Italian Language Classes in Westchester County NY

Westchester Italian Cultural Center:
The Westchester Italian Cultural Center is conveniently located at the Metro North Harlem Line station of Tuckahoe, in the town of Eastchester in Westchester County NY. Easily accessible from major highways, we provide Italian language courses for adults, children and toddlers, as well as a full series of programs and event designed to promote and celebrate the rich Italian culture, language and traditions.

Italian Language Classes for Adults & Children:
- Beginner to advanced levels 

Primi Passi in Italiano. Mommy & Me:
Stimulating language lessons for babies and toddlers 12 months to 3 ½ years old and parents or caregivers.

Immerse your children in Italian song, rhymes, movement, and stories with a themed craft activity culminating each lesson. Our experienced teacher implements her own curriculum and songs, and has been teaching young children since 2008.

Children learn in an age-appropriate, nurturing setting utilizing fun props. Vocabulary lists of childhood topics are provided each session for non-Italian speaking parents and caregivers so that they may reinforce the vocabulary at home. Siblings under 12 months are welcome free of charge.

'Impariamo Insieme' - Italian Language Enrichment Course for Children:
Ages 4 to 12.

Students are grouped by age and ability level in this full immersion enrichment class. The program is designed to allow students to acquire an understanding and develop basic communication skills in the Italian language, while exploring its culture by engaging directly in interactive learning.

They will follow a routine that is meant to reinforce what they have previously acquired and facilitate the acquisition of new topics.

It is designed as an immersion language and cultural experience, with the contemplated outcome of having children with no previous knowledge or understanding of spoken Italian acquire linguistic communicative skills and an appreciation of Italian culture and way of life.

General Italian Language Courses for Adults:
From the first day, students are fully immersed in the Italian language and culture. Individual students’ requirements are met in a classroom of free expression and differentiated learning.

New Students are encouraged to do a phone or person interview with the professor to better determine their proficiency level.

Course Descriptions:

- Beginner I: This course provides beginner students with a strong foundation for further study. The course focuses on Italian phonetics, starting with the alphabet and syllables, common phrases, and basic grammar.

Students can expect to master simple sentences and engage in beginning level conversations.

- Beginner II: Students pursue the next level of beginning conversation and writing skills. The course is designed for those who want to go beyond a basic knowledge and understanding of Italian grammar.

Students master the past tenses and study grammar through in-class oral and written exercises and by listening to dialogue in Italian that are spoken today.

- Intermediate I: The basic rules of grammar are reinforced while introducing new vocabulary, adverbs, new tenses and how to use them.

Students engage in extended conversations and continue to write descriptively, including letter writing about themselves and others.

- Intermediate II: Students master the present, past, and future tenses as well as direct/ indirect speech enabling them to fine-tune their conversation skills.

The use of the comparative and superlative, idiomatic expressions, and higher-level vocabulary trigger language flexibility in students so they may begin to express more complex thoughts and ideas in Italian and increase overall language comprehension.

- Intermediate III: students can converse with native Italian speakers, to tell stories, and effectively summarize a movie or article.

Students study advanced grammar, such as the conditional and subjunctive tenses, slang, pronunciation and phonetics, and writing. The class is dedicated to listening and speaking exercises with a focus on increasing the fluidity of conversation.

- Leggiamo Insieme: A literature/reading group for advanced speakers and readers. As a class, we will decide which famous Italian writers to explore and discuss. All reading and discussion is done in Italian.

Reading Italian modern literature of the last century is a wonderful way to expand your vocabulary and deepen your command of the language.

Secondary sources may be provided as a means for interpreting or reaching a better understanding of the works we study together.

Wednesday Morning Classes:
Course: Intermediate III; Instructor: Katherine Volkmer

- Wednesday 10:00am – 11:30am, 90 minutes

Monday & Tuesday Evening Classes:
Instructor: John Pettinella

- Beginner II: Monday 6:30pm- 7:30pm, 60 min. 10 classes
- Beginner I: Monday 7:45pm- 8:45pm, 60 min. 10 classes
- Intermediate II: Tuesday 6:30pm- 7:30pm, 60 min. 10 classes
- Intermediate I: Tuesday 7:45pm- 8:45pm, 60 min. 10 classes

Private Italian Lessons:
Private Lessons at the Westchester Italian Cultural Center are personalized to fit the needs and wants of the student. Students choose the day, time and general focus of their lessons and are then paired with one of our qualified instructors.

Lessons must be a minimum of one hour long. Payment must be made in full at the time of registration.