Learn Italian (Italiano)
The language of art, music, design, fashion — and a uniquely accessible pathway to Italian universities
Italian is the language of Renaissance art, classical music, opera, world-class design, fashion, and gastronomy — and offers underappreciated practical value for international students. Italian public universities offer excellent education at very low tuition (€800-3,000/year for international students) with many programmes available in English. Cities like Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence host top universities. Italian is also one of the most beautiful and rewarding languages to learn for cultural and aesthetic reasons. For Kenyan students, Italian opens access to Italian university education, careers in design and fashion industries, and rich cultural engagement.
- Speakers: 65M+ native speakers, 85M+ total speakers
- Language family: Romance language
- Difficulty: Easy for English speakers (Category I, ~600 hours)
Why learn Italian
Affordable Italian university education
Italian public universities (Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza, University of Bologna) offer excellent education at €800-3,000/year for international students. Strong in business, engineering, architecture, design, art history.
Design, fashion, art industries
Italy leads globally in fashion (Milan), design (Milan), automotive design (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani), architecture and luxury goods. Italian capability is essential for careers in these industries.
Easy for English and Spanish/French speakers
Italian is the third Category I language for English speakers (alongside Spanish and French) — among the easiest world languages to learn. If you already know Spanish or French, Italian progresses very rapidly.
Cultural depth and engagement
Italian opens direct engagement with the Renaissance (Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Da Vinci), opera (Verdi, Puccini, Rossini), and one of the world's richest cultural traditions.
EU and Mediterranean career pathways
Italy is an EU member with permanent residence pathway through Italian university studies. Strong job market in Northern Italy (Milan, Turin, Bologna) for skilled workers, particularly in design, engineering and finance.
Who it is for
- Students targeting Italian universities (Bocconi, Politecnico, Sapienza, Bologna)
- Students with career interests in fashion, design, automotive, architecture, opera, art history
- Students who already know French or Spanish wanting to add a third Romance language
- Adult learners with cultural, family or travel connection to Italy
- Students wanting to engage with original Italian literature, opera or art
Levels
- A1 Beginner: Basic phrases, greetings. ~70-90 hours.
- A2 Elementary: Everyday conversation. ~140-180 hours total.
- B1 Intermediate: Independent communication. ~300-380 hours total.
- B2 Upper Intermediate: Complex texts, abstract topics. Required for Italian university entry. ~500-580 hours total.
- C1 Advanced: Fluent academic and professional use. ~700-800 hours total.
- C2 Mastery: Near-native proficiency. ~1000+ hours.
Exam preparation
- CILS A1-C2: Italian university entry, professional certification
- CELI A1-C2: University and professional certification
- PLIDA A1-C2: Italian Society Dante Alighieri certification
Fees
- Beginner (A1-A2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Intermediate (B1-B2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Advanced (C1-C2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Foundation Bundle (A1-A2)
- Intermediate Bundle (B1-B2)
- Italian University Prep (B2 target)
- CILS B2 Exam Prep
Frequently asked questions
Why study Italian for university?
Italian public universities (Politecnico di Milano for engineering, Bocconi for business, Sapienza Rome and University of Bologna for liberal arts) are excellent and very affordable for international students. Annual tuition €800-3,000 for international students — exceptionally low for European university quality. With Italian B2 (CILS or CELI), you can study in Italian-medium programmes; many programmes also available in English.
How difficult is Italian for English speakers?
Italian is Category I (easiest) by US Foreign Service Institute — same difficulty as Spanish and French. Italian phonetics are extraordinarily regular (pronunciation follows spelling almost perfectly), grammar is straightforward (less complex than French), and vocabulary has substantial English overlap through Latin roots.
Can I take CILS in Kenya?
CILS is administered by Italian Cultural Institutes globally; the nearest centres for Kenyan students are typically in Cairo, Addis Ababa or directly in Italy. We help with examination registration logistics and timing alongside university applications.
Do I need Italian if I study at Bocconi or Politecnico in English?
No — Bocconi, Politecnico and many Italian universities offer English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes that require IELTS/TOEFL but no Italian. However, basic Italian (A1-A2 level) significantly improves daily life in Italy and post-study employment opportunities.
Italian for design and fashion careers?
Italy is the global center for fashion (Milan), automotive design, architecture, industrial design and luxury goods. Italian capability is essential for careers in these industries — both for studying at Italian design schools (Domus Academy, Istituto Marangoni, IED) and for working with Italian fashion houses and design firms.
Is Italian useful if I already speak Spanish?
Italian and Spanish share substantial vocabulary (60%+ mutually intelligible in written form), grammar patterns and Latin roots. Spanish speakers typically progress 40-50% faster through early Italian levels. Many learners do French-Spanish-Italian as a three-language progression.
Can I learn Italian for IGCSE?
Italian is offered as IGCSE language subject (Foreign Language) by Cambridge International. Less common than French/Spanish but available for students with Italian heritage or specific cultural interests.
How long until I can have conversations in Italian?
After A2 level (about 150-180 hours), most learners can handle restaurants, transport, basic conversations and travel scenarios. After B1 (about 300-380 hours), conversations become substantially more natural. Italian conversation rhythm and gestures are part of the cultural learning we integrate from the start.
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