Parla Italiano, Vivi il Mondo!

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney is a not-for-profit community language school offering a range of courses and educational programs in Italian Language and Culture targeted to a diversity of learners. The school operates in accordance with the overarching principles of Adult and Community Education and model our policies in line with the standards set by the NSW Department of Education and Communities.

Navigate this page

Language and Culture Courses

Whether you want to learn about all things Italian, are studying to sit a language exam or are on a last-minute cram before your life-time trip to Italy, we are delighted to offer you a fulfilling learning experience with rich, challenging and quality lessons, together with many fellow like-minded students.

Teachers and tutors working at Marco Polo are competent speakers of Italian. They all possess relevant qualifications obtained either in Italy or in Australia and experience in teaching Italian to locals and foreigners. Staff members teaching the HSC class are experienced educators accredited with NESA.

Marco Polo is part of the Community Languages Schools Program of the NSW Government and delivers classes for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 as well as adult classes for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced learners.

Language Certification is available to all students aged 8 years and above through the CILS Examination offered in partnership with the University of Foreigners in Siena. The CILS exam at levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 can be sat at the school at any stage of language learning, in accordance with the published examination timetable.

In 2026, the school will also offer the following special-interest courses (subject to enrolment numbers):

  1. A special Kindergarten Only School-aged class on Saturdays
  2. Cultural Immersion Course covering special interest topics
  3. HSC Preparation Class for Students in Years 11-12
  4. HSC Italian Beginners (ATAR Course)
  5. CILS Examination Preparation Courses

Students preparing for the CILS exam can also purchase tutoring packages to prepare for examinations. Please contact our office via email learning@cnansw.org.au or call us on (02) 8786 0888 for further information.

In 2026, the following classes will be delivered at: Centro Italia, 1 Coolatai Crescent, Bossley Park NSW 2176

Now Enrolling for 2026 – Courses

School holidays are observed in line with NSW school terms.
All classes run over two semesters, comprising two terms per semester. Fees shown are for one semester only.

CHILDREN/SCHOOL-AGEDADULTS
Kindergarten
$550 | Sat 9.30am-11.30am
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec
Year 1 -Year 3
$550 | Tue 4.30pm-6.30pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec		Beginner
$550 | Mon 7.00pm-9.00pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec
Year 4-Year 6
$550 | Tue 4.30pm-6.30pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec 		Pre-Intermediate
$550 | Tue 7.00pm-9.00pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec
Year 7-Year 10
$550 | Wed 4.30pm-6.30pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec
Intermediate
$550 | Wed 7.00pm-9.00pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec
HSC Support – Year 11-12 (Non-ATAR)
$550 | Sat 8.30am-11.45am
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec 		Advanced
$550 |Mon 7.00pm-9.00pm
Sem 1: 09 Feb to 3 Jul
Sem 2: 27 Jul to 5 Dec

*All classes require a minimum of 6 students enrolled in order to run.

Not sure which course is best for you?

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 or tests such as this one: external website (indicative only – not endorsed by Marco Polo).

NSW Community Languages Schools Program

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney takes part in the NSW Community Languages Schools Program. The NSW Department of Education provides funding to eligible K-12 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.

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 by NESA 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.

HSC Italian Beginners – External Provider

As an external provider, Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney is committed to quality teaching and learning of Italian to assist students enrolled in weekday schools in Sydney’s West and South West to enrol in the Stage 6 Italian Beginners course for their Higher School Certificate (HSC).

More information about enrolling in the Stage 6 Italian Beginners can be found here.

Enrolment

To begin your journey as a lover of Italian in 2026, complete an Enrolment Form. Answer every question on the form an email back your proof of payment back to the school at learning@cnansw.org.au.

Marco Polo accepts enrolments at any time during the year. We strongly recommend that you finalise your enrolment as soon as possible, as some courses fill up very quickly.

Marco Polo reserves the right to cancel or rearrange classes. A full refund will be given only if a course is cancelled due to insufficient enrolments and no reasonable alternatives or arrangements can be offered. Once a course has begun, fees cannot be refunded or transferred.

Fees are fixed at the beginning of every year. The 2026 standard fee payable per semester for standard courses is $550. Students enrolling after the commencement will be paying an enrolment fee calculated on a pro-rata basis. The school is not responsible for any changes in your personal circumstances.

Subsidised Places K-12

In 2026, the school is making available 12 subsidised places ($550 for the entire year) for each of the following courses:

  1. Kindergarten – Year 3
  2. Year 4 – Year 6
  3. Year 7 – Year 10
  4. Year 11- Year 12 Support (Non-ATAR)
Standard K-12 and Adult Courses:
Semester 1 Only (February-July) – $550
Semester 2 Only (July-December) – $550
Full Year (February-December) – $1,100
Pro-rata (please contact the school at learning@cnansw.org.au)
HSC Italian Beginners – External Provider Course
Preliminary Course & HSC Course – $880 per year

Paying Fees

All fees are paid through Direct Debit directly to the school’s bank account:

Name: Marco Polo Language School
NAB Bank BSB: 082-356
Account number: 41-190-7854

Locations

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney currently operates from two locations:

  • Centro Italia – 1 Coolatai Crescent, Bossley Park, NSW 2176
  • Greenway Park Community Centre – Greenway Drive, Greenway Park NSW 2171

Note: No classes are held at Greenway Park in 2026.

Textbooks and Workbooks

The school has adopted a new series of Italian language textbooks starting in 2026 for adult courses. This updated curriculum will enhance the learning experience for students at all proficiency levels.

The New Italian Project:

  • Beginner: New Italian Project 1a/A1 Beginners Text & Workbook (English ed 2020 , first reprint) (9788899358846)
  • Pre-Intermediate: New Italian Project 1b/A2 Beginner’s Student’s Book and Workbook (9788899358921)
  • Intermediate: New Italian Project 2a/B1 Student’s Book and Workbook (9788831496827)
  • Advanced: New Italian Project 2b/B2 Student’s Book and Workbook (9788831496902)

Textbooks can be purchased here.

For K-10 classes, students will be provided free-of-charge with a textbook by the school on their first lesson in 2026. The textbook remains school property and would need to be returned should a student withdraw from the course.

Suggested Essential Equipment

What to bring for your language classes:

  • A4 Notebook & Pens/Pencils, consider colour-coding to assist with memorisation.
  • Textbooks & Handouts, including any specific materials provided by the school.
  • Dictionary (Physical), a bilingual dictionary can be helpful.
  • Folder or Binder to organise any worksheets provided.
  • Water Bottle & Snacks to stay refreshed and to consume during short breaks.

Curriculum

We provide a range of study options to support learning diversity across ages, prior knowledge and skill outcomes.

Scholarships and Awards

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney offers scholarships and awards to support the teaching and learning of Italian both within the school’s own range of courses and to recognise excellence in NSW Schools.

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney 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 available from our policies page.

Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney supports the Principles for Child-Safe Organisations developed by the NSW Children’s Guardian.

Parental Engagement

Parents and the broader community play an integral role in fostering academic success and help build cohesive learning environments. Marco Polo – The Italian School of Sydney adheres by The School Community Charter to better engage parents and members of the community in the life of the school.