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  • Italy
Project Types
Education Teaching
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Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family

Pricing

Starting Price
1570
Price Details
What's included in the cost:
- Host family search, screening and placement process
- Single room accommodation with carefully screened host family
- Three meals a day for duration of program
- Local office support
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Pre-departure orientation
- Culture & Etiquette Guidebook
- Enhance your resume with experience as a Private Language Tutor
What's Included
Accommodation Meals
Jun 25, 2021
Dec 22, 2019
Wish List
57 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Greenheart Travel's Teach in a Homestay program in Italy gives you the opportunity to tutor your Italian host family for 15 hours a week. Your host family will be your gateway to getting to know Italian culture (and they'll provide you with awesome Italian meals)! Free-time is yours to explore Europe!

Start dates are super flexible, so you can do this program from 1-3 months, whenever works best for you.

Start dates occur every month, and applications must be submitted at least 8 weeks prior to desired start date.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Greenheart for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

Play Video
Live like a local in Italy during your homestay program
Live with a host family in Italy
Tutor your Italian family in conversational English
Perfect your Italian while living in a homestay in Italy
Enjoy the food and culture of Itay

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We appreciate that everyone has a unique worldview and value everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, ability, military status, religion, sexual orientation or political view. We are committed to building relationships and ensuring everyone we encounter feels welcomed, respected, and accepted. Greenheart is committed to helping anyone find the best program fit and will go the extra mile to make sure our participants feel safe and supported wherever they end up.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes travelers identifying as LGTBQ+, and is committed to helping you find the best program for you. We can provide information on the cultural norms of our destination countries and are prepared to advise you on the best programs based on your needs and interests.
While most of our programs could be a good fit, we also know that certain cultures and countries are more accepting of and prepared to host LGBTQ+ people than others. We are committed to working with LGBTQ+ people to determine which experiences may be the right fit for them. Please reach out if you want to discuss which of our programs might fit you best ahead of applying at travelabroad@greenheart.org or set up a phone call with us here.
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Neurodivergent Support

Greenheart works with partners who have varying levels of what is considered "good mental health". While we cannot change their eligibility conditions, we will work with participants to the best of our abilities in order to get them the program placement they want. We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Accessibility Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes students of varying ability to explore their study abroad options! While resources and support differ from country to country, Greenheart Travel staff work with individual students as needed to find program options that will set students up for success.

Impact

Sustainability

We believe in supporting our travelers to make a positive impact in their communities. The Greenheart Club provides Greenheart Grant funding to alumni projects all over the world.
As the leading eco-friendly exchange organization, we are passionate about helping travelers explore the globe while respecting the environment and cultural heritage of the destinations they explore.
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Ethical Impact

Greenheart Travel is a branch of Greenheart International, a Chicago-based organization that connects people and planet to create global leaders through personal development, volunteer service, environmentalism, fair trade, and cultural exchange. We provide resources, grants, and experiences to those who want to immerse themselves in another culture and leave it better than when they arrived. Through volunteering, creating relationships and more.
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Program Highlights

  • 15 hours per week tutoring your host family (the rest of the time is yours to explore!)
  • Single room accommodation with carefully screened host family accommodations and meals included in the program
  • Personal program manager will assist you before, during and after your program
  • Year round start dates to fit your schedule
  • 24-hour emergency support during your program

Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 9 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 88.89%
  • 4 rating 11.11%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.9
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.55
  • Value 4.1
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 9 - 9 of 9 reviews
Default avatar
Jessica
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Florence/Milan Experience

Sep 23, 2013

In Florence, my host family was very sweet and accommodating however they felt more of like a boarding house for multiple students. The language school was fun and that's where I met most of my friends.

In Milan, my host family was AMAZING, could not have asked for anything better.

What would you improve about this program?
My host family in Milan said they did not receive any money from the program. They fed me and took care of me so I started to wonder where my money went. I feel as though I paid a lot of money only to receive two certificates, I wish I could have gotten college credit or have paid less.
23 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Response from Greenheart

Hi Jessica! Thank you for taking the time to review our Language Exchange Homestay program in Italy. We're so happy to hear that you had a great time! We also want to address your concerns about the program fee.
Greenheart Travel is a non-profit organization but we do have to charge a program fee in order to cover the costs of running the program. The program fee covers the host family screening and placement process (finding a family, doing criminal record checks, reference checks, home visits, etc.), medical insurance and support staff both in the US and Italy.

Please don't hesitate to contact me at jsalvador@greenhearttravel.org if you would like to discuss any further questions or concerns you had about your program.

By Greenheart Travel on September 24, 2013

Questions & Answers

Do I have to know how to speak Italian to participate in this program?

No, no Italian language experience is required to participate! It certainly helps if you learn the basics before you go though :)

By Greenheart Travel on September 10, 2019
Can you also work while doing this? If so, is finding a job difficult?

No, our homestay teachers are in Europe on tourist visas so working in the EU is not permitted on a tourist visa. We recommend taking this time to get to know your host family, city, country, and explore!

By Greenheart Travel on March 1, 2019
Do I need prior teaching experience to join this program?

If you decide to teach to a host family, It is not necessary to have prior English experience. Most of the families want someone who can practice listening and speaking. That could be done spontaneously while performing daily tasks and doesn't require to follow a plan. However, If you are planning to teach in a school, I will recommend having some teaching experience or at least some knowledge...

By Ingrid Bocanegra on March 13, 2018
Is this program only for US- citizens?

Hi Neroli! This program is open to citizens of the EU, USA, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or Canada who are native English speakers.

By Greenheart Travel on November 3, 2017
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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Ingrid Mayerly Bocanegra

Program
Teach English in a Homestay in Italy for 1, 2 or 3 Months
Thumbnail

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted to gain some cross-cultural experience and have the opportunity to improve my teaching skills. This program fit perfectly with my interests, as it offered great mentoring opportunities throughout the whole application process.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

They offered interesting teaching guidelines and useful tips to avoid culture shock. I had to prepare my own classes according to the family's needs.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I felt very prepared for my trip. There were absolutely no negatives in this experience. I strongly suggest to immerse yourself in the culture and learn from the families, they really have a lot to teach.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I would wake up early, have breakfast and start teaching formal classes. This is a schedule I set for myself and the families were very happy about that. We would do one grammar lesson and one conversational.

I would then help to prepare lunch. It was the greatest way to learn Italian cooking recipes. In the afternoons I assisted kids with homework and then we would go out to explore the town. They had a hectic schedule but they would always get me involved in their outdoor activities at camp or family and friends gatherings.

On the weekends we used to go on short trips in the surrounding areas and some days I would agree with the families to have some time off to visit other countries. I explored many cities!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was afraid about not being liked by the family or not fulfilling their language learning needs. Fortunately, the three families were very nice and made me feel like I was a part of them. I also worked hard to leave a positive impact.

My view changed when I understood that most families signed up to the program because they wanted a real cultural exchange and for that reason, they are very open, welcoming and overall very flexible to negotiate the English lesson schedules and dynamic.

What did you enjoy most about your time abroad?

I really enjoyed my time with the families. Most students in this program are very interested in learning English as they want to explore the world of opportunities that are only possible if they learn other languages.

One of the things that really had an impact on me happened two days prior to my return home. All the families along with their friends organized a party for me. They cooked food from all the places I visited during my time there and made a 40-minute video about all of the experiences shared together. That was amazing!

They also made a cookbook. The last day, they had me stop at four friends' houses to get a small gift from them; I got poems, letters, and a handcrafted flower. I felt humbled for all those presents! I could not express with words how grateful I felt. I would really love to repeat this great experience.

About Greenheart

Greenheart Travel is a 501(c)3 non-profit, mission-driven organization based in Chicago, USA. We are passionate about providing immersive cultural experiences for teenagers and adults in countries all over the world. We believe in the power of travel; a power that broadens perspective and turns strangers into family. It’s this belief that motivates...

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