Country info and advice - Italy
The following comments are from teachers who have taught, or are currently teaching, in Italy. If you are a teacher and have some advice to share, please add it here.
I spent three years working in
Italy, in Milano and Genova. The most astonishing thing that I can remember
about moving there is the way everything is so bound up in bureaucracy, and that
the men are absolutely enamoured with foreigners.
The first bit of advice I can give is that teachers should have a valid working
visa for the country. Although Italy is notorious for perpetuating illegal
employment, it is in your best interests to ensure that you are legal in that
country. Potential employers from the more reputable schools will consider this
an essential requirement for the position.
Many of the major Italian cities have local street press in English, and there
is one in Milan called "EasyMilano". It contains a wealth of information on
things to do and to be done with other people from the ever-growing English
speaking community in Milan. The magazine also includes a classified section,
which is a good place to look out for housing. A visa is sort of essential for
renting property as well.
Another thing that you must remember to do is report to the local 'questura' or
police station upon arrival (I think you have 8 days) with necessary paperwork,
and some official stamps. I'm not absolutely au fait with the process, so you
should ask at the Italian embassy in your own country exactly what the process
is before you even leave. Although there are a lot of Italians now who speak
English, it can be very disorienting to have to deal with official business with
someone whose first language is not the same as yours. Breakdowns in
communication can cost you hours of queuing, so make sure you've got the good
oil before you go.
Italy's cost of living is ever on the up. The effect of changing to the Euro is
still being felt, and the Italians themselves are critical of their compatriots,
whom they accuse of overcharging. The idea was that the Euro was supposed to
make everything equal, but now instead of a beer costing 10,000 lire (the old
currency), it costs 10 Euro (which is actually double the price!!!). Fresh fruit
and veges, and meat can be quite expensive, but as the Mediterranean diet is
loaded with pasta and rice and bread, these remain the basic staples which are
usually fairly cheap. A cheap night out can be had by getting a pizza from your
local pizzeria (less than 10 Euro), and having a beer. Just a little tip that
goes with that - Italians tend to drink beer when they have pizza. In fact, a
friend of mine once told me that it was easy to pick foreigners in the pizzeria
- they would have the wine. Don't let this bother you though. The house wines
are usually pretty good, and they're definitely a cost effective solution to
drinking, often costing the same as soft drink!
Another little custom to beware of is the full glass. Italians NEVER pour a full
glass of any drink when they are at the table (except for beer on tap, which the
waiter brings to you anyway). Anything that must be poured into a glass should
never more than half-fill the glass. It is seen as greed and bad form. Even
water is not free from this requirement. And as for food, always take less than
you really think you can eat. You will invariably be offered seconds, and
probably thirds, and it is customary to accept these offerings, unless you'd
like to offend your host. So the trick to not getting over full, and also not
ending up overweight!, is to take smaller portions than you normally would.
Alcohol served in pubs and clubs is not measured either. There is no such thing
as a standard drink. If you knew that your limit at home was five drinks before
you started to feel a little under the weather, then after five Italians drinks,
you'll probably be very unwell. Work on the assumption that in one drink there
is the equivalent of two standard ones. LADIES, please heed this as serious
advice, as I have seen many girls in regrettable situations as a result of not
knowing the strength of the drink.
Make it a priority to learn some Italian before you go. The Italians will
appreciate your efforts, and you'll find it easier to get around them. At least
know how to buy a bus/tram/underground ticket, order food, and the numbers! It's
amazing how numbers are everywhere, and we as language teachers should also have
made the effort to learn some of the host country's language, so that we can
better appreciate the difficulties facing our students.
Lastly, make it a priority to see as much of Italy as you can. There is not one
place I've been in that country which was not enchanting. Having travelled
alone, and with friends, from the Alps to Sicily, from Trieste to Ventimiglia
and beyond, I have had the chance to see, taste and smell Italy. I have
travelled to festivals, street parties, saints' days and sporting events.
Immerse yourself in the culture, and you'll be too busy to even think about
being homesick. It has the potential to be even better than you thought it ever
could be!
I have been living in Italy
for over two months now. I moved here because my boyfriend is Italian, but I
have been taking Italian classes for a few years. I would strongly suggest that
you have a basic understanding of the language, because you will find it slow
moving, learning as you go! Especially in a small town, where no one speaks your
language. Besides, contrary to popular belief, most Italians only speak one
language - unlike Germans.
I have lived and taught
English in Italy for many years and would like to add something to the comment
about 'the full glass'. People in Italy drink, but they DO NOT get drunk - that
is to say, it is very unusual to see people on the street who have visibly had
too much to drink, unlike in England where getting legless is considered (by
some) to be a fun way of spending an evening. I once asked some students what
their ideas about England were and was taken aback, not to say depressed, when
the response I got was 'Oh yes, the English are drunken hooligans'. I am not a
non-drinker, I like a beer as much as the next person, so this isn't a
disapproving comment - it's just so you know if you come to work here!
Teaching English in Italy can
be very rewarding and well-paid. It can also be an absolute nightmare and very
badly paid. "Cowboy" schools who delight in ripping off both students and
teachers abound. These are usually run by individuals and in my opinion (and
having worked in several) are to be avoided if at all possible. The way to earn
a decent living in Italy is to get a contract or even work casually in a state
school. Almost every Italian state school (at least from Middle school through
High school- maybe not so many elementary schools) now employ native speaker
teachers for various projects. The average salary for this kind of project is
about 25 euro a lesson, which works out much better than the average 10 euro a
lesson that you will get working in a private language school. Many
private language schools also farm out their teachers to these state schools
and pocket the money, often forcing teachers to work a very long day which can
start as early as 8am and not finish until 10pm in the private school. Choose a
town or area where you would like to work and find the names of all the state
schools in the phone book. They will accept people with very little experience
as most of the lessons will have an Italian teacher present for discipline
purposes and also to evaluate the kids. The last school I worked in employed me
to teach 25 classes once a week so the wages were quite adequate for Italy. Be
warned though Italy is expensive compared to most places in the UK.
I lived in Italy (Milan) for
almost three years and loved the experience. I will admit that when I first
moved there, some things drove me crazy. We take it for granted how easy it is
to get things done over here: the long opening hours of the retail industry; the
fact that you can just pick up the phone and sort out your bills; you can
organise your banking without having to double-check. In Italy, if you are
female, you will always be first and foremost female rather than a person (this
is slowly changing). You can't just dress how you want, be what you want, do
what you want. For all the flesh you see on show in the summer, the Italians are
still very traditional. If you decide to make eye contact with an Italian man,
this to them means you are interested. Western girls are seen as easy. We have a
reputation. And yes, the Italians find our drunkeness bemusing and quite
inappropriate.
BUT I made some good friends. I encountered a sense of community in the area I
lived in that I have NEVER encountered in the UK. Yes, people are nosy, but they
also very often genuinely want to help.
There is not the same degree of violence (ok it gets a little crazy at some of
the weekday football games at San Siro where it is wise to take a brolly so you
don't get pissed on - oh, and watch out for the falling bicycles) that we have
in England. You don't hear about the same level of rapes, murders, child
abuse... maybe things are hidden. I'm not so sure. There is more honour there.
More respect for the older generation. And, you may be viewed as a sex object if
you are female and get your bottom pinched BUT the only people who really
offended me were Albanians who exposed themselves or touched themselves whilst
following me down the street. The Italian men have too much pride to do such
things.
And Italy is so, so beautiful. Travel. Go everywhere. Try all the wonderful
food. I found most Italians had a smattering of English and loved to tell me the
words and sentences they knew. When I asked old ladies in supermarkets about
food, they would give me recipes in simple Italian, trying to explain so I could
understand. Supermarket staff at the local store knew me well. The parents of
the nightmare but lovely children at the school I taught were so supportive. The
kids were just adorable even if a couple were a handful. The Italians... Captain
Corelli's Mandolin (the book not the film) sums it up. They... love to eat, be
friendly, have heated debates, they love beautiful things and the good life. If
you argue with someone who is Italian and you disagree vehemently it's not the
end of the world. It's OK. You're just being passionate.
Oh, and the mountains. GO to the mountains. Winter, summer... they're just
beautiful. Go and do some bar work in a ski resort but a small one where you
learn about what it feels like to be part of a community. I remember going back
to Milan and being overwhelmed by the sight of cars and large buildings again.
Oh how I miss the mountains.
By the end of my time in Italy I had learned to love the things that had wound
me up when I had arrived. The idiosyncracies of a place, of a people, are what
makes them different and special. OK, so there is no such thing as a queue. You
learn to be more assertive. No bad thing!
Never go anywhere and expect it to be like home. Live, learn and appreciate. And
enjoy. We are so very lucky we can travel so easily these days.
Teaching in Italy can be great
fun as the students are mostly lovely. Things to be aware of are dodgy schools
who make you work up to 12 hours a day without a break. Also certain schools
don't pay on time. There are lots of good schools out there just don't go to the
first one who offers you a job, shop around. You will love Italy. Just like the
UK be careful what school you go to.
What Lisa said about teaching
in the state schools is absolutely correct. However, it's also something of a
Holy Grail as most of the state contracts will have been swallowed up by the
local language schools. It's not enough to look in the phone book tho', normally
you will need to enter a 'concorso' or open competition for jobs; part of the
problem lies in finding out exactly when these will take place!
10 euros an hour is about what
you get paid in Italy. This is disgusting!
The wages are less than
McDonalds!
Don't do it. I've been here 20
months and worked for 4 schools. Why? Too many promises made and broken. It is
the most ridiculous place in the world to work - and I've worked in 7 different
countries. The employers are most dishonest (or shall we say they frequently
make promises they never keep, cheat with regards to tax and occasionally refuse
to pay you - for example if you give notice to quit before they have paid
you...) Italians can be nice folks; that's why I'm here, but the job market is
run by thieves.
25 hours a week contract but
you work 40+hours a week.
Italy is too stylish to be
hell and also, too chaotic to be heaven.
I would add that in my opinion
Italians do get drunk though they would not admit it. Alcohol and drugs are as
big a problem on the streets of Rome as in the UK. My advice is be aware that
the Italian obsession with appearance masks a lot of the social, political and
burocratic problems that are going on.
It depends on the person
running the school regarding how you are treated. I have worked for schools in
the north and they seem to be dodgier. While in the south (the provincial south
- not Rome or Naples) the people running the schools seem to be more honest and
forthright. I imagine that schools in the major cities including Rome, Milan,
etc. are horrible to work for. The individuals running those schools tipify the
worst stereotypes about dodgy Italians. So be careful!
Being Italian, I can confirm
most of the things that have been written on this page, but please avoid any
superficial generalizing. Please take also into account that half of Italians,
especially those who are honest, are also frustrated by the country situation
and would like to leave Italy. Those who are able to, will have to take a
stereotype that does not suit them.
Hi! I'm an American who has
been teaching in southern Italy for almost 10 years, and a lot of what I see
written is true. Especially the part about Italians' frustration with the impact
of the Euro, and the simultaneous need to keep up with appearances. It has made
for a very difficult life, especially in the south. But in regards to teaching
English in Italy, a new window has opened with the P.O.N.'s. There is more
opportunity than ever for a native English speaker, especially one with some
experience. At ?60/hr for 50-hour contracts, it's not so bad. Well, at least
better than McDonald's. I put some more info up on my blog if anyone wants to do
some reading. www.teach-english-in-italy.net
Ciao Tutti, I had taught
English in Bari, Naples, Milano, Roma, Imperia working for language schools. One
day I decided to work for myself and opened a language school in ventimiglia in
Liguria. I ran this school from scratch for 2 years then I sold it to another
ex-pat. Starting your own school in Italy is easy and cheaper than you think. It
is cheaper and less hassle to open a school in Italy than Spain. I used to make
over 2600 euros per month and work less than 25 hours per week! I have written
this easy step by step guide about how to set up your own language school in
Italy. www.myscuola.co.uk
No one is getting rich
teaching English anywhere including Italy. I suggest that you simply quit
complaining about conditions whether they be with private or public schools as
each has its advantages and disadvantages. Prepare yourselves as there is a lot
of competition for teaching in Italy at every level. Hence, lower wages. And
don't think just because you SPEAK English that you are qualified to teach it!
Although you may be able to find some private lessons initially to get you by
it's never enough in the long term which is why teachers scramble looking for
contracts! Oh but here is the RUB...you have to WORK! While Italy is all that
everyone has previously pointed out in its beauty... No one is going to give you
their good money to finance your holiday vacation. It doesn't work that way. And
for most serious private schools with serious clients who pay THEIR good money
for language training, they don't want nor need to throw it away on partially
qualified part-time "teachers" whose only goal is to talk about their last
weekend visit to CinqueTerra. Dreams of earning 60 euros an hour are just
that...DREAMS! Not even middle to top managers earn that in Italy! The average
take home wage of most Italians ranges from 1000 to 1500 euro a month on
contract. You certainly shouldnt expect to earn more than that. As a novice
instructor you should expect about half that amount on contract. Contracts are
regulated by STATE law not by the schools (both public or private) Educate
yourself not only on what are your rights but what are the rights of your
employer as well. That way you won't be surprised when by contract you may be
asked to work up until 10pm or a certain number of hours. As with everywhere
else in the world don't expect the "Dolce Vita" unless you are willing to work
for it.
Hi everyone, just like to add
my little two bit. I've been teaching in Rome for over ten years. The key to
success is twofold: set up your own private lessons and avoid all offers from
any schools alike. Charge students 25 euros an hour and soon you too will be
raking in 4000 euros a month. Cheers and good luck to all!
Fantastic and uplifting
advice! Thanks John. I think it has a lot to do with your attitude and your
ability. Can you actually teach? Do you know your subject? Are you going to give
a good quality lesson? If you can say yes then there are always people willing
to pay good money for a good teacher. I am on my way to Rome soon and I think
John's advice is definitley something to think about. Viva Roma!
Don't do it unless you're
young, cashed up and free of any financial or other ties. I loved living in
Rome. I speak fluent Italian and made good friends there, and loved exploring
the sites. The pay was really lousy over there, about 7 euros per hour, and the
language schools don't pay holidays so you will find yourself very short of cash
when the schools shut down for a month in August and also over Christmas. A lot
of the language schools are unethical. They will try not to pay you if a student
is a no-show. They also misrepresent the teachers' qualifications to the
students. One school I was working at told all new students that every teacher
was a university qualified mother tongue speaker with at least 5 years' teaching
experience, which was an outright lie. I am TESOL qualified and was earning
800-1,200 euros per month, which is bugger all. Renting a 2 bedroom flat costs
around 1,200 per month, so at least half your pay will go on rent and the other
half won't leave you much to live off. Teachers are paid monthly, and I found
that for the last week of each month I had to put food from the supermarket on
my Australian credit card. I came home a few thousand dollars in debt, and
haven't looked back since. I am able to progress my career here and not worry
about money.
I also found Italians to be generally very racist towards non-Europeans, which
really annoyed me. People specifically told me "You're alright because you're
white and you speak English". Italians on the whole are a lot less accepting of
homosexuality than Australians. Most of my Italian friends were male. I found
Italian women to be quite tense and difficult to befriend on the whole. My
female friends were colleagues from different countries. There are a lot of good
things about the culture. As mentioned by other bloggers, binge drinking is not
common in Italy, which was great. I went out late at least once a week because I
felt safe going to pubs and clubs. Most Italians do not speak English beyond
elementary level, so anyone wanting to work there would do well to study the
language for a couple of years beforehand. Most of the friends I made over there
are Italian, and I am aware that speaking the language fluently made life a lot
easier for me.
Another thing I appreciated about the culture was that, on the whole, young
Italian adults are well educated about history, politics and current affairs,
and it is fairly common for strangers in a pub to start discussing the state of
the world rather than football/cricket. I found that the people I met in Rome
were on the whole reliable and honourable, and very loyal friends. Chivalry is
alive and well in Italy.
While there are aspects of the culture that I miss, I am happy to be earning a
decent wage back in a racially diverse society where being gay isn't an issue.
English teachers be careful of
false contracts, where no taxes are paid for you, all illegal and there are huge
hassles if the finance police come to the school! I also recommend being part of
the CiGL-Nidl, a union for teachers that is not in the public school system.
Be aware that Italy is a very
regional country. The experience someone may have in regards to attitudes
towards women, foreigners, whatever really, depends largely upon where you are
in the country. It is not a large country but the differences in mentalities and
opportunities can vary a great deal, particularly between the north and south.
I am an Australian living in Milan. When dealing with government departments,
dont assume that they have all information on any given subject is in one easy
to find place, or that the person behind the counter has any interest in doing
their job and actually helping people, because it isnt always the case. In other
words expect frustration and generally you wont be disappointed.
Italy is such a good place to
live if you have some money in your pocket. The weather is great for most of the
year (I live in the centre) and there's so much to see it's ridiculous. The food
is obviously great, the wine is sensational (albeit a bit pricey considering the
pitiful measures you get in bars and restaurants) and life is really nice.
Unfortunately, it's getting EXTREMELY expensive here. The average TEFL salary is
between €1,000 and €1,300 (for the 8-9 months you will be paid) and you
really need to be on the upper end of that scale to have any standard of living
at all given that unemployment benefit for the summer is all but impossible to
obtain. A beer in a bar will cost between €3-5 and a meal €15-100 depending
on whether you like pizza or not and the price of petrol is going to be €2 a
litre with a couple of years. The whole country's salary structure has been
stagnant since the '90s and the chances of their going up are zilch. If you
fancy Italy it's now or never in my opinion. In 5 years time, half the
population is going to be on the poverty line. TEFLers are already there.
So, does the same apply,
salary-wise, if you have an M.A. in TESL/Linguistics, are experienced with an
american university TESL background, etc.? I am preparing to teach in Rome and
would like to know the prospects, working conditions and the ease of navigating
from point-to-point (or is it easy to land a position which would domicile in
one locale). Thank you for your posting/response!
Hi, I've lived in Italy for
one year and I've been let down by schools offering phantom contracts. It's so
annoying i'm thinking of advertising myself for private english lessons.
However, other people i've meet here seem to think it's not a good idea but
nobody seems to know why! Any comments would be appreciated.
My advice to those not already
here in Italy is think very carefully before you commit yourself.
I have taught in Italy for over 6 years now and am finally leaving. In that time
I have worked for several of the larger language schools and also worked
freelance.
Teachers are not well paid, are not respected by their employers, are generally
given work contracts that are barely legal at best, downright illegal in many
cases. By this I mean project contracts. These are the contracts that deprive
you of many rights in terms of employment, mean that it's impossible to get a
loan or mortgage, mean that you don't get paid for holidays, mean that instead
of being paid a year's salary for a year's work you'll get 10 or 11 months
salary, and so on. If your project contract identifies the project as teaching,
it is illegal.
Working privately is another matter. You don't have a contract, of course, but
at least you get to earn the money you deserve. That said, you have to be
careful about getting paid, or else you'll have problems. Some companies here
will do their utmost to avoid paying you because the legal system is so poor
that you simply won't live long enough, or have enough money to see a court case
against a non-payer bear fruit.
If you're not an European white person, you'll experience the kind of racism
that died elsewhere decades ago. I've lived mostly in the North around Milan but
also elsewhere and what I've seen sickens me. And I'm white.
You'll pay the highest rates of tax in Europe but earn amongst the lowest wages.
You'll pay the highest price in Europe for car insurance, gas, electricity and
petrol, plus extortionate rates for property rental.
Choose another country, is the best advice I could offer anybody thinking of
coming to Italy to teach. The photos might look good but you don't live in a
postcard.
Working for a school, the
salaries available are low. Most of the 'progetto' contracts offered are
semi-legal at best. Lots of schools abuse teachers in ways that would be illegal
elsewhere. However, as a previous poster said, working privately can be
comfortably profitable. However, it takes time to build up clients.
There is a free-to-use teacher directory for Milano and Lombardia which sets out
to promote independent teachers, you'll find it at www.milanoinglese.com
(teacher info) and the public site is the .it version of the same domain. It's a
non-profit site set up by ex-teachers to defend themselves against schools. Have
a look.
Otherwise, if you're planning to work for a school, beware of 'progetto'
contracts which say your project is teaching. Illegal. Beware of those schools
which demand you have a partita IVA (VAT number) because this is illegal if you
only work for one school. Also, when you get to do the tax returns you'll regret
it!
Well guys, I've been living
and teaching in Italy for over 25 years now so I've pretty much seen it all:
dodgy schools, dishonest and unscrupulous employers etc. My advice to you is to
build up a solid basis of private tuition and to maybe do some part-time work
for a school - I do this mornings only. If you can find about 25 hours per week
privately, you'll be making good money. However, people will soon twig on if
you're not a competent teacher, so brush up your grammar and be imaginative.
Italians like variation so keep your eyes open for new stuff and make your
lessons interesting. Buona fortuna!
I lived in Rome for 2 years
and most of the time enjoyed it. As mentioned above I am lucky as I am debt free
and was able to have the extra finances available. My language school was fine
and I was being paid 10 euros an hour. But the cost of living is high in Rome
and definitely if you have an apartment near the centre on your own as I was
paying 1150 euros for a 1 bedroom. But there are also opportunities for private
work.
Hello everyone who is teaching
or has taught in Italy. I've been living here for over ten tears. I'm TEFL and
CELTA certified with a degree. I'm American married to an Italian and working
here is a nightmare, everybody loves to take advantage of your services as a
teacher. State or private it doesn't matter you always get nailed in the end.
Private lessons pay very well if you have enough people who are willing to pay
20 euros an hour. Let's not talk about schools they are all parasites but you
need them in the end if you want to earn some cash. I work for three schools,
two companies and do private lessons and i still have a hard time making ends
meet especially in the summer. Here in Catania everything closes down and
everyone goes to the sea. To sum up a few topics Italians love to eat, drink and
waste there time doing nothing that's why this country is or has been falling
apart since I've been here, besides all the negs Italy is a wonderful place to
live and visit, at least once in your life. If any doubts please feel free to
e-mail me at 123hill.j@gmail.com Peace...
Hello everyone who is teaching
or has taught in Italy. I've been living here for over ten tears. I'm TEFL and
CELTA certified with a degree. I'm American married to an Italian and working
here is a nightmare, everybody loves to take advantage of your services as a
teacher. State or private it doesn't matter you always get nailed in the end.
Private lessons pay very well if you have enough people who are willing to pay
20 euros an hour. Let's not talk about schools they are all parasites but you
need them in the end if you want to earn some cash. I work for three schools,
two companies and do private lessons and i still have a hard time making ends
meet especially in the summer. Here in Catania everything closes down and
everyone goes to the sea. To sum up a few topics Italians love to eat, drink and
waste there time doing nothing that's why this country is or has been falling
apart since I've been here, besides all the negs Italy is a wonderful place to
live and visit, at least once in your life. If any doubts please feel free to
e-mail me at 123hill.j@gmail.com Peace...
Hi I have been living in Italy
Liguria for over three years. If you do not speak Italian don't bother trying to
teach private english lessons. Anyone who has heard it takes 6 months to learn
Italian ( don't believe them ) It's not what you know but who you know in
Liguria, so if you don't know anyone you will not get a job here ( in any sector
! ) The weather is beautiful, the country is interesting but the job prospects
are harsh! Good luck !
I am bemused by all the
comments on how delightful the experience was for all those posting on teaching
in italy. I noted they had all left. Having survived here for 10 years (I
married one of those italians who as most above mentioned, pray on us sweet
ignorant foreigners)
I've taught in just about every situation mentioned here and here are my
conclusions:
When you arrrive you wont understand the locals while they are smiling at you
(and you are telling your family back home how charming they are.) you dont
understand what they are actually saying about you in your presence. you dont
know, that they consider, that foriegn women are slags, yes puttana, the local
women will detest and resent you for stealing one of their italian, men. or just
simply because you smile in public and wear sandles in May. its a minefield.
Working with italian men if you are under 80 years old is seriously dangerous...
they are chavanistic in the extreme and will screw or at least try to screw
anything that moves into their line of vision, that includes you! Dont think for
a minute that the workplace regulations that cover italians and stop them from
getting fired and having sick leave, will apply also to you, they wont.
Now How can I put this gently. You have no rights and unless you eventually
become an italian citizen, (good luck with that) you will work as a sweatshop
worker and have to deal with shitloads of red tape to receive your money. If you
are single you cannot rent and live on the pittance paid to you, whichever way
you work. You will have to find a partner, and therein lies the cycle. If you
come from egalitarian England or USA Canada, my God, are you in for a shock.
Yes the English are known for, binge drinking and eating crapola, and the USA
made macdonalds! there are lots of different shades in there too. These mass
generalizations will be slapped on you wherever you go in Italy. when and IF you
become part of an italian family, you will see ITALY, and you understand why
everyone runs away eventually to maintain their sanity.
So if you are rich, retired or following an international spouse who landed a
great job with all the perks in a global company, its fun for a few years. if
not...come for a holiday, and keep your eyes open.
To quote my good friend italy is not third world its fifth world!
I have lived in Rome for 6
months and loved every minute. There have been some frustrations like the
strikes on public transport and every Italian seems to be rife with resentment
for their country but I have been home (for a holiday) for 3 weeks now and the
same applies here (UK). Everyone is raging about something, be it the weather or
the cost of living. British politicians and bankers are as corrupt if not more
so than the Italians, the only difference is ours are better at hiding it. It is
funny what is said about Italian men though - they really are pathetic. I am
male and would never dream of behaving the way they do, I have pride!
Anyway, I don't plan on staying in Italy forever, I'm just enjoying seeing the
country right now. I am moving to Milan next month and I hope I am as lucky as I
was in Rome to find a great job and a great landlady (though she was French).
I'm an Italo-Australian,
meaning I have two passports, two degrees, bilingual... I have worked for a
private school in Rimini that still owes me thousands of Euros, then closed
down, only to re-surface with a different company name. ... Italian law lets
businesses do this ........ I have zilch chances of ever getting paid, because
the justice system in Italy is a shambles. So, beware!! You can survive on
private tuitions, but this also means that you are probably never going to have
a stable professional life .. so ... up to you ... personally, I am on my way
back to OZ
Italy has to be one of the
worst countries I taught English in! I lived in Italy for 8 months, but in that
time never once received my salary. If you are thinking about going to Italy
ensure your school or company will pay as stated in the contract. But this still
didnt stop my employers, from schools to universities to companies no one pays!
I am still owed money from companies 6 months since I left. You should really
learn Italian as I went with only a little Italian and got judged for this by
employers and given less work because of this! The people (well in Milan) are
very tradition and were not open. I found making friends very difficult and
ended up only having my boyfriend who was scottish to speak with. Also when
finding a flat is impossible! Go to an agency the price will be high but its the
only way as most people just live with their parents. I had to leave because of
lack of money as no one would pay me it was a horrid experience with some of the
most stupid laws and people I have ever met. If you want my advice pick a
different country. I have taught in several and the best place so far was china,
everyone was friendly and worked hard. I had no problems and it was a fantastic
experience.
Well I can add my experience
to the list of people living here and married to an Italian...if it weren't for
that I'd be back home in the States making 5 times more and actually putting
something away for the future.
My experience with schools has been 50-50. The worst was after 5 years of
illegal project contracts I gave up. I had previously been offered 40+ hours per
week with a permenant contract for little more than 5 euros per hour and of
course they recommended I get married first so that I could have a working visa.
But I've also found schools willing to offer more with better conditions.
Private lessons can be a good source of income if you find the right clients.
I've had my fair share of people who skip out on you and men who when realize
they won't get more than an English lesson never show up again.
Now I am freelance with a P.Iva and I work with an employers association. They
pay really well, 30-50 euros p/h but they pay at the end of the contract. A 30
hour contract can drag out for 5 months, add 45 days from close of the contract
and you do the math. The tax is extremely high. After already deducting 20% on
each invoice you also have to pay 27% tax for the entire year. And if you go
over 16,000 euros you also pay the estimated tax for the following year. Is it
worth it? The real question is what's the alternative?
And of course there's also the lovely experience of being a woman and working
with companies. I've had companies request a 'meeting' with potential teachers
which was really a line-up to pick the most attractive teacher. It makes me a
little sick. The pressure to look good can be high. But experience goes a long
way.
Aside from the dissatisfaction with that part of the job I've meet some great
people, made a lot of contacts and always have a lot of work. I don't see myself
doing this forever however.
As for the country itself, while it's true that for women often it's very
difficult to make friends among Italian women (I only have one in 11 years) the
people are often very friendly although more so in the south and not as much in
Tuscany, where I live. I've given up lots of comforts coming from America. But
on the whole quality of life could never be better. I worked the 40+ job for
great money in the 'no-vacation nation' known as the States. I don't miss it.
I checked this forum because I
have been approached by neighbors to teach their kids conversational English. I
am American, married to a duo-passport (Amer/Ital) Italian. I have lived in
Italy (near Milan) for 2 nonconsecutive years and my Italian is still pretty
basic. It is a very difficult language to learn, unless you are already
bilingual or super young! I am basically just looking for ideas on teaching kids
English on a private level.
Regarding life in Italy. Well, Dee & others have made some very relevant points.
I love traveling throughout the country and have been all over....but yes, a
holiday is very different than living in a place. Living here is no holiday! It
is at least 40 years behind the US socially, in regards to chauvenism, racism,
diversity, and its generally widespread narrow mindedness. (Well, for one thing,
they are all the same religion, so anyone who is not Catholic is an oddball.) I
have found that people of the south are far more friendly, outgoing & helpful -
sadly how we Americans think of all Italians, which is definitely not the case.
Oh yes, and they are very prejudice against their own re: north/south/etc.
Every task takes 5 times longer to do, there are zero customer service
standards, and the general public comes off as extremely rude - rarely ever
yielding on sidewalks or store aisles, or saying "excuse me" even if they ram
into you, which they often do. On a personal level, our neighbors and vendors
whose shops I frequent, are great. I guess they just need to know you before
they deem you worthy of respect. There is a sense of constant suspicion (of
everyone, not only foreigners), mistrust, fear, and extreme judgement.
Money does not buy you very much here either, so prepare to live in a place 1/2
the size of your American home and with zero ammenities and crappy appliances
which cost twice as much.
Try to travel here a lot before you actually decide to live here and stay in a
place long enough to actually see how real life goes. Probably the best option
would be to live anywhere in Europe other than Italy...and then just travel the
short distance here for holiday.
Hi, I actually came on here
just to find out what the going rate is for private classes. I would like to
just comment though on what has been touched upon in some of the other posts.
I've lived in Italy (Liguria) for 3 years now. I've also lived in France,
Portugal and Spain. I'm British but ethnic and wanted to say that my experiences
of racism in Italy haven't been too bad. I think there is a great deal of
frustrating corruption etc when it comes to work. I also agree that people may
well be smiling at you but saying nasty things when you don't understand. In my
experience however, France, Spain and Portugal were more racist. At least here
I'm not followed around by a security guard EVERY time I enter a shop (Spain)
and it's never been assumed that I am a maid looking after a child rather than a
birth mother with her daughter (!!) (Portugal on more than one occasion!) When I
moved here I was terrified. I'd looked up 'racism in Italy' on the internet and
feared that Italy would be hellish for me. It hasn't been. I think it
particularly helps if people 'know' you. The colour thing seems to then be of
little importance. (This was also true for Spain). Please don't be completely
put off if you're thinking of coming to Italy. I've been amazed at how kind and
generous people have been here. I've also had no 'in your face' racist
experiences. France was AWFUL in comparison. There I experienced full on racism
for one of the first times in my life.
Each experience is different I guess but not all Italians are racist (or indeed
corrupt!). The worst thing about living here is actually how expensive it is.
REALLY expensive. If you're looking for a reason not to come, then this would be
it! All the best!
Hi, I'm from Australia and
have lived in Italy for 4 years on and off. I would recommend it to any one with
a bit of a spirit for adventure.
True, I never had a contract and never paid tax, was always paid cash in hand,
but when you just want to move some where different and see and experience a new
place who really cares??
As for all those people saying Italy is racist, sure there are racist
people,just like every where else, just look at the race riots in the USA and
the UK. Just ask an African American what its like to be black in their own
country or most Australians views about the Aboriginal people if you want a
closer to home dose of racism.
Is it hard for gay people? Maybe in some smaller towns like any where on the
planet, I'm a gay male and the gay clubs and life in Italy these days are 20
years ahead of any thing I have seen in Australia. Including gay party beaches
in the summer.
The wages are not great, don't go there to get rich. Go because you love art,
vibrant street life, crazy market and fun times,a never ending amount of things
to do and see, great food and the list goes on.
I didn't have all the bad experiences from all the posts above. I made some good
friends Italian and International that are still living and enjoying it many
years later.
Its not Italy and the Italians fault every time some one isn't successful there.
That said Italy has the problems of any country and maybe some different ones,
but if you are tough enough you will have a great time.
If your advice is about a specific school, please post it in our forum
© 2013 Eslbase. All rights reserved
