Year Round Mature Teen Homestay Program in Florence, Italy

  Italy

• Florence: 
Florence

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Dates: Year Round

Description: Florence is located in the northwestern region of Italy in Tuscany. It is less than 2 hours by train from Rome in the south and less than 3 hours from Milan in the north. It's a surprisingly small city with less than half a million people. However, don't let the size fool you, without a map you will be going in circles before you know it!

Still, it is the perfect city for exploring on foot. All of the major landmarks in the city are only 20-40 minutes apart, or less. Florence simply cannot be rushed. It was made for leisurely strolls along the Arno river, over one of the many bridges, (including the Ponte Vecchio), or through one of the countless narrow streets surrounding the Uffizi, the Duomo, or any of the numerous piazzas.

Be sure to visit all these sites and the surrounding region with your fellow students... and don't forget to practice your Italian in the shops!

Program:

The school is only a short walk from the main train station, Santa Maria Novella. It is located on three storeys of a beautiful 19th century building. There are 17 classrooms and the school has free wireless internet access as well as a lovely enclosed garden patio. Accommodation is within 15-30 minutes from the school and there is a varied and affordable social activities calendar available for students on a daily basis. Please see the sample schedule for more information.

Courses:

The Standard course option provides 20 lessons per week divided into 4 lessons per day with each lesson 50 minutes in length. Group size is maximum 12 students and there are 10 language levels available from beginner to advanced.

Starting dates are once a month for beginners and every Monday for students with some Italian language skills. The courses focus on a communicative approach and cover all areas of language comprehension - vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, and writing.

Teachers:

All teachers are selected based on proper qualification to teach Italian, their enthusiasm, and previous success teaching students. The school is authorized by the Ministry of Education to teach Italian language and culture to international students.

Accommodation:

All accommodation, whether homestay family or local apartments and flats, have been inspected by school staff for cleanliness and suitability for students.

A homestay family experience is perfect for the student who has little time and is looking to maximize the opportunity to be immersed in Italian culture. Like many parts of the world there is not a "typical" host family in Florence. However, we encourage you to apply well in advance of your study period to ensure that you secure the best family based on your preferences. You can choose from single or double room (if you're coming with a friend) and a variety of meal options - breakfast, half- board or self-catering. Families are located about 30 minutes from the school.

If you are 18 or over (no exceptions) you can choose from shared or private apartments (flats) depending on your needs for independence. All flats are fully furnished and come with sheets and towels. Shared flats have three or more bedrooms and bathrooms are shared with other students.

Cost in US$: From USD 1920 for 2 weeks

Additional costs:
- Travel to and from Florence
- Optional activities and excursions USD 10 to USD 110 per activity (can usually be covered by pocket money)
- Departure transfer USD 80
- Lunches at USD 90 to USD 120 per week
- Pocket money - USD 160 to USD 210 per week (this depends on the personal spending habits of the participant)
- Entry visa if required

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Italy Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Max. 12 students per class

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

The Learning Traveller's Mission Statement: The Learning Traveller offers a wide range of full-immersion language study programs in some of the most interesting and beautiful locations worldwide. Our priority languages are French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian. Our programs focus on summer and gap year. Depending on language level, start dates are every Sunday. Accommodation options are homestay or student residence. All schools offer rich and diverse cultural activities and excursions. We aim to provide an unparalleled counseling service before, during, and after an individual or group's language study experience.

Year Founded: 2003