Learn Italian Sydney at Italia 500
Whether your goal is to learn Italian thoroughly, or to learn some Italian in Sydney before heading to Italy, and you are an absolute beginner or you have a smattering of Italian like the odd word or phrase or some language app Italian, our in class summer Italian Beginner 1 course - consisting of two x two hour and fifteen minute (2.25h) classes per week, over four consecutive weeks (18 hours tuition) & corresponding to level A1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - is the course for you! Not only will you learn a huge amount of Italian, but Sydney's CBD is wonderful in January: the weather is warm, the streets are quiet, everyone is relaxed and the chance to meet a group of truly friendly, truly interesting, and truly funny people twice a week, at least for a while, makes this course quite special and our favourite course of the year.
Starting date & time:In class Summer Italian Beginner 1 course - two 2.25h classes per week, either in the morning or in the evening - you pick which of the two suits you best - over four consecutive weeks. Here are the exact times and dates: • Lesson 1: Tuesday 7 Jan. 2025 Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 2: Thursday 9 Jan. 2025 Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 3: Tuesday 14 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 4: Thursday 16 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 5: Tuesday 21 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 6: Thursday 23 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 7: Tuesday 28 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm • Lesson 8: Thursday 30 Jan. Daytime: 10am - 12.15pm Evening: 6.15pm - 8.30pm |
Course price:• 8 week course price: $370
There is no need to purchase expensive textbooks. In fact the prices above include, at no extra cost, the Italia 500 Beginner 1 course notes, in Pdf format, & the Italia 500 Beginner 1 Practice CDs, in Mp3 format, which accompany the course, available for download on enrolment, &, of course, GST. Italia 500 does not charge an enrolment or membership fee. |
How to enrol:
Enrol securely online with Square. Click on the box above. If you'd rather pay by bank transfer, simply email us and we'll send you our bank account details. Please note: we don't hold spots so there is an expectation that you will transfer the fee on the day you request the account details. If this is not the case, please let us know.
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If you have studied Italian before, or you've been self-learning Italian, or you speak or have formally studied a Romance language other than Italian, or you've already learnt a second language, or you have any doubts regarding your level, please contact us prior to enrolling to discuss whether the Beginner 1 course will be appropriate for you.
By enrolling in our courses you agree to our Terms & Conditions of enrolment so please take a moment to read these prior to enrolling. |
Where are the classes held?
Our Italian classes are held at Italia 500 which is located in the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts building at 280 Pitt Street, Lower Ground, Suite A, in the very heart of Sydney's CBD, less than two minutes' walk from Sydney Town Hall, between The Walrus and La Famiglia cafés and opposite Cupcakes on Pitt! (View our location on Google Maps). Buses and metered parking (from 6pm) are all within short distance. If you are driving in, it is probably more convenient to park in a parking station. To find which is the cheapest parking station nearby, visit Parkopedia, insert in the "Where are you going?" field, "280 Pitt Street, Sydney", and the appropriate time range. Our office hours are generally 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday, however, if you are planning to drop by, please contact us ahead. What does Italia 500 look like? Take a peak!
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"For entertaining, expert and affordable Italian lessons right in the heart of Sydney, visit italia500.com.au and take your passport with you, for the minute you set foot in Italia 500 you'll swear you've travelled to Italy! Buon Viaggio!"
Chris Harrison, author of Head Over Heel
Chris Harrison, author of Head Over Heel
Class size:
Our small class size (approx. 12 students) allows for plenty of practice and allows you to meet a range of truly interesting people whose contagious enthusiasm turns each Italian lesson into a gathering of friends rather than a formal Italian class.
Italia 500 reviews:
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I have been enrolled in the Italian classes and have enjoyed them so much!
I have continued on through beginner 1,2&3. The building is centrally located and very easily accessible. The price is very competitive (I have yet to find a better price). The classes are small (about 10-12 people) so you really have chance to get some individual help throughout the lessons. The structure of the lessons flow really well and I was very surprised with how fast I picked up the basics! The structure follows common everyday themes e.g greetings, ordering food and getting directions and progresses so the earlier foundational dialogue that you learn gradually builds and builds to more advanced levels. The take home audio and booklets helped me take my learning beyond the classroom and gave me the power to learn at my own pace. The teachers are very pleasant and have a rich italian heritage so each lesson carries an authentic Italian vibe as they share their stories and experiences. There are also plenty of resources that the Centre has on hand to assist your learning so there is never a dull moment. Overall I highly recommend Italia 500.
I have continued on through beginner 1,2&3. The building is centrally located and very easily accessible. The price is very competitive (I have yet to find a better price). The classes are small (about 10-12 people) so you really have chance to get some individual help throughout the lessons. The structure of the lessons flow really well and I was very surprised with how fast I picked up the basics! The structure follows common everyday themes e.g greetings, ordering food and getting directions and progresses so the earlier foundational dialogue that you learn gradually builds and builds to more advanced levels. The take home audio and booklets helped me take my learning beyond the classroom and gave me the power to learn at my own pace. The teachers are very pleasant and have a rich italian heritage so each lesson carries an authentic Italian vibe as they share their stories and experiences. There are also plenty of resources that the Centre has on hand to assist your learning so there is never a dull moment. Overall I highly recommend Italia 500.
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I've learnt more in 8 weeks with Giacomo and the other tutors than I did in
3.5 years of high school Italian. The teachers are all native Italian speakers so they really know
all the ins and outs of the language and culture. The location is great - it's right in the CBD and the classes are always enjoyable (i.e. hilarious!). Plus, there are no extra fees for textbooks; Giacomo has created his own booklets and audio guides to complement the course. The best bit is that it's not just reciting learnt lines over and over. We're encouraged to get creative and use what we've learnt in actual conversations with the other students. I highly recommend it and plan
to continue learning Italian here!
3.5 years of high school Italian. The teachers are all native Italian speakers so they really know
all the ins and outs of the language and culture. The location is great - it's right in the CBD and the classes are always enjoyable (i.e. hilarious!). Plus, there are no extra fees for textbooks; Giacomo has created his own booklets and audio guides to complement the course. The best bit is that it's not just reciting learnt lines over and over. We're encouraged to get creative and use what we've learnt in actual conversations with the other students. I highly recommend it and plan
to continue learning Italian here!
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Italia 500 is a truly outstanding language course! Friday morning has become
my favourite day of the week. Giacomo is quintessentially Italian and absolutely hilarious.
Not only do I have a fantastic time with a lovely group of people, I cannot believe how quickly we have all developed conversation skills. I am just starting my third beginner course now, and fully intend to continue to sign up. Totally recommend this to everyone as the best way to learn Italian
and have a heap of fun in the process!!!!
my favourite day of the week. Giacomo is quintessentially Italian and absolutely hilarious.
Not only do I have a fantastic time with a lovely group of people, I cannot believe how quickly we have all developed conversation skills. I am just starting my third beginner course now, and fully intend to continue to sign up. Totally recommend this to everyone as the best way to learn Italian
and have a heap of fun in the process!!!!
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Ciao Ragazzi
Italia 500 is an excellent school for learning Italian. I have been at Italia 500 for
three courses and I have been enjoying every minute of it. The head of the school Giacomo
is an excellent teacher and he is very knowledgeable. Giacomo does not use a textbook to teach, instead he makes his very own course notes as well as his own CDs. In the CDs Giacomo does not merely teach you words and phrases he explains the tenses of the beautiful Italian language
and how to use and conjugate them. The CDs are instructive but also humorous at times.
So if you want to learn Italian come down to Italia 500 and start now.
Italia 500 is an excellent school for learning Italian. I have been at Italia 500 for
three courses and I have been enjoying every minute of it. The head of the school Giacomo
is an excellent teacher and he is very knowledgeable. Giacomo does not use a textbook to teach, instead he makes his very own course notes as well as his own CDs. In the CDs Giacomo does not merely teach you words and phrases he explains the tenses of the beautiful Italian language
and how to use and conjugate them. The CDs are instructive but also humorous at times.
So if you want to learn Italian come down to Italia 500 and start now.
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I did the one week Intensive Beginner 1 Course with Giacomo. He is an excellent teacher,
using his experience to preempt confusion and explain things very clearly. We got lots of practice speaking, which I think is the hardest. Giacomo's friendly humour made learning fun, and made us feel comfortable to ask questions. The booklet was helpful and the online lesson recordings were great for practice at home - and these were included in the lesson cost. Exceptional value for money. Giacomo was very helpful on the phone and by email when I was deciding between courses.
using his experience to preempt confusion and explain things very clearly. We got lots of practice speaking, which I think is the hardest. Giacomo's friendly humour made learning fun, and made us feel comfortable to ask questions. The booklet was helpful and the online lesson recordings were great for practice at home - and these were included in the lesson cost. Exceptional value for money. Giacomo was very helpful on the phone and by email when I was deciding between courses.
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Great class and teachers! I have had Italian classes with Silvia (she's lovely) and
Giacomo (hilarious!). The classes are all very interactive with role play and lots of dialogue practice
so you'll be conversation-ready in a few weeks. Good value for money as well as they give you audio tapes and a study book for no extra cost. I'm now in my second level course
and plan to keep studying.
Giacomo (hilarious!). The classes are all very interactive with role play and lots of dialogue practice
so you'll be conversation-ready in a few weeks. Good value for money as well as they give you audio tapes and a study book for no extra cost. I'm now in my second level course
and plan to keep studying.
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Great teachers, very entertaining classes. Easy going learning environment, the teachers
are all from Italy, so you learn the correct pronunciation. The classes are great value for money as you don't have to buy any textbooks, all resources are provided to you including comprehensive audio files.
are all from Italy, so you learn the correct pronunciation. The classes are great value for money as you don't have to buy any textbooks, all resources are provided to you including comprehensive audio files.
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Great comfortable environment to learn the italian language. Our teachers are
all native italian speakers who have great insight into the culture of Italy. Although the classes
are fun and interactive there is also a grammar element present in each lesson we learn.
Best spot to date that I've found in the CBD to learn the Italian language.
all native italian speakers who have great insight into the culture of Italy. Although the classes
are fun and interactive there is also a grammar element present in each lesson we learn.
Best spot to date that I've found in the CBD to learn the Italian language.
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Italia 500 is fantastic. The owner Giacomo makes sure that he hires people from Italy,
allowing the students to not only get an education in the Italian language, but to additionally get an insight into the Italian culture. This is great and very intriguing, and adds a lot to the experience of learning a new language! As all of the teachers are, Giacomo himself is very enthusiastic and entertaining, and expresses himself fantastically well so that you as the student can understand easily! The class sizes are small, usually around 10-12 students per class, so everyone gets face time with the teacher and everyone gets a chance to ask questions. With an easy to access location and an environment that is very warm and inviting, I highly recommend Italia 500 to anyone who wants to learn about the Italian language and culture from Italians themselves!!
allowing the students to not only get an education in the Italian language, but to additionally get an insight into the Italian culture. This is great and very intriguing, and adds a lot to the experience of learning a new language! As all of the teachers are, Giacomo himself is very enthusiastic and entertaining, and expresses himself fantastically well so that you as the student can understand easily! The class sizes are small, usually around 10-12 students per class, so everyone gets face time with the teacher and everyone gets a chance to ask questions. With an easy to access location and an environment that is very warm and inviting, I highly recommend Italia 500 to anyone who wants to learn about the Italian language and culture from Italians themselves!!
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Great classes and wonderful teachers! Giacomo and the other teachers
have been a pleasure to learn from – creating an interesting and interactive learning environment using practical conversations. Definitely a great place to go whether you need Italian for travelling or just want to learn for fun. Highly recommended! : )
have been a pleasure to learn from – creating an interesting and interactive learning environment using practical conversations. Definitely a great place to go whether you need Italian for travelling or just want to learn for fun. Highly recommended! : )
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I have thoroughly enjoyed learning Italian for the past 3 months in the Beginner 1 & 2 classes with Giacomo. He has a friendly and entertaining personality and which makes learning Italian fun and easier. The classes overall are well structured with engaging and friendly discussions, whilst also supplemented with extensive online notes. The collective atmosphere in classes is also warm and friendly which I really enjoyed.
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SO good!! My Italian speaking has progressed so much further in the last 8 weeks than in the last 2yrs of trying to teach myself via apps etc. Plus Giacomo makes it heaps fun (ie *not* scary!) and you definitely know you’re learning real Italian that people actually speak :) Looking forward to Beginners 2 🇮🇹😇
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I enrolled in the Beginner 1 course almost a year ago. I was nervous to join on my own but quickly made friends. Since then, I've learned so much, built confidence, and formed lasting friendships with the entire group. We all get along and help each other, continuing to enrol in courses together. Now, I'm about to sign up for my fourth course! The class is so much fun, with a great mix of listening, speaking, and writing, and lots of laughs. I can't believe how much I've learned in such a short time, and I've never looked forward to a class this much before. I can’t wait for the next course!
Non vedo l'ora!
Non vedo l'ora!
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Giacomo has an excellent teaching style and method that puts everyone at ease, is engaging, entertaining and which he adapts for the different levels of each student. The Beginner 1 lessons take you on a practical journey through common day-to-day experiences, but which is planned so you pick-up the fundamentals of the language in an easy to grasp manner. The Beginner 1 supporting videos and audio recordings are excellent, and enable students to go over material covered in class at their own pace. I would highly recommend Italia 500 and look forward to continuing
my learning in the future.
my learning in the future.
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I have had private lessons with Giacomo for several months ahead of a long trip to Italy and found them fantastic! Giacomo gets you talking from lesson one. The benefit of his affordable private classes is that he will happily move at your own pace. I’ve learnt more in 2 months with Giacomo than I did in a semester at uni using a traditional textbook method. Highly recommend! ☺️🤌
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I completed the beginner Italian 1 class at Italian 500 with Elena as my instructor. She was instrumental in keeping me engaged and motivated throughout the course. Elena is AMAZING in teaching Italian in a way that's both enjoyable and effective, making learning feel effortless. If you're searching for a tutor who can make Italian lessons fly by while ensuring you learn quickly and easily,
I highly recommend Elena. She's definitely a five-star tutor!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I highly recommend Elena. She's definitely a five-star tutor!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Learning Italian at Italia 500 is so much fun. Giacomo is a gifted teacher with a wonderful sense of humour. He has provided lots of resources,- videos, workbooks, mp3s, as well as engaging and well-paced lessons that cover grammar, conversational Italian and lots of interesting insights into Italian culture. Our class has now completed 3 terms in beginners, and has moved on to intermediate level. We have lots of opportunities to converse, and our Italian is improving surprisingly quickly. I chose this course after reading the great reviews and they proved to be right – Every lesson is so entertaining and perfectly pitched to the level of the class.
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Took this class for a bit of fun & to challenge myself and wow did it surpass any expectations,
all because of Giacomo. His teaching skills are full of joy and sass and he makes it so fun to learn. Admittedly I felt like quite the slow learner but his gentle playful way of giving you self confidence was incredible. Please book these courses because the time will fly by anyway so you may as well learn a beautiful language off a beautiful teacher!
all because of Giacomo. His teaching skills are full of joy and sass and he makes it so fun to learn. Admittedly I felt like quite the slow learner but his gentle playful way of giving you self confidence was incredible. Please book these courses because the time will fly by anyway so you may as well learn a beautiful language off a beautiful teacher!
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I just finished the Beginner 1 course with Giacomo. Love it!!! Giacomo is super funny and passionate and his classes are so lively. Beginner 1 course was all about everyday conversation that we could use immediately. I surprised my Italian bf every week with new sentences I learned and he's proud of me! The sense of achievement gives me so much motivation to keep going. It's the best way of starting learning a language!
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A fantastic learning environment, with an amazing group of people. I’ve completed
the Beginner 1 course and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Elena is an incredible teacher, she is very knowledgeable and makes every lesson fun. It was wonderful to meet new people and bond over our love of learning Italian! The class sizes are small (around 10 people) so it was nice to see familiar faces each week. I’ve learnt so much in the 8 weeks, and I will be continuing on with the next course. I highly recommend Italia500 to anyone wishing to learn Italian.
the Beginner 1 course and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Elena is an incredible teacher, she is very knowledgeable and makes every lesson fun. It was wonderful to meet new people and bond over our love of learning Italian! The class sizes are small (around 10 people) so it was nice to see familiar faces each week. I’ve learnt so much in the 8 weeks, and I will be continuing on with the next course. I highly recommend Italia500 to anyone wishing to learn Italian.
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I have just completed Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 at Italia 500, and I couldn't be happier
with my progress. After trying to learn Italian on and off since high school and using Duolingo daily
for over two years, this class has finally made the difference for me! Giacomo, creates an incredibly fun and relaxed environment that makes learning enjoyable and effective. Our group has become a close-knit community of friends, and the supportive atmosphere allows everyone to try speaking without fear of making mistakes. What sets Giacomo apart is his ability to weave in cultural insights, hand gestures, and the nuances of the language, making the learning experience fun. It's clear that Giacomo has years of experience teaching Italian. The course is structured brilliantly, building on each week's lessons, and before you know it, you'll be conjugating your verbs with confidence ;)
with my progress. After trying to learn Italian on and off since high school and using Duolingo daily
for over two years, this class has finally made the difference for me! Giacomo, creates an incredibly fun and relaxed environment that makes learning enjoyable and effective. Our group has become a close-knit community of friends, and the supportive atmosphere allows everyone to try speaking without fear of making mistakes. What sets Giacomo apart is his ability to weave in cultural insights, hand gestures, and the nuances of the language, making the learning experience fun. It's clear that Giacomo has years of experience teaching Italian. The course is structured brilliantly, building on each week's lessons, and before you know it, you'll be conjugating your verbs with confidence ;)
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Enrolling in Italia 500's Italian language course has been an absolute game-changer for me!
Under the expert guidance of Giacomo, my journey from beginner to now enrolling in the beginner 3 course has been nothing short of phenomenal. Giacomo's passion for teaching and deep knowledge of the Italian language and culture shine through in every class. His patience, encouragement, and engaging teaching style make learning Italian both enjoyable and effective. Additionally, the class environment fosters a sense of encouragement and friendship among students, making the learning experience even more enriching. I've not only improved my language skills but also made lasting connections. I highly recommend Italia500 to anyone looking to embark on their own Italian language journey. Grazie mille, Giacomo, for your dedication and expertise!"
Under the expert guidance of Giacomo, my journey from beginner to now enrolling in the beginner 3 course has been nothing short of phenomenal. Giacomo's passion for teaching and deep knowledge of the Italian language and culture shine through in every class. His patience, encouragement, and engaging teaching style make learning Italian both enjoyable and effective. Additionally, the class environment fosters a sense of encouragement and friendship among students, making the learning experience even more enriching. I've not only improved my language skills but also made lasting connections. I highly recommend Italia500 to anyone looking to embark on their own Italian language journey. Grazie mille, Giacomo, for your dedication and expertise!"
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This class at Italia 500 is easily one of the highlights of my week. Not only is the teacher great,
but the lessons themselves are so much fun. We laugh, we support each other, and we learn as we go, and I feel like I’m getting real, practical Italian. The classroom is a warm, welcoming environment, filled with a group of good people looking to learn with each other and have a lot of fun along the way.The lessons are well planned and filled with relatable and useful scenarios, along with cultural teachings and interesting anecdotes on everything from food to music. I have studied language classes at University before, but never have I enjoyed a course like this.
Easy 5 stars from me. Grazie Giacomo!
but the lessons themselves are so much fun. We laugh, we support each other, and we learn as we go, and I feel like I’m getting real, practical Italian. The classroom is a warm, welcoming environment, filled with a group of good people looking to learn with each other and have a lot of fun along the way.The lessons are well planned and filled with relatable and useful scenarios, along with cultural teachings and interesting anecdotes on everything from food to music. I have studied language classes at University before, but never have I enjoyed a course like this.
Easy 5 stars from me. Grazie Giacomo!
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I’m moving to Italy later this year so I enrolled in the Italian Beginner 1 course with hopes
to learn the basics before I go. Well Giacomo’s course has truly exceeded all of my expectations! This course makes learning Italian so much fun & easy. I was a little nervous coming into the class because I’ve never learned another language. But straight away I felt very comfortable and quickly became confident with speaking aloud in class. I’m now enrolled in the Italian Beginner 2 course and
looking forward to learning more.
to learn the basics before I go. Well Giacomo’s course has truly exceeded all of my expectations! This course makes learning Italian so much fun & easy. I was a little nervous coming into the class because I’ve never learned another language. But straight away I felt very comfortable and quickly became confident with speaking aloud in class. I’m now enrolled in the Italian Beginner 2 course and
looking forward to learning more.
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Such an amazing experience learning Italian with the Italia500 team. Giacomo is so lively and passionate about teaching, The beginner lessons expose you to the basics which are perfect for travelling and then explore further into the language the longer you continue. The dialogue
scenarios are great and show you real life examples, highly recommend!
scenarios are great and show you real life examples, highly recommend!
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In a nutshell, Italia 500 is terrific place to learn Italian!
I’ve tried a few different schools around Sydney, but this is the place I keep getting drawn back to.
It has a really warm and inviting atmosphere starting with the classrooms, which are filled with bits and pieces of Italian culture; from the gorgeous travel and film posters and colourful prints that line the walls, to coffee cups and books on Caravaggio, it’s an inspiring place to be.
The teachers are wonderful. Their genuine enthusiasm, obvious skill, and saintly patience has made learning complex conjugations and developing conversation skills – and all the other challenges that come with learning a new language - a lot less scary. They are super encouraging make the learning process in general a very enjoyable one.
The school’s director, Giacomo, has developed materials and a teaching method that keep you entertained – seriously, I spend half the class laughing - and most importantly they have helped me to understand concepts and retain vocabulary in a way that regular textbook learning didn’t. And if you’re lucky enough to get Giacomo himself as your teacher, you’re in for a treat; he has a unique flair which makes for a truly memorable learning experience!
Whether you want to learn a bit of Italian before a holiday, or have a desire to develop a higher level of fluency, I highly recommend Italia 500.
I’ve tried a few different schools around Sydney, but this is the place I keep getting drawn back to.
It has a really warm and inviting atmosphere starting with the classrooms, which are filled with bits and pieces of Italian culture; from the gorgeous travel and film posters and colourful prints that line the walls, to coffee cups and books on Caravaggio, it’s an inspiring place to be.
The teachers are wonderful. Their genuine enthusiasm, obvious skill, and saintly patience has made learning complex conjugations and developing conversation skills – and all the other challenges that come with learning a new language - a lot less scary. They are super encouraging make the learning process in general a very enjoyable one.
The school’s director, Giacomo, has developed materials and a teaching method that keep you entertained – seriously, I spend half the class laughing - and most importantly they have helped me to understand concepts and retain vocabulary in a way that regular textbook learning didn’t. And if you’re lucky enough to get Giacomo himself as your teacher, you’re in for a treat; he has a unique flair which makes for a truly memorable learning experience!
Whether you want to learn a bit of Italian before a holiday, or have a desire to develop a higher level of fluency, I highly recommend Italia 500.
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Giacomo is hands down the best Italian teacher I’ve ever had!! He brings charisma and energy each week, delivering fun and engaging lessons every time.
Giacomo has deep knowledge about Italian culture and how it influences the language which he shares with enthusiasm, alongside stories from his beloved home Ischia!!
I’ve been attending classes for 9 months and can’t wait to continue in 2025. If you’re looking to learn Italian in a fun and effective way, you’ve found the right place!!
Giacomo has deep knowledge about Italian culture and how it influences the language which he shares with enthusiasm, alongside stories from his beloved home Ischia!!
I’ve been attending classes for 9 months and can’t wait to continue in 2025. If you’re looking to learn Italian in a fun and effective way, you’ve found the right place!!
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Course outline:
In our Beginner 1 course you’ll start speaking "real" Italian from the very first lesson. You'll learn how to talk about yourself and ask others about themselves ("What is your name?; How are you?; nationality; Whereabouts are you from?, etc). We learn how to invite someone to have a coffee or a drink and order in a café and how to ask for and understand directions. We learn (and please, don’t let the grammatical terms put you off) about the “formal” and “informal” distinction and how to apply it, about the “masculine” and “feminine”. We start to learn how to "conjugate" the present tense of Italian verbs; we touch upon the past tense; we study the verb piacere (which is the verb we use to say “I like” or “I don’t like"), and, of course, we learn the greetings, numbers and polite expressions. You will be surprised by how much you will learn in eight weeks and by how much fun it is to learn and speak Italian! Learn about our approach to teaching Italian.
Aiming for fluency in Italian?
Our Italian courses are ideal for those aiming to achieve a high degree of fluency in Italian. In our Beginner courses (Beginner 1, 2 & 3) we start to build up our Italian vocabulary, to master the pronunciation, to learn how to construct sentences, to develop conversational skills so that you can actually hold a conversation relating to both practical topics and conversational topics, and to gain an understanding of how the language works - i.e. the grammar which we explain in the simplest and clearest of manners.
Italian for travellers:
Even only a basic knowledge of Italian makes such a difference when visiting Italy. We assume that the vast majority of our students will be travelling to Italy, either for the first time or will be returning to Italy in the future, so our beginner courses cover also a wide range of topics ideal for travellers and you'll find them extremely useful in providing you with the basic Italian and the travel tips that will truly enhance your visit to Italy.
Our practice CDs:
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Our Italian Practice CDs, available in Mp3 format, have proven to be very popular with our students. They allow you to practise the vocabulary, the expressions and phrases, and the dialogue covered in your Italian class by repeating it several times, each time leaving a gap so that you can repeat it yourself. One of the most appealing features of the Practice CDs is that you can download them to your phone and listen to them in your car, at the gym, whilst you catch public transport or take the dog for a walk, and they represent a continuation of the class outside of class. They are also very useful if you happen to miss a class.
The Italia 500 course notes and Practice CDs, whether online or on CD, are available exclusively to enrolled Italia 500 students. |
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Unsure of your level?
If you have studied Italian before, or you've been self-learning Italian, and you are wondering whether you should join the Italia 500 Italian Beginner 1 course or a higher level course, please contact us to enquire prior to enrolling.
As a general guide, if you studied Italian, in Australia, in primary school and/or secondary school up to year 10, our Beginner 1 course is most likely to be the suitable course for you - you'll find that you'll be familiar with some of the content of the very first lesson of the Beginner 1 course but after that we'll be covering what will be new ground for you. If you studied Italian in Year 11, you may or may not be suited to the Beginner 1 course: it depends very much how long ago it was and how far into year 11 you studied Italian. If you studied Italian in year 12 or at university as an undergraduate, no matter how long ago it was, please do call us as the Beginner 1 course is not a "refresher" course: it assumes no prior knowledge.
If you are from Italian background but you know only the odd word or phrase, it is most likely that the Italian Beginner 1 course will be the appropriate course for you but, again, if in doubt, please call us. Also, if you've learnt a foreign language or other foreign languages, and you know - no need to be modest - that you are very good at picking up languages please call us before enrolling as it may be more appropriate and challenging for you to skip a level and cover the previous level via the CDs and videos. You would still have, thanks to the "storyboards", ample opportunity to practise in class the previous level's topics.
As a general guide, if you studied Italian, in Australia, in primary school and/or secondary school up to year 10, our Beginner 1 course is most likely to be the suitable course for you - you'll find that you'll be familiar with some of the content of the very first lesson of the Beginner 1 course but after that we'll be covering what will be new ground for you. If you studied Italian in Year 11, you may or may not be suited to the Beginner 1 course: it depends very much how long ago it was and how far into year 11 you studied Italian. If you studied Italian in year 12 or at university as an undergraduate, no matter how long ago it was, please do call us as the Beginner 1 course is not a "refresher" course: it assumes no prior knowledge.
If you are from Italian background but you know only the odd word or phrase, it is most likely that the Italian Beginner 1 course will be the appropriate course for you but, again, if in doubt, please call us. Also, if you've learnt a foreign language or other foreign languages, and you know - no need to be modest - that you are very good at picking up languages please call us before enrolling as it may be more appropriate and challenging for you to skip a level and cover the previous level via the CDs and videos. You would still have, thanks to the "storyboards", ample opportunity to practise in class the previous level's topics.
