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Italian Language & Culture MILAN, ITALY
Milan, Italy

Italian Language & Culture

Summer '25 Applications Open

Language & Culture

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$7,450

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$7,450

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
Refine your Italian in trendy and stylish Milan.

Experience four weeks of language immersion in one of the world’s most influential fashion capitals: Milan. After language classes, step out into the city's chic neighborhoods to converse with Milanese locals and sharpen your language skills. Stroll through enchanting vias adorned with stunning architecture. Discover the artistic haven of the Brera district, where galleries and boutiques line the cobblestone streets. Be awestruck by the intricate details of the Duomo di Milano, a true testament to the city's artistic prowess. 

Indulge in the authentic flavors of home-cooked meals during your stay with a local host family and savor delicious dishes at trattorias (traditional restaurants). Meet local teens and learn what it’s like to grow up in Italy. On weekend excursions, explore the canals of Venice and the ancient streets of Verona, where Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is set, in the neighboring region of the Veneto. Your Milanese adventure will go beyond your language gains—it'll be an extraordinary voyage into the heart of northern Italian culture and style.

The Take-Aways

Language Growth and Cultural Competence

Come home with a higher level of Italian and a greater understanding of Italian culture. Use your STAMP 4S language proficiency pre- and post-test scores to demonstrate your language growth and help you earn a Seal of Biliteracy.  

College Credits

Choose to earn 4 college credits toward your future college degree. Take advantage of the credits to stand out on your college applications or to satisfy college language requirements.

Lifelong Skills and Friendships

Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and adaptability. Enjoy a broader worldview and diverse friendships of different backgrounds from across the U.S. 

60

Hours Of Instruction With A Native Italian Teacher

4

College Credits

1

Life-changing Experience

Destination
  • Italian Language & Culture MILAN, ITALY
  • Italian Language & Culture MILAN, ITALY
  • Milan city shot

The Destination

Welcome to Milan, a magnet for artists and the home of high-end fashion houses. 

Located in northern Italy, Milan has a rich history spanning over two thousand years! Founded by the Celts in the 6th century B.C., it was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire and became an important financial center in the Renaissance. During this time, Leonardo da Vinci painted the famous Last Supper, covering the end wall of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. Legend has it da Vinci also contributed to the renovation of Milan’s canals. Renaissance and contemporary art lovers alike enjoy the large waterways of the Bohemian Navigli district, where beautiful exhibits, galleries, and courtyards display local artists’ works. 

Milan is an ideal location for young creatives. Prestigious fashion schools attract top designers from around the world. International chefs travel here to take in the food scene, influenced by the many flavors of the region. The city offers many walking areas, cycling paths, and large parks as well, like the Parco Sempione and Giardini Indro Montanelli, which offer a chance to unwind amidst the cityscape.

Itinerary

Daily Life

Monday–Friday 

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

  • Breakfast at your homestay  
  • Engaging Italian classes with expert language instructors, all native-speakers   
  • Lunch in the community with your fellow Global Navigators  
  • Out and about for authentic conversations in the community and a cultural activity   
  • Dinner and evening discussions at your homestay  

Weekends   

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites  
  • Quality time with friends and your host family

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program.

Housing

Carefully-screened homestay

24/7 Support

1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Weekly Learning Goals

In CIEE classes, Level 1 is for students acquiring basic Italian, Level 2 is for those who can carry on everyday conversations, and Level 3 is for those who can participate in discussions on social and academic topics. In the spring before you depart, you’ll take a language proficiency test and when you arrive on site, you’ll participate in an oral interview. How you do on the test and in the interview will identify the level that is right for you.

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Identity Theme. Ask and answer questions, give information, describe your favorite things and your family at home and in Italy. For your Project, create and present a Personal Profile.  

WEEK 2: Take in the local scene as you explore the Community Theme. Describe places, attractions, and events in Milan. Tell what you want to buy in shops, and express your likes and dislikes in food and fashion. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery of Life in Milan and share it in a conversation.  

WEEK 3: Continue improving your Italian as you delve into the Discovery Theme and, for your Project, create and present a Travel Flyer for a destination in Italy. Give and follow directions, give details of a trip itinerary day-by-day, and describe the destination, the weather, and what to do there.  

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Tell what you experienced in Italy, make cultural comparisons, and participate in study abroad interviews. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Discovery Theme. Ask about and describe family members, discover and describe exciting things to do in Milan, and compare daily routines and customs in Italy and the USA. For your Project, create and present a Memory Book of Your Life in Milan.  

WEEK 2: Explore Italian culture during this week’s Creativity Theme. Compare musical performances, express opinions on art, tell what happened in movies, and persuade a classmate to attend a cultural event. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery on Italian Culture and share it in a conversation.  

WEEK 3: Delve into Mila in this week’s Community Theme. For your Project, create and present a Neighborhood Tour in Milan. Describe the city and what happens there. Role play scenes in a market and restaurant. Report on Milan’s past and future.  

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer during the Personal Growth Theme. Tell what happened in memorable moments and how you felt about it. Make cultural comparisons and persuade a friend to study abroad. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion. 

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates during the Cultural Encounters Theme. Tell what happened on a first encounter abroad. Summarize past and current events in Milan. Express your opinions as you compare cultural norms and stereotypes. For your Project, create and present a Field Report on Milan.  

WEEK 2: Explore Italian culture in this week’s Creativity Theme. Describe street art and profile artists, express opinions on magazines and movies, and compare musical performances. For your Project, create an Arts & Culture Magazine and share it in a conversation.  

WEEK 3: Continue advancing your Italian as you delve into the Discovery Theme. For your Project, create and present an Awareness Campaign about a global threat. Give information on its causes and effects, explain solutions, and persuade others in debates, justifying your arguments.  

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Conduct a class survey on experiences in Italy and make cultural comparisons. Tell an original story about a memorable moment and speculate on what’s next for you. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Activities

Sample Activities

Italian Language & Culture MILAN, ITALY

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

  • Hop on a bike and cruise along the Naviglio Grande, the oldest of the canals that make up Milan’s canal system.
  • Climb to the terrazza of the Gothic Duomo di Milano, the world's 4th largest church in the world. Catch breathtaking views across the city.
  • Craft your very own Milanese dishes with the help of a local chef. Then, sample your creations!
  • Admire Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, one of the most iconic art pieces in the world, painted on the wall of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church between 1494 and 1498!
  • Step into Castello Sforzesco Castle, a fortress built in the 14th century. Explore Leonardo da Vinci's Sala delle Asse and Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini Museum.
  • Take an architectural tour of BAM, a public park that hosts Milan’s most unique high-rise, the Vertical Forest.

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.  

Testimonials
Virtual Reality
From CIEE

STEP into Your Future

By Susan Henkel at CIEE

Students participated in an interactive activity designed to peak their STEM and STEAM curriculum creativity. The STEP Futurability District https://www.steptothefuture.it/en/what-is-step links students to the future while showing them their present... keep reading

Bar Luce
From CIEE

Bar Luce - designed by movie director Wes Anderson

By Susan Henkel at CIEE

INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC BARS of Milan in the 1950s and 60s, the Bar Luce café is entirely designed by the American director Wes Anderson. Based on strong pastel colors... keep reading

Last Supper
From CIEE

The Last Supper

By Susan Henkel at CIEE

Leonardo da Vinci's piece "The Last Supper" was painted for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie of Milan between 1495 and 1498. This magnificent painting, which is painted directly... keep reading

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors —of all Italian language proficiency levels. 
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page. 

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee 

$25 

Optional College Credit Fee 

$150 

Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree.  

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.    

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us! 

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs
Program Summer Session I 2025 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,450
Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,450

Ready to change your life?

Enroll Today or Contact Us

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Stephen Marth

Stephen Marth

Center Director

Stephen joins CIEE with over a decade of experience in the study abroad field in Italy. He has lived and worked in Bologna and Rome, where he served first as...

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