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Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions:
How are courses organized?
All courses are flexible and can be combined according to your personal needs.
Group courses vary from 1 ½ hour to 25 hours per week. The standard course is 20 hours/week. Group courses are divided in two parts, one more based on accuracy, one on fluency. Lessons last 50 minutes (group) or one hour (individual). Except for absolute beginners, standard courses start every Monday.
How big are your groups? What’s the students’ average age?
Each class welcomes maximum 7 students: this will give you a lot of opportunity to speak and practice.
We have people of all ages and nationality; you can find younger people especially during school or college holidays, more mature students may come at different times of the year. The average age is 25/26. We also organize classes for children and teenagers, so that anyone can find the perfect atmosphere to learn.
How many levels do you have in Ovìt?
Our language courses cover 3 levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), all of which can be further subdivided in two (lower and upper).
Are these levels based on the Common European Framework (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)?
Yes, they are based on the European Framework, but we think that everyone has its personal level and needs, so we try to fully personalize the course on individual needs.
Will I have a test before the course?
Yes, unless you are a total beginner. The test will help us understand easily which level suits you best. It consists of a brief conversation, a reading comprehension and a small grammar test.
Will I study with the same group during the course? Can I change group if I feel that mine doesn’t fit me?
You will study with the same group until you pass to the next level. Sometimes it happens that a student may end up in a level that does not suit him/her, or students in the same group learn at different speed. Don’t worry, if you have any problem with your class level, you can repeat the test and eventually change group.
How long will it take to speak fluently?
Even if in average it takes about 120 hours to pass to the next level, actually it changes a lot from student to student, depending of various factors, like students’ background, personal interests, actual time of self-studying, environment… That’s why the first thing we try to do, even before the actual “teaching” begins, is to make you feel at ease and to understand what your personal needs are. Learning a new language is not a competition, it’s a wonderful experience that will not only give you the possibility to communicate in everyday life in a foreign country, but it also gives you the chance to learn more about people, cultures and, why not, yourself. So, don’t worry, you’ll see you are improving every day.
Do I have opportunity to speak and practice my Italian?
Always. Communication is a priority in our teaching method. And as our classes welcome very few students, you will continuously have opportunity to practice, correct yourself, clarify your doubts (and often just have a nice chat with teachers and colleagues outside the school!)
Will I study grammar?
Always. Even if it will not be a “traditional” grammar lesson, but always related to real-life situations. Even if words and vocabulary are the actual “carrier” of the meaning, and communication is the aim of learning, grammar is a precious instrument of a language, it will help you understand better how the language works, and will make more accurate while you improve you fluency and vocabulary.
Do I have to buy books?
No, all materials are included in the course price. Our teachers have been trained to use different didactic material adapting it to the class needs. Using a textbook could only slow down the group or be far away from the actual student’s interests.
What’s the best course for me? Intensive? Individual?
You have little time and you want to maximize the time? Do you study better alone or you feel more at ease in a small group? Or maybe you are in Milan to study or work and you can’t study every day? If you have any doubt, feel free to contact us, our school staff will find the perfect course for you according to your personal needs.
Can I have a free trial lesson?
Sure. We organize a free trial lesson every month. Send us an e-mail to book yours.
How are teachers qualified?
It is not easy to quantify the “quality” of a teacher. All our teachers have a degree in humanistic studies, many years of experience in teaching to students of all ages and countries and have been trained at our school. Furthermore, they have also been selected for their personality: we believe that a teacher must be competent, professional and experienced, but also open-minded, enthusiastic and able to create a friendly atmosphere where studying becomes really easier.
Will I have one or more teachers?
Group courses have more than one teacher to give the lessons a good variety in teaching and personal approaches. On the other hand, individual and specific courses will have one teacher, selected for his/her specific knowledges, basing on the student or class needs.
What is the school method?
As we put the student in the centre of our teaching, we don’t like labelling our teachers’ method, even if it can be defined in between the “communicative approach” and “cultural-affective approach”. We always try to adapt our strategies to our students’ needs.
How can a teacher teach me, if he/she doesn’t speak my language?
This is part of our job: we have been teaching Italian to students from any country and age whose languages we didn’t know. The difficulties in teaching a language may be many, but this is definitely not one of them. The aim of our courses is to reach a good level of linguistic competency from the very beginning, so it’s very important that students get used in communicating in Italian from the first lesson. On the other hand, our staff can also speak English, so if you need specific informations don’t worry: we’re always here to help you.
Is the school near the city centre? How do I get there?
The school is situated in Milan city centre, only few minutes from the Cathedral (Duomo) and the main train stations, just a step from Milan shops, main tourists attractions, night-life and public events.
You can reach us in many ways:
- MM2 Porta Venezia (red line)
- Passante ferroviario (S), Porta Venezia (blue line)
- tram and bus: 5, 9, 29/30, 33
Please visit our contact page to find a map of Milan or feel free to write us an e-mail if you need further help.
When is the best period to visit Milan?
- Spring (April/May) is probably the best if you like the sun but not hot temperatures. Milan is full of colours, and in windy days when you visit the Duomo terrace you can see the mountains. And don’t forget about the “FuoriSalone“: the greatest design event in Milan.
- Summer (June/July): August in Milan is very hot but the city is delicious: many people are on holiday, so you will never find a queue and you will have the city all for you. And it’s easy on weekends to reach the seaside or the lakes for a swim!
- Autumn: in September/October especially, the weather is still warm, and it’s very nice to walk around in the city.
- Winter: in December Milan gets ready for its never-ending Christmas: the whole city is filled with lights and it completely changes. Don’t miss the week that includes the 7th December, two big traditional shows are on: the “Fiera degli O-Bej O-Bej”, and the “Fiera dell’Artigianato”.
How will my school day be?
If you attend our general courses, your lessons will start at 9.30. At 11.10 we’ll have a little coffee (espresso of course) break, and then you will have lesson until 13.10.
In the evening, if you wish, you can come back to school and attend our free activities program: dvd films in Italian, excursions around the city, free lectures, and, on Friday, aperitivi, lunch or dinner in typical restaurants and nights out. At weekends we often organize excursions outside Milan, or lunch together. You’ll never get bored!
What does Ovìt mean?
Ovìt is an acronyms for Ogni Volta Italiano.
Ogni Volta means “Each Time”, and it’s a song by Vasco Rossi that we really love. Have you ever heard it?
How do I pay?
Please check our terms and conditions.
