Has anyone spent time in Rome learning Italian at one of the many language schools?

My daughter is looking to book a three month course - but it is quite difficult to try and choose. Do you think it is better to enrol with a bigger facility (ie: one with a more impressive web-site), or do the smaller schools tend to offer a more personalised approach?

Any opinions or experiences would be VERY helpful.

Thanks.

Hi Helen,
I have not studied language in Italy; however, I did several immersion programs in Spain. I went through a company called Spanish Abroad, but they actually do all languages. I think their website is languages a-z or something like that. Spanish Abroad is easy enough to look up. My first year, I did a smaller school and loved it. My second year, I did a bigger company and was less impressed. The schools all pretty much offer the same thing, small classes (6 people or so), excursions, home stay vs. an apartment or dorm. I would HIGHLY recommend a home stay for several reasons: 1. since your daughter is learning the language, she will need to speak it at home for basic needs. Much of the learning, and valuable learning, can occur in these settings. The families are usually really nice and accomodating. They want to interact. Plus, they do laundry, feed you breakfast and lunch or dinner, or all three meals, and the homes I stayed in were way cleaner than any four and five star hotels I've stayed in; 2. Depending on how old she is, it may be a little safer in general. Foreign men (and some women) may have different perceptions of women than American men. Being a solo woman traveler myself, I try to be as safe as possible. Knowing there is someone there, where ever I am staying, who is at least slightly responsible for me, can be a good thing; 3. She will be away from home for three months, an exciting and scary experience, so having a home stay family can really help her adjust. Most of the time, home stay families have been hosting exchange students for a long time. If she does stay with a family, a small gift for hosting is usually appropriate; 4. Be specific in your requests for a home stay family. There is no need really to waver or settle. Remember, these families are getting paid to take care of your daughter, so have high standards. I've been really lucky with my families. I had my own room and bathroom (which I requested and paid extra for). Plus, I'm a vegetarian, and both my families went out of their way to meet my dietary needs. Really sweet people and I learned some new recipes. The first family was a single mom and her teenage daughter who was never home; the second family was an older couple who's kids had left home. I've heard horror stories of loud babies, fighting younger couples, etc so that's why I say be specific in your requests; 5. I stayed in a dorm as well and really didn't like it, but that may be because I am in my 30s and everyone else was 18 and this was their first trip from home. I've been through that, so I was uninterested in staying up all night partying at clubs or whatever; 6. Finally, I'm sure she already knows a little Italian, but it's a good idea to know please, hello, thank you, no, where is the bathroom, common phrases; 7. Buy a prepaid phone card from the US post office. I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars between the US and Europe calling my mom. My mom has also spent hundreds of dollars calling me or acceoting my collect calls. DON'T use the numbers in phone booths advertised as cheap international numbers to call home. They run about $15 per minute. Experience. We wised up and went to the post office, bought a cheap card just to try it. The cards are rechargable, so even if she runs out of minutes in Italy, she can recharge the card thruogh the phone with a credit card. I called my mom DAILY from England, Scandanavia AND Eastern Europe for six weeks for maybe $100 or less. No kidding. If shes's going away for three months, this phone card can be a blessing. I suggest you call the number on the back of the phone card first to get access numbers for the country she will be calliung FROM not to. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions. I have lots of suggestions. I hope your daughter has a blast!

peri girl

Hi peri girl

Thank you so much for all the information and advice. I am just about to look up the web site you mentioned.
The phone card information is great - though we live in Australia I am sure that similar pricing, etc would apply. We have mostly gotten away with SMS messages as our form of contact when overseas - but for 3 months or so I'm sure that both my daughter and myself will need the reassurance of speaking on the phone.

Any other suggestions you may have will certainly be appreciated.

Helen

ttt

Any other info from anyone?

I have looked at the website languages a-z and the Leonardo da Vinci Language school which is linked to that site. It does seem to be very well run and offer quite good programs. Does anyone have first (or second) hand feedback on this school?

if she is ever interested in florence, the eurocentres school there should be excellent.

i know students who have used them in france, the u.k and USA and have been extremely happy.