1025 School's

Has anybody re-located and sent their children straight into the deep end with regard to school. How long did it take them to learn the language, gain their confidence and what it their impression. We are only just starting to learn Italian and we are very slow, basically because we just dont have the time, but would like to relocate during the summer of next year. One of our main priorities now is schooling. We have 4 children ages 10,8,3 and 2. Obviously the two little one's will be fine and the three year old now corrects the older two when they get a word or a colour wrong.

Any advise or tips greatfully received.

Thanks

Paula :p

Category
Che significa? - Italian Language Queries

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/04/2005 - 13:41

Paula,
your children will do just fine.
The only advice I would give you is to contact the school quite early because the burocracy could be long. So if you think to send them to school in italy in september 2006 , make sure you contact the school around may.

Good luck!

Paola

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/04/2005 - 15:34

Thanks for the reply Paola.

I realise I will have to get the ball rolling early and shall do so as early as the start of the new year. We already have flights booked for February so I'll contact school's in our area before then and mabey arrange some visits. All exciting stuff. Just worry about the two older ones and perhaps I could arrange a private tutor for a couple of months prior to them starting just to get the basics. They are also a ballet dancer and a brown belt at karate so more to look into.

Thanks again

Paula

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/05/2005 - 04:22

Paula,

Don't forget Alex goes to lady in San Vito if that is any help...we could always ask her if she is interested in helping the children with their Italian- just a thought

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/05/2005 - 04:29

Oh thats great. I'm sure that would help enormously.

We'll get together when we're over in October and discuss. Empty your mailbox by the way. I've tried to reply to your last message but your box is full.

Paula

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/06/2005 - 02:29

My 2 (7 and 3) are due to start school in September. How I understand the situation from the school is they will only enrol children in September. If you arrive say in October then they will make you wait until next September.

Also bring schoolwork from England so they can see the work they are doing in England. Rachel(my 7 year old) is a March baby and should just be in class 3 but because she has little spoken Italian and no written Italian she is going into class 2. This is better for me because she will in class with her two friends making it easier for her.

I have also been told 2 different stories regarding residency. The Questura say my children are entitled to medical treatment and education with or without my Permessio di Siggiorno/residency. My daughter has a verruca and when trying to get a Drs appointment for this they say I need residency before I can be given treatment (or an E111). I don't know if the school will see it the same way as the Drs. By the way my PdiS took 21/2 months and my husbands has still not arrived (they have lost his documents). I put my application for residency in with the Commune last week and the officer said it will take 2/3 months. I hoping not.

I know I've just told you lots of problems before even going to school but the one thing I knew before coming here and now being here is you have to wait for everything if it comes from the state and there is always lots of paperwork.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/06/2005 - 02:47

Paula,

I've emptied my mail box now and have 2 messages, but can't get in !!! says there is a fault...anyone else haveing problems this morning with mailbox ???

Looking forward to october to meet all the family .

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/14/2005 - 16:49

I was just 10 and my brother 6 when my parents moved to a small town in Le Marche. We knew next to no Italian but managed fine in school. It took about 1 school year to become fluent in the language and I remember no problems associated with learning. Though, I must say standards were not as high as the public school we had previously attended in London - I spent most mornings writing jibberjabber about my new kitten and my teacher (an elderly man with wife trouble - and all the kids knew it!) honestly didn't have a clue what to do with me, so I'd recommend you follow your kids' progress carefully ust to be on the safe side!
Best of luck

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/15/2005 - 04:39

Thanks for the reply. My eldest (9) has just come back after a few days in Ostuni, this was his first visit to Italy and the first time he had seen the villa we have bought. Whilst there he was really excited and asked when we could live there but what has become obvious is the fact he can't speak Italian and it is a huge worrying factor for him and now that he is home he doesn't want to live there now. My husband and I have already decided to start night school in September and now prepared to enrol him too so he can build some confidence up. We will also be going back for a few weeks in October so we will take it from there.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/15/2005 - 05:21

Have you tried Muzzy the BBC language learning porgram for children, my grandchildren love it and they have picked up the language whilst having fun.

Susi

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/15/2005 - 05:28

Hi,

Yes I've seen them advertized on the tv and made enquiries. £129 - £149 so they're not cheap. I keep meening to have a look on ebay and amazon to see if I can get them second hand, if not I may just get them anyway.

Paula

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/01/2005 - 06:36

We have moved to Mesagne and our 7 year old will start school this September.
Most kids will take about 3 months before they can speak FLUENT Italian, you will be amazed!! The first 2 weeks though they will be "slightly" frustrated, so be patient with them if they come back from school in a bad mood.

I would also like to add that in Mesagne there is a School of Italian for foreigners should you need one for yourselves.
Please reply if you are interested.

PS, as you will live near us, woud be great to if one day we'd meet.

Davide and Ursula