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