Student Reports: Sorrento

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Gabriella / Sorrento

Three week programme at false beginner level, studying Italian abroad for the first time.

“I expected to have general conversations with others, be able to understand and converse about ordinary, everyday situations. I also expected to meet new people from different places, make some new friends and see some of the area.
My vocabulary improved dramatically, and I met lots of brilliant people and generally had a fabulous time.
The lessons worked for me, as the structure is similar to lessons at my school. There were materials for us to look at and listening exercises and the teachers tried to vary the class structure. The teachers were all brilliant and very friendly; a few in particular were very funny whilst also being able to teach! I sometimes felt that the conversation lessons got a bit tedious – 2 hours before lunch – everyone seemed to get a little fidgety.
The Internet room in the school was great and not often too crowded. The staff were all lovely and did their best to resolve any issues that arose and it was very easy to find. Five minutes to the beach, opposite some banks, café and near a little park and gorgeous cloister. The extracurricular sessions were also very interesting and a good way to practice more Italian.
The worst day was the first day, there was a hold up on the bus I was on and it held me up. I was so worried I was going to be late and the staff would be angry but the whole situation was so laid back I shouldn’t have worried. The best thing was being able to improve my Italian so quickly and to see such an improvement, also meeting brilliant people and socialising.
I thought there were enough lessons and I was glad I didn’t opt for private lessons, as I wouldn’t have socialised as much. The students I met were all very friendly although some in University groups could be rowdy and intimidating. I think some students were sometimes too advanced for the class and there should perhaps be more assessments. College social activities were very interesting and a good time to practise more, however I would have enjoyed an excursion into Napoli – its one place that is better if you go with a local.
Locals are very friendly, they automatically spoke in English, I always responded in Italian and it seemed to make their day.
Initially I didn’t like my accommodation being a bus ride away from the school as most my friends lived in Sorrento, however I soon really liked it because it gave me a truer experience of Italy. There were cheaper shops and gorgeous ice cream not to far away. The family I stayed with were brilliant, very kind and Carmela is a wonderful cook. In all the three weeks, I didn’t have the same meal twice. They also had a terrace, which as Sorrento has pay for beaches were really great. I ended up talking to the locals and they got used to seeing my face.
CESA were good. It was much easier to go through CESA – other who didn’t said it often took a long time to arrange. I was also glad I went to Sorrento as opposed to Rome after a member of staff at CESA said (quite rightly) being in a city in the heat isn’t so great.
To those staying near Piano I would recommend a trip to Villa Fondi near the sea. Beautiful, calm, friendly staff and small free museum. Gardens are gorgeous and open until midnight in the summer. I have some fantastic memories and students should keep a journal as interesting things happen, and its so easy to forget.”