Duration: 2 weeks.

Structure: Monday – Friday 9.00 – 12.30.

Teaching language: Italian.

Description: 30 hours of Italian Lessons and Cultural Excursions. Link Campus University is delighted to offer Italian language and cultural courses at its central Rome location during summer 2009. The Italian language courses will be conducted in small, same-level groups in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. In the afternoon a rich cultural programme has been organised by the university to ensure that participants have the opportunity to practise their Italian language skills and discover the fascinating city of Rome.

Italian language lessons: All abilities are welcome, from complete beginners to those wishing to improve their language skills. After an initial level test, students follow Italian language lessons in the mornings. All language classes are taught by experienced mother-tongue teachers who are friendly and happy to share their knowledge of the city to ensure you make the most of your time in Rome. The number of students is limited to a maximum of 14 per language class to ensure that each student gains the most from the course.

Cultural Excursions: Various excursions to discover Rome are offered as part of the course thus ensuring you will be able to immerse yourself in the culture and practice the newly acquired language skills. The programme encourages students to meet and make new friends, experience cultural activities together and practise language skills in real-life situations. A rich cultural programme is offered which includes:

• Ancient Rome half-day walking tour
• Wine tasting in a local ‘enoteca’ (wine bar)
• An Italian cookery lesson
• Seminar on Discovering Italian Art history and Architecture
• Seminar on Italian Cinema
• Seminar on Italian Fashion and Design
• Seminar on the history, culture, traditions and Italian way of life, past and present.
• Italian in opera
• Optional ‘Tosca’ opera evening at the world famous open-air ‘Baths of Caracalla’
• Optional weekend visit to Pompei, Naples and Sorrento, Villa d’Este or Tivoli

Cost: 899,00 € (a minimum of 6 students is required for the course to run).

The fee includes:

• 30 hours of Italian lessons in groups of maximum 14 people
• Guided visits and entry to the following museums: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Italian cookery lesson and group dinner
• 3 evening dinners in typical Roman restaurants
• Voucher for a hot meal weekdays at lunchtime in the on-site university cafeteria
• Discovering Italian wines lecture and wine tasting evening
• 9 hours of cultural seminars

The cost does not include:

• Airfare and transport to Rome and local transportation during stay.
• Accommodation. Link Campus will be pleased to advise on locally available accommodation.
• Optional visit to the opera ‘Tosca’ on Wednesday July 22nd.
• Activities over the weekend of Saturday 25th

Dates: Monday 20th – Friday 31st July.

Programme:

Monday 20 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons
12.30 – 2.00pm: Lunch.
Afternoon: History, Culture, Traditions and the Italian Way of Life, Past and Present. An introduction to the Italian way of life will lead us to a richer and more complete understanding of Italy.
Evening: Informal walk around Trevi Fountain and Pantheon at dusk. Dinner in a local Roman restaurant

Tuesday 21 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
12.30 – 2.00pm: Lunch.
Afternoon: Afternoon free for shopping or sightseeing.
Evening: Evening free to explore Rome

Wednesday 22 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
12.30 – 2.00pm: Lunch.
Afternoon: Italian in Opera: learn about the most important classical composers in Italian opera. An introduction to Italian Fashion and Design.
Evening: Optional visit to ‘TOSCA’ at the open-air Baths of Caracalla, a spectacular venue made famous during the 1990 “Three Tenors Concert”.

Thursday 23 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Ancient Rome Walking Tour: 3 hour Ancient Rome Walking Tour visiting some of the best known monuments of Rome including the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine.
Afternoon (2.30 – 5.30pm): Italian lessons.
Evening: Dinner together in Trastevere.

Friday 24 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
12.30 – 2.00pm: Lunch.
Afternoon: History of Italian Cinema or Italian Art History.

Weekend of Saturday 25/Sunday 26 July
Lessons are not organised over the weekend of 25th and 26th July to allow participants to enjoy the beauty of the city of Rome and its environs. A list of suggested activities including concerts, music, cinema and exhibitions will be published in advance at the University. Teachers and staff will be on hand to offer suggestions and advice. Optional weekend trips are available for an extra charge.

Monday 27 July
Morning: Morning free to explore Rome.
Afternoon (2.30 – 5.30pm): Italian lessons.
Evening: “Gelato” evening, a chance to tempt your taste buds at the best “gelaterie” in the city.

Tuesday 28 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
12.30 – 2.00pm: Lunch.
Afternoon: Free afternoon to enjoy the sights of Rome.
5.00pm: Italian Cooking Lesson! Learn how to cook an authentic Italian meal, and then enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Wednesday 29 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
Afternoon: Italian Architecture.
Evening: Discovering Italian wines – visit to an ‘enoteca’ (Wine Bar). With the help of a sommelier learn how to appreciate wines using all your senses, before actually drinking them!

Thursday 30 July
Morning: Visit to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Afternoon (2.30 – 5.30pm): Italian lessons.

Friday 31 July
Morning (9.30 – 12.30): Italian lessons.
Afternoon: Free afternoon to enjoy the sights of Rome.
Evening: Farewell dinner in restaurant in central Rome.

Weekend of Saturday 25/Sunday 26 July
Optional excursion at an extra charge. 2 day visit to Naples, Pompei and Sorrento. Cost 300 Euro. Departing from Rome on Saturday at about 6.30am the tour includes a brief visit of Naples before spending the afternoon visiting the magnificent ruins of Pompei. Saturday evening will be spent in Sorrento including dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel. On Sunday the tour takes visitors to the beautiful island of Capri by boat with lunch in a restaurant in Anacapri. Participants can expect to be back in Rome around 8.30pm on Sunday evening.