WHY IS IL SILLABO DIFFERENT?

We believe our school is genuinely special. Here are just a few reasons:

1. Il Sillabo is a family-run language school. Anna Paola Bosi, the director, started the school in 1997 with her sister-in-law, Erica. Both studied language and education at University and worked in the fields of education; Alessio, Anna Paola’s husband, teaches cooking classes; her mother, Nicoletta, teaches Italian; her father, an art historian and architect, leads excursions; and her sister-in-law, Erica is the office manager. This highly-qualified team is professional and serious, while at the same time giving the school a palpable family atmosphere.
2. The school’s teachers are carefully selected and rigorously trained. All have exemplary qualifications. Professional development is a cornerstone of the teachers work; they plan, they research, and they collaboratively construct a unique curriculum together, under the careful guidance of the director. The result is a staff that uses the same teaching philosophy and the same curriculum, but instead of being passive transmitters of pre-made courses, they adapt activities, tests, and lessons daily to adjust to the personality of each class. This level of professional engagement and commitment drives dynamic, rigorous classes, while at the same time, the teachers take great pains to cultivate a relaxed, supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable taking risks.
3. Another strength of Il Sillabo is its location. Tuscany is overrun with tourists, yet San Giovanni offers a 14 th century town centre where one can practice Italian without the competition of demanding tour groups. The Bosi family chose San Giovanni because it is off the beaten path while still offering a setting rich with culture and history. The school itself is housed in the oldest building in the town, constructed for noble families in the 1300’s. It overlooks the historic town centre and main piazza. San Giovanni is also easy to reach, being located on the Florence – Rome line, 30 minutes from Florence, 30 minutes from Arezzo and 3 hours from Rome. Siena, Cortona, Orvieto, and other tourist cities are also close by.
4. Il Sillabo offers a wide range of other courses in addition to Italian language. Students can attend a culinary course which explores the world-famous regional dishes of Tuscany. The school also offers several guided trips a week to museums, churches, vineyards, and olive farms. Other courses include literature, film, archaeology, architecture and art history.

Travel and Culture Programmes

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Complementary Lessons

Drawing & Painting lessons - Cooking lessons - Wine lessons - History of Art lessons
Archaeology lessons - Italian Literature lessons - Ceramic decoration lessons