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North Sydney Community Centre

Italian Beginners Level 1 (NEW)

Course Overview

This fun and practical course is perfect for those with no prior knowledge of Italian or anyone who wants to refresh their beginner skills.

You will earn how to communicate in everyday situations through interactive activities that build your confidence and introduce you to the rich culture of Italy.

Each week will focus on essential grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation to help you understand and use common expressions. By the end of the course, you will be able to greet people, introduce yourself, order at a café or restaurant, talk about daily routines and preferences, ask for directions.

Lessons are engaging and supportive, using games, role-play, audio-visual materials, and conversation practice to make learning enjoyable.

The course also weaves in cultural insights to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Italian life.

Key areas covered in an Italian A1 course:
  • Basic Communication:

Students will learn to introduce themselves and others, ask and answer simple questions, and express basic needs. 

  • Everyday Expressions:

The course will cover greetings, farewells, and common phrases used in daily interactions. 

  • Grammar Fundamentals:

Expect to learn about nouns, articles, basic verb conjugations (especially "essere" and "avere"), and common prepositions. 

  • Vocabulary:

Students will acquire vocabulary related to personal information, numbers, food, and basic travel situations. 

  • Pronunciation:

Emphasis is placed on correct pronunciation of the Italian alphabet and key sounds. 

Topics include (from unit 1 to unit 6):
  • Basic greetings, introductions, and exchanging personal information:

- Introducing yourself and others.

- Asking for and giving personal information like name, age, and nationality.

  • Ordering food and drinks
  • Booking accommodation and asking for directions
  • Describing places and objects
  • Talking about free time and daily activities
  • Expressing preferences and opinions
Course Breakdown:

Week 1: Unit 1

Greetings and introducing yourself; asking and saying your name and where you come from; asking and saying your phone number and email address.

Grammar and vocabulary: Subject pronouns, the verb essere, interrogatives, definite articles, notes on formal and informal, adjectives, nationality, numbers from 0 to 20; The sounds c/g

Week 2: Unit 2

 Starting a conversation, introducing someone, asking questions, answering and thanking, talking about your profession.

Grammar and vocabulary: Regular verbs in are, the verbs essere, avere, stare, fare, definite and indefinite articles.

The prepositions a and in, the interrogatives who, where and how much, the cardinal numbers from 20 to 100

Week 3: Unit 3

At the bar/restaurant: ordering at the bar and at the restaurant.

Vocabulary: adjectives to describe food

 the regular verbs in ere, the verbs to want and to prefer, the plural of nouns, food and drinks, objects on the table; volere, potere, dovere (I want, I can, I have to), some verbs ending in -ere, also / instead

Week 4: Revision key point unit 1, 2, 3 through guided conversation, role-play, and videos.

Week 5: Unit 4

Booking a hotel room, rooms and household items

Vocabulary: Furniture and rooms in the house

Grammar: adjectives for homes/ terrible, good, excellent/ The adverb very/ Molto as an adverb

Week 6: Unit 5

Describing places: Asking for and giving directions

Vocabulary: the city

Grammar: there is / there are/ It takes “ ci vuole”/ articulated prepositions/ “Molto” as an  adjectives/ the time: what time is it?

 Weeek 7: Unit 6

Expressing likes/dislikes, adverbs of frequency

Daily routines

Grammar: reflexive verbs

Talking about free time activivities, tastes and preferences, expressing agreement and disagreement

Days, months, seasons

Week 8: Revision key point unit 4,5,6  through guided conversation, role-play, and videos.

Materials:

We recommend the textbook Dieci A1 (Alma Edizioni along with a notebook and pen.

This course is ideal if you're preparing to travel to Italy or simply want to start your Italian journey with confidence and a solid foundation.

Parking Discount for Students

 Students who participate in this course will receive a 50% discount at Ridge Street Car Park. Simply speak to our team when you visit the Centre, and we’ll register your plate number in our system (please note you’ll need to register your plate each time you attend the course). This discount applies to courses held at the Centre during office hours (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm).

 

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Lara Toffolon

About the tutor

Lara Toffolon

I’m originally from the province of Venice and have been living in Sydney since 2015. I hold both Italian and Australian citizenship. I’ve been working as an Italian tutor for the past seven years, teaching group classes and private lessons (both in person and online) through Italian Connections language school.

I create tailored lesson plans to support learners at all levels, using interactive methods, digital resources, and online platforms to build a positive and engaging learning environment. I’m passionate about communicative language teaching and love sharing the richness of Italian culture and traditions with my students.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Italian Language and Literature from Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. To keep my teaching practice current, I’ve completed Italian language teaching courses for non-native speakers at the Universities of Perugia and Venice, as well as a Certificate III in Education Support at TAFE NSW (Meadowbank campus).

Before moving into education, I worked for 15 years in Italy in the human resources sector, mainly as a recruitment consultant and career counsellor. Teaching allows me to combine my professional skills and academic background while continuing to connect with others through my native language.

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Contact Us

Contact Information
(02) 9922 2299
Monday to Friday - 10:00am to 6:00pm
220 Miller St, North Sydney - Back of Ted Mack Civic Park