Studying Italian in Italy
STUDENTS' COMMENTS

What our students say about our teachers:

I want to thank Anna, Carlo and Simona very much for learning me the basics of Italiano. I enjoyed very much their teaching and I think they all are good, enthusiastic and inspiring teachers!
And thanks to Pepe as well. He can do tours in a very nice way, he knows everything. It feels as if he takes you to look with his eyes. It liked it very much. And he doesn't speak that quickly, what helps me “as a beginner“ a lot! Could you let them know this?

Yesterday during the tour to we were talking to Pepe about a different way of learning Italiano: during a trip across Sicily . Basically it would be a trip around the island, during which you will learn the language by doing, experiencing etc. To me it would help me, because I’m a person who learns by doing, not so much in classes. Together with a daily class of say 2 hours max it would be a perfect way of learning Italiano. Pepe told us you have been thinking about this already. I think this is a very good idea!

Patrick Kaashoek patrick.kaashoek(at)xs4all.nl

Dear Alessandro, Rosie & Angela

I cannot believe it is now 4 weeks since I departed. Seems like yesterday that I was enjoying all that Babilonia had to offer & immersing myself in the delights of Sicily & its culture. I am missing it all greatly!. Has been a real reality check getting back to OZ & back to work (I am definitely too old to handle the work caper) Thank you to all your staff & teachers. I did not know it was possible to achieve so much in such a short space of time. You should all be congratulated on how you have formulated the course & the structure of the school itself I am keeping up the studies here, but for only 1.5 hours a week (plus compiti), but this has had little effect on my learning. Need full immersion.
Is the weather fine & mild in early April? Please pass on my love & best wishes to the Ferrari family. They are wonderful people.

See you all next year . Arriverderci

Calvin Raven cfravena(at)tbigpond.com

· BABILONIA HAS ESTABLISHED A SUPERIOR SCHOOL WITH IMPECCABLE CREDENTIALS.  THE FACULTY AND STAFF ARE SO SUPPORTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC.  NOT ONLY ARE THE COURSES IN WRITTEN AND SPOKEN ITALIAN FINE, BUT THE ADDITIONAL SYNERGY OF CULTURAL, HISTORIC, AND LOCAL CREATES A BROAD AND RICH PALETTE. A MUCH RICHER EXPERIENCE THAN "JUST" A LANGUAGE CLASS. THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE ONE MAY LEARN ITALIAN, BUT NONE BETTER.
(Bruce, BRSturzlJr2(at)hotmail.com)

· The time we spent at Babilonia in Taormina was the perfect balance between holiday and study.  Our teachers were serious about their teaching yet had a good sense of humour.  Most evenings at 5.00 o'clock we had an interesting lecture on some form of Italian Culture, whether it was Films of the 50's, a famous Italian playright like Pirandello, a quizz or an evening out for pizza.  There was no reason to ever feel alone.  To study Italian in the beautiful and historical town of Taormina is something I look foward to repeating in the near future.
(Olga, 1ola(at)canada.com )

· THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN TAORMINA ITSELF, BUT IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO RENT A CAR OR TAKE A TOUR WITH A LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY, I PROBABLY LEARNED MORE IN MY THREE WEEKS AT BABILONIA THAN I DID IN FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN THE LANGUAGE, THE TEACHERS JUST TAKE SUCH A "HANDS ON" APPROACH TO LEARNING, AND EACH STUDENT IS REALLY GIVEN THE PERSONAL ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PERFECT THEIR PROBLEMS, THAT I REALLY FOUND IT SO EASY TO LEARN AND RETAIN EVERYTHING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO ME
(Kacie, Phlegyas23(at)aol.com)

· My experience at Babilonia was worthwhile in every way. The teachers were exceptional, the classroom environment lively and challenging, the setting exquisite and the students a wonderful mix. If we'd have stayed one more week (time limited my wife and me to a single week) I'm sure I'd have left Babilonia speaking exquisitely fluent Italian. My advice is, "Stay as long as you can. Stay longer." 
(Bernie Libster, author, translator of the stories of Gianni Rodari, and wacko Italophile, b.libster(at)worldnet.att.net )

· HAVE STUDIED IN MADRID, BUENOS AIRES, FLORENCE AND TAORMINA. I AM ALSO A TRAINED ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER AND HAVE WORKED BOTH IN THE US AND ABROAD. BABILONIA IS, BY FAR, THE BEST SCHOOL I HAVE EVER ATTENDED OR BEEN A PART OF. OF COURSE, IT IS NOT PERFECT, NO SCHOOL CAN BE ALL THINGS TO EVERYONE. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO DISCREDIT MY COMMENTS BY THINKING THEY ARE OVER STATED. BUT, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE STAFF AT BABILONIA COMBINED WITH THEIR SINCERE DESIRE TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL CULTURAL AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS MAKES BABILONIA A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. THAT'S WHY I KEEP GOING BACK AND CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND BABILONIA TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. AND, YOU SIMPLY CAN NOT ASK FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL SETTING.
(Lisa, lisaemery(at)hotmail.com )

· Taormina, Sicily is breathtakingly beautiful in its situation.  The location of the Greek theatre in Taormina is  could not be more perfect.  One can still observe performances today. The acoustics are perfect; the sun setting beyond the stage, setting deep into the ocean is all very romantic.  From the town, one can hike up high up into the mountain to a village whose name does escape me now. From there one feels as if you can see the world. The view is magnificant. The town is small and therefore provides a level of comfort as far as safety; this is important to single women in particular.
(Helga, helga.sweet(at)scotiabank.com)

· ... I thought of both Giovanna and my other Babilonia teacher a lot whilst doing my TEFL training.  Their manner was excellent and they were very skillful in how they made our lessons enjoyable and interesting.  I would be very happy if I could teach half as well as they do....
(lorraine(at)mcavoymail.freeserve.co.uk,  lorraine_34(at)hotmail.com)

Study & learn Italian in Italy with BABILONIA - Centre for Italian Studies - Taormina, Sicily