Via Lingua Alumni News

 

Hi!

My name is Chiara Torelli, and I took the TEFL course at Via Lingua in 2016. I still remember those four weeks as four of the most intense, most rewarding weeks of my life. We learnt teaching theories and methods, learnt more grammar than we knew existed in the English Language, and learnt to work as a team to get the best out of each other. Most importantly, we immediately applied all that we acquired in a real classroom setting.

 

The course at Via Lingua leaves you with 10+ hours of peer-reviewed teaching time under your belt, and a tried and tested method that I have since used again and again, and which unfailingly leaves students satisfied and stimulated. The courses themselves are interactive and stimulating, and you are guided clearly through the process of delivering classes yourself. By the time you finish, you will also have designed and taught a one-to-one lesson plan for a student you sourced independently - an experience which will boost both your confidence and ability.  

 

All this is possible only thanks to the dedicated, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic tutors and staff who guide you through the process from beginning to end. They will share their academic and practical know-how, but additionally, provide support for your first forays into the professional TEFL world, help you with your CV, and give you expert advice. 

 

A major aspect of the course here is it's setting: Florence is a beautiful, vibrant, and fun city to live in. We spent most of our time after work and at the weekends exploring the city, taking day trips into Tuscany or further afield, going to wine-tastings, and sampling the delicious food and drink on offer everywhere. You quickly learn which cafes, sandwich bars, and restaurants are the best, and there's always a new foody treasure trove to discover around the next corner. The school will encourage you to explore Florence with your fellow trainees, share your experiences, and learn as much as possible about the local history and culture. The city quickly became a comfortable and exciting home to us, and the association between the course, Florence, and the people we met is always a warm and positive one. 

 

Since completing the course, I have worked in a language school and a summer camp in the Czech Republic,  a summer school in the UK, and am now off to Australia, where I will be teaching English online and qualifying as a dive instructor, amongst other things. The course provided me with opportunities I couldn't have foreseen, regarding both work and travel. It's a fantastic way of marrying the love of giving and teaching, with the love of travel and discovery.