Learn Italian: A scuola studiamo la scienza e la matematica. - At school we study science and mathematics.

In Italian, definite articles (il, la, etc.) are used much more often than in English. You must use them when talking about broad, general concepts or categories, which includes school subjects like la scienza (science) and la matematica (mathematics).

Why is it "a scuola" and not "alla scuola"?

Certain common locations take the preposition a (to/at) without a definite article when you are referring to their general purpose. A scuola is an idiom that perfectly matches the English "at school" or "to school". Other common examples include a casa (at home) and a letto (in bed).

Does the "i" in "scienza" make its own sound?

No, the i is silent here. In Italian, the combination sci makes a "sh" sound. The i is just a spelling rule to keep the "sh" sound soft before the vowel e. You pronounce scienza roughly like "SHEN-tsa".

Could "studiamo" also translate to "we are studying"?

Yes! The Italian present tense covers both general routines ("we study") and actions happening right now ("we are studying"). You don't necessarily need a separate "-ing" form in Italian; the context usually makes the meaning clear.