About the Program

Child-centered, hands-on bilingual learning designed for ages 6–13

What Makes BrightSteps Special

Quality & Experience

Hosted at Accademia delle Lingue in Castrovillari—a trusted local school established in 2014, with years of experience, a welcoming team, and a safe, fully equipped space.

Small Groups

Two classes: ages 6–9 and 10–13, with a maximum of 15 students per class for personalized attention.

Immersive Bilingual Learning

Italian and English are used naturally in everyday activities—not through translation, but through authentic communication.

Project-Based Approach

Children learn through meaningful, real-world themes and weekly interdisciplinary projects.

Central Base for Travel

Castrovillari sits at the southern edge of Pollino National Park, perfectly placed to explore Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, and Sicily.

Qualified Teachers

Led by bilingual teachers certified in language instruction, with native fluency and professional credentials.

Program Schedule

Monday–Thursday:9:00–12:30 (Classes & Projects)
Friday:Community breakfast mornings at a local bar and/or weekend trip planning
Afternoons and weekends:Free for family time or optional activities (countryside walks, games club, horse riding, rafting, climbing, get togethers and more), as well as weekend trips to explore Calabria or nearby regions.

Educational Goals

Cognitive Area

  • Develop critical and creative thinking
  • Promote independent learning and curiosity
  • Strengthen logical-mathematical skills

Linguistic Area

  • Enhance mastery of Italian (spoken & written)
  • Support natural English acquisition through immersion
  • Expand vocabulary in both languages

Social-Relational

  • Foster empathy and collaboration
  • Encourage active listening and negotiation
  • Build personal and collective responsibility

Digital & Creative

  • Use digital tools safely for learning
  • Stimulate artistic expression (art, music, theatre)
  • Design projects combining creativity & technology

Civic & Environmental

  • Cultivate respect for environment and diversity
  • Introduce active citizenship
  • Understand institutions and social rules

Emotional Education

  • Recognize and manage emotions
  • Build empathy through group activities
  • Create a safe, guided learning environment

Core Subjects

Italian

Storytelling, comprehension, creative writing, grammar, argumentation. Strengthen oral and written production in narrative, descriptive, and informative texts.

English

Active vocabulary, authentic communication, storytelling. Functional immersion—not translation. Develop listening, speaking, and creative writing skills.

Mathematics

Problem-solving, logic games, applied geometry, unplugged coding. Consolidate number sense, measurement, and statistics in concrete situations.

Multidisciplinary Labs

Art, music, science, history, citizenship, ecology, digital skills, physical education. Integrated learning through hands-on projects and real-world exploration.

Weekly Themes & Projects

Each week features a theme guiding interdisciplinary activities. Here are some examples of what your child will explore:

Food & Culture

Science, geography, traditions, sustainability, cooking, bilingual presentations. Excursion: Lavender Park.

From Farm to Table

Biology, ecology, food vocabulary, art (recipe illustration), maths (measurement, budgeting). Excursion: Dairy Farm.

Build a Rocket

Physics, history of space exploration, technology, travel writing, basic coding, technical English.

Build a City

Geometry, civic education, art, problem-solving, functional English.

The Story We Are

Local history, theatre, bilingual storytelling, concept maps. Excursion: Guided city tour.

Energy & Environment

Scientific experiments, environmental education, infographics, bilingual glossary. Excursions.

Economy for Kids

Trade, exchange, values, mini-school business creation. Excursion: Supermarket visit / interview with school director.

Journey Around the World

Geography, cultures, cooking, art, traditions, music, school system comparisons, bilingual storytelling. Excursion: Travel agency visit.

Ready to Learn More?

Explore practical details, accommodation, and how to join us for March–May 2026.