Courses of Italian language and culture on Garda Lake

Every summer, SLAM - University of Milan Language Centre organizes the Chiara and Giuseppe Feltrinelli International Courses of Italian Language and Culture at the University branch in Gargnano on Lake Garda. The courses are open to international users at the University of Milan (i.e., students enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or single-cycle Master’s degree course, Erasmus+ incoming students, PhD students, research fellows, scholarship holders, and specialisation school students) and to international users external to the University proving at least the B1 level of Italian language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The course lasts three weeks and includes 90 hours of Italian language and culture learning per round:

• First round: 1 to 20 July 2024
• Second round: 22 July to 10 August 2024

International users at the University of Milan may apply for a scholarship whereas non-Italian citizens external to the University can participate paying a small fee.

The programme includes cultural activities, among which an opera performance at the Arena of Verona and a tour of the old lemon tree house La Malora.

Students completing the course earn 3 university credits.

The University Language Centre SLAM organises an Italian language training and refresher course intended for Italian L2 teachers. The course is open to all Italian L2 teachers working in Italy or abroad at Universities, Italian Cultural Institutes or other public and/or private bodies.

The course can be acknowledged as Erasmus+ training week (link).

REQUIREMENTS

• age limit: 25-60 y.o.
• minimum knowledge level of the Italian language: B2
• for candidates of non-Italian nationality, the language level will be verified by means of a language certificate or statement attached to the application form.

COURSE DURATION

The course will take place in the University branch of Gargnano (BS) on lake Garda, at Palazzo Feltrinelli, from 31st August to 6th September 2025.

The course has a duration of one week, for 25 lesson hours with language trainers specialised in teaching L2 Italian, divided as follows:

• mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 a.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 5:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

In addition to the didactic activities, there will be some cultural activities among which a visit to the ancient lemon house ‘La Malora’.

At the end of the course, participants will receive a statement of attendance.

COURSE PROGRAMME

Starting from the theoretical premises, the course aims to develop the language-teaching skills in order to effectively address the teaching of L2 Italian. Specifically, the course will provide the strategies and the instruments functional to the development of language skills of learners in various contexts. The course has a theoretical-practical approach.

Those attending the course will deal with some topics during the morning lessons, with a workshop-like approach, while in the two afternoons they will do a practical experimentation of what has been learned, through workshops and simulations.

The programme will be soon defined.

FEE:

The course has a fee of € 690 (VAT and charges included), inclusive of:

• 25-hour training and refresher course;
• Cultural visit at the ancient Lemon house “La Malora”;
• Every meal at Palazzo Feltrinelli (breakfast, lunch and dinner – starting from the dinner of Sunday, 31st August, and until the breakfast of Saturday, 6th September);
• Accomodation in single/double room for single use at Palazzo Feltrinelli or at Casa Bertolini, located at 150 mt, from Palazzo Feltrinelli. Please note that some rooms in Palazzo Feltrinelli do not have a private en-suite bathroom and that, depending on the number of course participants, sharing a bathroom with 1 or 2 adjacent single rooms may be required. Additionally, please be aware that Casa Bartolini is not equipped with an elevator to access the upper floors (3 in total).

The fee does not cover:

• Travel expenses
• Extra drinks (wine, coffee)
• Optional cultural activities organised by the SLAM Centre
• Everything not mentioned in the activities included in the fee.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Candidates must submit their application between 17th March and 30th April 2025 h 12.00 am via the dedicated link that will soon be published on this page

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• curriculum vitæ in Italian;
• for foreign candidates: language proficiency certificate or statement at B2 level or higher;
• scanned copy of a valid identification document/passport

Pursuant to European Regulations 2016/679, please be informed that the University undertakes to respect the confidentiality of the information provided by the candidates.

After the deadline, the SLAM Centre will evaluate the applications prioritising teachers who work abroad and will establish the ranking of the eligible candidates, publishing it by the middle of May 2025.

If one or more requirements are not met, the SLAM Centre will reject the application and inform the applicant. 

If the number of eligible applications exceeds 25, a waiting list will be drawn up, and the candidates included in it will be notified.

FINALISING THE REGISTRATION

The selected applicants shall confirm their participation by Monday 16th June 2025 by paying the fee of 690 euros, according to modalities which will be communicated in due time. 

Following the payment, the selected applicants will receive an e-mail with further details and useful information.

Between 16th and 30th June 2025, in case of vacant places, the candidates in the waiting list will be contacted and will have to confirm their participation by 15th July 2025 by paying the fee of 690 euros, according to modalities which will be communicated in due time.

All participants will have to inquire by themselves about the procedures to be followed to obtain a visa, if necessary, as well as arrange health insurance for their stay.