Our methodology, inspired to the most up-to-date teaching theories and practices,  is based on the functional-communicative approach. The communicative approach is  complemented with other methods that are different in terms of approach, teaching  techniques and materials: the affective-humanistic approach, the project work for the  realisation of collaborative projects and special programmes for the development of  specific competences (academic writing, Italian for academic study skills and so forth).  Special attention is given to curricular and extra-curricular activities aiming at discovering the local environment and the culture through classroom activities on the one hand, and through guided visits and workshops on the other hand.

Working inside the classroom
The maximum number of students in any class is 15. You will be guided through every step  of your language learning process. Our courses combine face to face classes, creative and thematic workshops, guided visits. All learning materials are provided by the teachers.
Italian students from the University of Palermo will support you during your studies in Palermo, in social and entertaining activities. They will contribute to build up your relationship with the new cultural and social environment and they will contribute to  develop your language learning process through non-formal learning.

Test
Your level will be tested before you join a course through an entry test (a written task and  an interview), unless you are new to the language, in which case you will be advised to join a beginners’ course. Before you arrive in Palermo, you will receive a digital copy of the test.
You will complete and send back the test to the e-mail address of the School. When you arrive in Palermo, on the first Monday of each course (at 5 pm), you will have  an interview with a teacher-coordinator who will evaluate your linguistic-communicative competence in Italian together with your general study needs.

At the end of each course, on Friday (at 9 am) you will write a final test.