Is it really possible to learn basic Italian in just one week ? And if so, why seven steps? Learning a new language can seem a difficult, if not impossible task, yet in reality all you need are a few clear simple concepts to take your first steps into a new linguistic world. The first steps are important and should reflect the needs of you as a student and as a traveller. BOOK NOW ASK US So here they are, the 7 basic steps that will open a whole new world of Italian to you. Introducing yourself 1. Exchanging names. Piacere! One of the most fundamental tasks in any language is exchanging name ..read more

by Stefy Marti, Swiss student at the Italian Language Center Babilonia – Taormina, Sicily It’s not early in the morning, school starts at 9:30 a.m. for me. So I can comfortably get up and enjoy a coffee. There is already a pleasant warmth outside. The sun is shining in all its glory. At 8.45 a.m. I make my way to the “Bam Bar”. Famous musicians or athletes can also be found here from time to time. There is a “granita with brioche”. The granita is nice and cool and the brioche is still warm. A typical Sicilian breakfast. Bam Bar Taormina In just a 3-minute walk from there I can reach the Italia ..read more

If you are even a little familiar with the language of Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch, you probably know how many letters there are in the Italian alphabet. Taking into consideration only the basic letters, we can say that there are 21, considering the additional letters – 26. The Italian alphabet is the shortest among other European languages, and it is not difficult to memorize it. Table of Contents Italian alphabet with pronunciation Reading in Italian Learning in Babilonia Language School Italian alphabet with pronunciation How many letter in italian alphabet. In Italian, there are five l ..read more

by Cheryl Spangler Dear Team Babilonia, Sorry to write in English but I graduated at level A2.2 I writing to thank the entire team for another great experience. I enjoyed every aspect of my week. Thank you to the staff in the restaurant for always making us feel welcome and providing outstanding service. You are a huge asset to the school. A big kiss to our favorite barista as her smile and energy are a great start to each day. Thank you to the office staff for providing excellent customer service. My apartment was a dream and every day that I sat in my temporary kitchen and looked out the wi ..read more

Italy is magnificent at any time of the year! But let’s pay tribute to the Italian autumn – it has its own splendor and unique charm. The summer heat subsides, prices slowly decrease, and numerous festivals begin – this is how the velvet season starts. The climate is so pleasant that you want to walk along the Italian streets, breathing in the magical air of the stunning country. In early fall in Italy, nature is still breathing the memories of summer: it is full of sunny days, although the humidity is not so high, and at night there is no exhausting stuffiness. After the heat of summer, natur ..read more

Whatever your reason for travelling to Italy – a business trip or a romantic getaway – you need at the very minimum a basic understanding of the Italian language. Your little phrasebook must be at hand to help you greet your business partners, read shop signs, make an order at the café or ask for directions to the nearest hotel… What phrasebook should I choose? There are different formats to an Italian phrasebook: • You can buy a tourist’s phrasebook in the bookshop. In this case, choose a small book that will be easier to take around with you. Depending on your language ability, choose a book ..read more

The Italian language stands out thanks to its musicality and beauty. In mastering it, you will be able to enjoy well-known Italian operas and cultural productions, films and literature all in their original language. Learning this language isn’t too difficult. It’s known for its relatively simple pronunciation, in comparison to French and even English. For a Russian-speaking person, the phonetics used in Italian pronunciation are not difficult to articulate. For this reason, you can begin learning it straightaway with simple words and frequently-used phrases, which will prove useful wherever y ..read more

Traditional Christmas and New Year celebrations in Italy are similar to those in Russia, which is why many of our compatriots head to Italy for the New Year. Table of Contents How do Italians celebrate the New Year? Christmas Traditions in Sicily How do Italians celebrate the New Year? All Italians love the Christmas and New Year celebrations, which is why they prepare for them thoroughly. Aside for the necessary decorations with regards to the festive table, fireworks and Christmas crackers, there are also New Year practices unique to Italy. It’s customary for Italians to wear red on New Ye ..read more

If you have Italian friends or you’ve decided to spend your winter holidays in this wonderful country, you will definitely need to be familiar with the vocabulary associated with the New Year and learn some Christmas greetings in Italian. It’s always nice to hear kind words and good-willed greetings in your own language, let alone from a foreigner. It’s good for the soul. We will happily help you learn the necessary words and phrases, so that you can please Italians in an authentic way during this season. Language specialists at Babilonia have gathered some necessary New Year lexis and example ..read more

Our guide to Italian gestures Learning a language is not just learning grammar rules. A language is so much more then grammar rules. Every language is the mirror of a culture. Learning Italian is also learning how to use our hands to add meanings to what we say, to visualize what we mean. Here you will find all the necessary information to help you understand what makes Italian gestures so famous and just how to use them correctly. Italian gestures are the very essence of how we communicate, although we could easily converse for hours using gestures alone, we would find it near impossible to s ..read more