Preparatory course for the CILS exam

This course is specifically for the preparation for the CILS (Certificate in Italian as a second language) exam from the University for foreigners of Siena.

During the individual lessons, by means of exercises and practice tests, students become more familiar with the particular methods needed for the CILS exam. It also an opportunity for students to concentrate on the areas in which they have most difficulty.

Course"MC"- 25 lessons a week (20 group hours and 5 individual hours a week) 5 lessons a day. Hours: group lessons 09.00- 13.00 (Pisa) / 09.00- 12.15 (Viareggio) Individual lessons 14.00-15.00

Course"SC" - 30 lessons a week (20 group hours + 10 individual hours a week) 6 lessons a day Times group lessons 09.00- 13.00 (Pisa) / 09.00-12.15 (Viareggio) Individual lessons 14.00-16.00
The Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo is a center recognized by the Universit per Stranieri di Siena and offers preparation courses for the CILS exam.

CILS Exam

The Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo is a center recognized by the Universit per Stranieri di Siena and offers preparation courses for the CILS exam. This course consists of group lessons in the morning, in which the guidelines of the CILS exam and of the Common European Framework for Languages are strictly followed. In the afternoon students have individual lessons, where the student will have an opportunity to practice exams from previous years. Moreover the student will work together with a teacher on the areas where they have most difficulty which are often highlighted when going through the exams. Therefore it is advisable to contact the school before enrolling for the exam

CILS - Certificate of Italian as a second language

CILS is an official title recognized by the Italian state on the basis of an agreement with the foreign ministry and shows a students ability in the Italian language. The certificate CILS is useful for those who want to do further study in Italy or have professional contact with Italy and who would like to measure their own language skills. The different levels of the certificate prove a certain ability to communicate in Italian in different situations and contexts. More detailed information can be found in the document "Sistema coordinato delle Certificazioni dell'italiano per Stranieri, Roma, 1998".

The "CILS" centre of the University for Foreigners in Siena

The certificate has been drawn up and carried out at the CILS centre, a centre for research and service of the University for Foreigners in Siena. All staff of the office are highly qualified for both the theoretical and practical uses of the language as well as for teaching. The office maintains is in continuous contact with other universities and associations like ILTA, (International Language Testing Association); EALTA, (European Language Testing Association) and native and foreign professors who are highly qualified in the field of linguistics and communication. So it can be guaranteed that the test is always at the highest level.

The different levels of the CILS certificate
The different levels of the CILS certificate have been determined on the basis of the Common European Framework for Languages. The different levels determine certain linguistic and communicative skills. The certificate of each level confirms the ability to communicate appropriately in a specific social and professional environment. The following are the different levels established by the Common European Framework for Languages and the corresponding level of the CILS certificate:

Level established by the Common European Framework for Languages		Level of the certificate CILS
Basic	A1 A2	CILS A1 CILS A2
Medium	B1 B2	CILS UNO- B1 CILS DUE- B2
Advanced	C1 C2	CILS TRE- C1 CILS QUATTRO- C2

Level A1 and A2

Level A1 and A2 Levels A1 & A2 are for those, who are at the initial stages of learning the Italian language. Level A1 testifies the initial process of learning the language. Level A2 testifies an initial, but still not autonomous ability to communicate. Exams A1 and A2 have a modular structure which is suited to the different starting points of the pupils. There are tests for foreign adults, who live in Italy, for adults whose mother tongue is completely different from the structure of Italian language like Japanese, Chinese etc., and for children and teenagers of Italians who have emigrated.

Level UNO- B1

Level UNO- B1 determines basic skills. This level testifies the ability to communicate appropriately and autonomously during the most frequent situations in everyday life.

Level DUE- B2

Level DUE- B2 is the medium level of the linguistic and communicative ability. This level testifies a higher ability of the fundamental use of the language and allows the student to continue to improve communication in everyday life. Students who have obtained this certificate can communicate effectively during their stay in Italy. With this certificate students who do not form part of the European Union can directly enrol in an Italian University without having to do a language test.

Level TRE- C1

Level TRE- C1 testifies a higher linguistic and communicative ability. This level enables the extension of linguistic and communicative abilities, which allows the student to communicate not only in everyday life but also to speak correctly in formal and professional situations.

Livello QUATTRO- C2

Level QUATTRO- C2 Level QUATTRO- C2 is the advanced level of linguistic and communicative skills. This level is an extension of previously acquired linguistic and communicative skills, which allows the student to communicate perfectly both in personal and professional situations. This level is required for professors at Universities and interpreters at consulates.

Enrolment

All foreigners and all Italians who live abroad can enrol for the CILS exam. There is no age limit or any other conditions. For the higher levels it is not required to have already passed an exam of a lower level.

Exam and valuation

In order to obtain a certificate of one of the six levels it is necessary to pass the exam. The exam consists of five individual tests. The duration of the tests depends on the corresponding level of the exam. The five individual tests are as follows: Listening to a text (one listens to a text on a cassette and than has to answer questions on the text in written form), grammar test, understanding of a text (one has to read a text and has to answer questions on the text in written form), written and stylistic skills (there will be a choice of about 3 topics; you will have to choose one topic and write about it), and communicative skills (there will be a choice of about 3 topics; you will have to choose one topic and speak about it).

In order to obtain the CILS certificate a student has get at least 11 out of the 20 possible marks for each section. Should the student obtain the necessary marks in only some of the five sections, it is not necessary to repeat the whole exam, only the part of the exam that the student did not pass. The section, which a student does not pass have to be repeated within one year.

How can you enrol for the exam?

The exam takes either place at the University of Siena or at another institution which has a corresponding agreement with the University of Siena. The enrolment form and a copy of your identity card has to be sent to the University of Siena (Via Pantaneto, 45 - 53100 Siena) 40 days before the date of the exam.

A fee has to be paid at the place where you will take the exam

The candidates, who have already taken the exam and have only passed parts of the exam, only have to pay the corresponding amount of the fee. The fee will not be refunded. In specifically documented cases like health reasons, grave family reasons), the examination fee can be transferred to the following date of the exam.

Dates of the exam

The CILS exam takes place twice a year at the same time throughout the world at the beginning of June and at the beginning of December.

For futher informations please contact::

Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo Via Cesare Battisti 3- 56100 PISA Tel. +39 050 500399 Fax +39 050 48157
Sito: http://www.ilm.it
E-mail: info@ilm.it

or:

Universit per Stranieri di Siena Centro Certificazione CILS Via Sallustio Bandini 35 - 53100 SIENA Tel +39 0577240467 Fax +39 0577240461
Sito http://www.unistrasi.it/pages/1.asp?cod=2681
e-mail: cils@unistrasi.it