week modules, so plenty of time for anyone living or studying in Bologna to improve their Italian before the summer vacation!

Planned Summer session groups are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 28/04/25
• B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 29/04/25
• B2/C1 (upper-intermediate/advanced), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 30/04/25

Interested students should please contact us (even over Easter, we always respond to emails and phone calls) so that we can confirm those classes.

Dates for the Summer evening class modules can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website.

Prices are on the Prices page.

Contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

And if you’re not in Bologna, or aren’t free in the evenings? Then take a look at our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Don’t forget to read/listen to EasyItalianNews.com, will you?

The thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian are a fantastic, FREE way to improve your knowledge of the language, as well as being valuable skills (reading/listening) practice, so ideal to supplement a more traditional Italian course.

Subscribe by entering your email address on this page, then clicking the link in the ‘please confirm’ email to verify that you wish to receive the free bulletins via email each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

(If you don’t see the ‘please confirm’ email, be sure to check your spam/junk folder!)

The fourth and final ‘module’ of the Spring session of Italian evening classes at our language school here in Bologna will begin next week.

The three-week (18 hour) evening class ‘module’ will begin on March 24th/25th 2025 (depending on the level of the class), after which there’ll be a short break before the Summer session, which will comprise four three-week modules beginning on April 28th and ending on July 22nd.

Plenty of time, then, for anyone living or studying in Bologna to improve their Italian before the summer vacation!

Confirmed groups starting next week are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 24/03/25
• A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 25/03/25
• B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 24/03/25

Each group has space for newcomers or returning students. Ask us for details!

All dates for the Summer evening class modules can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website.

And/or contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

Prices are on the Prices page.

But what if you’re not in Bologna, or aren’t free in the evenings? Then take a look at our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Do you read/listen to EasyItalianNews.com? (If not, you really should!)

The thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian are a fantastic, FREE way to improve your knowledge of the language, as well as being valuable skills (reading/listening) practice, so ideal to supplement a more traditional Italian course.

Subscribe (it really is FREE) by entering your email address on this page, then clicking the link in the ‘please confirm’ email to verify that you wish to receive the free bulletins via email each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

(If you don’t see the ‘please confirm’ email, be sure to check your spam/junk folder!)

Go here – EasyItalianNews.com – to check out this great free material for Italian learners!

Then subscribe (for FREE) here.

Just a quick email to publicise the third module of the Spring session of Italian evening classes at our language school here in Bologna.

The next three-week (18 hour) evening class ‘module’ will begin on March 3rd/4th 2025 (depending on the level of the class), after which there will be one more Spring session module, also lasting three weeks – so 36 hours in total – followed by the entire Summer session, comprising four three-week modules beginning on April 28th and ending on July 22nd.

Plenty of time, then, for anyone living or studying in Bologna to improve their Italian before the summer break!

Confirmed groups starting next week are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 03/03/25
• A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 04/03/25
• B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 03/03/25

Each group has space for newcomers or returning students. Ask us for details!

Prices are on the Prices page.

All dates for the Spring and Summer evening class modules can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website.

And/or contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

But if you’re not in Bologna, or aren’t free in the evenings? Take a look at our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Do you read/listen to EasyItalianNews.com?

Their thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian are a fantastic, FREE way to improve your knowledge of the language, as well as being valuable skills (reading/listening) practice, so ideal to supplement a more traditional Italian course.

Subscribe (for FREE) by entering your email address on this page, then clicking the link in the ‘please confirm’ email to verify that you wish to receive the free bulletins via email each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

(If you don’t see the ‘please confirm’ email, check your spam/junk folder!)

Not sure? Go here – EasyItalianNews.com – to check out this great free material for Italian learners!

Then subscribe (it really is FREE) here.

My, how 2025 is flying past!

We’re already in February and already advertising the second module of the spring session of evening classes at our Italian school in Bologna.

Anyone who’s living or studying here could take advantage to improve their Italian before the weather improves (and it’s time to hit the beach!)

The next three-week (18 hour) evening class ‘module’ is programmed to begin on February 10th/11th 2025 (depending on the level of the class), after which there will be two further modules, each also lasting three weeks, so 54 hours in total.

Confirmed groups for next week are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 10/02/25
• A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 11/02/25
• B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 10/02/25

Each group has space for newcomers or for returning students. Ask us for details!

The dates of the Spring and Summer evening class modules can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website.

Prices are on the Prices page.

And/or contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

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

Take a look at our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Reading and listening to thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian is a fantastic, FREE way to improve your knowledge of the language, as well as being valuable skills (reading/listening) practice, so ideal to supplement a more traditional Italian course.

To subscribe (for FREE) enter your email address on this page, then look out for the ‘please confirm’ email, which contains a link to click to verify that you wish to receive this free content each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. If you don’t see that, check your spam/junk folder.

Go here – EasyItalianNews.com – to check out this great free material for Italian learners!

Then subscribe (for FREE) here.

Madrelingua opened again last week after the two-week Christmas/New Year break. Morning classes are running as normal, and all levels have space, if anyone’s interested in a last-minute Italian course.

And starting on Jan. 20th/21st 2025 at our Italian school in Bologna we have the spring session of evening classes.

Anyone who’s living or studying here could take advantage of the gloomy months from January to March/April to improve their Italian an entire level!

The first three-week (18 hour) ‘module’ is programmed to begin on 20th/21st January 2025 (depending on the level of the class), after which there will be three further modules, each also lasting three weeks, so 72 hours in total.

Confirmed groups are:

• A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 20/1/25
• A2/B1 (pre-intermediate/intermediate), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18.00-21.00, from 21/1/25
• B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate), Mondays and Wednesdays, 18.00-21.00, from 20/1/25

All the dates of the Spring session modules (twelve weeks in total) can be found on the Italian evening courses page of the school website. Prices are on the Prices page.

And/or contact us to find out more, and to arrange a level test, if you don’t already know yours.

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

Follow these links to find out more about our other Italian course options:

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

P.S.

Another fantastic, FREE way to improve your Italian is to subscribe to EasyItalianNews.com, which offers simplified news bulletins in Italian, three times a week (text plus audio).

Reading and listening to their thrice-weekly bulletins of news in Italian will help you maintain your skills and/or act as a supplement to your Italian course, even if you aren’t able to travel to Italy right now.

Enter your email address on this page, then look out for the ‘please confirm’ email, which contains a link to click to verify that you wish to receive this free content each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. If you don’t see that, check your spam/junk folder.

Browse EasyItalianNews.com to check out this great free material!