| Reviewers Male / Female |
Recommend Yes / No |
Number of Reviews | Classes & Instruction | School Facilities | Accomodation | Cost & Expense | Total Average Rating |
| 1 / 2 | 3 / 0 | 3 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 9.33 | 10.00 | 9.83 |
| Date Submitted: | October 20, 2009 |
| Language School: |  Il Sasso |
| Language & Location: | Italian :: Montepulciano, Italy |
| Classes & Instruction: | 10 out of 10 |
| School Facilities: | 10 out of 10 |
| Accomodation: | 10 out of 10 |
| Cost & Expense: | 10 out of 10 |
| Recommend: | Yes |
| Review: | Most magical weeks of my life Three weeks at Il Sasso were three of the most magical weeks of my life. Leaving behind my little city on the other side of the world, in New Zealand, I packed my bags to embark on what would become the most memorable and priceless experience, within the walls of Montepulciano, Tuscany. An ancient fortress town, nestled in the hills of Tuscany was about as different as you can get from my hometown, but the moment I pulled up to the ancient gateway to the city, saw the medieval flags flying, and smelled the aromas of freshly sliced pizza wafting through the cobbled street, I felt I had come home! Il Sasso itself can be found in the middle of the main street of Montepulciano - perfect for dashing off in breaks to get a perfectly-brewed espresso and some sweet treat! The classes themselves improved my Italian immeasurably. There were no more than 5 students in my class, which means that the teacher can give each person the quality time they need to improve their Italian. And the teachers themselves? All of them were enthusiastic, warm, interesting, and, most importantly for a language teacher, each of them found ways to present the difficult parts of Italian grammar in a way that learning them was fun, and not too daunting! Probably the most rewarding thing about the teachers, though, was that each of them seemed genuinely interested in getting to know you, the student. By the time my course was finished, I felt like I was leaving behind some wonderful friends! Another fascinating aspect of classes at Il Sasso is the fact that your fellow students are from all over the world, so you get to share your own culture and background with them and learn about theirs. Aside from sitting inside a classroom and learning Italian, students at Il Sasso get the opportunity for a far more "hands on" approach to learning about Italian language and culture - the school organises all kinds of trips and excursions outside the classroom - from wine trails, treks through the Tuscan hills, tours on the architecture and history of Montepulciano - and my personal favourite: an Italian cooking class with a real Italian mamma! Throughout my stay I boarded with an elderly Italian couple in their home (which was only 3 minutes walk from Il Sasso), and so, every day (after classes finished at midday), I arrived home to a mouth-watering, home-cooked Italian lunch! I don't think I've ever eaten better in my life. If you have the opportunity to board with an Italian family, I highly recommend it, because it's a real insight into Italian culture, cuisine and custom. And, of course, you get the chance to practise your Italian with real Italians! Every day in that home, when I threw open the green shutters on my bedroom window, and looked down into the sun-drenched, fresh-aired valley, complete with the magnificient San Biagio church in the distance, I thanked my lucky stars that I'd chosen to do a course at Il Sasso. Comments [ 0 ] |
| Submitted by: | Alida 26 year-old :: Female Reviewer :: NZ, Newton, Welllington |
| Date Submitted: | October 20, 2009 |
| Language School: | Il Sasso |
| Language & Location: | Italian :: Montepulciano, Italy |
| Classes & Instruction: | 10 out of 10 |
| School Facilities: | 10 out of 10 |
| Accomodation: | 10 out of 10 |
| Cost & Expense: | 10 out of 10 |
| Recommend: | Yes |
| Review: | Join Il Sasso! I have attended Il Sasso on eight different occasions, staying from two to eight weeks. I have "compared notes" with a variety of international students at the school and all agreed that Il Sasso has a superior pedagogy. The students I spoke with included foreign diplomats, airline professionals, writers, retired language teachers and hall of fame baseball player, Sandy. The Italian students I spoke with in my community shared their experiences at other schools. They all had larger classes, fewer class levels and problems with their housing. What best illustrates the excellence of the school, is the number of students I have met who keep returning year after year. Il Sasso prides itself in being able to provide an environment that is comfortable and conducive to both learning and a positive cultural experience. They are always ready to be of assistance when a student is experiencing any form of difficulty rather it be an uncomfortable apartment or a medical emergency. For example, I had purchased a mobile phone and that did not operate correctly. While my Italian is decent, I was becoming frustrated with the situation. Two separate teachers volunteered to go with me, on their own time, to help resolve the problem. In addition to language courses, there are other opportunities to learn about the history, culture and art of Italy. Several of the teachers have areas of expertise, such as Renaissance Art and the Etruscan Culture. They possess the ability to explain concepts, using basic language, which allows even the beginning student to understand the lecture. I had the opportunity to take a two week course on Renaissance Art and Architecture at Il Sasso. What I learned greatly enhanced my enjoyment of art. One of the greatest advantages of studying at Il Sasso is the location. Montepulciano is not only beautiful but is far enough outside the larger cities that few of the residents speak English. Even though I speak fairly well, in places such as Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Venice and Naples, I am often responded to in English. I never had that experience in Montepulciano. In fact, after the shopkeepers got to know me, they started to correct my Italian. Comments [ 0 ] |
| Submitted by: | Alma 58 year-old :: Female Reviewer :: USA, CA, Berkeley |
| Date Submitted: | October 20, 2009 |
| Language School: | Il Sasso |
| Language & Location: | Italian :: Montepulciano, Italy |
| Classes & Instruction: | 10 out of 10 |
| School Facilities: | 10 out of 10 |
| Accomodation: | 8 out of 10 |
| Cost & Expense: | 10 out of 10 |
| Recommend: | Yes |
| Review: | Excellent experience A historic town in beautiful surroundings. You will feel at home very quickly. The Il Sasso staff and instructors are very supportive. Did I mention that the food and wine are fabulous? I can't think of a better way to learn Italian. Just join Il Sasso! Comments [ 0 ] |
| Submitted by: | Howard 60 year-old :: Male Reviewer :: USA, GA, Kennesaw |
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