TUSCANY

Viareggio for Learning

I did a lot of research into many different schools across Italy until I found Centro Giacomo Puccini, Scuola Leonardo Di Vinci; I first loved the town of Viareggio and since this school was the same company as the school I had attended in Milan I was already familiar with the teaching style. 

Lessons are held in the morning Monday to Friday so that you then have the afternoon and weekend to relax or explore as you please. The students are a range of age groups from children all the way up to people enjoying their retirement learning a new language, and they come from all over the world.
 

For accommodation there are a few options to choose from, you can stay with a family who will provide some your meals for you, and from what I heard the food is delicious, cooking traditional Italian food for a true local experience.

I stayed in a self catered shared apartment with two other girls in which I had my own room (there are cheaper options to share your room too). My apartment was a five minute walk from the school and a five minute cycle to the beach, and was modern and spacious; I was even lucky enough to have a large terrace where we could eat dinner or relax in the afternoon. The other girls in the apartment we around a similar age and also attended classes in the school.

Obviously if you are a beginner you can ask what you need in English but usually they will turn it into a learning exercise so that you can understand how you would say it in Italian. 

Grammar lessons run alongside a workbook that you follow, the teacher will explain a new topic, you have the opportunity to ask questions and try some examples together and then you will also do some exercises from the book. They will usually also set homework for the next day which we usually did on the beach together.

The conversation class is an opportunity to talk in the language and is much more informal, different teachers will have different topics they think are relevant but all you will be able to make some conversations.

We had lessons that included discussions on how the language and accents change throughout the country to Italian hand gestures as well as your typical “Hi I would like to buy a ticket to the cinema…" or whatever it be. 

On the first day after a quick chat with the teacher (in Italian if you have some experience) students are then placed into their class level. The teacher will already have some idea as you will have completed a language quiz beforehand.

Then the lessons are also split into grammar and conversation with a short break in between, usually with different teachers. Mine were incredibly welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable, helping you through with patience.

Almost 100% of the time they speak in Italian language which is useful because it helps you to pick up the language faster, you are encouraged to talk also in the language even when discussing what you did at the weekend, asking what a word means, explaining that you were sick yesterday general conversation. Sounds a bit daunting at first but teachers are very patient and they will help you out, also there is always google translate to check a sentence before you say it!