Italian Classes NYC, New York

Best Italian Classes in NYC

When you learn to speak Italian you have a ticket into a rich world of culture, history, and beauty. Whether you're drawn to Italian opera, the cuisine of Italy, or the art and architecture of Rome, studying Italian connects you with this unique heritage. Italian traditions trace to poets like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, and its influence is seen in opera, fashion, and food. 

Mastering Italian gives you a connection with its warm-hearted people and a passport to a world of art, history, and culinary delights. Italian is a Romance language descended from Latin that is known for its elegance, musicality, and expressive nature. Around 70 million people worldwide speak Italian, primarily in Italy but also in Switzerland. 

Why You Should Learn Italian in NYC

NYC has long been home to Italian people and culture. Between 1900 and 1914, almost two million Italians emigrated to America and most arrived in New York. By 1930 NYC was home to over a million Italian Americans – 17 percent of the city's population. There are now nearly 300,000 Italian speakers in NYC.

This is reflected in the number of clubs and organizations which reflect the thriving Italian culture, art, or business in NYC. New York Italians is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the culture and heritage of Italy and its people through outstanding cultural events and culinary programs, language classes, educational lectures, and charities.

The Italian Cultural Institute of New York is an official branch of the Italian government. It was founded in 1961 to promote Italian culture in the United States by organizing exhibitions and events and offering cultural services ranging from arts to humanities and science. Get a taste of art at The Center for Modern Italian Art, explore Italian Judaism at Centro Primo Levi, or build business connections in Italy through the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce. 

When you speak Italian, it gives you a competitive edge in international business, diplomacy, tourism, and other industries. Italian opens doors to new friendships, cultural experiences, and opportunities for travel, work, and study abroad. Learning a second language gives your brain a boost, improving your memory, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. It enhances your creativity and may even delay age-related cognitive decline. You’ll feel a sense of mastery when you utter your first full sentence in Italian. 

In-Person Italian Classes & Schools in NYC

With so many native speakers around you, NYC is a great place to learn Italian. Enroll in a beginner class, a more advanced class, or a private language lesson. 

Get a solid start on learning Italian in the eight-week Italian - Total Beginner at ABC Languages in NYC. This class is for students who have little or no background in Italian. You’ll learn basic vocabulary, practice pronunciation, conduct simple conversations, and form sentences in the present tense. An expert language teacher will guide you every step of the way. This class meets once a week for 90 minutes, in small classes with four to nine students. 

If you are looking for one-on-one Italian lessons or want to form a group with friends and family, Private Italian Lessons at ABC Languages in NYC offers a customized program. A professional Italian instructor will develop a curriculum to meet your goals and meet with you at your home or office in Manhattan. ABC Languages offers group language classes for adults and private instruction for students of all ages. Whether you want a quick course to prepare for a trip or intensive preparation for a move abroad, ABC Languages designs a program to meet your goals.

Virtual Italian Classes & Schools

Online Italian classes let you attend from any place, and you save the time and stress of commuting. You may need to provide your own materials for a virtual class, and you’ll need to have a web-enabled device or smartphone with a microphone. Ensure you have a quiet place where you can attend Italian language class in your home and you won’t be interrupted.

Italian - Level 1 from Fluent City is a good fit for you if you're new to the language and you want to quickly start speaking conversational Italian. Practice topics include how to talk about your friends and hobbies and how to describe your likes and dislikes. You’ll begin to read and write Italian and learn numbers and gender agreement. By the end of the level one course, you’ll be able to introduce yourself, go shopping, order a meal, and talk about your family and your hobbies.

In Italian 1 Fundamentals from Hyperfluent, you’ll learn to introduce yourself in Italian, offer greetings, and describe your friends and family, hobbies, directions, and time. You will be able to read, write, and pronounce in Italian, and talk about your likes and dislikes of food.

Italian Crash Course is an interactive weekend workshop from Fluent City where you’ll learn basics like how to introduce yourself, order in a restaurant, and request directions. Classes are small, social, and interactive, and provide speaking time and instructor attention so you’ll be speaking Italian quickly. Discussions focus on the authentic terms and phrases that will help you in real-world conversation settings.

Italian Language - Beginner (Online) from Discovery Center covers basic conversational skills and grammar structure of the Italian language and explores the language and culture of Italy. This class is an intensive, full-immersion experience geared toward both travelers and language learners. You’ll finish with a good foundation to build on for conversational Italian.

Intro to Italian Crash Course from ABC Languages will get you off to a good start as you learn to speak Italian. This 90-minute class covers basic vocabulary and phrases, basic greetings, and Italian travel phrases. Your instructor will help you with pronunciation and some of the more challenging points of the language, and introduce you to Italian culture. Italian Crash Course is a great way to prepare for travel or explore learning to speak Italian. 

ABC Languages can help you improve your Italian language skills. From basic Italian conversation skills, vocabulary, and grammar in Italian - Total Beginner to mastering conversation and vocabulary in Italian Intermediate 3, this rolling schedule of group classes will have you carrying on lively conversations in your new language.

Private Group Italian Classes in NYC

Does your team or business want to learn to speak Italian? Maybe you are planning a trip to Italy with family or friends. Choose from classes that offer you an immersive experience of the culture and cuisine of Italy. Coursehorse has live online group classes that they can deliver directly to you in NYC. Take a look at these Italian classes for private groups in NYC and other course offerings at Coursehorse.

Prepare for your Italian culinary experience with a group Virtual Wine & Cheese Workshop from Coursehorse. You’ll explore two wines and two kinds of cheese in this informative and fun event, and you’ll learn to understand tasting with these delectable pairings. An expert instructor will help you elevate your conversations about what you’re tasting, and explain the unique methods for creating each wine and cheese. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and get feedback on your own pairing ideas. 

In Virtual Pasta Making, you’ll learn how to make this Italian classic from scratch. Your group will mix and knead traditional pasta dough, make hand-shaped pappardelle pasta, and prepare a marinara and pesto sauce from scratch. At the end of the class, you’ll enjoy delicious handmade pasta. All ingredients shipped to each participant, including olive oil, flour, garlic, pine nuts, crushed tomatoes, and a gift card for you to purchase your preferred perishable ingredients like butter, cheese, and herbs. You’ll need to have a rolling pin or pasta machine, baking sheet, large pot for cooking pasta, colander or spider strainer, knife, fork, wooden spoon, cutting board, and saucepan.

Virtual Pizza from Scratch Workshop will show you how to make fresh pizza from scratch with help from a professional chef. Work out any frustrations as you knead the dough, then enjoy the fruits (or slices) of your labor. You’ll need to have a bowl and wooden spoon or stand mixer with hook attachment; a blender, hand blender, or food processor (or chef’s knife and cutting board); a pizza stone or cookie sheet; a chef’s knife and cutting board; a metal spatula and tongs or pizza peel; and a small saucepan.

Class members provide their own materials, including bread flour, all-purpose flour, semolina flour, active dry yeast, olive oil, canned San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, salt, cheese of your choice, and toppings of your choice. If you’d like to have all materials shipped to participants, select the all-inclusive Virtual Pizza from Scratch. 

In the Virtual Wine Tasting Workshop you’ll learn wine basics like varietals, tasting techniques, region/history, and everyday wine appreciation tips. Italy produces more wine than any other country, and enjoying the variety of wines is one of the pleasures of Italian cuisine. You don’t need any experience or familiarity with wine. 

You’ll need to be prepared with wine to taste, including Prosecco from Italy, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Rosé from Spain, and Pinot Noir from California. If you’d like to have these wines shipped to participants, select the all-inclusive Virtual Wine Workshop. 

Virtual Gnocchi Making will teach you how to make delicious potato gnocchi from scratch. You may picture long strands of dough when you think of pasta but these soft, fat, and chewy dumplings called gnocchi are an Italian classic. Instead of the store-bought, dense grocery-store version, learn how to make a much fluffier, light version of gnocchi with your own hands.

Ingredients shipped to each participant include organic russet potatoes, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, and Caputo Italian Flour. Class members need to provide their own 2 tablespoons of olive oil + 1 egg, baking sheet, large pot for cooking pasta, colander or spider strainer, chef’s knife, cutting board, saucepan, and a wooden spoon.

Have you tried fresh mozzarella? It’s a far cry from the dry balls wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. In Virtual Mozzarella Making you will learn to make fresh, silky mozzarella at home. You’ll learn to select the right curd, the proper water temperature, how much salt to use, and how to pull/fold your own delicious ball of mozzarella cheese. You’ll see first-hand how coagulation turns milk from fluid to firm curds and how mozzarella is made, and try your own hand at turning curds into beautiful balls of fresh mozzarella. 

For this class you’ll need: rennet, citric acid, organic whole milk, a burner or heat source for cooking, a sauce pot with a well-fitting lid, a colander or mesh strainer, a liquid thermometer, a large mixing bowl, a sauce pot or an electric kettle, a knife, a slotted spoon, rubber gloves, and ice. Alternatively, have all ingredients shipped to your recipients for an additional $55 per person.

If you don’t see the Italian class you’re looking for, Coursehorse can create a class just for you. 

It’s simple to book a private course with CourseHorse. Just estimate your group size; you can add or subtract people up until a week before the event. There are no booking fees, and you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your reservation. 

For a $150 fee, you can customize your course by adding a game, using specific questions or a themed game, or adding a second event with all materials included. The minimum group size for this two-hour course is ten people. CourseHorse recommends using the Zoom platform for your class, but they can accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx. Many courses can even come to your office or home space if you’d like.