Italian

Italian SLI 2027 - In Person

The Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese (SIP) at the University of Virginia is pleased to offer the Italian Summer Language Institute. 

It is a unique learning experience that allows students to complete both the beginning and intermediate levels of Italian instruction—12 credits—in just eight weeks. This is equivalent to two years of coursework, covering ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020, all within one summer! 

Pedagogy and Philosophy

Italian at the SLI offers an accelerated and immersive experience in the language of the boot-shaped nation. 

Our courses are student-centered with emphasis on developing the five skills essential for successful communication in a world language: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural competency. Students are encouraged to work in teams to apply the Italian they are learning to real-world situations and tasks, while their instructors guide them toward greater linguistic proficiency and a deeper understanding of Italian culture.  

Since acquiring a new language works best with practice, students will communicate nearly exclusively in the target language. By the end of the SLI, you will have reached a high intermediate level of proficiency, which will enable you to: 

• Narrate in the present, past, and future tenses. 
• Express opinions and subjective points of view. 
• Give and understand orders. 
• Compare and contrast the products and practices of Italian culture with those of your own culture to gain a deeper understanding of differing perspectives. 
• Master effective strategies for world language learning that enable you to remember new vocabulary and grammar better, communicate clearly with others, and conquer world language anxiety. 

Unique Features of the Program

• Project-Based Learning 
• Experiential Learning Activities on Ground and in Charlottesville 
• Interactive games and role-play tasks 
• Interaction with authentic cultural materials 

What students say about Italian SLI:

The Summer Language Intensive is truly an ideal way to learn a language short of living in an immersive environment. It was very impressive to watch the students gain new skills and confidence daily. It was amazing to watch the class transition to more instruction in Italian and see the students embrace that. The professors made it fun and interesting getting everyone to fully engage in speaking and understanding conversation. The professors had a great sense of seeing the students' saturation levels and accommodating for that so as to keep everyone engaged. I learned a lot and feel much more confident in being able to speak Italian.

Required Textbook:

1. Cozzarelli. Sentieri: Attraversa l’Italia Contemporanea, 4ª edizione. 2024.

Digital Access  : 978-1-54338-944-9, Vista Higher Learning. This book can be purchased from the UVA store on Vista (Sentieri, 4th Edition – School – Student Store) or at the UVA bookstore.  

1. Annunziato and Fiumara. Clic: Italiano col telecomando. 2025. 

Daily Schedule: 

The program meets five days a week for eight weeks. Attendance is mandatory for all daily sessions.

Morning 9:00-12:00 - Monday through Friday

Afternoon 1:00-4:00 - Monday through Thursday; no Friday afternoon class.

Scholarships for students of Italian: 

• The Italian Language Foundation offers scholarships for undergraduate students of Italian and, in some cases, also other disciplines such as science or business. Please visit their website to learn more and to see if you qualify: https://italianlanguagefoundation.org/web/join-ilf/students/#college-fellowships 
•  The National Italian American Foundation offers a variety of scholarships to students of Italian descent who are interested in the Italian language and culture. Please visit their website to learn more and to see if you qualify: https://www.niaf.org/programs/scholarships/ 
• The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy also offers scholarships or National Leadership Grants to students of Italian descent. Please visit their website to learn more and to see if you qualify: https://osdia.org/programs-initiatives/scholarships/. 

Check all the available options before applying. 

Students are strongly encouraged to register for the full 8-week program and complete the intermediate level. The option to apply for the first or second half is also available. The table below provides information on the available options.

2027 Costs

All students in SLI programs (including the non-credit option) must pay:

• Institute Fee - non-refundable: $90
• Comprehensive Fee: $516 (In-State) - $576 (Out-of-State)
• Tuition: Depends on the number of credits for which the student is enrolled. Check tuition costs below the SLI Program Fee, and contact us at vera.abbate@virginia.edu with any questions.

This is not a residential program. For information on housing and meal plans, please refer to the following resources:

• For housing costs, see Summer Session Housing.
• For meal plan options, see Dining.

Contact Information: 

Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese