Via Lingua Florence

The Via Lingua Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is designed for those with little or no experience of teaching English. It equips you with the basic skills and knowledge needed to take up a first post as ESL teachers and gives you a firm foundation for self-evaluation and further professional development. This is achieved through attending lectures and workshops that cover language awareness, teaching methodology, learner profiling and production of classroom materials. Group work, teaching practice and observations are also included.
Each course runs for a minimum of 130 programmed hours. Every trainee has to attend a full course and complete all assignments, including teaching practice, to the required standard in order to qualify for the award. To find out about course dates and fees please go to course dates & fees.
We believe in learning through involvement, and students are expected to participate in many different ways during the sessions. Where necessary information will be supplied, but more commonly you will experience a workshop approach, where your tutor acts as a "facilitator/animator" rather than as a lecturer. The course will include the following components to be formally and individually assessed. Please click on each unit for further information.

FLORENCE, ITALY
2015 Course Dates and Fees:
Course Dates:
• Oct 20 - Nov 14, 2014
• Nov 17 - Dec 12, 2014
• Jan 12 - Feb 6, 2015
• Feb 16 - Mar 13, 2015
• April 13 - May 8, 2015
• May 25 - June 19, 2015
• June 29 - July 24, 2015
• August 3 - 28, 2015
• Sept 14 - Oct 9, 2015
• Oct 19 - Nov 13, 2015
• Nov 23 - Dec 18, 2015
Florence Course Fee: EUR 1195
Accommodation: Approximately EUR 500 (shared room)
Situated in the middle of Italy, Florence has long been recognized amongst the most important cultural and political centers in Europe. From the medieval Guelphs and Guibellines to the birth of the Renaissance, the city finds itself associated with such names as Dante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Da Vinci. The influence of such a great past is immediately visible to any visitor of modern-day Florence, from Brunelleschi's famous Dome to it's oldest bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, that crosses the River Arno. As one walks around the city, it is possible to see buildings that still bare the Medici crest, symbol of their great rule, and the beautiful sculptures and paintings produced under their patronage by the Renaissance masters. Nowadays, Florence is a major European tourist destination and it is easy to understand why. Located in the heart of Tuscany, famous for it's wine and rustic cuisine, Florence is a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding towns and hilly countryside, with wonders such as Sienna and Assisi nearby. In the city itself, the easy accessibility of the sights to the pedestrian combines with a temperate year-round climate to make Florence and ideal destination. The school's central location in Piazza della Repubblica is just a few hundred meters from the Duomo, and places the student right at the center of this fascinating city.
TEFL Training Center:
The American Language Center of Florence was founded in 1959 by the United States Information Service and then privatized in the 1960's. It is now one of the leading American English schools in Italy, and has received approval from the Ministry of Public Education to teach American English and culture. It is an active member of international organizations such as TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisors), and it works closely with other American language schools throughout the world.
The American Language Center is located in Piazza della Repubblica, just a short walk from the world-famous Duomo. Our facilities include several multi-purpose classrooms, offices, library, and a terrace overlooking the historical city center. Satellite TV, WiFi, computers and an ESL Library are on the premises.
Teaching English in Italy:
Enrollment in English language schools continues to increase at a dramatic rate among Italians. Milan is considered a promising destination yet it is not just the sophisticated urbanites of Rome, Florence, and Milan who long to learn English. Small towns in Sicily and Sardinia, in the Dolomites, and along the Adriatic all have more than their fair share of private language schools and institutes. As in Spain, a number of organizations run language summer camps. Another possibility is to set up as a freelance tutor, though knowledge of Italian is even more an asset here than knowing the local language elsewhere in Europe. Language schools start in September or October and finish up in May or June, and contracts are typically nine to 10 months. There are also summer camps in June and July. From February or March on is a good time to start looking for jobs as schools have a better idea of who is returning to teach. But there are also many jobs that open up very close to the beginning of the school year, sometimes mere days before the first day. There are also emergency openings throughout the year. Where you want to live can affect your search. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find something. Don't rule out southern Italy. Indeed, the South is a different world in many respects, but it also has some advantages. Living costs are much lower while teaching salaries are not reduced proportionately. Rent in Calabria can be as low as $180 for a room and averages perhaps $250, whereas in the North apartments are often at least double that. Don't always balk at what appears to be a low salary. When you find a school that wants to hire you, you are still just halfway there. If a school seems interested but the work permit is unlikely, ask them if they are willing to set you up for one year in a sort of student capacity. You are going there to study methodology of teaching English to Italians (and get paid anyway). Italians have a billion rules and regulations but have learned to dance about them with the grace of Fred Astaire. If you do find something and the pay is not exactly excessive, you can still find ways to get by. Private lessons can garner anything from 15 to 30 euros per hour. Offer cheaper rates to university students if they come in pairs or groups.
The importance of English in Italy:
Frustration with traditional Italian schools has led to the increasing popularity of international schools offering the entire curriculum in English. There are teacher jobs for English-speaking teachers in every subject, especially English as a second language (ESL). Americans, Canadians and Australians are working in Italy even though they aren't citizens of the European Union.
Food & Clothing:
If you do not love Italian food, what on earth are you doing in Italy? Even if you do, however, figuring out where and what to eat in Italy can pose delicious quandaries for the traveler.
Florence’s location in a small basin encircled by hills is a determining factor for its changeable climate. Summers tend to be extremely hot and humid, and winters are cool and wet. The average monthly temperature for July and August is about 73 to 75 °F (23 to 24 °C), with an average daytime high of about 95 °F (35 °C); the average monthly temperature for January is 41 °F (5 °C). Winters tend to be short-lived, ending generally in mid-March, and bring rain rather than snow. Unpleasantly cold showers can persist into April, however. The most delightful seasons in which to visit Florence are late spring and fall, when the sky becomes an azure vault and the sun warms but does not scorch.
Accommodation:
On request, Via Lingua will book housing accommodations. Accommodation options can be within walking distance of the school or well connected by public transportation -- your accommodations will never be more than a 20-minute bus ride from the school. Apartments are clean, comfortable and well heated. Any special requests or requirements regarding accommodation can be specified on the course application form. Via Lingua will do its best to meet these needs. While it should be stated that the standards of accommodation are generally less luxurious than those found in the UK and North America, apartments are clean, comfortable and well heated. Any special requests or requirements regarding accommodation can be specified on the course application form.
You may choose from the following housing options:

Shared Apartment
You may book a single or twin* room in selected private apartments. These apartments are shared with students from Via Lingua, Italian Students or, sometimes, with the owner. You are allowed to use the kitchen and bathroom. All apartments are completely furnished. You will be provided with a change of towels and bed linens once a week.

Studio Apartment
This option is suitable for those who would like the privacy and independence of their own furnished apartment. Via Lingua provides furnished studios or small apartments for one person or two people travelling together. Bedrooms and bathrooms come complete with linens and towels and kitchens have all accessories.

Communication, Telephone and Internet:
You may buy or rent a cellular phone from any of the numerous phone stores in Florence. You may reserve a rental phone prior to arrival at www.platform3000.com. Via Lingua housing does not provide telephones and phone service is generally not available in your accommodation. The center has Wi-Fi.


Excursions and Cultural Highlights:
Because the course is so intensive, people can spend their month here without finding the time to see the beauty of Italy. To make the most of your visit here in Florence, we can offer a number of possible excursions to allow you to learn more about Florence and its environs. Here is a list of potential excursions for you to peruse – what is offered during your particular course will depend on the season and the interest.

Wine Tasting
Offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:15 p.m. Discover the tastes of some of the most famous Tuscan wines and the foods that go with them. Advanced booking required.

Cooking course
Every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m. The menu changes every week. Please check in our offices for the monthly menu to decide which course you would like to sign up for.


Bike Tour
All day bike tour. Participants leave from Ponte S. Trinità at 9:00 am and are taken to the countryside by minivan. At drop off point you will be given a bike, helmet and water bottle and accompanied on an easy paced bike ride by a qualified guide (First two miles are uphill but you may also walk). Stop for lunch at the Casa del Prosciutto and enjoy a relaxing meal of typical Florentine cuisine. On the way back (downhill!) stop for a vineyard tour where you will get to taste wines and olive oils produced at this family farm. Tour returns to Florence at 5:00 p.m. (minimum 3 participants required)

Special Offers:
Via Lingua has announced the second annual "Ernestine Moore" Scholarship Award to be offered to a deserving candidate in 2014 to any of the Via Lingua locations for a one-month intensive TEFL Course. Ernestine Moore was a lifelong advocate of education and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for children and young adults. Through her personal and professional advocacy in the field of Social Work and Children’s Rights she had a lasting contribution to her field and all those around her. She lived and practiced Service Learning. The author of the widely adopted college textbook "Child Welfare and Family Services: Policies and Practice", Ernestine was a staunch supporter of Via Lingua and its dedication to global learning and multicultural understanding for all ages.
Double-up discount
Book together with a friend for the same course and you can both claim a 100 EUR discount on the advertised price. Offer applies to all course dates and locations. We can also arrange for you to share the same accommodation if required.