The course book will be used approximately 60% of the time, with the other 40% made up of activities and tasks sourced by the teacher from additional resources.
Your teacher will use their own materials, practice activities from other books, and ‘authentic materials’ from newspapers, magazines, the internet, video, radio, and podcasts.
On this page you can check which course book you need to purchase for your level. We also offer our top tips on how to make the most of your course book.
| Level | Book | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner 1 | Nuovo Espresso 1 (Units 1 – 4) | 9783195254663 / 9788861823181 |
| Beginner 2 | Nuovo Espresso 1 (Units 5 – 7) | 9783195254663 / 9788861823181 |
| Beginner 3 | Chiaro A1 (Units 8 – 10) | 9788861822504 / 9788861826236 |
| Elementary 1 | Nuovo Espresso 2 (Units 1- 4) | 9788861823211 |
| Elementary 2 | Nuovo Espresso 2 (Units 5- 7) | 9788861823211 |
| Elementary 3 | Chiaro A2 (Units 8 – 10) | 9788861821491 / 9788861826458 |
| Intermediate 1 | Nuovo Espresso 3 (Units 1 – 3) | 9788861826847 |
| Intermediate 2 | Nuovo Espresso 3 (Units 4 – 7) | 9788861826847 |
| Intermediate 3 | Nuovo Espresso 3 (Units 8 – 10) | 9788861826847 |
| Upper Intermediate Lower | Nuovo Espresso 4 (Units 1 – 5)* | 9788861827165 |
| Upper Intermediate Higher | Nuovo Espresso 4 (Units 6 – 10)* | 9788861827165 |
| Advanced | Nuovo Espresso 5 | 9788861827479 |
| Proficient | Teacher’s Own Materials | N/A |
*These units will be taught over two course intakes. This means students should take two courses of Upper Intermediate Lower and two courses of Upper Intermediate Higher.
Where to Buy your Book
Cactus students should be able to find most of our course books on BEBC.
Alternatively, you may also find your course book on Amazon, AbeBooks or eBay. To help support sustainability in the world of education, we highly recommend purchasing second-hand copies of your course book where possible. Purchasing second-hand books helps reduce waste and provides a more cost-effective option for students, so it’s a win-win for everyone!
Digital Editions
If you prefer a digital edition of your course book instead of a physical copy, you may also be able to purchase a licence to access an online copy for 14 months. Please check digital editions details below.
Please note that Cactus is not involved in the books selling process. If you have any enquiries about your order, please contact your book provider directly.
| Level | Book | ISBN |
| Beginner 1 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Beginner 2 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Beginner 3 | Chiaro A1 (Units 8 – 10) | 9788861826304 |
| Elementary 1 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Elementary 2 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Elementary 3 | Chiaro A2 (Units 8 – 10) | 9788861826465 |
| Intermediate 1 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Intermediate 2 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Intermediate 3 | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Upper Intermediate | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Advanced | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
| Proficient | Digital copy N/A | Digital copy N/A |
How to Book your Course
If you haven’t yet booked your Italian evening course, check our offers page for our latest discounts, and book your course here.
Helpful Course Information
Free Italian Level Test
Italian Course Outline
Language Course Questions
Free Online Italian Resources
Cactus Teacher Profiles
For more information on any of our courses, or just general advice on language learning, please call us on 01273 830 960 or contact us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Language Holidays Abroad
Cactus also offers Italian language holidays in Italy.
How to book with Cactus
Select language
Simply select which language you would like to learn and from the box below and click lets go.
Take level test
This is a quick test to help you find the right course for your current level of knowledge.
Book your course
Use our simple online booking system to select your course.
Frequently asked questions
What will I learn?
Our Course Outlines give an overview of the content and learning framework of Cactus courses. Includes themes, grammar and vocabulary you can typically expect to cover. These are intended as a guide only. Language teachers may at times adapt the course content to suit the specific level, aims and interests of the class.
How do I know what level I am?
Are you unsure where to start or progress to? Then take our level test and read our level descriptions for guidance.
Do I receive a qualification or certificate?
At the end of your course you receive a certificate of participation. You will be able to be download it from your MyCactus account. This confirms the language and level of course you have taken. Our course levels are based on two internationally recognised systems. You will have a universally accepted reference for your studies. (Important: Please note that you must complete the end of course questionnaire sent to you to be able to get your certificate! You will receive the course questionnaire by e-mail at the end of your course.)
Do I need a course book?
You will need a course book to attend your course. Course books are not included in the course fees. We recommend that you buy your own course book separately before your course starts. We will let you know which course book you will require and advise where you can purchase this. Please note that a course book often covers more than one level. So if you progress to the next course, you may not necessarily need to buy a new book. Again, we will advise you of this at the time. The course book is chosen by our teachers and academic team. This is based on which book is most suitable for the level of the class whilst offering the most communicative approach.