Italian ~ Day and Evening Available ~ Keep Scrolling!

Reminder: Advanced registration and payment is required.

Classes are listed below. For Fall 2021, part 1 will be in person with a Zoom option. The rest of the classes will be on Zoom.


Click here to view several European History classes.


Italian 1: Beginners Part 1 ~ Evening
This course, for people new to Italian, focuses on practical conversation and basic language structure. It is a must for people traveling to Italy. Please obtain the text, Italian Made Simple by Cristina Mazzoni for class. Handouts emailed. Instructor Sylvana Serravezza is a native of Venice and teacher of Italian for many years at local universities and in Ridgefield Continuing Education. She is also a marketing representative for an Italian company.

8 Sessions (14 hours) $ 181 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 148)
Tue., 9/28; 10/5, 12, 19, 26; 11/9, 16, 23 from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.; VPES = Veterans Park School

Continuing course starts Jan/Feb, 2022.


Italian 2: Intermediate, Part 1 ~ Evening
A continuation of beginners, part 2 continued from summer 2021. Newcomers with some background of the language's basic structure are welcome. Whether for travel, business, or to extend your knowledge, the course will cover vocabulary and basic grammar of this beautiful language, plus culture, food, travel, and topics of interest. It is a must for people traveling to Italy. Please obtain the text, Italian Made Simple by Cristina Mazzoni for class. Other handouts emailed. Instructor Sylvana Serravezza is a native of Venice and teacher of Italian for many years at local universities and in Ridgefield Continuing Education. She is also a marketing representative for an Italian company.

8 Sessions (12 hours) $ 160 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 131)
Wed., 9/29; 10/6, 13, 20, 27; 11/3, 10, 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

Continuing course starts Jan/Feb, 2022.


Italian: Intermediate, Part 3 ~ Morning
Prerequisite: Italian 1, Beginners, Part 3 and comfortable with immersion in this beautiful language. This 8 week course is aimed at further developing the four basic skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing). Culture will be an integral part of the course. Contemporary usage, reading of novelle and independent weekly assignments to be presented and to be discussed by the class. Please obtain the text Advanced Italian Step-by-Step by Paola Nanni-Tate. Handouts provided. Instructor Sylvana Serravezza is a native of Venice and teacher of Italian for many years at local universities and in Ridgefield Continuing Education. She is also a marketing representative for an Italian company.

8 Sessions (12 hours) $ 160 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 131)
Thur., 9/30; 10/7, 14, 21, 28; 11/4, 18; 12/2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Zoom.

Continuing course starts Jan/Feb, 2022.


Italian: Advanced ~ Evening
Prerequisite: Italian: Intermediate and comfortable with immersion in this beautiful language. This 10 week course is aimed at further developing the four basic skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing). Culture will be an integral part of the course. Contemporary usage, reading of novelle and independent weekly assignments to be presented and to be discussed by the class. Handouts provided. Instructor Sylvana Serravezza is a native of Venice and teacher of Italian for many years at local universities and in Ridgefield Continuing Education. She is also a marketing representative for an Italian company.

Classes remaining in current session are August 2, 9, 16, 23

10 Sessions (15 hours) $ 186 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 153)
Mon., 9/27; 10/4, 18, 25; 11/1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 12/6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Continuing course starts Jan/Feb, 2022.


European History


The Creation of Italy
A visitor to Italy today travels freely about to explore the prized cities of Florence, Naples, Rome, and Venice. But it was not always so easy: Italy is a relatively new country, and the fabled cities may indeed be regarded as prizes, because they did not all join Italy willingly! It took a combination of the wily statesman Camillo Cavour, the political activism of the secret revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini, and the romantic nationalism of Giuseppe Garibaldi –none of whom wanted to work together - to draw disparate “Italians”together. And even that wasn’t quite enough. Napoleon III and Bismarck had something to add. This presentation will look at the remarkable personalities and events that led to the emergence of a unified Italy in 1871. Instructor Nancy Maxwell's bio is below.

3 Sessions $ 56 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 46)
Tue., 9/28; 10/5, 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Travel in Italy


How to Travel Better
Elaine Esposito will discuss travel issues such as packing tips; obtaining and renewing passports; TSA and Global Entry; trip insurance, and staying safe. Italy will be featured as a destination. Instructor Elaine Esposito began her travel career with Alitalia Airlines and discovered a love for international travel. She is now a leisure travel advisor for a large NYC travel agency.

1 Session $ 29 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 24)
Thur., 10/21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Annex (Zoom backup)


Why Learn a Foreign Language? in Person? or Online with active Instruction and Participation?

Step away from a rote computer program and into live, active learning of a foreign language.

Absorb news as heard in another country.

Visit another country to see the sites, converse, eat, and enjoy the culture.

Use original genealogical sources.


Click here to view several European History classes.