3976 Relationship on the rocks, but still want to go to Italy!

Sorry to hear your news, Heidihi... Hope you're feeling better soon. Making plans for your own life in Italy sounds like good enough therapy!! ;)

Can't help on the local language schools I'm afraid but I'm sure some other, more local, members can help you there...

Good luck with your 'own' plans!! :)

Every area in Italy has both up sides and down plus there are courses all over so it really is a mater of personal choice! Check out the tours in the forum and also what others have to say. There are horror stories from all over so don't let that put you off a particular area. But take a balanced view and see what tickles your fancy!:cool:

Hi Heidi,

I did a course in Lucca, the historic walled city has it's own Language University!

I went to a college. They do many courses, here is the link: [url]http://www.koinecenter.com/[/url]

Good luck in your new life! Just be glad he showed his true colours now and not later!!!

Take Care!

Panic over, just a slight hiccough...I explained the importance of [B]communication[/B] and he agreed! Anyway, thanks everyone for the information...I shall aim to do the TEFL course in Florence as per plan A, but will keep plan B around just in case. I have almost finished an introductory TEFL course that I have been doing in the evenings, we had a 10 minute 'micro-teaching' session on Monday and I seem to have done very well (modesty, eh?!) so I feel positive about taking on the intensive 4-week course. Thinking ahead, I understand that you have to get a translation done of whatever UK degree you have.....is that something I can get done in the UK, or Italy.....which is the best route to take? I looked on the internet but it wasn't really clear how best to go about it.

Hi Heidi

Are you hoping to support yourself on a language teacher's salary? Good Luck.

I did a bit of ESOL teaching here in Arezzo last year for a private school and was paid the fantastic sum of €11 per hour - I was not paid for the prep. time, exam paper marking or photocopies. When I suggested that this was a little LOW for a qualified teacher ( I have a UK M.A. in Education/ESOL/TEFL plus all the other bits and pieces) I was told I was being paid the experience teachers' rate - the normal rate was €8 per hour.

I understand the pay is much better in schools but you have to get onto the 'list' first to be considered for any post.

Private teaching/tuition is the other option and then your rate would be dictated by market forces.

Sorry to sound so negative - but there are loads of us 'English teachers' about and not all can/choose to continue.

Best wishes
Aretina

No, I won't have to support myself.... I will have some money from my divorce settlement. Really, I just want enough to help my new partner out a bit and be able to go back and visit my children once a month. We don't know exactly how much we will have to live on, but I have spent most of my life managing on next to nothing. We'll see.....

Heidihi58, just wanted to say, good luck with your wonderful new start, I envy you. How wonderful

Px

Ciao Heidi, I'm not in your position now, but was some years back. I moved to Milano and lived with my aunt for a year to get over my 'breakup'. I do have a good friend (Italian/American) here who is trying to decide what to do since her 16-year marriage is over. She wants to go to Italy and visit, but is unsure about going alone. Can you give her any advice about a place to stay in Firenze? Carol

please be sure you can cope alone out here if he changes his mind again, my hubby moved me and 3 kids here 2 years ago so he could keep his tart on the side in uk,
It was hard at first but now I know its his loss I get a farm house on an Italian mountain and 3 fantastic kids, he gets bedsit land and a shag when her boyfriends not looking.
The good news is there are only 4 women in my village under 40 and dozens of unatached young men. yippee

herealready, like your style and attitude, us women are so resiliant..;)

I was chatting to the only English person I know locally and she gets €25 an hour for private work, but is well established here. This week I had my first work here in Italy for a training agency - bit gruelling at 32.5 hours a week with the same students - but gross at €32. Luck, persistance and patience can result in better pay, but better you don't rely on it entirely. Must get back to planning.....

[QUOTE=sueflauto]I was chatting to the only English person I know locally and she gets €25 an hour for private work, but is well established here. This week I had my first work here in Italy for a training agency - bit gruelling at 32.5 hours a week with the same students - but gross at €32. Luck, persistance and patience can result in better pay, but better you don't rely on it entirely. Must get back to planning.....[/QUOTE]

When you say private work, what are we talking about? Is it teaching English? The thread talking about shagging has thrown me!! :D :D

Sorry, I know it is not a laughing matter really, but I couldn't resist.......mind you it sounds like he couldn't either........sorry there I go again.

All the sincere best to Herealready and Heidi

deSimone...I'm not in a position at the moment to advise on places to stay in Florence....I'm still in England until mid-September, but let me know if she ends up there....I would be happy to meet new people. Obviously all my 'boyfriend's' friends are italian....mostly work colleagues (and mostly women, as he was the only bloke on his Building Restoration Specialisation course!) ....while I intend to immerse myself in Italian life, language and culture it would be nice to have a breather now and again! My mother who came from a mining family in county Durham moved to Switzerland at 18 when she met my father, and had to live with his parents while he was away during the war. They didn't speak English and she didn't speak Swiss-German....but she survived. I shall use her experience to keep my morale up I think. At least I can have a reasonable conversation in Italian now after 3 years of study. Thanks everyone for the useful comments, and buona fortuna a tutti.

I believe it was teaching English:rolleyes: As for sh*****g, can't help; it's been so long I forget.... Mind you, why that Italian guy who answered my ad and wanted English conversation when he couldn't speak English does seem a tad suspicious.:D