CILS exam preparation course - 20 hours

It was a unique experience. Continuing my studies in the Italian language with such competent teachers and in a relaxed manner was the best choice I made. The Madreelingua school gave me complete classes, with relevant content and great help in taking the CILS test.
Special thanks to Professor Paola and Professor Francesco. The school offers great classes and very good programming during the week for entertainment as well. The location of the school is also a good point. I wish I had spent more time.

It was a great experience learning Italian during 04 weeks at Madrelingua. The classes and the teachers are great, very well prepared to receive students from all around the world. All the students have the opportunity to practice the speaking every class - as well as writing, reading and listening. On the breaks, we also had the opportunity to keep practicing and improving our skills while having a coffee all together in a coffee shop close to the school.
The location is also a differentiator: it's situated in the heart of Bologna, close to the main square (Piazza Maggiore), coffee shops, restaurants, bar, and with an easy access.
I didn't rent the housing service from Madrelingua, but I think it can be a good option for those who want to share a place with somebody.

Studying in Madrelingua was the best choice. Great and fast arrangement. Located in the centre of Bologna, great accessibility and they even helped me arrange beautiful accommodation at a much better price than the standard offer in the city centre. The class itself was small group, very fun, everything was explained perfectly, in short all the teachers were helpful and great. The family atmosphere and our main teacher Gulia was amazing! Michele and Margarita were great as well. I would definitely love to go back and can recommend to everyone.

Classes, teachers, location were fine, also the activities seemed good / I took part of a cooking class. Housing was on my own, but I can recommend the social Hub near the central station.
As user of hearing aids I must say that there was too much noise from other classrooms. An extra door between would have helped.
The course is described with 4 hours of study, but with a pause between it was actually only 3,25 hours. I don’t think you can call a pause in a cafe for 45 minutes for a lesson

The teachers were knowledgeable, the after class activities were informative and enjoyable, and you couldn't beat the location...close to great restaurants, cultural sights and shopping. I cannot comment on the housing as I didn't stay there. I really liked that we were taught practical, usable Italian. I took an intensive class which our teacher customized to our needs. I highly recommend the program!

Unfortunately I only had a week at Madrelingua but the intensive program exceeded all expectations! The teachers were all great - they were excellent at distilling complicated concepts into understandable lessons. The student base was really diverse and all I encountered were supportive and friendly.

As a beginner, probably is the hardest to teach. The course provided me better understanding on the basic grammar, plus many day to day use vocabularies. Teachers are funny with their Italian charms. Fantastic city central location in Bologna.
Combination of exploring the historical town and learning Italian with the locals activities. Not only during the day but the city also full of life’s in the evening.

Madrelingua is an excellent school. The teachers are very experienced and all lessons are of a high quality.
The location is great and the groups are small. The staff does it’s best to make all students at home. I learned a lot and I hope to return in the future.

Excellent classes - very well organized to have time in classroom and out in public speaking more informally, also different teachers made it interesting. It was good to be able to start speaking straight away, so good to learn conversational language.

My week at Madrelingua was wonderful ~ I chose it because I was only able to come for a week but they accommodated that (which many other schools can't) and I will certainly try to return. I learned enough to jumpstart my self study at home later on. The class was small and the teachers/tutors I had were diverse in their styles so it stayed interesting. The staff were lovely always checking on us and welcoming when I first arrived. The conversation/coffee break in the morning was particularly good for relaxing and learning at the same time, and the evening field trips they offered were a great way to spend the time and do things in Bologna. The homestay arranged was great and Bologna in general is a great city to spend some time in if you are trying to learn. The only thing I would say can improve is the acoustics in the rooms - it was challenging at times to hear with the echoes. Some sound dampeners on the walls would go a long way. But really I am totally satisfied with the experience and would highly recommend to anyone considering a course of study for Italian. Grazie mille~ Emily

I liked the classes very much, were small, 5-6 students, similar level, good organized. Teachers pleasant and motivated. Location excellent. Housing I had via booking.com, but other students were satisfied. After school activity I found a bit poor. We have visited some historic sites, but with a young student, who did not know almost nothing about the places. She was not informed about what's going on the venues (e.g. necessity to book entrance in advance). She was not from Bologna but she also did not inform herself.

It was great. we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Location was excellent and the tutors lively and amusing. I liked the fact that it was 'usable' Italian.
Could have done with a slightly shorter coffee break, and initially there was rather too much chat about what we had done the day before, however this was flagged up and subsequently amended.
Didn't partake of any of the activities.

The Location of the school is just perfect, very central and near all the top sights and restaurants. The teachers were all very lovely, funny and teached us the way of how Italians do things and not only the language. Their teaching style (grammar and talking aswell as having a coffee) is just the perfect balance.
The number of students in the class was good.
I‘d definately come back.

The teachers were amazing, the location extremely central, the school beautiful and the activities were nice. I will note that the median age was 38 for the off-summer season, which I was excited about as that's my age, but it was mostly people who were very young and going to school in Bologna or retirees. Which, honestly, makes sense. But everyone in the course was so lovely and I walked away with new friends. I would absolutely return to this school!

I went through Language International for housing and requested a private apartment in the center. Based on the photos, I knew it wasn't going to be a "luxe" experience but it was much worse that I had anticipated. Everything was super old and the kitchen cabinets were coming off the wall and the bathroom facilities and shower were old and not clean. I considered leaving the apartment early, but the city was booked out because a festival. In the end, it was a "you get what you pay for" experience but it certainly made me feel very uncomfortable and I wouldn't recommend that particular apartment to anyone.

was very interesting, very good atmosphere, i learned a lot, nice activities.
Bologna is a wonderful city ..
Very cosy and charming

I was fully satisfied with whole school activities. Teachers were very amical, helpful and also professional in their teaching. Location of the school was perfect - even though it was in the city centre street was quiet and easy accessible. Best value of the school are their teachers - I can not prise them enough - very friendly, helpful, always trying to help as much as they could. I also liked a lot after school activities which took place almost every day. My overall impression of the school is excellent and I would like to recommend it to anyone who would like to improve their Italian skills.

Ecole tres bien située dans Bologne. Bon rythme pour les cours, bonne ambiance, très chaleureux et accueillant. Aide après les cours si besoin. Organisation d activités. Toutes les classes se retrouvent et se mélangent pour une pause café dans un bar vers 11h, pour parler et faire connaissance, très bonne idée !

My class had only 4-5 people in it and we quickly became friends and went out to explore the city together. The teachers Angela and Francesco were wonderful, very fun and good at explaining concepts in Italian to our low level class. Sometimes we did get a bit off topic, but for me the immersive experience and chance to practice speaking was what I really needed and I didn't mind the detours. Unfortunately I came during a week when I had already learned the grammar concepts, but it was good to refresh them and use the language in a fun teaching environment. I wish I could have stayed for longer than a week, but I was on a two week vacation only. Still, it was well worth the time! Thank you, Madrelingua!

The experience at Madrelingua was amazing, great teachers, location, classmates, activities.

My goal was , in one week (duration of my language programm) , being able to be understood by local people and understand the principals of Italian language and proudly I did it!

Thank you to all the great teachers of the school such as : Giulia, Francesca, Angela and the great activities.

Alles wunderbar. Standort, Lehrerinnen, Aufbau. Sind immer gut auf Fragen eingegangen und konnten konkrete Fragen gut und us dem Stehgreif erklären. Bei den Grammatikstunden hätte zeitlich noch ein bisschen mehr Grammatik machen können und weniger Konversation aber war trotzdem gut.

The tuition was very good. The teachers were very friendly, encouraging and professional. I was in a small group of just four students. The first part of the day focused on grammar , while the afternoon was all about conversation. I enjoyed the coffee breaks in the local bar, where we had a chance to socialize in Italian. The activities were good also, a good range of options. The other students were all very friendly and engaged in the material.

The accommodation was excellent. I had a very nice host who even invited me out to dinner with her friends, which was a great local experience.

The apartment was within walking distance of the school, with air conditioning, modern and clean interior.
The city itself is beautiful and not too touristy. There is lots to do in Bologna and it is close to other cities too, such as Padua and Venice. There is great food and night life also.

I thought that Madrelingua was great. The teachers were friendly, encouraging and enthusiastic. The classes were small, which was good because it meant that the students had more interaction with the teacher. The lessons were very useful with a focus on conversational skills, but also helpful for revising difficult grammatical concepts. In that aspect I'd say it was better than three years at college!

The school is centrally located and quite easy to find, the staff are all really lovely and helpful, it is quite a challenging experience for people who are not really used to speaking in Italian all day I bought I found it helped build my confidence and inspired me to want to learn more,

In every class teachers encourage contribution from all students. They let the conversation flow and afterward work through the mistakes we are making, but without interrupting our flow of our effort. This forms the basis of the grammar lessons. It is really effective. In between classes there are plenty of opportunities to engage informally with other students in the class. This allows friendships to form and language to be practiced. After 2 weeks there, I now have new friends from Brazil, Colombia, China, Belgium, Texas and Perth. In the weeks since I left the school, I still correspond with them, in Italian, our common language.

Perfect courses.
Very friendly and competent teachers.
School very well located in the center.
Very average accommodation, very small room, very noisy, bed not comfortable. Only advantage located in the historic center.

A great opportunity to immerse yourself in the language. The teachers are very attentive and caring, they explain and help very well. Classes are easy and fun. I will gladly return to this school to continue my studies.

The most important when it come to education is not the location, it is not the school facilities - it is the teachers. And the teachers at Madrelingua where excellent.

Excellent teachers and ability to integrate students of different levels.
The school is centrally located in Bologna, in a beautiful old building.
The school can suit my needs and available time, without bureaucracy.
My experience exceeded expectations!

The teachers were really fun and we talked a lot about everyday life which was entertaining & connecting.
They also did a great job of adjusting to the new formation of students each week.

The activities that the school arranged were entertaining and versatile.

Involved teachers, great activities. Flexible organization. It is difficult that the classes change every week, so the level changes as well a bit.

I bought a course for 4 weeks (80 hours in total), but actually I spent at school at least 100 hours because after the classes a tutor is available to help you further. All the teachers are extremely nice and knowledgeable. I started at A2 level and finished the level B1 . I have seen students with no prior knowledge at all there in Madrelingua and after 2 weeks they were already speaking the language. I would recommend this special school to everyone.

Alle Mitarbeiterinnen sind sehr herzlich tolle Lernatmosphäre

hi, the homestay was really good, nice lady, good room and bathroom. would recommend her as a good homestay.

Really Nice people, the lessons are well organised. My Italian level increased a lot! Learn in a good way.

Plus they got time for personal needs :) I will be back.
Thaïs

I like the school. Teachers were enthusiastic and very patient if I was slow in my learning curve. The housing was a bit out of city center, but they were very welcoming and warm people. I had ad a blast.

The school is in the middle of the ancient town of Bologna, very good situated.

The staff and the teachers are very friendly. I learned very good, i could flexibly change the class to have always the right level to learn.

The possibilities for social activities in the afternoon I joined only one time, and I enjoyed it.

I liked my teachers ... specilally Paola, Julia and Mara.
The class that they put me in was leaval 3 .... it was to hard for me ... specially the grammar ... the were two other studends in that class and they had more knowledge of the grammar... on the other hand it was challenge for me ... but I would have liked better if I could be in leavel 2 ..... I guess at that time they only had leavel1 and 3.
They could have organized better the social activities ..... a very litle things were going on, one time we went to a museeum, one time for an appetizer, one time for icecream ...... that was about it ... for two weeks.

I would have liked it better with more activities.
I did buy the book (you could buy it or rent it, same price) for 25 euros ......... only to find it here in Iceland for 15 euros.

I did not have any housing ... I stayed with friends.

Regards
Laufey Astridur

It has been a great week:

The perfect organization within five minutes was sitting in my class' in a group of 4 people.

The classes are pleasant and very pleasant thanks to the team of teachers. You can see that everyone knows perfectly what they are doing. Comfortable facilities and located in the center of the old town.

Activities such as lunch, visits, ice cream .... entertaining and useful (also merit of the teaching team)

The comrades of all ages and backgrounds, I was worried that they were mostly young people ... but it has been a pleasure to meet people so diverse.

The accommodation is comfortable and well located (a 20 min walk to the center) always a friendly conversation and all the necessary information.

Bologna itself deserves a visit but for me it has been the biggest surprise, I admit that I had not been informed and admired me. Before entering in class I have been able to walk it, calm streets, wonderful churches and an endless amount of trattoria pizzerias etc where to enjoy a magnificent gastronomy .

In short I think that it has exceeded my expectations in all fields and I will recommend it to everyone as a very serious way to learn Italian and make it look like you are having a great holiday in Bologna.

Thank you,
Jordi

The school makes you feel right at home, the teachers are very professional and friendly. Bologna is a perfect location for the Italian experience.And most importantly I've improved my Italian.

The school, Madrelingua, I can highly recommend it. The friendly and patient teachers, classroom with seven students, a school located in the heart of the city. Every afternoon there would be a prepared program for students- participation is optional. The accommodation is about 25 minutes walk from the school in a quiet neighborhood. The room is decorated simply but effectively and practically. The apartment has a communal kitchen and bathroom.

I had a very good experience in Madrelingua. Before arriving, when I needed something, someone was always available to reply to me. During my first day, a teacher showed me around the school, explained to me the operation of the school in Italian but very slowly because I was a beginner. All the stuff was very professional and very friendly.
I think it's a very good idea to have free time during the afternoon and always have a teacher to help us if we need.
The school has a perfect location in Bologna center and the building is very beautiful.

Teachers were all really nice, I was always in small classes and that was good. I learned a lot in these 5 weeks. The activities that the school offered were also really nice and I could see a lot of Bologna.
Housing was okay, but it was a bit too far away from the school. I had to walk 30 minutes every day.

The school had a warm atmosphere, nice teachers, and a good location. It had a family-like atmosphere, but was sometimes quite noisy.

The housing was okay – modest but also cheap.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience, both socially and academically at Madrelingua. The location of the school was central and convenient - close to both where I was living and to the centre of Bologna. The lessons were engaging and had a strong core in grammar and vocabulary, yet offered various contexts to allow for application of knowledge. The teachers were friendly and fun. What I especially liked was the size of the school - there were four students per class and we all went for a conversation coffee break each morning. The school also organized afternoon "cultural" activities ranging from visiting museums, visiting churches, wine tasting, walking tours, and other fun things. The option to rent a textbook, as opposed to buying one while there was great. I stayed at a friend's apartment while she was away so I cannot speak about the housing arranged by the school. Overall, it was a wonderful experience shared with other like-minded people from around the globe. Thank you!