Start your beginner Italian learning journey with our Beginner Italian: A1.1 Course, designed for learners with no prior knowledge of Italian or those who wish to refresh the basics. This introductory course builds the foundations needed to communicate in simple everyday situations while developing your understanding of essential Italian grammar and vocabulary. It is ideal for learners interested in learning Italian for cultural interest or personal enrichment in a supportive and interactive learning environment.

You will practise everyday communication such as introducing yourself and others, sharing personal details, participating in simple classroom interactions, asking and answering basic questions, and using polite expressions when meeting people. Grammar and vocabulary are taught in context to help you form simple sentences, ask questions, and describe yourself and others using common verbs, articles, and basic sentence structures. Phonetics is integrated throughout the course, with focused practice on the Italian alphabet, vowel sounds, question intonation, and common consonant combinations to help you develop clearer and more confident spoken Italian.

DELIVERY MODE

Delivery mode for individual classes will vary from term to term, but will be listed as the following:

• Face-to-Face: WEA Sydney
• Online: Microsoft Teams

TEXTBOOK

• Nuovo Espresso PLUS 1 - A1 (Alma Edizioni: 2025), ISBN: 9788861828414

Supplier: Abbey's Language Book Centre
Please note that textbook cost is not included in the course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled, WEA Sydney cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any textbooks. Language courses will be confirmed or cancelled at least 7 days prior to their starting date.

COURSE OUTLINE

Communication

• Introducing yourself - Share your name, origin, phone number
• Participate in class discussions - Starting a conversation
• Introducing and thanking someone
• Asking and answering personal questions (language skills, profession, and age)
• Expressing regret about something

Grammar

• Subject pronouns io, tu, Lei - Formal and informal usage
• Alphabet - Singular nouns
• Present tense singular of essere, chiamarsi
• + verbs in -are, fare, avere, stare
• Definite articles il and la - Indefinite articles un, un’ and una
• Adverbs bene/male - Questo/questa - Negation- Some interrogatives
• Adjectives of nationality - Professions - Prepositions a, in-

Phonetics

• Intonation in questions
• Vowels sound
• “S / Ca Ga / Cia Gia / Che Ghe” Sounds

Vocabulary

• Saying hello and goodbye (formal/informal)
• Numbers, nationalities, professions, workplaces
• Numbers 0-100
• The alphabet
• Languages and activities in a language class
• Leisure activities
• Gender in nationalities and professions

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Take part in simple everyday interactions in Italian, including greetings, introductions, and sharing basic personal information.
2. Ask and answer simple questions about identity, nationality, profession, and language learning using basic sentence structures.
3. Communicate more clearly in spoken Italian by applying correct pronunciation, intonation, and key grammatical patterns in familiar contexts.