Call us: (416) 619-7521

Who we are

Accademia dei Ragazzi is one of the best Italian schools for children and youth in Ontario. We stand out for our language programs that reflect the curriculum taught in Italy, the adoption of the best teaching practices offered in the Ontario school system and the use of modern technology. Our students, 4 to 18 years old take our courses to improve their oral linguistic- communicative skills (listening and speaking), their reading and writing skills, as well to learn about the historical and artistic beauties of Italy. Our educational offer is spread across different locations, which may have different timetables and courses. Our locations are 918 Bathurst Arts Centre, Toronto Junction (20 Sousa Mendes St.), Woodbridge Library (150 Woodbridge Ave., Woodbridge), and Ansley Grove Library in Vaughan (350 Ansley Grove Rd).

We offer engaging Language Programs for children and youth (age 1-18). We have Saturday Programs, Semi-Private and Private Lessons, as well as a Family Package. Our courses are specifically designed for different age groups and language proficiency levels in Italian, from toddlers (age 1 to 3) to Gr. 12/13 students (age 17 to 18). In 2022, Accademia began a collaborative project with the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto (U. of T.) - which is now called Department of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies (ISPLAS). The partnership is structured so that some U. of T. students in their second- and third- years can choose to collaborate with Accademia through one of the following channels: Pedagogy Portfolio, Curriculum Portfolio, Communication and Social Media Portfolio, and Events Portfolio. Each collaboration channel has defined objectives and expectations, with the option of in-person or remote participation. This important partnership allows children and teens at Accademia to be supported by multiple educators and to learn new skills related to theater, music, literature, and Italian comics. One of the extracurricular events related to this project is the annual field trip to the ISPLAS campus.

Lastly, Accademia dei Ragazzi is pleased to present scholarships dedicated to children and youth every school year; scholarships go to students who have distinguished themselves in their Italian studies at Accademia, and in any school in the Greater Toronto Area.


See Our Courses

Italian-English Bilingualism
Accademia dei Ragazzi promotes Italian culture and language among children and youth living in Canada.
Italian Cultural Heritage
We promote appreciation of Italian art, history and culture.
Language Proficiency
We offer courses for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
Certification
L’Accademia dei Ragazzi prepares students for the C.I.L.S. certification (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera).

Winter Programs will run from Saturday, January 10 to Saturday, March 28, 2026. - unless specified otherwise in the course description.

LUCA MARCHETTI, FOUNDER

In 2012, at the request of many friends, I started teaching Italian classes to their children out of my home. There was a need in the community to offer Italian language instruction to the children of Italian background who were living in bilingual homes but because they live in Canada, had no easy access to formal Italian education. I was able to fulfil this need because of my Italian academic background and my formal training as an educator in Ontario. Over time, more and more children came and the project outgrew the informal environment in which it had been born.

SARA RIBOLDI, PRESIDENT

As one of the parents whose child was attending Luca's classes, I recognized that the classes were a great service not just to us and our group of friends, but to the Italian community in Toronto as a whole. The increasing burden of running the school was being borne solely by Luca and I thought that it would be a good idea to formalize the project as a not-for-profit organization. As parents and professionals of various backgrounds, we could pool our skills in order to continue the project and facilitate its growth.

What we aim to share with the community is not only the academic components of an Italian education but also the joy of the Italian lifestyle and the celebration of our culture.

MATTIA BELLO, Executive Director

As the new Executive Director of Accademia dei Ragazzi, my role is to make our school grow and help our teaching staff offer the best possible Italian courses in the GTA. I have worked in the Italian community for many years. It is my goal to increase student enrolment by offering our Italian courses to all students that have a passion for Italian language and culture, no matter their language proficiency. In addition, I will use my experience as a certified teacher in Ontario (OCT) to develop programs, share teaching practices and resources with our teaching staff.

GIULIA GUADAGNI, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

I am a PhD student at the University of Toronto. My research focuses on the learning and teaching of Italian as a second language. Born and raised in Milan, I have always been passionate about teaching. As the Director of Curriculum Development at Accademia dei Ragazzi, I work on developing the school's educational program, promoting a plurilingual and pluricultural teaching approach through an action-oriented methodology. My goal is to create a dynamic and engaging environment where children and teens can learn Italian in a fun and natural way.

Una lingua diversa è una diversa visione della vita.

Federico Fellini, Director

I limiti del mio linguaggio sono i limiti del mio mondo.

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosopher

Non si vive in un Paese, si vive in una lingua.

Emile Michel Cioran, Philosopher

La poesia non è una questione di sentimenti, è una questione di linguaggio. È il linguaggio che crea i sentimenti.

Our Mission

The Accademia dei Ragazzi seeks to promote Italian language and culture among the new generations now living in Ontario. Through support for a robust bilingualism, Accademia seeks to enhance children’s cognitive skills, strengthen their relation with their family and culture of origin and complement the education they receive in Canada. Accademia fosters the development of language skills among children and youth, via offering courses and activities focused on Italian culture at large. Language, history, geography, literature, theatre, art, cinema, architecture, music and gastronomy are the cultural ingredients the Accademia wants to share, in a productive dialogue with Canadian multiculturalism.


Register Now

Typical Course of Study We offer courses for students ages 1 to 18 with different proficiency levels in Italian.

Phase One: Conversations


Phase Two: Interactive Lectures


Phase Three: Expressive Writing


Phase Four: Cultural Discovery


Schedule and Registration