Reviews of The Italian Academy, Siracusa, Italy
Total number of reviews: 24
NOTE: All reviews are authentic. Only students who booked their course through us can publish evaluations here, and only after the end of their programme. These evaluations then are not manipulated in any way, neither by us nor by the school, and can be trusted as honest opinions about personal experiences with the school.
Average Rating
Based on 24 reviews of former students of The Italian Academy
| Overall rating The Italian Academy, Siracusa, Italy | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| City | 4.3 |
| Organisation | 4.1 |
| Facilities | 4.2 |
| Social activities | 3.4 |
| Quality of teaching | 4.2 |
| Value for money | 4.1 |
| Accommodation | |
| Homestay | 5.0 |
| Shared Flat (apartment) | 5.0 |
| Other | --- |
Individual Reviews
The Italian Academy
15. Apr. 2024
1. Kees (51 years) Netherlands
101.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
101.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
Very nice people, enthusiastic teacher and a very good reception/organiser. The school is next to the museum and archeological area and offers free tickets to one of these (catacombs). The building is super nice and the large garden is heaven. Syracuse is a very nice city to stay.
Negative aspects
There were no weaknesses.
City/place
It is a very nice city with a lot of sightseeing opportunities. For clubs and shopping maybe someone would like to have another place to stay, but there are far too many good restaurants to check out, a good amount of nice bars, and of course the historical places. As it's a city close to the sea you can also enjoy the beach and boat tours etcetera. People were all very nice and the city felt very safe.
5. Apr. 2024
2. Janet Germany
102.Course: General Italian - 1 week
102.Course: General Italian - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
Our teacher made the class fun and it was well organized and paced.
Negative aspects
The location of our apartment was not ideal. I liked the walk but the neighborhood offered few stores etc.
Other comments
Thank you to all! We really enjoyed our week there.
City/place
It wouldn’t be a city I’d return to.
11. Mar. 2024
3. Mike (50 years) 
103.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
103.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
The school has a wonderful garden.
Negative aspects
The first week was a bit too fast for a beginner.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss
Ortigia, of course
City/place
Siracusa and Ortigia are always worth a visit.
Quality of teaching / language progress
The individual lessons were great.
27. Nov. 2023
4. Anne Kristin (57 years) Norway
104.Course: General Italian - 4 weeks
104.Course: General Italian - 4 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
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Facilities (library, classrooms)
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Quality of teaching / language progress
17. Oct. 2023
5. Andrea (59 years)
105.Course: General Italian - 1 week
105.Course: General Italian - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
The school is located in a beautiful villa, nestled in a large park. The classrooms are well equipped and there is even a school kitchen for the weekly cooking classes. The organisation worked out great.
Negative aspects
The language level of the participants in my course was very varied.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss
Spending an evening on "La Barca", a cosy boat with a bar and small snacks, docked in the harbour in front of the Grand Hotel in Ortigia.
Other comments
Small, well-organised language school
City/place
Siracusa is a pretty seaside town in south-eastern Sicily with a guarantee of good weather. The old town of Ortigia with its narrow streets is bustling with life. There are numerous shops, restaurants and bars, but also historical sights. In Siracusa, there are Greek and Roman ruins and the famous "Ear of Dionysus" to discover.
Quality of teaching / language progress
Good teaching material.
16. Oct. 2023
6. Elena (64 years) Netherlands
106.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
106.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Additional information
Negative aspects
Standard Italian course. My level was defined as B2. Too relaxed. I got the impression that the teacher just did not have enough material until the end of the lesson. On the fourth day of the course, after I said and other students supported me that it would be better not only to talk, but also to learn/practice grammar - topics that are not so easy to introduce into speech at this level, we started to look at certain aspects of congiuntivo usage. Nevertheless as I didn't learn a single new word/expression/ grammar use during the wole week, I cancelled the second week of the course. I still don't see a refund for the second week in my account, but maybe it's due to the international transfer.
This is not my first course, I remember with great gratitude and nostalgia the course of Piccola Università in Tropea (A2-B1 level) which once fuelled my interest in Italian, I also enjoyed the course of Solemar Academy in Cefalù (C1) some years ago
Other comments
Cosy school with beautiful garden
16. Oct. 2023
7. Martina (64 years)
107.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
107.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Accommodation
Other
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
I had very good, good-humoured and highly motivated teachers. The structure of the lessons was consistent and logical, even entirely in Italian. The location of the school is fantastic! The cooking course was a lot of fun.
Negative aspects
The wine tasting was ridiculous, especially for the price. There was supposed to be "something to eat", but all we got were bread crumbs, fingernail-sized wafer-thin slices of parmesan and a drop of oil. There was one sip of each of three wines. At least the tour was interesting.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss
Visit to the Dan Giovanni Catacombs across the street. Free entry through the school.
Other comments
A lovingly maintained old villa in a lovely park, currently with a little cat that everyone loves living there.
City/place
If it weren't for the rubbish and the dog poo everywhere, it would be a dream! Typical Italian! At lunchtime it's dead, in the evening it's a wonderful soundscape like in a film! Delicious, affordable food, also to go, bars, restaurants in masses, both for locals and tourists. The surrounding area is also very inviting!
Quality of teaching / language progress
Perfectly tailored to me.
Accommodation
I had to fight to get the casa cleaned after a week. This also happened in a very minimalist way! This definitely needs to be improved! There was no vegetable knife and no paring knife. The rack on which the dishes were supposed to dry was totally rusted. I was very positively surprised by the bed: a very good mattress and a good pillow. The best thing is the terrace: nice and big, with a big table, shady and quiet, although located in the middle of the city. However, some of the chairs urgently need to be replaced, also in front of the house. Despite everything, I would take Villa Limone and especially Casa Figue d'India again any time!
12. Sep. 2023
8. Sarka (39 years)
108.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) [Italian] - 2 weeks
108.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) [Italian] - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Accommodation
Homestay
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
I had a very flexible teacher who adapted the content exactly to our needs in the group courses. The host family was also excellent.
Negative aspects
The only thing was that with the individual courses there were two of us - with one student it worked out wonderfully (we were both very diligent), but with the other, the next week, then not (such a personality type) - there I actually would have needed an individual course, as it was too slow for me. That's why I deducted one point.
City/place
Very beautiful
Quality of teaching / language progress
Good
24. Jul. 2023
9. Ruth (33 years) United Kingdom
109.Course: General Italian - 1 week
109.Course: General Italian - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
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Additional information
Positive aspects of school
I had a wonderful week with the school! Julia was an excellent teacher, and the course gave me a good start into the Italian language!
Negative aspects
Whilst there were some lovely optional activities offered in the evening, they were quite expensive for what they were.
City/place
A wonderful city- but Ortigia is the place to experience, rather than Syracuse!
27. Jun. 2023
10. Veronika (55 years)
110.Course: General Italian - 1 week
110.Course: General Italian - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Quality of teaching / language progress
30. May. 2023
11. Aoun (54 years) Kuwait
111.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
111.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
The main building of the campus is a historic villa. Also, the entrance is next to Chiesa di San Giovanni.
Negative aspects
When we sometimes asked to lowering our voice, and we need to close the windows for that.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss
Prepare for the course as much as you can.
Other comments
Coffee machines, etc
City/place
Beautiful, historical, and charming
Quality of teaching / language progress
Book, materials.
13. Mar. 2023
12. Daniela (61 years)
112.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 1 week
112.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Additional information
Positive aspects of school
Very personal and super friendly
City/place
I lived in Ortigia
Quality of teaching / language progress
Perfect
19. Dec. 2022
13. Rinna Denmark
113.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 16 weeks
113.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 16 weeks
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17. Oct. 2022
14. Jürgen (63 years)
114.Course: Individual Italian [Italian] (10 Lessons) - 1 week
114.Course: Individual Italian [Italian] (10 Lessons) - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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1. Oct. 2022
15. Marjaana (75 years) 
115.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
115.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Positive aspects of school
The atmosphere and ambience was pleasant. The school was located in a beautiful setting. The teacher was knowledgeable, clear and articulate. The staff was helpful and sympathetic.
City/place
A very interesting city.
23. Sep. 2022
16. James (40 years) Italy
116.Course: General Italian - 3 weeks
116.Course: General Italian - 3 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Positive aspects of school
It tried to offer activities but a lot of people did not take advantage of them.
Negative aspects
As an absolute beginner class we started fast and moved faster so it was hard to figure things out. We did not practice the basic sayings very much which you would think would be something that should be done daily to at least get you saying the basic phrases.
City/place
If you like warm weather and beach its a good place to go. Ortigia had a lot of food and things to do and see.
Quality of teaching / language progress
If you are comfortable with learning language you should be fine. I was a first time outside my main language so it was way too fast for me.
16. Aug. 2022
17. Deniz (38 years) Italy
117.Course: General Italian - 3 weeks
117.Course: General Italian - 3 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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Positive aspects of school
I liked my teacher and learned from her. I feel more confident to talk in Italian now.
Negative aspects
Every Monday new students were joining and there were days went to repeating instead of learning new things. I am up for revising but even same exercise sheets were given. There were few teachers absent (probably due to covid) at some point we had 3 different levels (they combined the classes) in the same class.
9. Aug. 2022
18. Alexandra (24 years)
118.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 3 weeks
118.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 3 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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1. Dec. 2021
19. Stefanie (45 years)
119.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
119.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
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18. Oct. 2021
20. Kathrine Norway
120.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
120.Course: Intensive Italian (20 group + 10 individual) - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
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20. Sep. 2021
21. Veronika (57 years)
121.Course: General Italian - 1 week
121.Course: General Italian - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
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3. Aug. 2021
22. Esther (40 years) 
122.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
122.Course: General Italian - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
School organization
Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
The school garden is very nice.
Negative aspects
There were no free afternoon activities during the two weeks of my course.
Quality of teaching / language progress
In the same group they brought together different levels.
7. Sep. 2020
23. Sophie (60 years) 
123.Course: General Italian [Italian] - 1 week
123.Course: General Italian [Italian] - 1 week
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
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Facilities (library, classrooms)
Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Accommodation
Homestay
Quality of teaching / language progress
Unless I'm mistaken, if a course is for 2 students, the 15 hours of training per week turn into 12. I only had 10 ... and no organized activity (even with COVID, we can do things) . Otherwise, a very nice school and quality teachers. I probably came at the wrong time ...
Accommodation
The keys to the outdoor garbage cans and the instructions for the capricious boiler must be left with the tenant.
3. Dec. 2019
24. Daniel (41 years)
124.Course: Intensive Italian Course (30 lectures per week, Bildungsurlaub) - 2 weeks
124.Course: Intensive Italian Course (30 lectures per week, Bildungsurlaub) - 2 weeks
Overall rating
Value for money
Detailed review
City/place
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Social activities
Quality of teaching / language progress
Additional information
Positive aspects of school
The friendly and helpful staff and the great location with a park.
City/place
Siracusa has a rich history and there are many historical monuments to visit, for example from Greek and Roman times. Unfortunately it is very noisy and dangerous due to the heavy traffic. It is common not to adhere to traffic rules and to disregard safety regulations.
