Solemar Academy

Solemar Academy is a well-known educational institution in Itali, located in Cefalu. This city is considered to be one of the most ancient on the island. It is also famous for its unique sights, which evoke a lively tourist interest.

Solemar Academy is not an ordinary language school in Itali. It is a complex that has everything you need for effective education, quality rest in one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Solemar Academy is the Certified University of Perugia Center for the Preparation and Examination of CELI and DILS.
The school is located just 100 meters from the sea coast.

• Founded in 1986,
• Average weekly enrollment: 25–30 students during high season and 10–15 during low season,
• Typical student ages: 25–45 during high season and 40–60 during low season,
• Family-run school.

Maria Rita Carnevale and Thomas Gruessner founded the school, holding the first classes in their home garden in Santa Flavia. Valerio joined in 2012 and took over as director in 2013. With his arrival, the name changed from Solemar Sicilia to Solemar Academy.

Most students come from Europe. The school reports growing numbers from Asia, Russia, Australia, and North America. Students usually stay for one or two weeks, though some remain longer. Solemar Academy's partners include European secondary schools and the University of Southern California.

Lessons explore local traditions, everyday life, and the culture of hospitality. Teachers use stories from residents of Cefalù and discuss Italian cinema, including films shot in the town.

The school is open year-round. In-person Italian group courses run from March through the end of November. Individual lessons and classes for pairs are available in December, January, and February.

Online lessons take place on Google Meet. Learning materials and exercises are available in Google Classroom, where students can complete assignments. Teachers regularly send materials for independent study. The days, times, and content of individual online courses are tailored to each student. From March through November, individual online lessons and classes for pairs take place on weekday afternoons. Scheduling is more flexible in winter.

Club 60+ lessons take place in the mornings, Monday through Friday, with leisure activities in the afternoons and a full-day excursion on the weekend. The school aims to form classes exclusively for Club 60+ participants and combines them with other students only in exceptional cases.

The school has internship agreements with Università di Palermo, Università di Siena, and Università Ca’Foscari di Venezia for students studying to teach Italian. Students on Erasmus Plus can complete their university's required professional internship at the school.

• The school has stopped using plastic,
• Waste is recycled, and sustainable materials are chosen whenever possible,
• In partnership with Treedom, the school helps plant a forest to offset its carbon emissions.

Solemar Academy helps students find accommodation in Cefalù. One of the options is Villa Caterina, where the apartments have fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The grounds include a garden and a small children's pool. Students can prepare their own meals in the apartment kitchens.

In the school's sample group programs, university students, adults, and groups aged 50+ stay in shared rooms at Villa Caterina or in a three-star hotel with a pool. School groups stay in double, triple, or quadruple rooms at a three-star hotel with a pool. Breakfast is included in the hotel accommodation described in these programs.

Accommodation is charged separately from the Club 60+ program.

Subject list: business, Hotel business, Italian literature, tourism
Activity list: culinary arts, Diving course, paragliding

Studying at the Solemar Academy is a new academic experience and almost unlimited opportunities for recreation, interesting pastime. In Sicily, where the institution is located, it is never boring. The island provides a lot of opportunities for leisure:

• Enthusiast of cognitive programs will find here traces of a variety of cultures, from Phoenician to Norman and Spanish, original architecture, unique collections of artifacts in local museums.
• Fans of Ecotours will be able to explore the volcanoes and parks of Sicily. They are waiting for entertainment on land and sea.
• Preferred Beach holiday island offers 2 options for pastime: calm and active. The latter includes water skiing and others.
• Enthusiasts of water sports await Boat trips and other entertainment.
• International students can share impressions from every walk, excursions with new acquaintances, improving the Italian in relaxed atmosphere and an informal environment.

The recommended time of arrival is a day off on the eve of the school week. On Monday, your first class will be held. You will arrive at school at 8:30 and your teacher will meet you with a light breakfast. After you pass the test for  assessing knowledge of the language and will be divided into a group under your level of knowledge and wishes. Also you will have a sightseeing tour of the city personally with the principal.

• Teachers adapt lessons to students' needs, focusing on communication and expressing ideas,
• The school has been a member of ASILS, an association of Italian language schools, since 2018,
• Solemar Academy holds accreditation from EDUITALIA and Regione Sicilia,
• The school is accredited to participate in Erasmus Plus, a European educational mobility program,
• Native speakers teach Italian to international students. Classes have no more than 10 participants,
• Staff speak fluent English. The team includes native speakers of English, German, Russian, and French.

The school has 5 classrooms. The reception area offers space to socialize and charge electronic devices. Filtered tap water is available at the school. In 2023, the air conditioning systems were upgraded with energy efficiency in mind.

Club 60+ has an annual registration fee of 50 euros. The program is sold as a single package, so opting out of individual activities does not reduce the price. The program may change if there are too few participants, and excursions may be rescheduled because of the weather. Participants are notified of changes.

According to the school's terms, a charge of 50 euros for the required revenue stamp is added to the CELI exam cost.

Optional services for group trips include transportation to and from Palermo airport, school insurance, round-the-clock assistance, and a video of the trip.

Extras:

• Transfer (one way)

Smapse specialists will guide you through every stage of enrollment.

Participants in the Bildungsurlaub educational leave program who complete 30 hours of instruction receive an official certificate of participation to present to their employer.

• Course selection requires information about the student's current Italian level and previous experience studying the language,
• Club 60+ welcomes students at all Italian proficiency levels,
• Online classes require a reliable internet connection and a webcam,
• One to Two online courses are intended for two students at the same Italian proficiency level.

DILS-PG is a certification for teachers of Italian as a foreign language.

Eligibility for DILS-PG I

Applicants need to meet one of the following requirements:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Italian language and culture or teaching Italian to non-native speakers,
• A bachelor's degree or higher in any subject, plus a university postgraduate qualification in teaching Italian,
• A bachelor's degree or higher and 200 hours of teaching experience,
• A high school diploma and at least 700 hours of teaching experience.

Eligibility for DILS-PG II

Applicants need to meet one of the following requirements:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Italian language and culture or teaching Italian to non-native speakers,
• A bachelor's degree or higher in any subject, plus a university postgraduate qualification in teaching Italian,
• A bachelor's degree or higher and 400 hours of teaching experience. For holders of DILS-PG I, 300 hours are sufficient,
• A high school diploma and at least 1500 hours of teaching experience.

A preparatory course is not required to take DILS-PG.

Students at partner institutions can receive scholarships for a one-week standard Italian course:

• A full scholarship covers the week's tuition,
• A partial scholarship covers 50% or 25% of the weekly course cost.

Applicants must be enrolled at a Solemar partner institution and provide proof that it has awarded them the scholarship. There is no general application deadline, but places are limited.

Organized groups of 6 or more participants may qualify for an additional discount.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision