Learn Italian

Italian Language Courses

Offered by Afrismo in partnership with qualified Italian-language instructors, Afrismo’s Italian language programme prepares students, working professionals, and prospective university applicants to communicate confidently in Italian and to meet the language requirements set by Italian academic and immigration authorities.

All courses are structured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from beginner level A1 through to mastery level C2. Classes are held online via Google Meet, with recorded sessions available for every live lesson.

Why Learn Italian?

Italian is the world’s fourth most studied language as a foreign language, a position it holds not by colonial legacy or sheer population, but by consistent global interest in Italy’s contributions to arts, design, architecture, music, and cinema. For Kenyan students and professionals, the case for learning Italian extends well beyond cultural appreciation.

Academic Access

The country hosts several of Europe’s highest-ranked institutions, an increasing number of which offer programmes taught in English. Italian language proficiency, B2 level minimum, as required by Italian authorities, broadens access to a wider range of courses and removes barriers to full participation in academic and campus life.

Economic and Professional Relevance

Italy ranks as the 8th-largest economy globally by nominal GDP, the 4th-largest in Europe, and the 2nd-largest manufacturing economy on the continent after Germany. It is the 4th-largest exporting nation in the world. Italian fluency is a professional asset in fashion, luxury goods, design, engineering, and manufacturing, industries where Italian brands such as Ferrari, Armani, Gucci, and Ducati set global standards.

Italy is also the 8th-largest bilateral donor among OECD Development Assistance Committee members, with Africa as its primary regional focus, receiving approximately 16% of Italy’s gross bilateral official development assistance. Kenyan professionals with Italian language skills are positioned to engage with this cooperation at a meaningful level.

The Italy–Kenya Partnership

Kenya and Italy formalised a bilateral Action Plan for the period 2026–2029, covering food security, climate resilience, the blue economy, and artificial intelligence. The plan also establishes legal pathways for Kenyan professionals and vocational graduates to access the Italian labour market, which is actively seeking workers from Kenya and Africa to address shortages in agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, and caregiving. Italian language proficiency is the prerequisite for those pathways.

Tourism

Italy receives over 60 million international visitors annually and ranks as the 5th most visited country in the world. It is Kenya’s second-largest European tourist source market, with over 90,000 Italian visitors to Kenya each year. Italian language skills benefit Kenyan tourism professionals working with this visitor segment directly.

A Foundation for Further Languages

Learning Italian significantly accelerates the acquisition of other Romance languages. Students who achieve proficiency in Italian have a demonstrated advantage when approaching Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Romanian, making it a strong foundational investment for those with multilingual ambitions.

Course Structure

All Afrismo Italian language courses are delivered online via Google Meet. Live sessions are recorded and made available to enrolled students, allowing participants to revisit any class they were unable to attend. Courses are taught by qualified human instructors, not language-learning applications, with the capacity to assess individual progress, address specific weaknesses, and tailor instruction to each student’s pace and goals.

New students without prior Italian are placed at A1. Students who have studied Italian previously sit a placement assessment to determine their current level and begin from the appropriate stage, avoiding unnecessary repetition.

Group classes open upon reaching a minimum enrolment of five students, with a maximum of fifteen per group. New students may join a group class within the first four lessons from commencement. After that point, entry is conditional on demonstrating equivalence with the class’s current level.

Language Levels: CEFR Framework

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the international standard for describing language proficiency. All Afrismo courses, assessments, and certifications are aligned to the CEFR.

Basic User

A1 — Beginner: Understands and uses basic everyday expressions. Can introduce oneself, answer simple questions, and interact at a foundational level when the other party speaks slowly and clearly.

A2 — Elementary: Understands sentences and commonly used expressions in areas of immediate relevance such as personal background, shopping, and local geography. Communicates in routine tasks and describes immediate needs.

Independent User

B1 — Intermediate: Understands the main points of clear, standard communication on familiar subjects in work, school, or leisure. Can manage most travel situations and produce simple connected text on familiar topics.

B2 — Upper-Intermediate: Understands the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics. Can interact with native speakers with sufficient fluency for regular communication without strain for either party. B2 is the minimum level required by Italian authorities to study and work in Italy.

Proficient User

C1 — Advanced: Understands a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognises implicit meaning. Expresses ideas fluently and flexibly for social, academic, and professional purposes.

C2 — Mastery: Understands with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different sources and express themselves spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely in complex situations.

Testing and Certification

Upon completing each level, students sit a CEFR-aligned language certification examination. Examinations are available online or in attendance at the Italian Cultural Institute in Nairobi, which is the only institution in Kenya authorised to administer CELI certifications issued by the University for Foreigners of Perugia, recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education. Students may also sit at other approved institutions in Italy.

Examinations consist of written and oral components. Students may sit level by level or proceed directly to the specific level of interest.

Afrismo university applicants requiring B2 for admission purposes are prepared in accordance with this standard.

Course Packages

Standard Package

Two 90-minute live sessions per week. Each level runs for 12 weeks, comprising 45 hours of instruction.

Level	Group Tuition Fee	Individual Tuition Fee	Test Fee (CELI)
A1	€165	€300	Ksh 9,800
A2	€165	€300	Ksh 9,800
B1	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
B2	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
C1	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
C2	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500

Intensive Package

Four 2-hour live sessions per week. Each level runs for 6 weeks, comprising 45 hours of instruction. Recommended for students with time-sensitive enrolment or visa deadlines.

Level	Group Tuition Fee	Individual Tuition Fee	Test Fee (CELI)
A1	€165	€300	Ksh 9,800
A2	€165	€300	Ksh 9,800
B1	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
B2	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
C1	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500
C2	€200	€335	Ksh 10,500

Promotional Packages

The following discounted packages apply to tuition fees only and do not include examination registration fees.

A1

Free of charge

For enrolled Afrismo university applicants

A1 + A2 combined

20% discount

€264 group / €480 individual

A1 through B2 combined

Full minimum work and study requirement for Italy (25% discount)

€847 group / €1,455 individual

Lump sum packages are available for payment in September 2026. Discounts do not apply to individual classes purchased separately.

Upcoming Intakes

Group classes commence on the following dates. Individual classes are available for enrolment throughout the year.

Enquire About Italian Classes

To register interest in a course, confirm your current language level, or discuss which package suits your timeline, submit an enquiry