Medical Italian is a language course designed to meet participants’ professional requirements in the Italian health sector and with their interactions with Italian patients and to provide a capacity to better understand Italian culture and actively participate in Italian life.

The course is designed, developed and delivery by Williams Language Solutions Ltd.

• Lessons: Lessons are delivered on online via skype.One lesson by telephone will be delivered to practise additional skills - this will be a role play between a patient and the doctor. The number of required lessons will depend on the specific needs of the learner
• Levels: elementary to advanced, equivalent at least to level A2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference.
• Course dates and timetable: to be agreed with the students.
• Costs: £25 per hour per student (+ VAT). Discounts are available for groups.
• Target profile: This course is designed for students who wish to broaden their knowledge of the Italian medical environment and who intend working in the health sector in Italy, and/or in other environments where the presence of Italian speaking patient community is relevant (medical students, doctors, medical assistants, nurses, caregivers, etc.).

Please note: this course is on Medical Italian and NOT a course in medicine. Students do not need to be experts in this field to attend the course, although a knowledge of medicine will be a great advantage.

• the programme also focuses on patient-doctor relations in daily situations (making an appointment, consultation, diagnosis, prescription) on caregiver-doctor relations, and communication between doctors.
• the programme presents the Italian health system with a variety of supporting documents (Medical magazines, television programmes, reference websites, medical training CD-ROMs, etc.) and through simulations of practical situations that arise in a hospital environment.

Medical Italian - objectives and methodology

• the course begins with day-to-day situations leading up to use of the specialised vocabulary needed by professionals in the health sector
• to focus on the different cross-cultural aspects of patient-doctor and patient-hospital relations
• a communicative approach based on role-plays, and simulations of realistic situations (hospital, medical examination, etc.)

General Italian - objectives and methodology

• the practice of Italian (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) in communicative situations
• development of linguistic proficiency (written and oral expression / written and oral comprehension / interpersonal communication), focussing on grammar explanations and exercises
• communicative methods combining individual development and group dynamics (group work, role plays, etc.)
• students will be assessed during the first lesson in order to identify their level of knowledge of Italian, and to tailor the course accordingly.

Groups

• single-level groups, 8 to 12 students maximum, ensure easy participation and a true group dynamic as well as individual attention from the teacher.
• one to one lessons will be also provided upon request to individual students, outside the course, to practice specific topics. These hours will be charged separately.

Teaching aids

• Italian language and culture course La Strada, designed and developed by Williams Language Solutions Ltd.
• Online course Destination Italy, designed and developed by Williams Language Solutions Ltd, and endorsed by the Italian Consulate of London under the "suggested links for learning Italian".
• “Italiano per medici”, Daniela Forapani, Alma Edizioni - Firenze