Continuing professional development conferences and events

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Italiano alla fiorentina


Thursday 23 October to Saturday 1 November 2008
Florence, Italy

Teaching Italian and looking to improve your languages skills?
Want to refresh your knowledge of Italian life and culture?

Italiano alla fiorentina offers a lively mix of language classes, discussions and an extensive cultural and recreational programme which ensure you will be totally immersed in Italian culture. Visits to schools and research into chosen areas of interest will give you the chance to gather and develop original materials for your own teaching.

The British Institute of Florence is situated in two historic buildings on either side of the river Arno in the heart of the Centro Storico, only a few minutes walk from the major art galleries, museums and churches. This programme will give you many opportunities to explore one of the most beautiful cities in Italy.

Course Tutors
Staff from the British Institute of Florence. The group will be accompanied throughout the course by Anna Bartrum, University of Cumbria , Lancaster.

Who is it for?
The course is aimed at a range of teachers of Italian: from those with Italian as a second or third foreign language who have spent little time in Italy to Italian specialists in need of linguistic refreshment and cultural updating.

The course will include:

  • Purpose-designed language classes at three levels.
  • Talks and discussions on topical and current affairs, education, local culture, etc.
  • Visits to schools.
  • Cultural visits.
  • Personal research into chosen areas of interest which will involve meeting and interviewing local Florentines.

Aims:

  • To refresh, improve and deepen linguistic competence.
  • To develop awareness and knowledge of Italian life and culture – particularly within the context of Florence.
  • To provide the opportunity to gather and develop materials for your own teaching.

Pre-requisite skills
The course will be conducted entirely in Italian and applicants should have a good working knowledge of the language to get by on a day-to-day basis.
All applicants, therefore, must have a minimum operational level in Italian equivalent to at least 120 hours’ study.

Registration:

  • Fill out the form (pdf) to register your interest in attending this course.
  • We will send you instructions on how to apply for a grant towards the cost of the course.
    Please note: Teachers in adult education should apply for a grant using the Grundtvig application  which is administered by ECOTEC.
  • You send your completed grant application form to the British Council Education and Training Group or ECOTEC (the national agencies responsible for issuing these grants) as soon as possible.
  • You will be informed by the British Council ETG or ECOTEC whether you have been awarded a grant.
  • You tell us if you have been awarded the grant by sending us a copy of the confirmation letter from the British Council ETG or ECOTEC.
  • CILT will confirm your attendance on the course if a place is still available.
  • For more information call CILT on 020 7379 5101 or email conferences@cilt.org.uk

Fee and grant:
The cost of the course is Euros 1,700. You can apply for a grant through the Comenius Professional Development programme (managed by the British Council) or Grundtvig programme (managed by ECOTEC) to contribute to the course fee, subsistence and your travel.

The course fee covers:

  • Half-board home-stay accommodation
  • A daily subsistence allowance to go towards lunches
  • Course and tuition fees
  • A CILT tutor to accompany you throughout the course
  • Some excursions

You or your institution will also need to pay for:

  • Travel
  • Extra optional excursions
  • Your own social activities
  • Your own day-to-day expenses

Regarding the grant, priority is given to applicants who have not received a professional development grant in the last two years. The deadline for grant applications for this course is 30 June 2008, please ensure that you send your registration form to us as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline date for funding. The British Council will not consider grant applications after this date.

Please note the first and last days of the course are travelling days.