We understand that many people are faced with busy schedules on weekdays, therefore Marco Polo offers you a range of weekday and weekend classes for adults to learn Italian the smart way.
 

Scroll down to the enrolment section and download an enrolment form to check all available courses, starting dates, times and fees for each term. The form is updated regularly to reflect changes. 

In addition, please contact our office on (02) 8786 0888 or email the Director of Learning on learning@cnansw.org.au for further services including CISL Preparatory Courses and Examinations, HSC Tutoring and Private Lesson Packages.

Self-evaluate your language skills!

You can find a self-assessment guide on the website of the Council of Europe. This guide will help you to assess your level of proficiency in the languages you know according to six reference levels defined within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

To assess your level of proficiency in the Italian language you can use the
Self-evaluate your language skills tool developed by the Council.

Teachers and Tutors

All the teachers and tutors working at Marco Polo are competent native speakers of Italian. They all possess relevant qualifications obtained either in Italy or in Australia and experience in teaching Italian to local and foreigners. Staff members teaching the HSC class are experienced educators accredited with NESA at a proficient level or working toward proficiency.

Paying Fees

Please note that the Paypal online payment system for fees is no longer available. Fees will need to be paid through Direct Debit to the school's bank account:

Name: Marco Polo Language School

NAB Bank BSB: 082-490
Account number: 41-190-7854

K-12 NSW Community Languages Schools Program

Marco Polo - The Italian School of Sydney is part of the NSW Community Languages Schools Program. The NSW Department of Education provides funding to eligible community languages schools, provided certain criteria is met and maintained, including:

1. Be open to school students from Kindergarten to Year 12, regardless of language background

2. Have students who attend for at least 70 per cent of lessons in Term 1

3. Hold classes outside school hours at least 35 weeks of the year

4. Provide a minimum of two hours per week face-to-face language teaching based on a sound educational program.

For more information, visit the Community Languages Schools Program website.

FAQ: NESA course eligibility criteria for Italian Beginners

In order to enter the Beginners course for the Stage 6 (Year 11 - HSC), a student must be determined eligible on the basis of the NESA course eligibility criteria.

Year 7-10 students enrolling at a community language school may be impacted in their eligibility to enter the Stage 6 Italian Beginners course where:

1. Students have more than little prior spoken or written knowledge or experience of Italian; or

2. Students have previously or are currently studying Italian at their day secondary school of enrolment (or the equivalent); and

3. The day secondary school language course in Italian (or the equivalent) satisfies the compulsory 100 hours in one school year in Stage 4 or 5 (Year 7-10);

Year 7-10 students who are enrolled at a community language school may withdraw from the school prior to the reaching of the maximum allowable number of hours at a secondary level (or equivalent) in order to satisfy the eligibility requirements of entry to the Stage 6 Italian Beginners course. Eligibility is determined at the time of entry to the Stage 6 course, at the end of Year 10.

From the entry point onwards, a student remains eligible for Beginners and may enrol at a community language school for additional hours of study.

Students who do not satisfy entry to the Beginners course may apply to enter the Continuers course. For more information and sample case studies visit NESA website.

Creative Kids voucher

Parents, guardians and carers are eligible for a voucher with a value of up to $100 per calendar year for each student aged 4.5 to 18 years old enrolled at Marco Polo - The Italian School of Sydney. The program allows eligible recipients to receive one voucher per eligible child each calendar year for 4 years, commencing 1 January 2019.

To apply go to the Service NSW website, call 13 77 88 or visit your local Service Centre.

The Manzoni Scholarship Program

The Manzoni Scholarship Program is established by the Marco Polo Language School to encourage and recognise students in their pursuit of excellence in Italian language learning.

The Manzoni Scholarship Program is intended to provide students K-12 with the financial support to further their education in learning Italian as well as reward achievement and effort. For more information, click here.

Integrated Italian Language Curriculum Program (ILCP)

CNA-Italian Australian Services and Welfare Service Inc. is working to establish a range of integrated Italian language curriculum programs within primary and secondary schools in Sydney's South West to further promote and contribute to excellence in language teaching and learning. ILCP projects are supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fund qualified educators and resources into schools.

Child-related Matters
 

Marco Polo Italian Language School has a strong interest in keeping children safe in the teaching and learning environment.  
 

Good child safe policies and practices are the best way to reduce potential environmental risks and keep kids safer in those environments. The child safe approach includes education and supervision of both paid and unpaid staff about appropriate and acceptable behaviours. 
 

Implementing effective child safe policies and practices is the best way for an organisation to protect the children they are involved with. As a child safe organisation, our school has developed a Child Safe Policy and a Child Safe Code of Conduct.