The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul upcoming events

I PICCOLI - ITALIAN for Beginners Age 3-6 YS26 (14 Feb 2026)

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for a 60-minute in-person lesson designed for preschool and kindergarten children with little or no exposure to Italian. Our engaging sessions focus on vocabulary building and oral communication skills through interactive songs, stories, games, and imaginative play. Students will also learn about contemporary Italian culture around traditional holidays.

After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class. We will also provide links to the music, online games, and videos used, allowing families to reinforce the material at home throughout the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO classes on March 14 and April 4.

I MEDI - Beginner/Intermediate (Age 6 - 8) YS26 (14 Feb 2026)

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for a 60-minute in-person lesson designed for Elementary School children with little or no exposure to Italian. Students will build their confidence in speaking and listening by focusing on vocabulary and oral communication skills through interactive songs, dances, stories, games, and imaginative play. They will also explore simple reading and writing in Italian. The lessons will emphasize contemporary Italian culture, traditional holidays, and geography.

After each lesson, families will receive a summary of the topics and activities covered, suggestions, and links for optional exercises to practice at home during the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO classes on March 14 and April 4.

I GRANDI - Beginner/Intermediate (Age 9-11) YS26 (14 Feb 2026)

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This 60-minute in-person lesson is designed for Upper Elementary and Middle School students with little or no exposure to Italian.

The focus will be on building vocabulary, enhancing oral communication skills, reading, writing, pronunciation, spelling, as well as cultural competency.

Students will have a structured and progressive learning experience by engaging in dynamic activities while following an age-appropriate workbook. Our dynamic activities include role-plays, music, movement, and games, all conducted entirely in Italian. We also emphasize contemporary Italian culture, traditional holidays, and geography.

After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class. We will also provide suggestions and links for optional exercises to review and practice at home during the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO class on March 14 and April 4.

Beginning Italian Grammar and Conversation for T(W)EENS (Age 12+) "I TWEEN" YS26 (14 Feb 2026)

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Explore our engaging 60-minute, in-person, communicative Italian lesson for Middle and High School students with little or no exposure to Italian at home.

Students will build their speaking and listening comprehension confidence, improve their reading and writing skills in Italian, and explore grammatical concepts while expanding their cultural competency.

Students will have a structured and progressive learning experience by engaging in dynamic activities while following an age-appropriate materials. After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class, along with optional material to practice the material during the week.

Please use this link to purchase book Espresso Ragazzi 1, incl. e-book access code.

NOTE: NO classes on March 14 and April 4.

ONLINE ACCELERATED OPTION! Intermediate Italian Grammar and Conversation for T(W)EENS (Age 12+) YS26 (18 Feb 2026)

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:30:00 GMT

The INTERMEDIATE 'ACCELERATED' OPTION!

Take advantage of our engaging 45-minute ONLINE conversational Italian practice sessions for Middle and High School students with previous experience studying Italian but no necessary exposure to Italian at home. This class is considered ʼAcceleratedʼ not only because of student maturity and motivation, but because in addition to the in-person Saturday lessons at ICC it offers students a chance to practice their communication skills and reinforce previously presented material in smaller groups ONLINE mid-week for an additional 45 minutes.

This second mini-lesson each week ensures students engage effectively with the material on a regular basis, at regular intervals, and are better prepared for each Saturday, thus helping them reach their proficiency goals sooner. Students will build their confidence in comprehension and speaking skills, improve their automaticity in Italian, and apply grammatical concepts while focussing on proficiency in everyday conversational topics.

NEW! Italiano ESPRESSO per Genitori YS26IPG (28 Feb 2026)

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Italiano Espresso per Genitori is a 10-hr course for parents whose children are enrolled in ICC's Youth School classes. This course is designed to help parents who have previously studied a bit of Italian improve their familiarity with Italian grammar and speak with more confidence. Each session focuses on essential vocabulary, phrases, and grammar, and follows the same book as the ICC Adult School classes.

Session Dates/Times: Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

February 28
March 7, 21, 28 (NO ICC on March 14 for Spring Break)
April 11, 18, 25 (NO ICC on April 4 for Easter weekend)
May 2, 9, May 16

Space is limited, so register now to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to enrich your family’s multilingual experience! Enrollment is limited to parents whose children are currently enrolled in ICC's YS classes.

To order a copy of the Textbook and Workbook please search your favorite bookseller's website, but be sure to order the updated edition which includes online access to the e-book.

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16 maggio - Toddler Time: Italian immersion for our youngest learners! YS26TT (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Immerse your child in the beauty of the Italian language and culture through our interactive story-time sessions and delightful social activities!

The Italian Cultural Center Youth School warmly invites families—parents, grandparents, and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years—to join us for a series of 10 informal intergenerational gatherings on Saturday mornings at the ICC in the North Loop. Toddler Time is an interactive story-time combined with arts and crafts related to the story, and/or music (song and movement), and ends with some playtime so families can interact independently.

Session Dates: Saturdays from 9am - 9:45am (February 28 - May 16), with NO CLASSES on MARCH 14 and APRIL 4.

This series is FREE for all ICC Family Members, but Donations are TRULY APPRECIATED and help us continue to offer programs such as these.

Space is limited so REGISTER NOW, and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to spark your child’s curiosity, build community, and lay the foundation for multilingualism!

Toddler Time: Italian immersion for our youngest learners! YF26TT (05 Sep 2026)

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Immerse your child in the beauty of the Italian language and culture through our interactive story-time sessions and delightful social activities!

The Italian Cultural Center Youth School warmly invites families—parents, grandparents, and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years—to join us for a series of informal intergenerational gatherings on Saturday mornings at the ICC in the North Loop. Toddler Time is an interactive story-time combined with arts and crafts related to the story, and/or music (song and movement), and ends with some playtime so families can interact independently.

Session Dates: Saturdays from 9am - 9:45am (NO CLASSES on OCTOBER 17 and NOVEMBER 28).

This series is FREE for all ICC Youth School Family Members, but Donations are TRULY APPRECIATED and help us continue to offer programs such as these.

REGISTER NOW, and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to spark your child’s curiosity, build community, and lay the foundation for multilingualism!

ITALIAN for I PICCOLI Beginners (Age 3-6) YF26 (12 Sep 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Students will end each lesson with a safe-snack routine, still fully immersed in the Italian language as they wash their mani and enjoy their merenda.

After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class, allowing families to reinforce the material at home throughout the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO classes on October 17 (MEA) and November 28 (Thanksgiving).

I MEDI Beginner/Intermediate (Age 7-9) YF26 (12 Sep 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Students can end each lesson with a safe-snack routine, still immersed in the Italian language as they wash their mani and enjoy their merenda.

After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class, allowing families to reinforce the material at home throughout the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO classes on October 17 (MEA) and November 28 (Thanksgiving).

I GRANDI Beginner/Intermediate (Age 9-12) YF26 (12 Sep 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

This 60-minute in-person lesson is designed for Upper Elementary and Middle School students with little or no exposure to Italian.

The focus will be on building vocabulary, enhancing oral communication skills, reading, writing, pronunciation, spelling, as well as cultural competency.

After each lesson, families will receive an email summary of the topics and activities covered in class. We will also provide suggestions for exercises to review and practice at home during the week.

Activity Book included!

NOTE: NO class on October 17 (MEA) and November 28 (Thanksgiving).

I TEEN (Beginner/Intermediate) Italian Grammar and Conversation (Age 12+) YF26 (12 Sep 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Explore our engaging 60-minute, in-person, (with optional 45 min online) full-immersion lesson for High School students with little or no previous exposure to Italian.

OPTIONAL: This class offers students a chance to reinforce and expand upon the previewed materials by practicing conversational communication skills and review in small groups with the instructor ONLINE via GoogleMeet mid-week for 45 min. To participate in this conversation mini-class, simply add "Guest ticket" to your enrollment.

Link to purchase book: Espresso Ragazzi 1, incl. e-book access code.

NOTE: NO classes on October 17 (MEA) and November 28 (Thanksgiving).