Explore Florence, Italy with World Class Programs

My daughter was part of the Florence 2021 crew and what an experience it was! I was elated to find World Class Programs online and learn about their real world learning process. My daughter "majored" in Italian and met with her teacher each morning at a local café. They spent their time conversing, shopping, and experiencing Italian culture all while growing and broadening her Italian language skills. She loved her teacher and the time they spent together. She minored in philosophy (which she also greatly enjoyed) and the entire group also had the opportunity to explore Tuscan cuisine cooking several times a week (I'm still jealous).
In their down time (and there's a great balance of "class"/free time) the group was able to explore Florence and experience the beautiful city as a local. They also spent their weekends traveling as a group - and I know that the trips were a highlight for my daughter (I mean who wouldn't love Cinque Terre?).
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Derek and his team. Derek walked the perfect line of being fun/entertaining while also instilling appropriate guardrails and rules for the group. I felt completely confident in his judgment and was thrilled with his communication before and during the trip.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and I can't thank World Class Programs enough for the amazing summer!

My daughter went on this trip in 2021 to Italy and I could not possibly feel better about recommending this program! There was an excellent combination of education and leisure, and I felt extremely comfortable about her health and safety with the staff members who were with her. They were able to see so many amazing things and the value for what we paid was unparalleled. Could not be more thrilled with this program and will be sending two kids with them next summer! Thank you to Derek and the staff for an amazing experience.

I am a parent of a program participant. My daughter has been home for a little over a week and has not stopped talking about her experience. We had hoped she would have the chance to assert her independence, have a chance to meet some potential friends with a variety of interests and opinions as well as experience a taste of a different culture. Our hopes were spectacularly exceeded. At first, the program may look a bit pricey, but almost everything is included once you are in the host country, including many unique learning opportunities. This is an incredible program and worth every penny.

What a great experience. The staff was world class. The program allowed the students to immerse in the Italian culture. They got to see many parts of Italy. Plus, learn about the country and food. Each student picks two areas to study. This allows them to learn more details about Italy that they want to focus. Being a parent, safety was at the top of my list. The staff answered all safety questions. Plus, the staff has been to Italy many times, so they know what to expect. It helped that they have a person from Italy to help with the program. This was the best experience.

I would definitely consider myself an adventurous person. I love venturing outside of my comfort zone and meeting new people. Being completely candid, the weeks leading up to the program were nerve racking. Good nerves, obviously, but this was the first time I was really genuinely nervous to do something I enjoyed so much; adventuring. Within the first 24 hours, I realized that these nerves were most certainly unwarranted. I was welcomed with open arms not just by staff, but by the students as well. We all instantaneously connected, and I was so excited to start this new journey with all of them. I came on the trip with my main intention being to improve my Italian skills. Not only do I feel 10 times more confident in my Italian, but I've walked away having learned so many lessons. In addition to basically becoming a pro at walking a minimum of 5 miles a day, I've eaten some of the best meals of my life, seen the most breathtaking churches and museums (and I'm not a museum or church person!) and created long lasting friendships with people all across the country. Alluding to the title of my review, I can indeed confirm that I did have the adventure of a lifetime. I was able to not only explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but live there for 3 weeks. Whenever my roommates and I were out, we would constantly say, "I want to go home." Not home as in our actual homes back across the ocean, but our "home" in Florence. Some of my best memories were spent in that city, and as I am currently writing this in Rome, I really truly can say that I am "homesick." One of the main takeaways from this trip is also the feeling of having a second family. For 3 weeks, I went from living with 10 strangers, to living with a crazy, caring, energetic, and amazing family. Throughout all the ups and downs, we all had one another's backs, every step of the way. I couldn't be anymore thankful to Derek, Catherine, and World Class Programs for giving me an experience I truly will never forget. As Derek said at the very beginning of the program, "I hope this will be the trip that you tell your kids, and grandkids about," and I truly can't wait for the day I get to do so.

I transferred from the Japan program to the Italia program in World Class and the process was quite easy. Miss Katherine was very helpful when I bombarded her with questions concerning the program. I felt quite safe the whole time and still had a ton of fun. I entered into the program with no expectations but I was still blown away. I must say that I have learned quite a bit about myself. Thank you Miss Katherine, Mr. Tano, Miss Abby, and Mr. Vieri. I appreciate you putting up with me and my speed walking.

I was able to learn so much through this program, and was able to totally expand my horizons. I was really worried about what college would be like with dorm living before this trip, but I was able to learn so much about what that would be like through this experience. If you are looking for a true dorm living and study abroad experience, this is the program for you! The memories that you will make will last a life time, and is truly the most rewarding part of the whole experience. The staff are so kind, and make this experience so enjoyable. This program is life changing, and very unique. I would recommend it to anyone in high school, as it truly expands the standard school style. Loved this program so much, do it if you can!

After completing the Florence 2021 trip, I strongly urge those interested to attend. Whether experiencing the rich culture, amazing museums, or delicious foods, we got to experience life as a Florence native. Alongside classes and group activities, we had the opportunity to explore the city or relax during the generous amount of hours of free time. My favorite aspect of this trip has to be the various day trips visiting other cities. Although focused in Florence, we were able to familiarize ourselves with many other key Italian cities. Lastly, I want to thank Katherine, Derek, and all the teachers, for their commitment to keeping this program both fun and formative. I am so excited to attend another World Class Programs Trip!