Yasouvlaki

Italian is the language of music and art and I always wanted to learn it and speak it. My grand father was from the region of arts, Tuscany and he grew up in Firenze. To me learning to speak properly is a tribute to my heritage. Collina italiana is a boutique school, I have been followed step by step, the instructors are professional, educated and respectful. The approach is fine and properly structured. Learning is easy and pleasant. The environment is inviting and absolutely educative under several aspects. Their prices are fair and the classes are structured in a comfortable and comprehensive way. I definitely recommend to meet Patrizia Saglio, the school funder to get a proper grounded orientation, she is a true gem and extremely knowledgeable. I encourage to consider this school to anyone wishing to, properly and intelligently, learn the language of Dante, art and music.

Collina Italiana is THE place in New York to learn all things Italian. I've taken several classes so I can talk with my family in Italy, and I've thoroughly benefitted from each session. While I still must slow my family down when they speak, I do understand more and more, amazing both them and me!! Cristina, Diletta, Danilo, and most recently, Luna, are skillfully excellent teachers, who lead knowledge and support with patience. Hats off to Patrizia's smooth administration too. Though commitments take me away right now, I know I will return, particularly before my next trip to Italy. Grazie, Collina Italiana!

La Collina Italiana is my favorite weekly escape—and the best way to stay connected to Italian language and culture. The classes strike the perfect balance of conversation, grammar, and cultural immersion, all taught with warmth and heart. It’s a total gem: engaging, energizing, and filled with a wonderful community of Italophiles. A charming little slice of Italy on the UES!

Coming to Collina Italiana for my Italian classes is the highlight of my week, every single week! My teacher Ilaria is so kind, patient, and so positive, and her experience is so clear in her ability to explain concepts in various different ways to help students understand. Class is fun, (with a pausa for espresso in the middle!) I have gone from knowing a few words and phrases in Italian with 0 actual Italian studying experience to being able to hold conversation and express myself in the language. I look forward to eventually reaching fluency, and I know I can with the help of classes at Collina Italiana. :)

Everyone at Collina is so warm and welcoming! The environment is relaxed and fun, and the class sizes are small so you really get to participate and practice the language. I've taken Italian before and studied it on apps, but there's nothing like actually speaking it with people. I really appreciate the way my teacher Luna breaks down the lessons and explains everything. I'm looking forward to taking more classes here!

The Collina-Italiana is a stupendous language school. And much, much more! Its first rate teachers and innovative approaches to study make language learning a delight. The programs include visits to museums and, more recently, inspired trips to Italy led by the excellent PhD Italian art historian, Eveline Baseggio. The Director of the Collina Italiana, Patrizia Saglio, exudes enthusiasm and joy in her work and for the encouragement of students. She creates a warm-spirited community of people at the school, drawn together by the love of Italian culture.

I have been taking classes with Collina Italiana for about 3 years. I love ❤️ them dearly. I had taken Italian back in my college years, but unfortunately, I forgot everything. However, I was able to understand it if I heard people speaking. During the pandemic, I decided to listen to some YouTube Italian videos, which helped me start to remember some of the basic Italian. I then researched online Italian classes and programs and found Collina Italiana. I signed up for my first class and have since been addicted to their classes. I was able to use my Italian when I went to Italy for the 3rd time. This time, I felt great. I was able to have conversations and even made friends, too. I continue taking their classes with the goal to get fluent in Italian and be able to just not visit but live when I retire in Italy.

I have been taking classes at Collina Italiana for almost a year now and am really enjoying my experience. I really appreciate that the class sizes have been very small (3-4 people so far) because it allows us each time for participation and personal assistance during each 2 hour class. I also cannot say enough about our teacher, Grace, who fills the class with interesting facts and anecdotes as well as lots of energy. I look forward to taking more classes at Collina Italiana!

I love my lessons with my Collina Italian teacher. This is my second class I've taken and I look forward to it every week. I had Maira and now I have Rossana. They are both wonderful and so caring. I'm excited to learn that Rossana also teaches a book club and a class based on music to learn Italian. I can't wait to take them. This company is so helpful and offers so many different classes and at different times of the day. The small classes are a lot of fun. They get an A+ from me!

I have studied at Collina Italiana for more than a year now and love my weekly classes. My instructor is very good at explaining the grammar and vocabulary and also talking me through the ways in which Italian is different from and similar to the languages I've studied in the past, French and Spanish. As an adult who is working toward fluency, I find I am able to balance work, life and my studies - I just wish I had more time each week to read in Italian and watch programs!

Michael Irilli

La Collina Italiana is my favorite weekly escape—and the best way to stay connected to Italian language and culture. The classes strike the perfect balance of conversation, grammar, and cultural immersion, all taught with warmth and heart. It’s a total gem: engaging, energizing, and filled with a wonderful community of Italophiles. A charming little slice of Italy on the UES!

Michael Yorio

Collina Italiana is THE place in New York to learn all things Italian. I've taken several classes so I can talk with my family in Italy, and I've thoroughly benefitted from each session. While I still must slow my family down when they speak, I do understand more and more, amazing both them and me!! Cristina, Diletta, Danilo, and most recently, Luna, are skillfully excellent teachers, who lead knowledge and support with patience. Hats off to Patrizia's smooth administration too. Though commitments take me away right now, I know I will return, particularly before my next trip to Italy. Grazie, Collina Italiana!

Gabriela Carrillo

Coming to Collina Italiana for my Italian classes is the highlight of my week, every single week! My teacher Ilaria is so kind, patient, and so positive, and her experience is so clear in her ability to explain concepts in various different ways to help students understand. Class is fun, (with a pausa for espresso in the middle!) I have gone from knowing a few words and phrases in Italian with 0 actual Italian studying experience to being able to hold conversation and express myself in the language. I look forward to eventually reaching fluency, and I know I can with the help of classes at Collina Italiana. :)

Konstantina Anastasopoulou

I had the best experience taking the CELI 4 exam at the Collina Italiana. Friendly, quiet enviroment and very professional staff. Also the communication prior to taking the exam through email was excellent with all my questions being answered promptly.

Jill Kipnis

I love my lessons with my Collina Italian teacher. This is my second class I've taken and I look forward to it every week. I had Maira and now I have Rossana. They are both wonderful and so caring. I'm excited to learn that Rossana also teaches a book club and a class based on music to learn Italian. I can't wait to take them. This company is so helpful and offers so many different classes and at different times of the day. The small classes are a lot of fun. They get an A+ from me!

Judith Santiago

I have been taking classes with Collina Italiana for about 3 years. I love ❤️ them dearly. I had taken Italian back in my college years, but unfortunately, I forgot everything. However, I was able to understand it if I heard people speaking. During the pandemic, I decided to listen to some YouTube Italian videos, which helped me start to remember some of the basic Italian. I then researched online Italian classes and programs and found Collina Italiana. I signed up for my first class and have since been addicted to their classes. I was able to use my Italian when I went to Italy for the 3rd time. This time, I felt great. I was able to have conversations and even made friends, too. I continue taking their classes with the goal to get fluent in Italian and be able to just not visit but live when I retire in Italy.

Stephen Shen

Collina Italiana has made a big difference in my Italian learning, which up to this point (. . . on my own . . .) has been through lessons on Pimsleur, shows on Netflix/MHzChoice/Rai, and online tutors through Preply. I enrolled in the B1++ class (spring 2023), and there is definitely something transformational about in-person classes with same level classmates, well put together materials, and a wonderful teacher (Sara). It has forced me to use a new mental muscle and made my Italian that much more well-rounded, as well as even more appreciate the beauty of the language (even the grammar rules)! The front office (Christina and Luna) has been great with communications and administration. There are several classes happening at once when I'm there so I feel like I'm part of a real Italian learning community. I also went to an exhibition event at the Center for Italian Modern Art ("CIMA") led by Collina (thanks Patrizia!) that opened my eyes to another part of the NYC Italian art community as well as other Italians/Italian learners. The event was in Italian, which I really appreciated. Looking forward to more classes and events with Collina Italiana when I'm in NYC and not traveling in Sicily!!!

Ella Foshay

The Collina-Italiana is a stupendous language school. And much, much more! Its first rate teachers and innovative approaches to study make language learning a delight. The programs include visits to museums and, more recently, inspired trips to Italy led by the excellent PhD Italian art historian, Eveline Baseggio. The Director of the Collina Italiana, Patrizia Saglio, exudes enthusiasm and joy in her work and for the encouragement of students. She creates a warm-spirited community of people at the school, drawn together by the love of Italian culture.

Mary Whiting

I have taken three (3) courses with Rosanna Copler at the Collina Italiana school. Her courses on Italian music are fun and informative. Her book club class on her novel Acqua, is thought provoking and also enjoyable. All courses are in the Italian language, which helps me with speaking Italian. I enjoy talking to the other students in Italian. I am a beginner student of Italian. She makes me feel relaxed and is not judgmental on my ability. I would highly recommend her course and this school.

Samantha Rowan

I have studied at Collina Italiana for more than a year now and love my weekly classes. My instructor is very good at explaining the grammar and vocabulary and also talking me through the ways in which Italian is different from and similar to the languages I've studied in the past, French and Spanish. As an adult who is working toward fluency, I find I am able to balance work, life and my studies - I just wish I had more time each week to read in Italian and watch programs!

Marissa Sangiacomo

Everyone at Collina is so warm and welcoming! The environment is relaxed and fun, and the class sizes are small so you really get to participate and practice the language. I've taken Italian before and studied it on apps, but there's nothing like actually speaking it with people. I really appreciate the way my teacher Luna breaks down the lessons and explains everything. I'm looking forward to taking more classes here!

Henrietta di Domenico

FANTASTIC. I went to another school before I went to Collina. Those classes were supposed to be mixed grammar and conversation. That meant that the class would break up in groups of twos or threes, or even more, and these were not always groups that were congenial. Conversation was sometimes awkward, and some people were very hard to get along with. However, I have observed the same grammar and conversation group classes at Collina and they are not even comparable! Moreover, classes at the other school had as many as 12 students - the average class at Collina has 6! In the group classes at Collina, the instructors speak ONLY Italian. When asked for a definition, they offer a synonym, again in Italian. The exercises done in class are done by the whole group, which means everyone has to answer a question in turn. That is invaluable, because everyone participates. There are stories to read (by the chapter), and recordings of conversations to listen to, on which everyone has to offer a precis on, again in Italian. The level of spoken Italian in the group classes is VERY HIGH compared to what I had at the other school. I am now taking private lessons with Danilo, who is a fabulous teacher. I really enjoy them and enjoy doing the homework. We do grammar and much conversation. I went to Rome after a course of lessons with him and received compliments on my Italian! At the break, the school even offers you “un po di Prosecco, caffe o te”! I cannot praise this school enough. I also cannot praise the directress, Patrizia Saglio, enough - she offers wonderful, attentive, customized, personal service! I feel at home at Collina, I am learning a lot, and I urge you to try it. SEMPLICEMENTE MERAVIGLIOSA.

Caitlyn Dewitt

I have been taking classes at Collina Italiana for almost a year now and am really enjoying my experience. I really appreciate that the class sizes have been very small (3-4 people so far) because it allows us each time for participation and personal assistance during each 2 hour class. I also cannot say enough about our teacher, Grace, who fills the class with interesting facts and anecdotes as well as lots of energy. I look forward to taking more classes at Collina Italiana!

Tom Leonardis

I’ve been with Collina Italiana for almost two years. Prior to attending this school I tried three others and none of them come close to the education and experience I have here. The quality of the teachers is top notch (everyone is a native speaker) and there is such dedication given to each student. The pace at which we learn is perfect and the learning of grammar and vocabulary is presented in a way that is fun and memorable. This school feels like home and each week I can’t wait to get to my class. Even the other teachers, outside of my class, take an interest and greet us all with such warmth and friendliness. Honestly, if you’re looking for a school , look no more!! This is the place.

Rebecca Kesten

I’ve taken a variety of foreign language courses over the course of my life, and Collina Italiana is by far one my favorite experiences. The teachers are wonderful (shout out to Cristina and Linda). They are accommodating with our busy schedules, and I just love the small class size - it allows for a true discussion element every single class which really elevates our speaking skills. We have weekly homework assignments which help with grammar and vocabulary. I look forward to class every week!

Mike G Bianco (Hypnologist)

Italian is the language of music and art and I always wanted to learn it and speak it. My grand father was from the region of arts, Tuscany and he grew up in Firenze. To me learning to speak properly is a tribute to my heritage. Collina italiana is a boutique school, I have been followed step by step, the instructors are professional, educated and respectful. The approach is fine and properly structured. Learning is easy and pleasant. The environment is inviting and absolutely educative under several aspects. Their prices are fair and the classes are structured in a comfortable and comprehensive way. I definitely recommend to meet Patrizia Saglio, the school funder to get a proper grounded orientation, she is a true gem and extremely knowledgeable. I encourage to consider this school to anyone wishing to, properly and intelligently, learn the language of Dante, art and music.

C Perez-Matos

Collina Italiana is not your regular language school. Here you become more than a number and a level, you become part of a family and a community. I started classes here about a year ago. I was immediately impressed with the small class and the amount of personal attention I received. I do know have the vocabulary to properly express how amazing Cristina, my teacher, is. She takes the time to learn your interests, work, and goals so that she can target the material to that. Moreover she makes class so interesting that you learn without knowing that you are in fact learning. She has made it so that I look forward all week to my Thursday evening class. I have learned more from her in a few classes than I did from 2 years of high school italian and 1 year of college Italian. To give you an example, I have watched La Vita e Bella, many times since it first came out. I had enough working knowledge of Italian to understand, in general terms, the dialogue... however last night I watched it again, after three classes of the subjunctive tense in Italian.... and my experience of the movie was amplified! For the first time I was able to understand and to point out the use of “il congiuntivo”... and since this movie in particular is a love story based on hope and fears and wishes, it is filled with the use of the subjunctive... my mind was blown... the experience further confirmed what I already knew - I have an amazing teacher! Collina is also super cost effective and if you take evening classes you get a little Prosecco mid-class! If you want more than just a language school that focuses on giving you standard material from a book and having you memorize it, then Collina is the right place for you. You will be immersed in the culture, become part of a family/community and will be getting all this from native Italian speakers. As far as I am concerned, the best language school in the city!

Erica Zambrano

What a wonderful experience for me here at Collina Italiana. I had the privilege of studying with Cristina in both a class setting and private lessons. WELL worth every penny. The classes were small and intimate but best of the teacher, Cristina, was always enthusiastic to begin her class and teach! Professional and very patient she made it easy and fun for everyone (all ages included) to learn. The rest of the staff I grade an A+. Never a problem with billing, attentive and friendly. Patrizia, the owner, was always welcoming and made sure the students were catered to and comfortable. Fantastic school!

Cynthia de Luise

We have been coming to Collina Italiana for almost 10 years now. Patrizia and her instructors are the best at what they do. They are all native Italian and are trained as educators. There are an abundance of class offerings and private lessons to accommodate everyone. It is a wonderful place!!

Nira D

I have always loved all things Italian. I really wanted to learn to speak,read and write Italian fluently- not just the Rosetta Stone kind of learning. I spent a lot of time researching various programs and schools. I finally settled on Collina Italiana. My teacher was Alessandra and she is the BEST. I spoke not one word of Italian besides ciao but in 2 years I was able to go to Italy completely on my own and communicate proficiently with the locals- many of them were surprised at how well I spoke grammatically. I would highly recommend Alessandra- she breaks down Italian in a way that is easy to understand and grasp. Like any language you do have to practice on your own and study but I can't thank Alessandra enough for opening up a whole new world for me. Italy is even more amazing when you speak the language!!