Hi guys,

Appreciate any help you can give me here.

Next year, early to mid summer, I hoped to travel around Europe for just over 3 weeks with some friends. I've already cleared the time off with my work. However, now I think would prefer to spend 3 weeks living and studying in Italy.

I'd like to live and work in Italy for a few years when I am older, so I think this would be a good opportunity to "test the water" and see if I enjoy it.

I am 18 years old and I am employed as a web/website developer at trainee level.

In Scotland/UK we have University and College. University is generally for the higher educated and college for those wishing to study something more practical ("hands-on") though still offers similar courses to University but the qualifications at the end are less attractive.

I neither go to college or university, as I am taught what I know from a university graduate with 25+ years experience in the industry I work in.

I would like to know if there is any sort of course I could attend in Italy (taught in English) on web technologies (PHP, AJAX, XHTML, CSS, JS etc.) I don't mind where it's based. Would it be possible to attend for such a short period of time?

While getting something out of the course would be nice, the aim of the trip is to get a taste for Italian life.

A friend from Italy, the same age as me, visited England for 2 weeks this year, and attended an English school. Her English however is much better than my Italian.

I would also appreciate any info with regard to accommodation for students on placement.

Thank you in advance!

Ewan :)

Hi Ewan,

I'm not aware of anything, but I know a few people who work at the Tiscali corporate HQ which is here in Sardinia. I'll ask around and see if they know of anything.

All the best

I Ewan

the important place you can "taste the water" :-) but is better the beer :-) is Milan isn't a beautiful city but for work is the best.
The most web itlian agency come from Milan, there are too othe big around the country in rome at cagliari Sardinia (tiscali) etc but the best is in MIlan.
for the course I don't know with type of scool you do but you can ask to your university I know that there are some project in italy Called ERASMUS made for change scool in europe for one year,

I can give you some work i have a little activity and I need a web devellopper, but I pay you only if you paly Rugby :-) I'm a rugby player .. I love it ...
ciao

ps sorry for my terrible english

Fulvio, Sardoman - thank you for your replies. Both very helpful!

To work at tiscali (maybe not even to work, only to learn) would be great for me, a really good experience!

I have contacted a few agencies in the main cities of Italy to see if they would consider letting me study or work with them for a short period of time, but I have not received many replies...

Fulvio - I only play football, but my father is a big rugby supporter of Scotland. I am not strong enough to play rugby. :o ;)

But maybe we can talk and I can help you...

Ewan

Ciao Ewan ... I think your father is a nice man :-)))
I goes in scotland 2 time for the 6 nation, Scotland Vs Italy ...
Edinburgh and the Murrayfiled are great ..

The problem about yours letter to Italian agency maybe is the language, In italy little people understand english and me too ;-)

if you go to scool ask to you school director, I know there are exchange of study.. called erasmus
ciao

Hi Ewan - I've only been in Italy a couple of months myself, but I haven't heard of any "tech" courses in English, although a lot of the scientific, and I guess computer experts, speak very good English. Why not spend some of your time on an Italian language course? It would stand you in good stead if you come over for an extended period - my Italian is pretty limited, but if you make an effort, the people here are very accomodating. Good luck!

Ciao Ewan,

Just wanted to give you some general advice (though I am unfamiliar with your field) about working/interning in Italy. I am an American who is in love with all things Italiano after spending a semester in Umbria (Orvieto!) 4 years ago and had a huge longing to go back and live for awhile. This summer, I had the opportunity to do an internship (unpaid, of course) in Milan for 2 months as a part of a required semester program for my Masters degree (I did get credit from my uni, however). Arranging it was a pain in the butt. It took a lot of research (mainly in Italian, of course), letters/emails sent out, time and patience to get through this process but in the end everything worked out in the end. What got me there in the long run were two trips made to two major art fairs (Arte Fiera and MiArt) this year to network, interview and inquire about these opportunities. I found out the hard way that in order to work in a foreign country, you need to prove to your employers that you have skills nobody they are considering has. That includes Italian, so like Fulvio suggested, it's a good idea to consider Italian language immersion. What got me in the door was my ability to communicate decently in Italian (though not fluent), and be able to read and write the language.

So, some bits of advice for the job/internship search:

- Always make sure your CV and cover letter is in Italian (have it professionally translated by a native speaker and look online for the right format)

- Learn the language, and learn it well, especially how to speak it! Do you speak any other languages? If you do, flaunt it!

- Network: try to go to social events and meet people in your field of interest (for me, that meant going to different galleries/openings and talking to people about the art scene there)

- Don't expect to be paid high, or to be paid at ALL (sadly, the economy isn't doing to well and pay is generally low even for Italians)

- Visit fairs/expositions like the art ones I attended (I know they have ones for computer/internet stuff in Bologna every year - find out who is going to be there, email your CV and cover letter, then try to set up an appointment)

- Follow-up with every encounter you've had and every contact you make. Efficiency isn't particularly high on the list in Italy, so make sure you follow-up after an interview/meeting/encounter and keep reminding them of what you want to do

- Check with your local uni. to see if they have any immersion programs (i've heard great things about Erasmus)

- Work hard, relax and have fun (when it finally becomes a reality)

BTW, the word "internship" in Italian is translated to two possible words: "l'apprendistato" and "stage". The first one is generally paid by a small stipend while the second one is not paid at all. You are the company's apprentice and there to learn whatever they have to offer you.

Good luck with everything and feel free to ask more questions!

And i second Fulvio, Milan is a great place to find work and has a high population of UK ex-pats! You are also better off find a job in the north than in the south where the economy is quite bad...

Just a note to anyone who is interested in living in Italy, don't let not knowing the language hold you back. I knew almost nothing before I quit my job and moved to Rome. It's true what Markymark said, if you just try people will slow down and help you. Italians love their language and they want you to speak it too. As my neighbor Sra. Molinari used to say when I would get frustrated, "Piano, piano," slowly it will come.
Martha