Ideal for students who want to be right next to Ponte Vecchio.
Not ideal for students who want to be on the touristic side of the river.
The good
- List of varied and unique courses.
- One of most affordable language schools in Florence.
- Located right by the river.
The bad
- No real communal areas.
Date of my inspection visit at ABC School Florence: June 4, 2024.
My overall take
ABC School Florence (ABC) is split between two buildings. Building 1 has 11 classrooms, and building 2 has 6. This school is situated on the traditional Florentine side of the river, in San Niccolò, where there are fewer tourists. However it is only a 5-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio and has gorgeous views across the river, so you literally get the best of both worlds.
The first part of the morning lesson is focused on grammar; the second part is where the students can practise in conversation whatever they studied in the grammar session. It is structured this way so there is a linear sense in which students progress through their studies. The students often have a different teacher for the grammar and conversation lessons. Teachers frequently take the learning outside the classroom to small local markets with beginner learners to learn the names of products and speak to Italian vendors. A2+ classes go on historical treasure hunts and interview Florentine locals.
I witnessed the familiar and friendly atmosphere within lessons; the teachers are not strict or formal, and with a maximum of 10 students per class, students felt free to speak with them and express themselves.
The only requirement to truly enjoy your time at school is to be passionate about the Italian language; the student profile is very varied, and everyone has a different background, religion, age, and country. There is always a great exchange of experiences and language in classes, so the whole experience is very enriching.
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ABC School Florence at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.6 (373 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Very small Max. 10 students in Standard Italian course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Below average diversity. No nationality more than 30% Top nationality: Swiss |
| Learning intensity | 2.5 hours of homework per week |
| Number of students | 70-80 Capacity (they share the school building, classes/lessons and facilities with another language school called Machiavelli) 30-40 adults in July 15-25 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 16 years |
| Accreditations | MIUR, CILS |
| Course range | Standard Italian Course Intensive Course Semi Standard Course Standard PLUS One-to-One Duetto Course (Two-to-One) Trietto Course (Three-to-One) Standard PLUS Thematic Art History Course Florence and Sestri Levante 50+ Course Online Lessons Individual Course Standard PLUS Business Standard PLUS Flight Attendance Standard PLUS Healthcare Standard PLUS Hotel and Tourism Intensive Art History Course Italian Language PLUS Art History Course Standard PLUS Teacher Training Standard PLUS CILS, AIL or CELI Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Shared Apartments |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €300 3 weeks: €630 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €60 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €15.30 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfortunately there were no students available for an interview during my visit.
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Brenda Bimbi, Director of Studies at ABC School Florence.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “The school is very near the Ponte Vecchio area in Florence, so it is a good location to visit the city centre, but we are in an area that is not so touristy, unlike the other schools in Florence. So we have the opportunity to live and have contact with Florentine people.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “I think the thing they have in common is their love for the Italian language. So it’s very easy to make new friends here because they have this in common.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
Classrooms are generally very spacious and still have the beauty of painted ceilings. The school is not the most technologically advanced; in the 1st building only three classrooms have a TV. No digital devices are used in the 2nd building, but teachers are free to bring in their laptops for any digital-based lessons.
Facilities
There are few facilities in either building, but students can relax in the small seating area in the main building. The school’s location reduces this disadvantage, as it is in close proximity to the Ponte Vecchio.
Surrounding area
The school is only a few minutes away from Stefano Bardini Museum, House of Galileo Galilei and the stunning botanical garden Giardino Bardini. The main school building is on a quiet road but all the main restaurants, cafes and shops are only a 5-minute walk away.
Social activities
There is a social, cultural or academic activity almost every day ranging from Monday to Saturday. Students can choose between wine tasting, yoga classes (held by the school director herself), cooking classes, pizzeria and aperitivo trips, or educational seminars. There are also suggestions of things students can do outside of the school designated social programme.
Trusted student ratings of ABC School Florence on the web
| Total | 4.6 (373 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.6 (232 ratings) |
| Boa Lingua | 4.6 (141 ratings) |
Ratings as of June 28, 2024
Why no Google or Facebook ratings? Schools may have requested Facebook, Google or Trustpilot reviews only from those students that previously gave positive after-course evaluations. I only trust ratings from independent booking platforms/agencies, that allow exclusively clients who booked via their platform to rate the schools. I have checked each of these sites above and they have no disproportional number of positive vs negative reviews.
Location of ABC School Florence
Via de’ Bardi, 28, 50125 Firenze, Italy
ABC School Firenze – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
