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The University Language Centre – CLA Insubria promotes the development of language skills within the academic community and the wider local area, supporting the teaching and learning of foreign languages and Italian as a foreign language. 

The CLA provides language training for technical, administrative and library staff, as well as academic staff, by organising language refresher courses.

The Centre supports students involved in international mobility programmes and certifies language proficiency levels in accordance with the CEFR, also through the awarding of University Open Badges.

The CLA is also committed to offering language courses and tests for obtaining language requirements, entry requirements for degree programmes and language certifications, as well as managing their organisational aspects in collaboration with external certifying bodies. 

In collaboration with University departments and external organisations, the CLA promotes training activities aimed at developing linguistic and transferable skills to support academic pathways and employability.

Finally, it encourages participation in national and international projects and promotes research and dissemination in the fields of linguistics and language teaching.

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CLA Insubria Language Tests

The CLA Insubria provides simple and accessible tools to assess and improve your level of language proficiency:

  1. PLACEMENT TEST: a quick and free test to determine your initial language level, available for English, French, Spanish and Italian for foreigners.  
    To book a Placement Test: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/h8EFCsGVDA 
     
  2. MOCK TEST: a simulation of official English language certifications (IELTS, FIRST, ADVANCED and others), useful for effective practice and becoming familiar with exam formats.  
    To book a Mock Test, click here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/DtxvpYmV8p
CLA members

The University Language Centre – CLA Insubria is a Special University Centre, established on 1 January 2026. 

The CLA Insubria governing bodies are: 

  • the Scientific Director
  • the Deputy Director
  • the Scientific Committee

These bodies are supported by the Technical and Administrative Manager of the Centre.

The CLA Insubria provides support services for teaching and research at the University in the field of foreign languages and Italian as a foreign language.

DIRECTOR – Alessandra Vicentini 
Academic field: English Language, Translation and Linguistics – ANGL-01/C

Research Interests:

  • English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
  • Critical discourse and genre analysis
  • Intercultural communication with technological applications
  • Historical linguistics

Commitment to the CLA: “Providing high-quality language education at university level and becoming a point of reference for the local area, promoting the development of language skills for multilingual contexts”

DEPUTY DIRECTOR – Daniel Russo 
Academic field: English Language, Translation and Linguistics – ANGL-01/C

Research Interests:

  • Translation theories and techniques
  • Translation technologies
  • Corpus linguistics
  • Narratology and stylistics for translation from English

Commitment to the CLA: “Integrating teaching, research and technological innovation to provide high-quality language education, supporting the University’s international vocation”

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE MEMBER – Fabio Libasci 
Academic field: French Literature – FRAN-01/A

Research Interests:

  • Contemporary French and Francophone literature
  • Proustian studies
  • Life writing
  • Algerian literature in French

Commitment to the CLA: “Promoting the French language and Francophone culture within the University, schools and the wider community”

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE MEMBER – Paolo Nitti

Academic field: Language Teaching Methodology – GLOT-01/B

Research Interests:

  • Teaching Italian as L1, L2 and foreign language
  • Literacy for non-native adults
  • Linguistic sexism, insults and hate speech
  • Teaching specialised languages
  • Language policies
  • Educational linguistics

Commitment to the CLA: “Providing training pathways in language teaching and Italian as L2, enhancing multilingualism and intercomprehension practices”

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER – Anna Brusa 
Language laboratory technician and certified English teacher (CELTA)

Areas of Interest:

  • English language teaching
  • Development of communicative competence
  • Blended learning approach
  • English as a Lingua Franca

Commitment to the CLA: “Providing effective and up-to-date language tools to support a dynamic university environment fully integrated into an international context”

Follow the CLA Insubria on social media and stay up to date with all activities:

Contacts

For general enquiries: 

Contacts for English Language: 

Contact for Italian Language (for foreigners):

Contact for French Language: