Just received an email from a friend of mine, a woman in her mid 30's, who is traveling for the next few months, abroad. She's headed for Australia, then in March, Italy. She is interested in staying for 3-4 weeks, as she has realatives in the north. Before visiting them, however, she would like to enroll in a language school, either in Perugia, Florence, or the like. She would also like to find cheap lodging or housesit for someone. Any good ideas out there? Grazie, Cheryl

Hi,

We have access to a language school in Montepuliciano that has 3-4 week courses and arranges for inexpensive lodging as part of a package. Montepulciano is a neat little town and there is regular bus service to Chiusi where there is train service on the main line that connects Florence and Rome. If interested in more information, please contact me at
info@villasitalia.com.

Martin
Italian Vacation Villas

Cheryl, when I was talking to Nancy in Florence (from the AOL boards) she said she found a good language school. Maybe send her an email. There is supposed to be a famous one in Perugia. I remember walking by the school in Montepulciano that Martin mentions and have heard it is good.

Cheryl

I just remembered about http://www.wellanguage.com About a year ago we went to a local restaurant (Girasole) to hear a talk by the founder, Stefania Belli, of this school. Throughout the evening and dinner we covered some basic Italian, the history of food in Italy, and the regional differences. We also received some recipes including the long, tedious and very difficult version of Timballo di Maccheroni (remember the movie Big Night?). Timballo was served - it was ok. We were to meet Stefania for lunch in Todi on our spring trip, but unfortunately didn't make it.

Anyway, they offer weekend and 1 and 2 week language and cultural immersion programs. Visitors can stay in a hotel, city or country apartment, or with a local family. Classes are just 3 - 5 people, held in the morning with the rest of the day available for exploring the local area.

Hi Cheryl....I have studied Italian in Florence in 2 different schools- Centro Koine and Scuola Leonardo da Vinci. They were both very good, but, I liked Koine better. It's in a 16th century palazzo in the center, a few minutes from piazza Signoria and the Uffizi. I studied there on 3 or 4 different occasions. Koine found me an apartment within a 15-20 minute walk to the school in a nice location. The apartment belongs to an Italian family, but, only the daughter lives there, with 1 or 2 students. I have become good friends with her, and, always rent a room in her apartment when I visit Florence. I pay about 900,000 Lire (about $450.) per month. The school helps all students to find a place to live. If your friend goes there, ask her to tell Linda at the school that Alan from New York recommended her.

I can also highly recommend a school in Venice- Venice Institute. I had a great experience there, and they found me a place on a canal near the school.
Ciao,
Alan

Grazie all of you, for the wonderful information you got me about language schools and lodging. I will pass it on to my friend, who I know, will be very appreciative. Ciao, Cheryl