Hi everyone, I'm new here. I need some advice. I'm 17 years old, and I live in the UK, and am thinking about my future. I lived in Spain for 7 years, and have just recently moved back to the UK. I lived in Marbella, if any of you are familiar with it, it is about the most touristy area you can get. The long and short of it is, I went to an English speaking school, and although I speak Spanish, it's not perfect, and I'm very aware of the fact the the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it, and cut off all connections with English, however tough it may be to start with. In my opinion, languages are your way in the world, and I want to learn more.

Ok, where I'm leading with this, if you've read this far is, after finishing A Levels I want to move to Italy. Not permanently, for a year. But in that year I want to learn Italian. I know that I need to go somewhere were little to no English is spoken. Can anyone recommend any good places? If anyone is familiar with Spain, maybe an Italian equivalent to Salamanca? Maybe not a little village in the middle of nowhere.

Also, if anyone could help me by putting my in the know about jobs in Italy. Obviously I'd need a job, but I wouldn't know where to start, what to apply for etc. I am obviously learning italian while I am still in the UK, so I can function, but I'm not sure it will be enough to be employable, really.

If anyone can suggest anything, jobs, courses, places to live, where to go, what to do, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Hello Zay, and welcome here!
Well your problem will be a common one in every country, English is spoken everywhere! I never found a Briton speaking Italian in the four times one month I've been there!
In every big city English is very common, and also in not-so-big ones you'll find many English speakers! Since you don't want to end up in some forgotten place with 10 inhabitants it will be hard!
I guess your best shot would be in the south, in provinces capitals like Avellino, Campobasso, Vibo Valentia, but I don't think life there is very funny
If I'd be you I'd go in the place I like most, regardless of English speakers. To avoid speaking English you just have to always speak Italian yourself, we'll appreciate also an attempt in very broken Italian, and if someone switches to English just say "per favore in Italiano, sto imparando"!
About jobs the situation here is very chaotic, forget finding something very remunerative (does this word exist?), you'll just find bad jobs with a bad pay probably.

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Ciao Zay
We have just moved to Soriano nel Cimino, only 80kms North of Rome and very few people here speak English.

It may be a good place for you to consider. Also a suggestion for a job might be to try and get some English Tutoring work. Many Italian families want their children to learn English and so far the English that I have seen taught in the schools here is very basic.

You would need to find a family that is keen to invest in their children's English and that would be able to afford this, but I think there would be many of them around the Roma area.

Hope this helps?
Peta

Thank you both of you! This has been a massive help for me. I've literally just starting learning Italian today, so I know I've got a LOOOOONG way to go. I'm really excited about this, and having lived in Spain, I know you need all the insider advice you can get, so thank you!