Centre of Italian Studies: Study Holiday
Taormina
On a rocky terrace high above the Ionian Sea on the east coast of Sicily
The City
On a rocky terrace high above the Ionian Sea on the east coast of Sicily, Taormina couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting. Views of the sea and Mt. Etna, often with a puff of steam wafting above its smoldering cone, are framed by flower-draped houses or by the finest Greek theater on the island. Taormina’s most important tourist attractions are this ancient amphitheater and the picture-perfect qualities of the town itself. But there’s a lot more to see and do here, whether it’s marvelling at the beautiful Baroque church interiors, shopping in the boutiques that lure the town’s many cruise ship passengers, strolling in its streets and gardens, climbing up to its castle, or descending to the beaches below.
The School
Babilonia offers study Italian classes from one week up to one year. The Italian language course programs that they offer have been developed from a communicative based approach and focuses on the four language abilities (listening, speaking, reading, writing). The first goal is communication, both oral and written; the courses are structured to conform with the European standards set by ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) and by the Council of Europe.
Key Features
- Teaching material is always introduced in some form of authentic text
- Progress is monitored and all teachers meet weekly to facilitate organization and ensure proper student placement
- The teachers rotate weekly to add variety and interest to the group dynamic
Photos by: Alessandro Rossi, Juan Llanos, Dennis Jervis, Jeanne Menjoulet