Learn, Live & Love

Italian

Unique residential Italiancourses in the south of Italy

Our aim is to provide you with a

unique cultural holiday here in

the unspoilt region of Puglia in

southern Italy. Based around the

language and combining it with

the culture, food and of course

wine we have created this

package for the more discerning

traveller who appreciates culture

and wants to avoid the tourist

honey-pots of northern Italy. This

is a chance to experience the real

Italy, off the well trodden tourist

path, guided by locals who know

the area giving you the possibility

to enjoy Italy as the Italians do.

Enjoy Italy as theItalians do

Like many other language schools

Fluent Scuola di Lingue e Cultura

believes that the best way to learn a

language is by visiting the target

language country and speaking with

native speakers. However unlike other

schools, Fluent can place this

philosophy at the heart of its Italian

language courses thanks to its setting

in the old town of Locorotondo.

During our courses students not only

have classroom-based lessons, taught

by experienced, qualified, mother

tongue, Italian teachers, and trips

around the local area but they also

have the opportunity to practise their

language skills during practical

lessons. These practical lessons

include learning to cook traditional

Puglian food with one of Italy’s top

chefs and investigative projects in

Locorotondo involving interaction with

local business owners.

The classroom lessons are tailored to

suit each group of students in terms of

syllabus and number of teaching

hours per week. The school’s teachers

design each course in consultation

with the students allowing them to

highlight the areas in which they

would like revision and practice.

We recommend between twelve and

fifteen hours of classroom lessons in

a week (Monday to Friday) although

this can be increased or decreased

depending on the group. Lessons

usually take place in the morning

leaving the afternoons free for

visiting other towns and practising

talian or taking part in our organised

excursions!! Our courses can be used

solely for revision helping to build

student’s confidence in Italian or as

an opportunity to study new language

areas. However, whatever the

course’s aim, particular emphasis

is placed on speaking and the

importance of communication over

grammatical accuracy.

As you can see our courses offer a

unique opportunity for students to

learn and practise their Italian in an

authentic setting whilst enjoying

themselves in one of the most

beautiful parts of Italy.

Language Course

To learn a language well it is important

to understand not only the grammar but

also the culture of the country,

this is why we have created a package,

through our local knowledge and

contacts, that not only teaches you the

language but also the customs and

culture of Italy by exposing you to

situations and experiences that normal

tourists simply don’t get the possibility

to enjoy. This could be a trip to the local

winery, olive mill, mozzarella

factory or lessons in the local dialect

which is still much used today. It also

includes a culinary demonstration from

one of Italy’s most renowned chefs

Domenico Maggi, who currently spends

most of his time travelling the world

demonstrating and lecturing on the

delights of Puglian food. For a more

complete list of activities and

excursions available please see the

accompanying list. Whether your main

aim is to learn Italian or simply

experience the ‘La Dolce Vita’ we can

provide an unforgettable cultural

holiday here in Italy. Ci vediamo presto!!

Experience the Culture

Activities

Make your own handmade pasta the traditional way and then

eat it for lunch! (Expert help available from ‘Zia’)

Make a pizza from scratch and then choose your own toppings

before baking it in a traditional wood oven with an expert ‘pizzaiolo’.

Make your own Mozzarella. Watch and learn from a master

Mozzarella maker and then have a go yourself!

Put your Italian into use by doing the shopping for lunch at the

local market. Choose from the freshest fruit and vegetables Italy

has to offer.

A visit to the area’s oldest winery with guided tour, ‘aperitivo’

and tasting.

Depending on the season, pick your own olives before visiting

the Olive Oil press to see how it’s made. Then you can take home

with you some oil that you have picked and pressed.

Depending on the season, help with the ‘Vendemmia’ – grape

harvest – and then tread the grapes yourself before sampling the

most natural wine possible from one of the oldest grape varieties

on the world.

If learning Italian isn’t enough why not give dialect a go? It is still

widely spoken in the area and is a real cultural link to the people,

it may not be very useful outside the immediate area as each town

often has its own distinct dialect, but it’s fun and interesting, and

how many do you know can speak a bit of dialect!!

Accommodation

For the duration of the course

students stay in traditional Puglian

‘trulli’ in an ‘Agriturismo’ called

‘Truddhi’. These conical roof shaped

buildings are unique to the Itrea Valley

and found nowhere else in Italy.

Originally used as out buildings on

small farms or as basic

accommodation for the labourers;

here at Truddhi they have been

lovingly restored to provide 21st

century standard holiday apartments

set amongst idyllic centuries old olive

groves and vineyards. Facilities there

also include a swimming pool open

from May – October. As well as

breakfast the students will enjoy

traditional home-cooked Puglian

dinners or typical meals in local

restaurants every evening.

A minibus transports students to the

language school and on their various

excursions. The excursion package

can be created together to ensure we

cater for your specific interests.

Excursions

A guided tour of the nearest town Locorotondo. Officially

one of Italy’s 100 most beautiful towns. 5 mins

A walk around Martina Franca, famous for its Baroque

architecture. 10 mins

Alberobello. A must for all visitors, simply because of its

uniqueness. A UNESCO world heritage town with a historic

centre built entirely from ‘Trulli’. 15 mins

Polignano A Mare. Perched on top of a cliff this town has

fantastic views of the Adriatic sea and is the birthplace of

Domenico Modugno, the man behind the song ‘Volare’. 25 mins

A bit further afield is Lecce, the Florence of the south. With

stunning architecture and Roman ruins this is definitely worth

a visit. 1 ½ hours

Day trips to Rome or Naples can also be organised.

Should you require more

information about our

courses please contact

us by telephone

+39 080.4316310 or

by e-mail at:

fluentscuola@gmail.com.

F L U E N T | Scuola di Lingue e Cultura