What inspired you to go abroad?
I have a love of Italian culture and have friends near the school in Recanati, so I figured it would be good to improve my language skills. I visit quite regularly and Duolingo wasn't structured enough to help with grammatical rules.
Why did you choose to attend Scuola di Italiao Dante?
I knew people familiar with the school and had heard good things about it. I had visited Recanati previously and knew what a beautiful place it is, so I was confident that it would provide a great setting in which to spend a month.
Gola del Furlo
What is your favorite part about Italy?
The general quality of life. Everything from the picturesque surroundings, the friendly people, the delicious food, and being surrounded by history make it a fantastic place to familiarise yourself with.
What made your experience abroad unique?
Being familiar with Le Marche, I think of it as a region divided in two, between the people of the mountains and the people of the coast. Recanati proved a unique place, situated close to the coast and on a hilltop, made it feel like it straddled both parts of Le Marche, and thus encapsulated all that the region has to offer.
How did local staff support you through the program
The staff was fantastic in every way. The teachers, besides being instructive, were lots of fun. I really enjoyed Silvia's class along with spending time together with her and Valeria. I also had lots of clerical things to sort out during my stay and Anna, Martina, and the admin team were always happy to help when it came to using office equipment. For any other technicalities I encountered, people in the logistics crew, like Carlo and Jamil, were always quick on the scene to provide a solution. I have nothing but good things to say about all the people involved with the school.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I paid a little extra to have a self-contained apartment. It was vital to have a solid internet connection for my work and I really enjoyed practicing local recipes in my own kitchen.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program
My days would begin with a breakfast alongside fellow students and friends, before beginning lessons for the mornings. I'd then enjoy a lunch alongside my classmates before beginning my personal work in the afternoons (I am fortunate enough to be able to work wherever my laptop is).
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
The other students were very sociable and it was nice to hang out with a broad range of people from many diverse places. I was lucky to have the use of a car, and so was able to visit local cities (like Urbino, Senigallia, and Perugia) and beautiful natural spots (like Piano Grande, Lago di Fiastra, and Gola del Furlo). When not travelling outside of Recanati, there was no shortage of great bars and restaurants within the city.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
The courses are immersive, which means only Italian is spoken. There are many different levels of courses, from basic to advanced, but I think everyone would benefit by dipping their toes into the waters before starting their studies. I did a bit of practice beforehand on Duolingo and, while I still knew very little, having a bit of prior familiarity with the language definitely helped me progress a lot more quickly.
Villa Buonaccorsi
Now that you're home, how has your time in Italy impacted your life?
I made many friends that I have kept in touch with and visited. I've also made an effort to continue practicing my Italian to stop getting rusty, and will use that aim as a handy excuse for more regular visits to the historic peninsula.
What is one thing you wish you had done differently during your program?
I juggled personal work alongside the lessons, which meant I wasn't able to take part in as many of the outings as I'd have liked to. I know all my fellow students enjoyed the trips and it would have been nice if I'd been freer to enjoy more of what the school had to offer.
Would you recommend Scuola di Italiao Dante to others? Why?
Definitely. The course was well structured and I could clearly see the progress it helped me make. The teachers and staff were a pleasure to be around, and they helped organise many events for the students to enjoy. Besides the course itself, the location was ideal - small enough to get to know well, but not so small as to feel isolated - there seemed to be a different local festival every other day or so.
