Online Italian Lessons & Exam preparation
Hands down the best teacher I've ever had. Teachers like Emanuele are few and far between." — Manwel · Student for 2 years
"Fantastic progress from beginner to A2/B1. Well structured, enjoyable — I can't recommend him enough." — Sam Wainwright · London, Jan 2026
"His lessons paid off and I am extremely grateful. Sono quasi italiana!" — Julie, London · Italian Citizenship Exam
"Out of 30+ foreign language teachers, Emanuele has been by far the best. In 9 months my Italian improved from A2 to B1/B2." — Kathy R., San Francisco
Choose your programme
Master the beauty of the Italian language — your level, your pace, your goal. Whether you’re a complete beginner, preparing for an official PLIDA certification, or working towards Italian citizenship, Piva School has you covered.
Our online Italian lessons cover General Italian, Exam Preparation, and dedicated B1 Citizenship exam preparation — so whatever your goal, there’s a path for you.
£40 per lesson · 50 minutes · All levels · No books or materials needed — everything is provided· First lesson is free.
Why learn with me
Degree in Italian Literature & Teaching
Formally trained to teach Italian at every level — with a structured, academic methodology built over nearly 20 years of experience.
Official PLIDA Examiner
As an examiner myself, I know exactly what others look for in the exam — because I sit on the other side of the table.
100% Exam Pass Rate
15 students entered. 15 passed. Targeted, exam-focused preparation that genuinely works.
300+ Students · 24 Countries
From the UK to the US, Europe to Australia — students from every continent trust Piva School to master their Italian.
Learning a language is personal. That’s why I don’t just teach Italian — I listen, I adapt, and I make sure every lesson feels like it was made for you. Because it was.
– Emanuele Piva –
Your path to Italian citizenship starts here
The language exam is the first step. I'll make sure you're ready.
Your Italian citizenship is closer than you think.
The first step is passing a recognised B1 language exam — CILS, PLIDA, or CELI. With up to 5 exam sessions a year, there’s no shortage of opportunities. What matters is being ready when your moment comes.
All 15 of my students who sat the citizenship exam passed. Every single one.
Most of them started exactly where you are now — with little or no Italian. No shortcuts, no prior experience. Instead, just a structured plan, consistent lessons, and the right guidance. You don’t need a natural gift for languages. What you need is a teacher who knows the exam inside and out.
That’s where I’m different.
As an official PLIDA examiner, sitting on the other side of the table is something I do myself. That is why the way examiners think, what they look for, and exactly where candidates lose marks — all of that knowledge is built into every lesson. As a result, my students don’t just prepare for the exam. They walk in knowing what to expect — and come out with the certificate they need.
The Right Exam. The Right Date.
Many students are surprised by how much preparation the exam actually requires. Together we assess your level, choose the right session, and make sure you’re genuinely ready before you sit it.
Targeted Preparation
Built around your exam, not a generic syllabus
Every lesson we do together has one goal: getting you through that exam. No irrelevant content, no guesswork. Just focused, structured preparation from someone who knows how the assessment works from the inside.
Ready in Around 18 Months
From beginner to exam-ready in approximately one and a half years — with consistent weekly lessons tailored entirely to you.
All Four Skills. No Gaps.
Reading, writing, listening, and speaking — every recognised Italian language exam tests all four areas. Throughout your learning journey, we make sure every skill is covered so when exam day comes, nothing takes you by surprise.
Common Questions
Simply visit the booking page on this site — the calendar is always up to date. Pick a time that suits you and you’re all set.
We use the trial to get to know each other. In particular, we discuss your current level, your goals, and your ambitions — so I can build a programme that’s right for you from day one.
Yes, the exam is booked directly by you through the official exam body. However, I’ll guide you on which exam to choose, when to sit it, and how to register.
Results vary by exam body. For example, CILS results arrive within 40–45 days, PLIDA within 60 days, and CELI within 90 days from your exam date.
No. All learning materials are prepared and provided by me — tailored to your level and goals. Just show up and learn.
Yes, especially in the early stages. For example, I use English to clarify grammar and explain concepts, making sure nothing gets lost. Then, as your Italian improves, we gradually shift to Italian only.only.
Still thinking about it? The best way to find out if we're a good fit is to try. Your first lesson is completely free.
Submit your review | |
I have been learning with Emanuele and would highly recommend him. I have been learning for around 15 months from beginner level and have made fantastic progress through to a A2/B1 level.
Emanuele's lessons are well structured and enjoyable focused on your own life and interest, he is also really understanding of learning around work/family life etc.
Looking forward to achieving great things with Emanuele in 2026!
I am fully satisfied with the lessons taught by Emanuele. He is a very skilled teacher, and his classes are dynamic and efficient.
Emanuele is a kind and structured teacher who makes learning Italian feel easy and enjoyable. His lessons are always clear, well-organized, and full of positive energy. He creates a relaxed atmosphere where you feel comfortable making mistakes and improving step by step. I always looked forward to our sessions, and I’d honestly recommend him to anyone who wants to learn Italian in a fun and effective way
Emanuele is a fantastic teacher. He really brings the Italian lessons to live, not only explaining the grammar but also teaching about the cuture of Italy. I always have a lot of fun on my lessons and really improved my language skills.
Emanuele picks me up where I am stand and is always prepared.
Emanuele helped me achieve a much higher level of Italian in a very short time. His lessons were structured, clear, and perfectly adapted to my learning needs. He made complex topics easy to understand and always kept me motivated. If you're serious about learning Italian, Emanuele is the teacher you need!
I have been taking lessons with Emanuele Piva for two years, and hands down he has been the best teacher I’ve ever had. His lessons are very well structured, he’s got a systematic approach and balances the lessons in a way so that they are both productive and fun/interesting at the same time. One thing I’ve learned in my foreign language acquisition journey; when you finally find a good teacher, hang on to them. Teachers like Emanuele are few and far between.
To get my Italian to a passable B1, I looked for someone who could 'teach to the test' i.e. someone who knew CILS and could help me study the pratical content I needed to succeed on the exam in order to apply for Italian citizenship.
I tried a few other teachers and they just couldn't focus their lessons on the target skills for B1. When I met Emanuele, he quickly made clear he knew the CILS well and could provide me the instruction needed to bring my spoken Italian to the correct level.
His lessons paid off and I am extremely grateful! Grazie a te, Manu, sono (quasi) italiana!
I have been studying Italian on a off for many years. While I am motivated to study and learn the language, often times I have dropped lessons after some time cause I plateau and teachers don't usually have a systematic methodology or an entertaining approach to motivate the student.
Then I found Emanuele, who is the best language teacher I ever had: Emanuele has a wealth of teaching experience and he creates content which is enjoyable while helping me to bring my Italian to the next level. He strikes the right balance between conversation, grammar, and reading and lessons never fail to teach me something new. The content is tailored to my needs and focuses on the areas where I need most improvements, so I can progress rapidly and steadily.
After I few months with him my Italian is progressing faster than ever, and while I am far from proficient I know that Emanuele will push me to the next level. The value for price is amazing and anyone thinking of studying Italian, no matter the level, should give Emanuele teaching a try.
Mir macht es großen Spaß, mit Emanuele meine Iralienischkenntnisse zu verbessern. Ich war während der Pandemie anfangs skeptisch gegenüber Sprachkursen in Online-Formaten, aber kann jetzt sagen, dass es wunderbar funktioniert! Ich habe durch Emanuele sehr viel lernen und meine Sprachkenntnisse verbessern können. Er ist super zuverlässig, hat immer anspruchsvolle Texte/Materialen vorbereitet und legt viel Wert auf Konversation und Aussprache. Daher: uneingeschränkt zu empfehlen 🙂
Emmanuelle is not only patient and organized but very down to earth. He knows what works best for the student and will tailor his lessons to the students' needs.
