The Tolomei Cultural Institute uses the city of Florence and its surrounding territory as a grand “laboratory” for language learning. Systematic reflection on the language and its structure is inserted into exciting communicative situations of discovery, suggested by the enormous literary and artistic patrimony of the city of Florence, which may well be considered the cradle of Italian culture.

The language is considered as an instrument for communicating tradition, as a way of experiencing the world around us (culture, food, fashion, sport, etc.), and as a means for expressing beauty (literature, theatre, painting, architecture, music, etc.). The method is based on a direct relationship between the student and teacher, whose aim is to provide each participant with the knowledge necessary for acquiring the language.

The starting point of each lesson will be a real life communicative situation. Thanks to the historic and artistic setting of the surrounding territory, the language may be learned in conjunction with the discovery of the world of Florence. The multiple codes communication are considered in real life contexts. Reflection and revision will take place in the classroom after hands-on excursions into the city. Starting from what was experienced earlier in the day, the instructor will provide explanations of linguistic structure.