This page provides quick answers to frequently asked questions. Complete information on the various topics can be found on the corresponding pages of the site.
Certifications
When can I take exams?
Exam calendars are set by the Universities of Siena and Perugia. At these universities it is possible to take exams on all dates indicated in the calendar.
The “foreign offices” they are not obliged to organize exams on all these dates, since the number of candidates is generally not sufficient to cover organizational expenses. The foreign branches therefore choose only some of the dates proposed by the Universities of Siena and Perugia, to organize exams.
Who issues the Certifications of the level of knowledge of the Italian language?
Certifications of knowledge of the Italian language are issued only by institutes and universities authorized by the Italian government, to candidates who have successfully passed the exam tests. In particular, CELI and CILS certifications are issued respectively by the University for Foreigners of Perugia and by the University for Foreigners of Siena.
These two universities can authorize “foreign offices” to carry out the exams on their behalf and in their name. The “foreign offices” they then send the examination tests for the assessment of merit to the aforementioned universities.
ESI is one of them “foreign offices” and can take the exams for Certification on behalf of the aforementioned Universities. ESI therefore does not evaluate merit and does not decide the result of the exams, but it limits itself to organizing and carrying out them.
Conduct of courses
Pupils are insured against accidents in the classroom?
Pupils regularly enrolled in all of our courses are covered by a collective insurance against accidents that may occur during the course of the face-to-face lessons.
There is a periodic and final evaluation of the students' progress?
In addition to possible entrance tests for new students, the progress of each student is assessed at the end of the first quarter and at the end of the school year with informal forms of “progressive evaluation” and interviews with parents.
At the end of the school year, every student who has attended regularly, receives a formal “Certificate of attendance” without indication of merit, having legal value in Italy. This means that, for example, in case of re-entry into the Italian school system, the student will not have to take any Italian language exam / test, the Certificate issued by us being valid.
Which textbooks are used?
In our courses we normally use textbooks published by Italian publishing houses. The books are distributed free of charge by teachers to elementary and middle school students. In the courses for adults instead, the purchase of the textbook is the responsibility of the student.
Each teacher chooses the textbooks they deem best suited to their pupils, while being aware that no text can be fully adapted to the typology of courses in the Netherlands. Each teacher can then integrate the text with handouts, cards and other in-house production material.
Unfortunately, we are often unable to provide the textbook at the beginning of the course, but only in subsequent lessons, being tied up:
- to orders that we can only make when we know exactly the number of students and therefore the number of texts to be ordered,
- to the distribution and shipment by the various publishing houses.
How long does a course last?
Group courses normally begin in the second half of September or early October and have an indicative duration of 30 weekly lessons. Each lesson usually lasts 1,5 ore.
Note that, in places where there is not a sufficient number of students to organize two homogeneous courses, we would be forced to include all the students, of different ages and levels in one course. From the didactic point of view however, this situation would be unacceptable. In these cases we therefore try to divide the students into smaller groups (three or four pupils), consequently reducing the duration of the lesson of each subgroup (for example 45 minutes). In this way we are able to maintain the overall effectiveness of the course.
Similarly, in the case of very young pupils (5/6 years), the duration of the single lesson can be limited to 1 Now, so as not to burden the workload of the students themselves.
APPLICATIONS
E’ It is possible to follow a distance-learning course (online)?
During the Coronavirus pandemic we have carried out all the courses in remote mode. With the experience gained, we have decided to offer distance courses even in normal times, reserved for all those potential students who cannot have traditional in-person courses in the localities where they reside.
Of course, a distance-learning course is only possible if there are sufficient potential students and they have a relatively homogeneous age and / or level of knowledge of Italian.
For any information, suggestion, proposal or request for an online course, please contact us.
How do I sign up for a course?
To register for our courses, simply fill in one of the forms indicated on the page online REGISTRATION.
Upon receipt of the registration form, we evaluate the place of residence of the potential student, the age and level of the indicated course, in order to identify the apparently most suitable course for the student.
Before the start of the courses, the member will receive a communication via e-mail indicating the location, of the day, the time of the event, and the start date of the course. In case of difficulty in attending the indicated course, the member (his family) you can inform us and we will try in every way to find a different and satisfactory solution.
If the course is already active, the student will immediately receive a communication with all the information e, in case of doubts about the most appropriate course, an invitation to a very short orientation interview (also telephone) with the teacher.
How do I know if there will be a course in my city?
The locations where our courses are located are indicated on the page COURSES. However the localities, such as the number and type of courses in each location, they may vary from year to year depending on the number of registrations we receive.
In any locality where there is a sufficient number of potential students (registrations or requests received) in any case we try to open a new course (or more than one, if necessary). For any information you can contact us by e-mail.
Why do I have to pay a course fee?
For many years, starting from the 70s of the last century, the Italian government fully financed the cost of the courses, for both children and adults, . No participation fee was therefore required from the members. For several years instead, the Italian Government “contributes” to the financing of the courses, in percentages varying from year to year. The participation fee requested from the students therefore serves to support the part of expenses not covered by government contributions.
In the case of courses for adults, from the 2003 unfortunately these no longer enjoy government contributions. The participation fees requested from adult students are therefore used to cover all related expenses.
When do I have to pay my participation fee?
After receiving all submissions, ESI organizes the various courses and informs by e-mail (generally in September) those enrolled on the start date of the course, the location of the event and the payment methods for the participation fee. This fee must be paid by the date indicated in the aforementioned communication.
What I undertake with the registration?
The registration form is required by the ESI Management in order to organize the various courses, grouping students into classes that are as homogeneous as possible by age, level of knowledge of Italian and locality. The compilation of the registration form does NOT bind the subscribers in any way (or families of members, if minors) and does not give rise to consequences in the event of second thoughts and / or non-participation in the course.
However, it is good to remember that the Italian government requires a minimum number of students (8) to authorize the opening of a course. Then, if after forming a class with a list of 8 pupils, some of these decide at the last moment not to attend, there is a risk for the ESI of having to cancel the course, consequently penalizing the other enrolled students.
For this reason of “correctness”, we recommend that you inform us promptly about any changes to attendance. Thank you.