Join us this October for A Tavola!
An exceptional cooking course in collaboration with the prestigious Prue Leith Academy. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Italian food, culture, and language. Learn to cook authentic Italian dishes, master their pronunciation, and gain the confidence to order like a true Italian!
Cook Italian
Learn to cook the famous Italian cuisine with the best chefs as teachers.
Learn Italian
Learn Italian while you enjoy this culinary journey.
Enjoy
Have fun experimenting with friendly people and great teachers.
How does it work?
The Course A Tavola! is available in two formats:
1. Day Classes
Monday – Thursday: 21-25 October 2024
Time: 9:00 – 15:00
2. Evening Classes
Wednesdays: October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Course Content
Every day will start with a regional food and culture introduction, followed by the preparation of typical recipes and an Italian buffet served for lunch with Italian beverages.
Day 1: Introduction to Italian Cuisine & Food Culture:
- What is authenticity and authentic Italian cuisine?
- Italian cuisine in the world
- The Italian Food Fathers: from Platina, Maestro Martina and Scappi to Artusi, Marchesi, Petrini and Bottura
- The essence of Italian cooking Italian meals in a day, the Italian meal structure and types of eating establishments in Italy
- Writing an Italian menu correctly Italian pronunciation
- Greetings in Italian and ordering a meal in Italian
Exploring Italian Cuisine
Days 2-4/5 Exploring Italian Cuisine:
Northern Italy
- Terroir and Culinary Influences
- Typical Products
- Traditional Recipes
- Contemporary chefs to follow
- Coffee Culture
- Food Culture: Food in Italian Art,
- Opera and Literature
Central Italy
- Terroir and Culinary Influences
- Typical Products
- Traditional Recipes
- Contemporary chefs to follow
- Growing your own Italian ingredients
- Food Culture: Talking about food with your hands & Sulla Punta Della Lingua: Italian culinary idioms and expressions.
Southern Italy
- Terroir and Culinary Influences
- Typical Products
- Traditional Recipes
- Contemporary chefs to follow
- Food Culture: La Commedia dell’Arte’s culinary characters and food in modern Italian films
Course Overview
In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute, this course delves into the heart of Italian food, culture, and language. You’ll not only learn to cook like an Italian but also master the pronunciation of Italian dishes and order meals like a native.
Thanks to our partnership with the esteemed Prue Leith Culinary Institute and Italy’s premier culinary school, ALMA La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana, we offer unique opportunities to study directly in Italy. Our team has traveled extensively across Italy and trained with our partners to bring you truly authentic Italian experiences.
Join us and transform your culinary skills while immersing yourself in the vibrant Italian culture!
Duration
4-5 Days
The course runs from Monday to Thursday
Dates
Day Classes:
Monday – Thursday: October 21-25
Evening Classes:
Wednesdays: October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
WHY
Why Learn Italian?
Business Travel & Communication
Italy has the 8th highest GDP in the world. Speaking Italian will definitely facilitate business, travel and communication in Italy.
More Perspective on Arts & Culture
Italy is rich in arts and culture based on the Italian language and they’re often not translated. From literature to cinema, you’ll be able to enjoy them all, like an Italian.
Family
If you have Italian family or Italian ancestry, learning Italian will complete and complement your heritage.
Become a Better Learner
By learning another language you expand your cultural reach and the social interactions you can have.
Increase your Job Opportunities
In 2020, Italy exported a total of $481 Bn, making it the number 7 exporter in the world. Italian companies are always looking for new employees that can speak Italian and another language. Likewise, South African firms wanting to export to Italy, or do business with Italy, are looking for professionals that can speak Italian.
Speak With More People
Over 77,000 people speak Italian in South Africa. If you enjoy the many social and cultural events organised in South Africa by the Italian institutions, you’ll find that speaking Italian is not only useful but you will enjoy those events even more and meet new people.
CHOOSE US
Why Learn With Us?
Official Italian Institute
The Italian Cultural Institute (Istituto Italiano di Cultura – IIC) is the official institution for the diffusion of the Italian language and culture.
Hundreds of students
With hundreds of happy students that completed our courses in the past years, we cover any need from business to personal.
Located in South Africa
We’re located in Pretoria and we understand the peculiarity of the South African context.
B1 Citizenship
We are an exam venue for the CILS B1 for Citizenship purposes (issued by the University for Foreigners of Siena, Italy), one of the official Italian language exams that is mandatory for any new citizenship.
Teacher
The Institute avails itself of the collaboration of native Italian speaking teachers, who with competence and dedication, teach, together with the language, also the culture of the Bel Paese.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Students Say
I was very scared of learning a new language, in the beginning, but I really needed to learn Italian for work. I’m so glad I found the Italian Institute of Culture. Not only the teachers are nice and they go at my pace, but it is so convenient o interact with them online, saving time and petrol. Thank you IIC.
Jane Botha
Learning Italian for Business
I am extremely glad that I found the Italian Cultural Institute, because not only are the teachers amazing, but the courses are brilliantly structured and constantly keep on improving my Italian language skills. I would gladly recommend the institute to anybody interested in Italian culture.
Eujean Snyman
Group Course Italian Student
Frequently Asked Questions
Is learning Italian difficult?
Our mother tongue teachers make it as easy and fun as possible to learn Italian. Plus, Italian has a similar grammar structure to French, Spanish and Portuguese. So if you know one f these languages, you’ll find it very easy. If not, once you learn Italian it will be easy for you to pick up any of the other latin languages mentioned above.
If I miss a class, can I reschedule it?
Classes cannot be rescheduled, but you will be given all the material/support to catch up with the rest of the class.
What if I have allergies?
Please add your allergies to the submission form and inform your cooking teacher as well.
Do you offer in-person lessons?
Yes – in our network of schools
Authentic Italian Cooking & Language Course
Coming Soon
Book A Course Today!
This is a decision that can have great positive impact on your life. Expand your knowledge, relationships and experience learning Italian from the official Italian Cultural Institute in South Africa.
