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| The
Cactus Italian Mini-Bulletin - June 2004 |
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Whether you want to get away from all the
footie, tennis and Olympic hype, or whether you want to support
the Azzurri in their home country, Italy is the place to be this
summer. Enjoy the warmth and culture of one of our many Italian
destinations - whether it's for the art, music, history, beaches,
fashion or food, there's something for everyone!
- Destination of the Month - Taormina,
Sicily
- Evening Italian Courses in London
- Language & Activity Holidays
in Italy - Cooking, Vacation, Pizza
Making & Opera Courses!
- Italian Junior Programme - Lignano
- What Our Clients Say - Feedback
from Venice, Bologna & Tropea
- Mini Newsletter Feedback / Unsubscribe
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| Did you know...that
most Italian words finish in a vowel, making it one of the most
musical languages? |
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| They say first impressions count,
so Taormina should have nothing to worry about. Situated on
a terrace of Mount Tauro, overlooking the sparkling Ionian
Sea and with spectacular views of Mount Etna to the west,
it's easy to see why Taormina has been seducing visitors for
centuries and continues to do so more than ever today.
It was the Greeks first, in the 5th century BC, and then
along came the Romans, the Arabs, the Spanish and the French...to
be finally replaced by a multinational and yearly influx of
tourists wanting to savour the warm Mediterranean climate
and take in the fascinating history and culture. Or maybe
they've heard that Sicilians have one of the longest life
expectancies and are simply hoping to be let in on the secret... |
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| "I arrived
in this paradise one evening in late February just as the
sun was setting, the sky a deep red and the air filled with
the smell of lemons. The school had arranged for a lovely
apartment near the public gardens and I was made to feel immediately
at home. It was clear when I began my classes that the instructors
genuinely enjoy teaching and their enthusiasm and encouragement
made learning Italian, not an especially easy language, a
real pleasure.
I did not experience
a single moment of boredom during my 3 month stay and, in
fact, was often overwhelmed by the number of activities on
offer. My most special memories, however, are of the small,
simple pleasures of daily life in Taormina - the mouth-watering
scents wafting out of the pasticcerias on my walk to school,
the wonderful taste of Sicilian bread fresh from the forno,
eating granita Sicilian-style with a brioche on hot days,
the kind way that the locals complimented my Italian even
when I had clearly misconjugated every verb and mispronounced
every other word, the sweetness of the oranges at the farmer's
market, being taught how to play the Sicilian card game Scopa
by the regulars at Piazza IX Aprile...this has to be my most
memorable and rewarding travel experience to date." Catherine
Krug |
1 week General
Course (20 lessons per week) = £179
* Host families, shared student apartments and hotels available.
More Info: Please email
Laura, or book
online and receive a £10 discount.
 Take
advantage of some of the fantastic fares available to Sicily right
now. You've got
BA flying direct from Gatwick to Catania, Alitalia
from Heathrow (indirect) to Catania, and Ryanair
from Stansted to Palermo. Catania is the nearest airport for Taormina
- feel free to ask us for a quote!
| * Taormina Arte -
June, July & August 2004 *
If you're lucky enough to coincide your visit to Taormina
with the Art Festival this summer, you'll be treated to a
fantastic programme of music, theatre, art, dance and film.
Taking place throughout June, July and August, this festival
gives you plenty of great excuses to while away the warm summer
evenings with a refreshing lemon granita or a slightly
more potent limoncello in hand...more
info >>
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Pick up a little Italian before you go...or
keep it up once back!
Languages available: German, French, Italian, Spanish
& Japanese
Location: opposite Green Park, 3 mins walk from
Green Park or Hyde Park Corner tube
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Small Group Size: max 12 students
Teachers: fully qualified, native speakers
Complete Beginners: Survival Course (1 or 2 evenings
per week, 6 weeks).
Next course week starting Aug 2nd. Only 94 pounds online!
All Levels (including beginners): Longterm Course (1 evening
per week, 11 weeks).
Next course week starting July 12th. Only 194 pounds online! |
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NEW! Survival Italian
Courses on Saturdays (Beginners Only)
Courses run for 4 Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Start dates 19th June,
31st July, 4th Sept, 16th Oct & 20th Nov. Only £104 online!
For
full info and to book online for Evening Courses in the UK >>
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Learn the Language & Indulge in a Whole Host of Activities While
You're At It...
It's well known that Italy is a mecca for fine art, fascinating
culture and great food...but how about going there and actually
learning more about all these delights, or piaceri as the
locals would say?
Italian & Cookery - Siena
With cookery lessons in the mornings and Italian classes in the
afternoon, this course teaches you how to prepare a range of Italian
dishes with confidence, and how to select and use basic Italian
ingredients such as olive oil and spices - skills you'll be able
take home to impress family and friends alike! 2 weeks £829.
More
Info >>
Fly
to Florence with BA
or to Pisa with Ryanair
or Buzz >
regular buses between Siena & Florence / trains between Florence
& Pisa.
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| Language & Vacation
Course - Florence
This course is specifically designed for those who wish to spend
two weeks in the artistic heart of Italy to both study the Italian
language and explore the Italian culture. In addition to their language
classes participants enjoy a guided visit of the city, a special
conference and two evenings dedicated to learning about (and of
course sampling!) Italian wine and cuisine. 2 weeks only £279.
More
Info >>
Fly
to Florence with BA
or to Pisa with Ryanair
or Buzz.
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| Italian & Opera Course
- Verona
'Il Bel Canto' Opera Course in Verona is ther perfect course for
lovers of the Italian language and culture. You'll learn not just
how to read and write in Italian, but also how to speak and sing
in it! It is an intensive but rewarding course, with morning classes
in language grammar and conversation, and afternoon classes in the
pronunciation and intonation of operatic lyrics. During the course
students also have the opportunity to attend rehearsals and performances
during the Opera season of the Arena. More
Info >>
Fly
to Verona with Buzz
or BA. |
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| Italian and Pizza &
Bread Course - Orvieto
Quattro Formaggi or Frutti di Mare? Focaccia or Ciabatta? For all
those pizza and bread lovers out there, look no further! With this
course you will learn all local secrets in the preparation of pizza
and diverse types of bread, so that by the end of the course you
will be able to make the perfect pizza and many types of bread according
to real Italian tradition. The course costs £299 for one week
and consists of 20 language lessons per week + 3 pizza lessons one
afternoon - mmm! More
Info >>
Fly
to Rome with BA,
easyJet,
Ryanair or
Buzz >
regular buses / trains to Orvieto.
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Don't Forget the Bambini!
We all know how quickly kids pick up languages and how action-packed
they like their holidays to be...which is why we come to the rescue
of frustrated parents and fidgety offspring with our summer junior
programme in Lignano, on Italy's attractive northeastern coast.
Lignano has a mild, healthy climate, enjoys a pleasant summer breeze
and boasts outstanding facilities for sport and entertainment, making
it a popular destination for young and old. The residential junior
school is located within a holiday complex, is fully supervised
and offers youngsters of 10-16 yrs the perfect environment in which
to study Italian and make the most of the great outdoors. 2 weeks
ONLY £889 including all tuition, materials, accommodation,
meals, activities and one excursion per week.
More Info: Please email
Laura or check details online
>>
Fly
to Venice with easyJet,
to Venice or Trieste with Ryanair,
or to Verona with Buzz.
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Frank Johnston: Venice, March 04 "Just to let you
know the course was very useful in helping me to improve my Italian.
The teachers at the school were friendly and helpful, and the course
I was put into was at the correct level for me. The school also
ran specific courses in Grammar to help all levels, but as I was
only there for a week I could not stay in the afternoons as well.
I was hoping to do a 2 week course in late May or early June of
this year but it may be at short notice from my work - can you tell
me how much notice would be required for 2 weeks in Rome or Orvieto?
Regards, Frank."
To find out more about Frank's Italian
Course in Venice >> |
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| Bologna,
May 04
"A wee word to thank you for fixing me up with such
a wonderful week in Bologna. I'm considering going back and
in the meantime have bought a 16-CD Linguaphone programme
for my car!
Best wishes."
To find out more about our Italian
Course in Bologna >>
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| Megan Copelan: Tropea,
Oct 03
"I just returned from 2 weeks in Tropea and must tell you
it was a very positive experience. The staff there just couldn't
have been more helpful and patient, particularly Daniela and Luana.
Also Arno, Antonio, the driver Carmelo, the teachers Roseanna and
Laura couldn't have been more pleasant or efficient. Tropea is a
delightful little place and my accommodation was fine. All in all
I would recommend this to anyone. If I can say this at the age of
81 plus then you know the school, staff, ambience etc. are deserving
of this verbal bouquet! I also want to express my thanks to you
for helping to organise it. Sincerely, Meg".
To find out more about Meg's Italian
Course in Tropea >>
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| ©
2004 Cactus Language |
