Staff Interview with Silvia Celli

What inspired you to be a partner at Il Sasso Italian Language School?

After working in Florence as a language instructor, an editor, and an author, I was so lucky to be asked to become a partner of Il Sasso Institute School of Italian in the charming small town of Montepulciano. Here I had the chance to add to my editing and writing experience, and the opportunity to work with foreign languages while interacting with people from all over the world. 

Describe a typical day at work.

I walk to school at 8:30 a.m. every day. I check my inbox, I have a coffee with my business partners, and I discuss relevant issues with them. Among my key responsibilities are the implementation and overall day-to-day management of all aspects of the academic programme. I put a lot of energy into managing the teaching staff so as to create a positive, enthusiastic team in order to deliver a high-quality programme ensuring the students' satisfaction.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

My education and international background are required to deal with any student or foreign group leader queries on academic matters, and to ensure that Il Sasso Language School policies are implemented and adhered to at all times. 

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

After a few days or weeks, students can feel they are not happy with their results and feel frustrated. I talk to them, try to help them understand that everyone learns at a different pace, and that they should give themselves a little more time while having realistic expectations about their learning process. 

What makes Il Sasso special?

First of all, the Italian language school Il Sasso is a small sized school with a high standard of quality. Second of all, it is located in a charming Renaissance town that stands on a hill surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in southern Tuscany, far from the traffic and chaos of the big cities. Last but not least, the school was founded almost 40 years ago by people who are still running it today.  

Why should someone choose Il Sasso over competitors?

Lessons are conducted by teachers who are all university graduates with a Master in the teaching of Italian as a foreign or second language, and who are particularly experienced in instructing adult students. 

What is Il Sasso’s mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission is to promote the Italian language and culture by ensuring high-level quality of teaching for all language courses, and to provide a nurturing and welcoming environment that makes the students return year after year.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

A better understanding of our culture and of their own culture, a broader mind, and an open heart, together with (it goes without saying) a better knowledge of the Italian language.

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

The most frequently asked question about travelling to Montepulciano for a language course at our school is related to the fear that travelling alone would be unsafe or just boring. People want to know if they can travel to Montepulciano on their own, go to the restaurants alone, if they can visit the nearby towns and cities and be safe. The answer is that Montepulciano is a very safe town, where most people are willing to help if you need help, and that nobody will bother you if you are having your dinner on your own. Also, the school is a place where many people meet friends on the very first day, so the issue simply vanishes in a few hours' time.

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

Learning a new language is important for the benefits of memory improvement, especially if you are not so young, and for reducing the risks of age-related cognitive decline; for making friends all over the world, or simply for an authentic cultural experience in a foreign country; and for understanding your own culture from the outside—not only from within (you are definitely missing the bigger picture that way!).

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

You'll never regret having taken the opportunity to travel. You are never too old or too young to go abroad. Be aware that it's going to be a life-changing experience.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Travel with open eyes and an open mind. Do not be afraid of having new experiences. Do not try to control everything that happens around you. Let things happen.

What does ethical global engagement mean to you?

The future of travel cannot help taking into account a new approach to land, people, cultures, and minorities. Thinking ethically and thinking globally is not only a new approach—it's a call of duty.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is an experience which changes you, bringing your mind and soul towards discoveries that you have never imagined. It is the experience that allows you to learn something more about yourself while learning something different.