Location
  • Italy
    • Sicily
Language
Italian

Program Details

Housing
Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hostel Hotel
Jan 15, 2018
Jan 10, 2018
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

Founded in 1992, the Italian language school Babilonia in Taormina, sunny Sicily, is the oldest center for Italian language south of Rome. Courses take place in a historical villa (the ancient Casa Silva), just a few steps from the famous Greek Theatre. The school garden is an archeological site with colorful plants and trees where cultural events take place.

The school organizes Italian group courses for all levels as well as individual lessons and various special programs, covering topics such as food and wine, history, art, hiking, golf, ceramic decoration or cinema.

During breaks or after lessons students can enjoy Sicilian delights in our cafè and restaurant, chat with friends in the garden or connect connect with the virtual world using our free wi-fi our school PCs; or they just explore the city and surrounding areas together with our school team during the various excursions and cultural trips.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 2 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Instruction 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Value 5
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Dominic
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience with Babilonia

I was lucky enough to spend three and a half months studying at Babilonia as a university student studying abroad. While I have Italian ancestry and family, I never learned the language. Hence, I chose Babilonia because I thought it would give me the best chance to speak Italian. I was not disappointed!

When I arrived in Sicily, I knew only a few Italian words (fettucine, pizza, grazie, etc.). Thanks to Babilonia, I can now have meaningful conversations with my Italian friends and family! Babilonia is a school completely based on immersion; the instructors and staff insist on speaking to you in Italian. This was intimidating at first, but it cultivated a learning environment where communication is valued and you are not judged if you make mistakes with the language. The students continue this environment, who also (while they might fluently speak another common language) always strive to speak Italian together during the many school-organized activities. This is unique among study abroad programs in Italy.

Besides the kind and helpful staff and instructors, my host family was amazing. Donatella, Pippo, and Gabri had an amazing amount of patience with me as I learned the language, and always encouraged me to speak—or try to speak. I felt like I was a part of a real family, which made the adjustment seamless and energizing. Oh and the food was amazing as well .

Thanks to Babilonia, I had some of the greatest experiences of my life and learned A LOT of Italian. The connections I made with my host family and new Italian friends will last a lifetime…sono contentissimo di aver scelto Babilonia! Grazie mille!

114 people found this review helpful.
Kristin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BABILONIA is a DREAM school in a DREAM location!

BABILONIA is truly a dream. From the staff and management who are absolute angels to the wonderful, simply amazing teachers, all in a fabulous place like Taormina ... what more could you ask for? I had the great fortune to spend two weeks here for teacher training course (through AATI) and it was the best professional development I have ever had in my career as a teacher. I also made the wise decision to stay with a host family. This was one of the things that made Taormina and Babilonia unforgettable. “Mamma Angela” provided me with everything I needed and more. During my stay, she hosted other Babilonia students from Japan, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the United States and she treated us all as family, with home cooked Sicilian food and wonderful conversations, always in Italian, of course! ❤ If you have a chance to come here, do it – everything about this place is NUMERO UNO!

What would you improve about this program?
I cannot think of a single thing to improve this program ... Let me stay forever ??!
112 people found this review helpful.

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