Founding Story And Commitment To Real Conversation

Lingua Nova started because our founder sat through two separate Italian courses that promised fluency and delivered a stack of photocopied grammar sheets instead. Neither course ever asked what she actually wanted Italian for, and neither tutor changed pace when it clearly wasn't working.

So the courses here are built the other way round. Every tutor is native and is checked on how they teach, not just how they speak, and every lesson plan is reviewed by our head of curriculum before it reaches a student. Pricing is agreed and fixed before your first lesson, not adjusted term to term once you're already committed.

Day to day, that means one named tutor working with you from your first lesson to your last, a schedule that starts on time whether it's in your kitchen or over a video call, and a plan that gets reworked if it isn't landing, all without the sales pitch that got you into a course you didn't need in the first place.

Real Conversation First

Lessons are built around speaking from the very first session, with grammar explained as it comes up rather than taught in isolation. If a lesson hasn't produced actual spoken Italian, it hasn't done its job.

Honest Progress Tracking

You get a plain update on where you actually stand after each module, not a generic certificate of attendance. If progress has stalled, we say so and change the plan.

Direct Access To Your Tutor

You can message your own tutor between lessons instead of going through a general inbox. Questions get answered by the person who actually knows how you're doing.

I read every new tutor's first three lesson plans myself before they teach a single paying student.

Claire WhitfieldHead Of Curriculum And Tutor Quality

How we teach and why it works this way

Fixed Quote First

You get one clear price for the whole course before a single lesson is booked.

One Named Tutor

The same tutor works with you from your first lesson to your last, tracking your own progress.

Punctual By Default

Lessons start at the agreed time, online or at your address, without waiting around.

Insured Tutoring

Every lesson, in-person or online, is covered under our public liability insurance.

Progress Adjustment Guarantee

If a module isn't clicking, we rework the plan with you at no extra charge.

Direct Tutor Access

Message your tutor directly between lessons instead of going through a call centre.