The American Italian Cultural Center is rich with the history of our Italian forefathers. We seek to cultivate a strong bond with our community, and bring a little bit of Italy to the daily life of New Orleans.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS

8-week sessions

The American Italian Cultural Center’s Italian Language Lessons are offered at different levels, carefully designed to promote proficiency in all skill areas: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Throughout the courses, students can attain proficiency according to the European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Space is limited to ensure a low student-teacher ratio.

The courses are held at the American Italian Cultural Center located at 537 South Peters Street, in downtown New Orleans. Classes are also offered online via ZOOM. All classes are taught by a native Italian teacher and have a friendly and motivating atmosphere.

We offer four 8-week sessions per year. Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.



CURRENT SESSION

Today is the last day of classes for this session. Congratulations on this great achievement!

2023 SUMMER: FROM July 18th THROUGH September 18th



UPCOMING SESSION

2023 FALL: FROM October 16th THROUGH December 15th

You can now start reviewing the content or REGISTERING for our Fall Session

Upcoming Session

You can now start reviewing the content or REGISTERING for our Summer Session

Italian Courses and Class Schedule

2023 SUMMER SESSION JULY 18TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 18TH


Check Courses and Schedule bellow:

NOVICE I AVVIAMENTO ALLA LINGUA ITALIANA
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE)

Goal: Development of basic language and communication skills in Italian

Topics to be covered:
• The Alphabet and Sounds
• Common Greetings and Polite Expressions
• Introductions
• The Verb Stare
• Personal Pronouns
• Giving and Understanding Basic Directions
• Formal verses Informal Speech;
• Question Formation
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Active Use of Numbers and Dates
• Spelling
• Making a Reservation by Phone
• Expression of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense with da
• Elementary Conversation

Level: PreA1 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

NOVICE II –
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART II)

Goal: Further development of basic communication skills in Italian.

Topics to be covered:
• Means of Transportation and Everyday Places
• Indefinite Articles and Gender
• Plural formation
• Ordering Food and Beverages al Bar
• Partial Conjugation of ARE Verbs in the Present Tense
• Negation
• Idiomatic Expressions with avere
• Greetings and Best Wishes with buono;
• The 20 Regions of Italy
• Listening Comprehension and Basic Conversation

Level: Progression from preA1 to A1 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Thursdays from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
IN PERSON @ AICC
or
Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

NOVICE III
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART III)

Goal: Further development of communication skills in Italian

Topics to be covered:
• Definite Articles
• Noun and Adjective Agreement
• Stare Verses Essere
• Providing and Understanding Basic Descriptions
• Indicating Possession with essere
• Interrogatives
• Understanding Basic Forms and Documents
• Practice Dialogues Covering Everyday Situations; a strong emphasis is placed on listening comprehension.
• Basic Conversation

Level: A1 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Wednesdays from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

NOVICE IV
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART IV)

Goal: Further development of communication skills in Italian

Topics to be covered:
• The Italian School System and Education
• Family and Relationships
• Possessive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives
• Everyday Activities
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regular Verb Conjugations in the Present Tense
• Common Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense
• Bureaucratic Matters and Civics
Show and Tell in Italian

Level: A1 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Fridays from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
IN PERSON @ AICC
or
Mondays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM
Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

NOVICE V
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART V

Goal: Further development of communication skills in Italian

Topics to be covered:
• Sports, Pastimes, and Everyday Activities
• The Weather, Seasons and Holidays
• Direct Object Pronouns
• Employment and Professions
• Telling time
• Bureaucratic Matters and Civics
Show and Tell in Italian

Level: Progression from A1 to A2 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

INTERMEDIATE I
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART VI)

Goal: Further development of basic language and communication skills in Italian, including a greater emphasis on conversation, oral, and written expression.

Topics covered: • Food and Beverages • Ordering and Shopping for Food and Clothing • Articulated Prepositions • Formation of the Past Tense (il passato prossimo) • Sapere verses Conoscere • Indirect Object Pronouns • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: A2 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Thursdays (6:00 pm – 7:30 pm) via Zoom

Session: 2023 Spring

INTERMEDIATE II
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART VII)

Goal: Further development of basic language and communication skills in Italian, including a greater emphasis on conversation, oral, and written expression.

Topics covered: • Clothing and Fashion • Reflexive verbs • Reciprocal Construction • Adverb Formation • A General Review of Large Numbers and Dates • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: A2 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Tuesdays from 7:40 pm to 9:10 pm via Zoom

Session: 2023 Summer

INTERMEDIATE III
(INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART VIII)

Goal: Further development of communication skills in Italian, including a greater emphasis on conversation, oral, and written expression.

Topics to be covered:

• Clothing and Fashion
• Reflexive verbs
• Reciprocal Construction
• Adverb Formation
• A General Review of Large Numbers and Dates
• Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises
• Conversation and Written Expression/Creative Writing

Level: A2 of the European Framework.

When/Where:
Tuesdays from 7:40 pm to 9:10 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

INTERMEDIATE IV (INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART IX)

Goal: Further development of basic language and communication skills in Italian, including a greater emphasis on conversation, oral, and written expression.

Topics covered: • Health and the Human Body • Stress Pronouns • Regular and Irregular Comparative and Superlative Formation • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: A2 of the European Framework.

When/Where: • Mondays (7:40 pm to 9:10 pm) via Zoom

Season: 2022 Summer

INTERMEDIATE V (INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE PART X)

Goal: Further development of communication skills in Italian, including a greater emphasis on conversation, oral, and written expression

Topics covered: • Travel and Vacation • The Future tense (il futuro semplice) • Plans and Aspirations • The Impersonal Si Formation • Femmine Nouns • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: A2 of the European Framework.

When/Where: • Mondays (7:40 pm to 9:10 pm) via Zoom

Season: 2022 Summer

INTERMEDIATE VI (Introduction to the Italian Language Part XI)

Goal:

Topics covered: • The Use of ne and ci • Double Pronouns • Shopping • The Imperative • The Home • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: Progression from A2 to B1 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Mondays from 7:40 pm to 9:10 pm via Zoom

Session: 2023 Summer

INTERMEDIATE VII (Introduction to the Italian Language Part XII)

Goal:

Topics covered: • Indefinite Adjectives • Indefinite Pronouns • Partitive articles • The Environment • The Present and Past Conditional • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression/ Creative Writing

Level: B1 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Fridays (10:30 am – 12:00 m) via Zoom

Session: 2023 Winter

INTERMEDIATE VIII (Introduction to the Italian Language Part XIII)

Goal:

Topics covered: • Relative Pronouns • Chi • Infinitive Constructions • Irregular nouns and adjectives ending in "a" • Music and Theater • Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises • Conversation and Written Expression / Creative Writing

Level: B1 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Fridays from 10:30 am to 12:oo m (Noon) via Zoom

Session: 2023 Summer

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

INTERMEDIATE IX
(Introduction to the Italian Language Part XIV)

Goal:

Topics to be covered:
• Relative Pronouns
Chi
• Infinitive Constructions
• Irregular nouns and adjectives ending in “a”
• Music and Theater
• Increasingly Complex Readings and Listening Comprehension Exercises
• Conversation and Written Expression / Creative Writing

Level: B1 of the European Framework

When/Where:
Mondays from 7:40 pm to 9:10 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM
or
Fridays from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM

Session: 2023 FALL

The AICC Member Registration is reserved for active members.

Andréa Saunders-Basili
Andréa Saunders-Basili

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrea earned her Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages (French, German and Italian) from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, before moving to Rome, Italy to attend interpreting school at La Scuola Superiore per Interpreti e Traduttori; there, she studied translation theory and simultaneous and consecutive interpreting from Italian <> English, French and German.

Since 1994, she has been working as a professional interpreter, translator, and instructor, and is an official Italian government interpreter and translator for the Italian Court and Judicial System. From 2005-June of 2019, she worked as a full-time interpreter and translator at the Centro di Permanenza per I Rimpatri government facility in Rome Italy, where she worked on the front lines of immigration, for the Italian Red Cross, among other managing entities, and for Rome Police Headquarter officials. Over the years, she has also taught bilingual Italian- English literacy courses and Italian classes to refugees, ESL classes at an Italian public high school, and English classes to Italian police officials.

Andrea is also proficient in Russian, has studied ancient Hebrew in the Italian university system and is a certified intercultural linguistic mediator for the Region of Latium. She is eager to share her great love for the Italian language and culture, cultivated not only through her 26 years in Italy, but also from her own Italian- American heritage.

We offer four 8-week sessions per year. Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.