Italian Language Practice and Immersion

The Friends a Firenze Program  

Students interested in deepening their engagement with Florence and its contemporary culture will find the Friends a Firenze (FaF) Program an ideal opportunity to meet and connect with Italian university students eager to share their city and perspectives. Friends a Firenze enables Stanford students to strengthen their language skills through regular, informal interaction while developing a firsthand understanding of daily life in Florence. Whether meeting for coffee, exploring lesser-known areas of the city, or participating in official FaF events, students cultivate meaningful connections and lasting friendships with Italian peers.
 

The Italian Language Pledge

Every Thursday at Stanford in Florence, students are invited to participate in the weekly Language Pledge—Giovedì in italiano!—a fun and supportive commitment to speaking only Italian for the entire day. It is a chance for students to put their learning into action and to discover how quickly their Italian skills improve. Students are encouraged to try their best, embrace the challenge, and enjoy the experience—mistakes and all.

Quattro Chiacchiere 

Fare quattro chiacchiere means “to have a chat,” and this weekly informal Italian conversation hour offers students—whether beginners or advanced learners—a valuable opportunity to strengthen their language skills. Each session provides an engaging, low-pressure environment in which students can practice with language instructors and peers, helping them expand vocabulary, improve fluency, and build confidence in speaking Italian. These gatherings also offer students the chance to work with all Italian language instructors—regardless of their assigned class—and to interact with peers from other language sections, fostering meaningful group bonding and a strong sense of community across the entire cohort.
 

Compiti in Compagnia

This optional weekly drop-in session offers students a supportive environment where they can bring homework, receive individualized help from an instructor, or simply practice and explore the language. It is an excellent opportunity to learn, ask questions, and work alongside classmates informally. Led by our Italian language instructors and offered in addition to their regular office hours, these sessions provide students with additional opportunities to engage, improve, and connect beyond the classroom.
 

Il Circolo dei Lettori

Il Circolo dei Lettori, Stanford in Florence’s book club, offers students with previous language studies an opportunity to apply their knowledge by reading Italian books in a relaxed and supportive environment. Guided by Italian language instructors, students engage with selected texts that explore aspects of Italy’s cultural traditions, strengthening their reading comprehension and building confidence in spoken Italian through focused discussion in an informal and intellectually engaging setting.