Istituto Italiano Scuola - San Francisco, California

Tang Shijia

Attending IIS is the one of the best decisions in my life. The quality of instruction is outstanding; the teachers are not only knowledgeable but also incredibly engaging and supportive. The curriculum is well-structured, making complex grammar and vocabulary accessible to all levels of learners.

Socially, the atmosphere is super warm and inviting. Both teachers and students are friendly and enthusiastic, creating a vibrant community where learning thrives. The school also organizes various social events, further enhancing the bonding and cultural immersion.

Overall, this school significantly exceeded my expectations. It’s not just about learning a language but also about making meaningful connections and enjoying the process. Highly recommended!

Dennis Abbe

I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructors), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes: Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.

A Corbo

I have been taking classes online here for two years, starting with Beginners 1. The teachers, all native speakers, (Jimmy and Valerio) are encouraging, extremely knowledgeable and add a touch of humor to their courses. My grasp of the language along with my confidence in speaking has blossomed with their instruction. In addition to learning the language you will get a rich feel for the Italian culture.
Recently I took an intensive grammar course (pronomi!) with Valerio which proved so helpful. He presented the material in small parts, allowing the concepts to sink in. It was money well spent.
As an added bonus I have gained new friendships through these courses. If you want to learn Italian in a fun and encouraging environment this is the place to enroll.

Sarah H

I highly recommend Istituto Italiano Scuola to anyone interested in learning Italian! The teachers are amazing, the material is super relevant, the classes are a lot of fun and best of all the people are incredibly kind and welcoming. I’ve made such great friends at this school and am so grateful that I joined.

Lucrezia Conklin

I have been taking classes at the Istituto Italiano Scuola for several years and it has been a great experience. The classes are taught by dedicated native speakers who are passionate about sharing their language and culture. They are outstanding teachers, the classes are small, and you learn a lot.

I take the Tuesday night Perfezionamento class with Barbara Gautero, and she is the best! We read a different book every term and discuss it in class exploring historical context, grammar, and vocabulary, all in Italian. The books provide a great opportunity to learn not only the language but also about Italian society.

If you are looking to learn or perfect your Italian, I highly recommend taking classes at the Istituto.

Andrea DiSandro

I cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough! As a parent, I was initially apprehensive about how my 3-year-old would respond to virtual classes, fearing she might struggle to focus. However, those worries were quickly dispelled once we joined this program.

First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. It's evident that she genuinely cares about each child's progress and enjoyment, and that dedication shines through in every session.

What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. She eagerly looks forward to it and often spends the rest of the week asking to "play Italian," a testament to the program's effectiveness in fostering a love for language learning at such a tender age.

As a family that values multilingualism and devotes considerable time to language education, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. Its engaging curriculum, coupled with Francesca's exceptional teaching skills, has left an indelible mark on our child's language development journey.

I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.

Julie Peck

Great way to learn Italian. Our teacher Gianna is able to make it fun and interactive. We have been taking it for 5 months and notice a difference in comprehension and accent. We did the on-line class and it is great!

Krysten Richardson

SFIIS has been life-changing for me. In addition to learning Italian in a fun and relaxed environment, I have made some of the best friends of my life here. I cannot recommend the school enough—the instructors are excellent at what they do, and genuinely care about their students and their learning journey. The amount of extra effort I have seen them put into their lessons is remarkable. The location is perfect, everyone is extremely approachable and helpful, the atmosphere is full of excitement for language learning and cultural exchange, and I can’t see myself wanting to take classes anywhere else. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn or continue their Italian practice, or anyone simply looking for community—there simply isn’t a more vibrant one to be found.