Università per Stranieri di Perugia: Italian Language Course for Foreigners

Last summer I got the Italian government scholarship to learn Italian language for three consecutive months in one of the oldest city in Italy. The Italian language course is designed specifically for foreign students in the University of Perugia for Foreigners, with whom the Italian government established a cooperation to grant Italian language scholarship for students coming from all over the world. Before deciding where exactly to go this summer, you might want to consider this article.

University of Perugia for Foreigners (in Italian it is called ‘Università per Stranieri di Perugia’) is the center of Italian language and culture learning specialized for foreign students having an interest in studying the Italian language and culture. This university was built in the year of 1921 on an initiation by a Perugian-origin lawyer named Astorre Lupattelli, with the purpose to spread out the importance and raise people awareness about the history of Umbria province with Perugia as the capital city, also to promote its natural beauty and artistic values. Lupattelli, who wanted this university to become an institution that teaches Italian language and culture, gained a positive support and approval from Benito Mussolini, Italian ruler at that time, with the ambition to disseminate the highly values of Italian culture throughout the world.

On February 17^th, 1992, the University for Foreigners became part of the Faculty of Italian Language and Culture, Department of Linguistics and Comparative Culture, University of Perugia. Besides Italian language and culture courses, this campus also offers undergraduate and master degree program, and organizing international examination of Italian language named CELI (derives from the words ‘Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana) to get a worldwide recognition of your Italian language capacity.

The University of Perugia for Foreigners is divided into two big campuses. The main campus is a huge ancient building named Palazzo Gallenga, located in the square of Piazza Fortebraccio, and is used for advanced-level Italian language course as well as degree program. Another smaller one is situated in Via XIV Settembre, around 10 minutes by walking from the main campus, and consists of three buildings named Palazzina Orvieto, Palazzina Lupattelli, and Palazzina Prosciutti. These three are used for beginner and intermediate level students.

Although the classes are divided into grading level system based on Italian language skills of each student, all the teachers lecturing in the University of Perugia for Foreigners are native Italian speakers. They are able to speak English or other foreign languages—commonly Spanish or French—either active or passively. Nevertheless, all the students and teachers must use Italian language in and outside classes. This also applies to teachers for elementary level students.

As I have mentioned above, the Italian language skills of each student is grouped into several levels, which are Elementary Level or Livello Principianti A1 and A2, Intermediate Level or Livello Intermedio B1 and B2, Advanced Level or Livello Avvanzato C1 and C2. Each class must accommodate as many as 32 students for a maximum quota, and the learning activities are subdivided into sessions of grammar and conversation. As to the elementary and advanced level, there is additional learning session where students are given a general lecture about Italian culture.

In addition to the learning activity facilities such as audiovisual rooms and textbooks, the university campus is also equipped with a laboratory of information technology in which the students can make use of the internet and print documents for free. There’s also a cafeteria and comfortable library. Students can have the access to buy and enjoy their lunch and dinner at the university canteen at lower price: 4,5 Euro only for a complete meal of fruit, salad, bread, pasta, yoghurt, meat or fish.

At the Palazzo Gallenga, additional facilities are a big hall where students can benefit to perform their artistic talents, ATM and Umbria bank for paying the course fee, students welcoming service, course registration office, as well as a small chamber for police officer to handle administrative matters such as student permit and visa.

Very closed to the main campus, there’s a small bookstore named Grimana Libri where students can buy textbooks at discounted price. Next to it is a tabaccheria that sells study materials such as papers, envelopes, stamps, stationery and stuffs. Just a few kilometers behind the Gallenga is an agency which helps students to find a suitable flat according to their needs, and a travel bureau which organizes various packages at affordable price.

Well, if you would like to spend your summer in Italy and learn its cultural aspects at the same time, this campus can be a good option for you!