Inexpensive way to immerse into a beautiful culture while working with children!

Program

Travel Italy and Become TEFL-TP Certified with A.C.L.E.

By Karishma Lalchandani on 07/16/2016

Ratings

Overall

Benefits: 5

Support: 5

Fun: 5

Facilities: 5

Safety: 5

Review

I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a tutor with ACLE. Originally, I didn't think being a tutor would be too intense but after orientation, I knew the job would be tough. I enjoy working with children and although the job was more intense than I thought it would be, I wouldn't have it any other way! The children you work with adore you and the parents and other adults see how hard your work and respect you. You have the opportunity to work with tutors from many English-speaking countries so you learn about their cultures as well as Italian culture. This is a wonderful opportunity for people who enjoy being enthusiastic, energetic, and outgoing! I wish I would have discovered this program sooner so I could have done it every summer! Another huge benefit of this program is that you can do it without spending an absurd amount of money. Because of the study grant that ACLE provides, I spent about $800 for one month in Italy (including my flights to and from America, food, housing, souvenirs, and the orientation fee). My host families were all kind and hospitable. I became so close to one of my host families that they have insisted that I come back next summer to stay with them for a week or two when I'm done with camp! They bought me presents the night before I left and were so touched when I gave them a small gift I brought from America. I feel like I found a second family!

Year Completed

2016

Private Note to Provider (optional)

I participated in two camps while I was in Italy with ACLE this summer. My first camp in Posta Fibreno was amazing! The camp director was a bit strict about staying on schedule but it was understandable and she kept us on track. My second camp in Pisa at Santa Catarina School, however, had a very relaxed camp director. Although she treated me well, I found that it was up to the tutors to do almost everything. She did not help us make a calendar and when we would ask questions such as, "how long should the children get for recess?" she would answer, "I don't know! I'm not going to tell you how to do your job." She also told us that we have to pass the children no matter how they actually performed in class. She grouped them by age and a 13-year-old boy was in my level 7 class even though his English was at the 3rd or 4th level. I asked if she would move him down to just level 6 but she said it would be too humiliating for him. She did not allow me to write on any of the certificates. I only signed them and she wrote the level that my students passed even though she had not observed my class. I felt uncomfortable because if this boy comes back to City Camp next year, he will definitely be put in level 8 and I think that is setting him up for failure. The camp director's excuse for not moving children down was that she "would get so many calls from parents complaining" and that it wasn't "her job to deal with all those parents."