543 Moving/working in Veneto area

I have visited Italy several times and I am now seriously thinking of moving and hopefully get a teaching job in this area. I have been getting the magazine for several months now and it is fabulous; the articles are great. The one on the Eugean Hills was of particular interest to me. My worry is that I am a mature/single woman (with a small cat) and I wonder how I would be accepted; I have a degree but I don't know if this would be enough to teach and therefore I am looking for a course (TEFL or if someone can recommend any other course, please do); my main aim would be to work and fully integrate myself into the Italian lifestyle. The magazine is a real confidence booster and so informative. The forum is really answering a lot of my questions so pehaps someone could help me with this one.

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/07/2005 - 10:31

Hi, I am Val and have just moved to Verona with my boyfriend who is half Italian and speaks fluently, unfortunately I don't. However, re teaching, we have friends who moved here 2 years ago, he took his TEFL course in England (I believe you can take a quick intensive 4 week course) and he is now teaching for himself in his house non-stop. He also teaches mornings at the local junior school. I hope this will be of some help. The one thing I have found since I have been here is that most youngsters want to learn English, there is a 5 year old girl in our flats who is learning it at school.

Good Luck. Val (just joined the site and find it really helpful)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/27/2005 - 13:45

Hi Val

Thanks very much for your information. I have discovered there is a TEFL course in Glasgow (near my home). I have missed the June weekly course but believe there is one in October; good to hear positive feedback. Thanks again. Mary (aquario)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/28/2005 - 06:57

You should find plenty of teaching work in Italy, there are many kids learning English, and, the families here really do wan't to help their children to learn, and, are prepared to pay for additional lessons, you should get your TEFL qualification though, but, providing you aren't in the middle of nowhere, and get to know your neighbours a bit, work will come, I have a friend who was turning away customers withing six months of arriving, her circumstances are similar to yours (no cat!!).
Look around the forums though, there are some caveats, the Italian people are regularly, errr, tardy with payment, and have difficulty keeping appointments on time, BUT, Hey, the sun is shining, tomorrow always comes...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/29/2005 - 06:55

I did my TEFL course (10 years ago now which unfortunately I never used for personal reasons) at the Basil Paterson College in Edinburgh - don't know if that would be too far for you from Glasgow but I would definitely recommend them. The course was very professional and very hard work. You should also look at [url]www.tefl.com[/url] for more info - a lot of the jobs there are looking for at least one years experience but I'm not quite sure if that's a wishlist or that they can actually afford to be picky.

Val, I've sent you a private message.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/29/2005 - 13:14

I believe the intensive courses run by International House are very good and both recognised and highly regarded by employers. I know they run one in London, I imagine they will also have courses in Scotland.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/01/2005 - 16:18

My wife, Action Girl, has just finished a TEFL course in London, it is the University of Cambridge Certificate in English Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and is the most widely recognised qualification for TEFL. She did a 1-month intensive - it was v v hard work - and there is a website that will tell you all the places where all the courses are held: [url]http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teaching/celta.htm[/url] There is also CELTYL (To Young Learners) if you are thinking of teaching children. There are a few English teaching schools in the Veneto, one in Treviso, Conegliano and lots of other locations. There is also a massive language school in Venice.