NEW! Italian Language Homestay vacation in Florence with Roberta

Sono molto lieta di annunciare una nuova opportunità di homestay in Italia a Firenze! È un’ottima possibilità di stare con la mia amica Roberta a soli 15-minuti a piedi dal centro storico della città. Meglio di tutto, l’appartamento di Roberta si trova in una zona tranquilla e silenziosa della città—lontano dalle folle ed i turisti! Lei vive all’ultimo piano di un condominio con vista del Duomo! Il quartiere è composto principalmente da famiglie e lavoratori, e non si parla molto l’inglese, perfetto per immergersi nella lingua e nella cultura in una delle città più belle del mondo. Lo so — ci ho vissuto! Quindi se avete interessa, continuate a leggere!

I’m pleased to announce a new Italian Language Homestay opportunity in Florence! Such an amazing chance to stay with my friend Roberta just a 15-minute walk from the historic city center. Best of all, Roberta’s apartment is located in a quiet peaceful part of the city — far from the madding tourist crowds! She lives on the top floor of an apartment building with a view of the Duomo! The neighborhood consists mainly of families and workers, and not much English is spoken — perfect for immersing in language and culture in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I know — I’ve lived there! So, if you are interested, read on!

Roberta’s Homestay in Florence is a wonderful chance to live with an Italian teacher and her partner in the city of the Medici! Roberta is located about a 15-minute walk from the historic city center. Florence is home to Renaissance art and architecture, and around every corner, you will discover a new treasure. During your homestay, with Roberta, you will have a chance to claim this spectacular city—home of the Medici—as your own as you learn and perfect your Italian language skills.

A little bit about Roberta your homestay teacher: Roberta is 34 years old and was born in Soave (Verona) and has lived the majority of her life in the vineyards owned by her family in the Veneto region. She loves languages, philosophy, wine, and her grandmother’s ragù, but primarily she enjoys sharing the Italian culture and teaching her students, with a great deal of empathy and patience. After graduating in linguistics, Roberta studied philosophy in Padua and Paris. Following that she transferred to Florence to first work at the university and then to specialize in teaching international students. She prides herself on her personal and unique teaching style that is different from most traditional schools. She believes that to become fluent in Italian you must have a 360-degree experience — that means it takes the right mix of interesting content, the right guide, along with the student’s motivation, that creates successful language learning. Roberta’s lessons are comprised of many different kinds of activities but mainly are based on the goals, needs and interests of each student. Through a teacher-student collaboration, a personalized program of daily practice will be designed so that you may get the most out of your homestay with Roberta.

While in Florence you will get to know the city well, from the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella, to Santa Croce to the Ponte Vecchio and beyond into the Oltrarno. Here you will visit the famous Uffizi Galleries, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, Piazza della Signoria, the David…the list goes on and on! Since the Middle Ages Florence has been one of the most important cultural and artistic centers in all of Europe. It is a UNESÇO site and the birthplace of the Renaissance in the late 15th century—guided by Lorenzo de’ Medici. It is without a doubt universally acclaimed as being one of the most cities in the world.  

Location: Roberta’s apartment is located in a peaceful residential area, not far from the Fortezza da Basso, the market of San Lorenzo and Piazza San Marco. It is about a 15-minute walk to the city center and a 5-minute walk to the Tramvia that takes you to Santa Maria Novella train station. The area is outside of the touristy parts of town, where no one speaks English, and is mostly comprised of families and workers. It is an optimal situation for those who want to immerse themselves in the Italian language and culture. (Note: The apartment is near the train lines as you can see from the picture above, but the trains don’t run during the night, and since the apartment is located on the top floor it is very quiet.) 

Duration of Homestay: Roberta’s homestay vacation generally is one week (6 days and 7 nights) and is reserved for single adult students, as well as couples. She also offers a long weekend package from Thursday – Sunday. A week’s stay consists of 10-15 hours of morning lessons (2 hours usually a day). There are 3-afternoon excursions also included in the price of Roberta’s homestay.

Accommodations: During your Homestay with Roberta you will enjoy a private room with a private bath. You will have complete access to the kitchen and the living area and the small balcony with a view of the Duomo! The apartment has Wifi, TV with Netflix, and a washing machine. You will share meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — with Roberta and sometimes her companion.

Homestay Activities: There will also be a planned lunch in a typical Florentine trattoria, an aperitif (weather permitting) in one of the most characteristic terraces of the city. You are also welcome to accompany Roberta as she does her errands, visits the markets, and meets up with friends. She will also advise on how to make the most out of your free time. Every moment will be a good time to immerse in the language and culture and talk! After the homestay is over, if you would like, Roberta is happy to continue lessons via Skype or Facetime.

During your homestay: At the student’s request lessons can be conducted during walking tours and she is also happy to arrange cooking lessons or wine tastings.

To Book a Homestay with Roberta: Roberta offers a special price for readers of the Matta Blog. To find out more about Roberta’s Homestay in Florence, inquire about prices, and to check availability fill out this form or contact: homestay@studentessamatta.com

For all Italian Language Homestay Options Click here

To read a guest post by Roberta 

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