Grammar Levels of The Italian Language

European Language Framework For Languages

The Common European Framework identifies three broad sectors of expertise – “Basic,” “Autonomy,” and “Mastery” – each of which are divided into two levels, for a total of six levels.

This official language framework describes in detail an individual’s ability and competence in each of these specific areas:

• reading comprehension (understanding written assignments)
• listening (comprehension of spoken language)
• writing and speaking skills (written and oral communication ability)

Basic Courses (Levels 1-3)

The “Threshold Level” is divided into three grades according to the guidelines of the Language Project for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe.

Italy has accepted these same educational parameters.

“Elementary Course”- A1

The gateway to the Italian language, this course is indispensable for basic communication skills. To begin at the school, we offer the semi-intensive Italian language course “Andante”.

PROGRAM: This course covers the indicative mode (present and past perfect) as well as the essential parts of speech needed to build sentences. Special emphasis is placed on phonetics. Everyday situations are recreated in class.

CERTIFICATE: Certificate – A1.

“Intermediate Course” – A2 – B1

This course builds on the basic elements to enable the student to actively participate in conversations. For this level of proficiency, a good Italian language course to choose is the Intensive course “Allegro”.

PROGRAM: The grammar topics cover more complex manners of speech including: simple and compound conditional, simple past, past, and perfect. Also, indirect pronouns and combined pronouns are utilized. We cover sequences of tenses using the indicative mode. Commonly used idioms and expressions are used in class.

CERTIFICATE: Certificate A2 – B1.

“Advanced Course” – B1 – B2

This course introduces the student to tools that permit a full and well-defined range of expressions. A good Italian language course for this objective is the Italian language course “Allegro”.

PROGRAM: The student learns the subjunctive mode, the imperative mode, and the sequence of tenses. The course is taught with wide scale use of mass media materials such as radio, internet, and newspapers.

CERTIFICATE: Mastery of Language B1 – B2.

Specialization Course Levels (4-6)

These Italian courses lead to the discovery and use of a rich, vibrant and up-to-date Italian, that also reflects the students’ personality.

Upper Course 1- B2

This course delves deeper into the main aspects of grammar. An excellent Italian language course to achieve this goal is the “Allegro” language program.

PROGRAM: The teacher establishes correlations between grammar and syntax and pursues the goal of correct usage in everyday language. Included is the discussion of the language of the media as well as the use of synonyms and neologisms.

CERTIFICATE: Upper Course 1- B2.

“Upper Course 2” – C1

This course is the logical continuation and of the “Upper Course 1.” With the 4-hour individual course “Maestoso,” a student can make excellent progress.

PROGRAM: Grammar and syntax are reinforced so that students are able to express themselves in modern, colloquial Italian. Distinctions are made between levels of communication by understanding and using sequences of tenses in the indicative and subjunctive modes.

CERTIFICATE: Upper Course 2 – C1.

“Upper Course 3”- C2

This course adds the “final touches” to the student’s knowledge and perfects oral and written expression. A one-to-one Italian language course “Brio” would be good to achieve this level as well as the super-intensive course “Molto Allegro.”

PROGRAM: After this course, the student’s communication skills enable them to participate fully in the Italian lifestyle. The course covers political language and the influence of dialects. The student can deal intensively with written and oral Italian. The student continues to personalize his or her knowledge of Italian with the goal by the end of the course – to “think” in Italian.

CERTIFICATE: Diploma “Parola” – C2.

Informal Language Test on the First Day at School

On the first day of class, to place the student in the appropriate Italian language level, Parola school provides an informal Italian language test in its headquarters of Florence.