I would be interested to hear what thoughts anyone has on bringing my two girls aged 13 and 14 yrs to live in Italy and placing them in an Italian school. The nearest International School will be 2 hours away so it is not an option. I am naturally worried about how they will cope and how long it would take for them to settle in. They are happy and confident but is it too much to ask of them. I would appreciate any comments at all. Thanks

I would be interested to hear what thoughts anyone has on bringing my two girls aged 13 and 14 yrs to live in Italy and placing them in an Italian school. The nearest International School will be 2 hours away so it is not an option. I am naturally worried about how they will cope and how long it would take for them to settle in. They are happy and confident but is it too much to ask of them. I would appreciate any comments at all. Thanks

:)I moved to Italy at age 19. Learned Italian in about 4 months.
I had never taken any kind of forgein language in school before
that. At age 13 and 14 they have the potential to learn better
and faster than I did. Of course I was highly motivated because
I had fallen in love with Italy.
If you learn Italian and start speaking Italian at home with
your children(at least part of the time)it would be much better.
Make flash cards of Italian on one side and English on the other
and have fun with your kids.

Learning school subjects such as Math, History etc. etc. is the same
whether it be in Italian, English or anyother language.

Mio Dio! Dio mio! My God! I would give anything to have had the
chance to go to school in Italy at 13 or 14. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity for your kids!!!!!!

What a lovely reply, thankyou so much you have raised my spirits! I already speak Italian after being an au pair in Genova for 2 years when I was 21. Although i am 50 now i have never forgotton it. We have had some lessons already and the children are keen, but my ex husband is convinced it will mess up their education. Where do you live now? and what kind of work do you do?
Thanks sweetie

"What a lovely reply." Che simpatica! Che carina!:)

"Where do you live now? and what kind of work do you do?"

Vivo in California right in the middle of the largest Spanish speaking community outside of Guadalajara. Sono Californiano.

I taught high school Spanish for years. Before that
I was a bilingual teacher. Taught all the subjects
in Spanish in a bilingual school.(at night taught English
to Spanish speaking adults for 15 years)

Tre anni fa started teaching Italian to first graders
in an after school program sponsored by the Italian consolate.
Most of the children were Spanish speakers so they learned subito! Che divertito!
The following year was offered a job teaching Italian to adults
at night. This Sept. will be my third year teaching adults Italian. Almost all my students are Spanish speaking so it's a
fun easy job that is il lavoro meglio che ho fatto in la mia vita!

Oh, a proposito, ho dimenticato dire che last summer 2008 the Italian consolate gave me a borsa di studio(scholarship)to study
Italian in Perugia, Umbria, Italia per piu di un messe. It was the best trip di la mia vita. Molto interessante e ho divertito moltissimo!

Pardon me for saying so but you ex husband is a fool. Don't listen to il buffone. Sto scherzando ma e vero! LOL!

Ciao Nettie,
I completely agree with Villa 100%. Villa is one of the greatest values we have on this forum for knowledge and just all around helpful person. My wife and I are in the process of moving to Italy with our 13 year old daughter. She has mixed feelings about the move, only about leaving some of her friends other than that she is ready to go.
This is a wonderful gift you can give your children, a better life in a country that still has family values and which gives value to it's citizens. Are you a citizen to Italy and what part are you moving to?

I really do get excited just thinking about the both
of you going to Italy to live. E fantastico! E meraviglioso!

My only single regret is I'm not going anche!
Will be there in summer 2009.

Villa, You can come with us :)

Ciao a tutti

I plan on moving to Italy from South Africa in February next year. I have had italian classes here, so I can speak a bit - well, at least I think I can get around. It will be overwhelming when they speak really fast and I don't pick up one word - but in time, I hope. I have a four year daughter that I will be bringing with me - and yes, I will be placing her in an italian school - I am in no position to afford an international school, and besides, I would want her to learn italian as a first language. But, of course, being a mother, I am very concerned as well - just how accomodating are the italian schools ?

Hi Giovanni, thanks for your lovely reply too, what a lifeline this forum is! we are going to le Marche, my girls are excited too and are looking on it as an adventure but are sad at leaving friends too. My ex husbabd works in Ancona but is very unsupportive of the move and it suits him to have us in the UK. but bringing up two teenagers alone in todays so called celebrity and big brother culture appals me. I agree with you about values and appreciating the simple things in life, its abit scary doing on my own though, but it will be worth the effort, i am sure!

Ciao Giovanni, I have just shown Cassie my 13 yr old your reply and she has asked if it is possible for your daughter and Cassie to msm each other, what do you think? by the way where are you going?
Nettie

I think you are doing the right thing.100%.
Im sure things will turn out right for you.The adventure is about to begin.Villa is THE man.
Best wishes and enjoy.

Hi Nettie,
I just sent you a private message :)

Hi Nettie
Didn’t understand if you are already in Italy or if you planning to go, anyway hope you are aware that the school system in Italy is different from the one in the UK.
Your girls will be in high school here but in Italy the need to choose which school to go depending on what they want do in the future. Lots of schools to chose from.
I left Italy 18 years ago, not sure if thinks changed, but don’t think so.
Don't think they will have any problem to settle in, Italian are very warm people, be prepared to get invited for coffee or diners.

Just come and enjoy! Food is better, the education is as good, or better, than anywhere else, and the lifestyle makes any problems insignificant!

Villa - come too - I need lots of help with my Italian!:)

Hi Nettie D

I made the move to Italy with my daughter 4 years ago. She was only 2 at the time so it has been easy for her. It takes a while to adjust to the way of life in Italy. It took me about 2 years. I'm not saying this to put you off but you need to be prepared. Now I am happy I made the change and life is good.

I teach English as a foreign language and worked in a state secondary school in Cagliari for about 6 months. The system is different to the UK in that kids do final exams aged 18, no GCSEs. It is true that they have to decide whether they want to do classical studies, sciences or technical studies at 14, but it is fairly easy to change stream if necessary. Kids spend much less time at school during the day than they do in the UK (classes usually finish at 1.30pm), but they also attend on Saturdays.

As far as learning the language is concerned you don't have to worry. I see you have already started having lessons, and kids pick it up really quickly. I have known a few American exchange students who have come to Italy for a year and they picked Italian up without any problems. Plus most kids study English at school so they will manage to understand each other.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions you would like to ask about the move here.

And don’t forget you need buy all the books yourself .
In the UK the school give the kids all they need even pen and pencil In Italy the school give you a list with all the things you need to buy. Don’t want put you off but you better be prepared.
Good news are that they don’t need the uniform.