THE SCHOOL
Why choose Eurocentres Firenze?
1) QUALITY: Eurocentres Firenze is a partner school of the Eurocentres Foundation of Zurich, a leader in the field of foreign language training with 32 schools situated in 17 countries worldwide. The EUROCENTRES SUCCESS SYSTEM was created as a result of our vast experience and dedication to excellence. It is based on a Personalised and Specialised approach.
2) SCHOOL PREMISES: our school is located a beautiful Renaissance building, Palazzo Guadagni .The historic school building, designed by the famous architect Cronaca and built in 1503, has an interesting history and is a landmark for students who study Renaissance architecture.
Want to find out more about Palazzo Guadagni? Sign up for our Hidden Secrets of Palazzo Guadagni lecture. You will discover the rich history of the building as well as anecdotal stories of the various inhabitants over the years, from the XVI century up to the present time.
3) LOCATION: the school is situated in the Oltrarno area of Florence, a 10 minute walk from the main train station but away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas. The Oltrarno is home to numerous artisans’ workshops specialising in framing, gilding, shoemaking, leatherware, paper crafts etc.
Is there a maximum age limit?
Absolutely not! There is no upper age limit at Eurocentres Firenze (minimum age: 16), our eldest student celebrated his 90th birthday with us in July 2012!
When can I start?
If you have already studied some Italian you can start on any Monday. If you are a beginner, there are specific start dates. Please see the Dates and Fees page for further information.
How will my language level be assessed?
On your first day you will take a written test followed by an informal conversation with one of our teachers. You will then be placed in the class that is the correct level for you.
What if I find the class too easy or too difficult?
If you feel that the class level is not right for you, our Academic Manager is always available and will arrange for you to switch classes.
What is the daily timetable?
Lessons start at 09.00 every morning. There is a morning break between 10.40 – 11.10 and then lessons continue until 12.50. If you take the Language and Culture Intensive course you will have lessons on either Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons (depending on your language level) from 14.10 – 16.00 and on Thursday afternoons from 14.00 – 16.30.
How many teachers will I have?
For the morning Italian lessons you will have 2 teachers. One teacher’s lessons will focus on Italian conversations an communication while during the other lessons the focus will be on grammar and written consolidation.
Can I study other courses at the same time?
Yes! Eurocentres Firenze offers a wide range of extra courses held in the afternoons so there is no overlap with your morning Italian lessons. Please see the Other courses page for further information.
ACCOMMODATION
What type of accommodation should I choose?
Living with a an Italian host family provides an excellent opportunity for you to experience how a real Italian family live. You will also have opportunity to use your newly-acquired language skills with native speakers all day, every day. You will live as a guest in “your” family’s home, sharing it with the other members of the family.
If you would prefer to be more independent, residence accommodation may be the best option for you. You would have your own studio apartment in the residence building with private cooking facilities and bathroom – minimum age 18. Obviously with residence accommodation there are fewer possibilities for socialising and conversing in Italian compared to host family accommodation.
Alternatively, you may wish to rent your own apartment or a room in a shared apartment (minimum age 18, minimum stay 4 weeks) and our accommodation finding service can assist you in this.
Are the host families and residences located near to the school?
Several host families live in the historic centre, within walking distance to the school. Other families are located a little further away, a max bus journey of 30 minutes.
The school collaborates with several residence structures, some within walking distance of the school, others a short bus journey (10 minutes) away.
What is included in host family accommodation?
You will have a room of your own, comfortably and practically furnished to a good local standard. Meals are provided every day of the week, including weekends and you can choose between half-board (breakfast and hot evening meal) or just breakfast. You will be given your own door key and will be free to come and go as you choose. If you have any special requests such as dietary requirements or a preference to stay with a certain type of family (young couple, family with children, family with certain interests etc.) please indicate them on the enrolment form and we will try our best to find the most suitable family for you.
How will I find my accommodation when I arrive in Florence?
You will receive the information about your accommodation at least 2 weeks before your arrival in Florence. This includes the address of the host family or residence, details on the journey from the accommodation to and from school as well as a description of the family or the residence.
You may choose to arrive independently at your accommodation or we can organise a taxi transfer service for you directly from the airport or train station in Florence. The driver will wait for you even if there are delays with your flight / train.
Can the school arrange for me a room in a shared apartment?
Yes, the school can book a room or a studio for you. Please fill in this form form (file .pdf) and send it back
To our offices, together with your enrolment form.
Please be aware that in Italy apartments are booked by the month, so if you book a course from, say,
18 May to 15 June very likely you will be charged two months instead of one, so you ought to
plan you course dates very carefully.
In other words, your start date and you end date should fall within the same month.
SOCIAL PROGRAMME
Does the school organise social activities?
Yes! We have a rich monthly social programme which includes visits to museums and galleries in Florence as well as city bike tours and aperitivi. At school we organise activities such as barbecues, typical lunches and Italian cinema sessions. Furthermore we collaborate with local tour guides who specialise in organising both day trip Venezia, Verona, Siena & San Gemignano, Chianti, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, and many more.
Our client services team are always available to provide further information on exhibitions, concerts, galleries and special events in Florence.
ENROLMENT & PAYMENT PROCEDURE
How do I enrol on a Eurocentres Firenze course?
The first step is to complete our enrolment form. There are 4 ways to do this:
1. Complete the online enrolment form
2. Download and complete the enrolment form (file .pdf) and send it to us by e-mail, fax or post
3. Complete the enrolment form on the last page of our brochure and send it to us by e-mail, fax or post
4. Directly at school with our enrolment staff!
What happens after I send my enrolment form?
You will be contacted by a member of our enrolment team who will send you the confirmation documents for your course including an invoice for payment. At this stage you will be asked to pay the non-refundable enrolment fee of 70 euros to secure your enrolment. Six weeks before your course start date we will contact you again to request the remaining payment.
How can I pay for my course?
The enrolment fee and course fees can be paid by:
1. Bank transfer: the bank details are included on the invoice that you will be sent. Please indicate your name and course start date on the transfer form.
2. Credit card: you can contact us by telephone / fax / e-mail to give us your credit card details and we will proceed to charge your card.
3. Online payment (PayPal payment can be made by the most important credit cards: PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, etc:)
4. Cash: directly at school.
VISA ASSISTANCE
Can Eurocentres Firenze help me attain a visa?
Yes we can provide you with the necessary confirmation documentation necessary when applying for a visa. Please visit our Obtaining a Visa page to check if you do actually require a visa.
Can Eurocentres Firenze help me apply for a Permesso di soggiorno?
Yes. Please ask our client services staff for further information about this on your first day at school (applications must be made within 8 days of arriving in Italy).
