Sono molto contenta di offrire un nuovo Italian Language Homestay con la mia amica Sira che abita in Ligura vicino alle Cinque Terre. Sira ed io siamo in comunication da diverse settimane, prima della mia partenza in Italia, e quando ero ad Arezzo a settembre, ha fatto il viaggio di quasi due ore in macchina da Liguria per incontrarmi di persona. Abbiamo passato una bella giornata insieme, passeggiando per la città, pranzando insieme…sempre parlando, parlando parlando. Sira è una persona gentile, generosa e premurosa e sono sicura che vi piacerà molto stare con lei – e con i suoi due adorabili gatti Briciola e Mucca – nel suo accogliente appartamento. Con Sira come insegnante, avrete l’opportunità di immergervi più profondamente nella lingua e nella cultura italiana nella città di Sarzana.
I’m extremely pleased to offer a new Italian language homestay with my friend Sira who lives in Liguria near the Cinque Terre. Sira and I have been in communication for several weeks now, before my departure for Italy in August, and when I was in Arezzo in September she made the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Liguria to meet me in person. We spent a beautiful day together, walking around the town getting to know one another better, lunching…and always talking talking talking! Sira is a warm, generous person and I’m sure you are going to thoroughly enjoy staying with her – and her two adorable cats Briciola and Mucca – in her cozy apartment. With Sira as your teacher, you will have the opportunity to dive deeper into the Italian language and culture in the city of Sarzana.
If you would like to make a reservation, click on the form link above and indicate your first, second & third choices for an Italian Language Homestay along with dates and language level. Melissa will respond as soon as she receives the form. If for some reason you don’t hear back immediately, please send a follow up email to Homestay@studentessamatta.com
Sira’s Homestay in Liguria in Sarzana bordering Tuscany is a perfect location to enjoy an Italian language homestay. Sarzana is a beautiful medieval city set between the mountains and the sea, close to the Alpi Apuane and the marble caves located there and just a few steps away from the Cinque Terre! Thanks to its unique location, Sarzana offers many things to visitors: from long walks through natural parks (Montemarcello e Cinque Terre) to total relax on the beach; from charming villages nestled along the Ligurian coast (Cinque Terre, Tellaro, Lerici), to the works of art like the Cross of Mastro Guglielmo in the Cathedral of Sarzana to the splendid church of San Pietro in Portovenere. You can also visit the Roman archeological sites of Luni or the medieval castles in the Lunigiana. During the summers, Sarzana is also the artistic and cultural center of “La Soffitta nella Strada”, La Calandriniana,” il “Festival della Mente,” i “Libri per Strada” e “Arti fioriti.”
A little bit about Sira your homestay teacher. Sira is an Italian language teacher who has specialized for the past thirty years in teaching French and Italian. Teaching is her passion. Sira says: “I enjoy creating courses that are most suitable to each unique student, with respect to their interests, their age, their learning styles and according to their objectives. Language study for me is not just about language, but about learning also about implicit meanings also transmitted by pauses, gestures, and the use of certain verbal forms…or even references to idiomatic and regional expressions. This is why I offer to my students not only traditional language courses but also the chance to totally immerse daily Italian life: from chatting at the bar to lunches with the family, to casual conversations with people from my town as we do shopping or look for books in the local bookstore or have an aperitivo with friends. Every occasion is a great moment to think about the language, practice and discover new things and learn how to live like an Italian in Sarzana!
Accommodations & Location: Sira’s apartment is located two kilometres from the center of Sarzana; it is a small loft (on the third floor without an elevator) with a beautiful terrace that looks out over the Alpi Apuane. It isn’t very big but it is very warm and welcoming with two bedrooms, one for me and one for a guest, one bathroom (shared), a living space with a kitchen and a living room with a beautiful central fireplace. Two cats live me. They are very well behaved and are called Briciola and Mucca. 🙂
Duration of Homestay: Sira’s homestay vacation generally is one week (6 days and 7 nights) and is reserved for single adult students. Sira’s apartment doesn’t accommodate couples.
Before you arrive: Sira will send you a test to evaluate your language level and through emails and perhaps a skype call she will determine your level and develop a course to meet your specific requirements and requests. She will also prepare a program of excursions based on students’ requests on the day of arrival.
During your homestay: Sira will provide students with 20 hours of lessons, educational materials, complete room and board, wifi. She will pick you up and drop you off at the Sarzana train station. Upon completion of the week, students will receive a certificate of completion of their course. There will be at least 4-afternoon excursions in Sarzana and environs to discover more about her town and the area. Meals will be consumed at her home, sometimes, with friends so that you have a broader experience speaking with other individuals and learning more about the Sarzana area from others.
Suggested Excursions: Marble caves of Carrara; Gulf of Poets and stop in Lerici and Tellaro; Portovenere and the island of Palmaria; le Cinque Terre; the medieval villages of Fosdinovo, Castel Nuovo, Ortonovo, Nicola, Ameglia e Trebiano; Montemarcello and the nature park, la via Francigena (the part that crosses through Sarzana), the Roman ruins of Luni (Roman theater) and the wine tastings in the wineries of Ca’Lunae.
To Book a Homestay with Sira: Sira offers a special price for readers of the Matta Blog. To find out more about Sira’s Homestay in Sarzana in Liguria, inquire about prices, and to check availability fill out this form or contact: homestay@studentessamatta.com
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