Green.Glasses.EU - Penna in Teverina
Parla Verde: The Living Language Lab in Umbria
Parla Verde is an innovative way to learn a language. Set on the ViA Verde Eco Farm in the heart of Umbria, it offers authentic opportunities to speak Italian while cooking together, harvesting vegetables, walking through the countryside, visiting local markets, and meeting people from the surrounding community. Working in a small learning group, you will build confidence and develop the courage to communicate in Italian—without the pressure of being perfect. Immerse yourself in a genuine Italian language experience in the charming village of Penna in Teverina, between Florence and Rome. On the farm, words and expressions become connected with smells, movement, emotions, and real encounters—among olive trees, lavender fields, hammocks, and everyday Italian life. Creative activities combine language learning with permaculture, biodiversity, sustainable living, and the spirit of the Italian dolce vita.
10 days · 60 hours of tuition. Intensive, yet relaxed.
- Dates: Session 1: 3 rd October – 11th October 2026 - Session 2: 3 rd March - 11 th April 2027
- Costs: €980 per person (shared double room) - €1,075 per person (single room)
- Food: Preparing meals together—in Italian!—is an integral part of the programme.
- Level of Italian: Knowledge of Italien not required. A placement test helps to adapt learning-challenges and activities to to different language levels.
- Participants: Maximum 10
- Included: Accommodation, guided programme, Italian language tuition. Learning takes place for six hours each day—on the farm, outdoors, and in our villa.
- Not included: Meals and travel expenses. Travel: Individual arrival by train to Orte via Roma Tiburtina.
Learning Language Through Life and in Nature.
Each day begins with two hours of structured Italian lessons with a language teacher, focusing on practical communication and vocabulary related to food, farming and sustainability. This learning continues directly on the farm and in village-life with various activities - four hours a day: While harvesting olives, cooking regional dishes or visiting the village bar, participants practice the language they have just learned. Short “word harvest” moments at the end of activities help collect new expressions and reflect on real conversations.
Green Living: Learning Slower, Learning Deeper
Parla Verde offers a learning rhythm that contrasts with the fast and digital pace of everyday life: Morning language lessons are followed by workshops and hands-on activities on the farm. Learning happens while walking through the landscape, cooking together or observing ecological systems. Research on nature-based learning and “green exercise” shows that natural environments and informal learning-opportunities improve concentration and motivation. Daily reflection circles and storytelling moments help participants connect language learning with their experiences.
From Climate Fatigue to Climate Agency
Many people feel overwhelmed by climate debates. Parla Verde offers another perspective. Instead of focusing on the ecological footprint, the programme highlights the handprint - the positive impact individuals can create through everyday actions. Workshops on the farm explore topics such as biodiversity, soil health and water management, linking local practices with global climate challenges.
Participants return home with new language skills, practical ideas and stories they can share in their own communities.
A living laboratory for language and sustainability
The permaculture farm becomes a living laboratory for experiential and intense learning. Participants learn the language and apply it while they explore regenerative farming, biodiversity and climate resilience through workshops and simple field activities guided by the farm team. Encounters with local residents and changemakers create authentic opportunities for conversation and cultural exchange. Cooking together, exploring the landscape and sharing daily experiences make language learning social, practical and connected to real life.
