Home / Italy / Florence

We like to think that if Tuscany’s favorite son, Michelangelo, were alive today there would be no statue of David, or painting of the Sistine Chapel. He’d be too busy touring the region on a bike, captivated by everything around him.

Fortunately, you do not need to be a creative genius to be staggered by the beauty of Florence and the region of Tuscany. Instead just get on a plane to this incredible part of italy – soon, along with everyone else in the TESOL group, you’ll be declaring ""this place is stunning"" every few moments.

Tuscany is one of the few regions on earth that lives up to its hype. As the birthplace of the Renaissance it holds one of the greatest concentrations of artistic achievements known to man. The Duomo, the Battistero, and the Galleria Degli Uffizi, which houses the works of Da Vinci, Raphael, and Botticelli are all here. Combined with its rolling countryside of checkerboard fields of sunflower and wheat, and green vineyards specked with red tiled farmhouses, Tuscany feels like the Tour of Enhance.

Sensory overload, however, is not restricted to sight. Tuscany is also the land of porcini mushrooms, virgin olive oil, and hearty stews. And thanks to its Chianti vineyards there's enough red wine to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa appear straight!

Is art or history your passion? Tuscany has more than you can handle! Start with the jewel of Florence, then move on to Siena, Pisa, Lucca, the Maremma, the Crete Senesi, the Lunigiana and Garfagnana areas, and the island of Elba. Each has amazing architecture and art, especially paintings and sculptures.

Florence has a population of around half a million inhabitants, spreads on the banks of the Arno, between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas, almost in the middle of the Italian peninsula. It is a city which bustles with industry and craft, commerce and culture, art and science. Being on the main national railway lines, it is easily accessible from most important places both in italy and abroad.

The Florence "Vespucci" airport, where both national and international airlines stop, is located 5 km from the city centre. The main motorway, A1, connects Florence with Bologna and Milano in the North and Rome and Naples in the South. The A11 motorway to the sea joins it to nearby towns and the resorts on the Tyrrhenian sea. There is also a motorway which connects Florence to Siena.

Some historical residents of Florence:

• Giovanni Cimabue (artist, 1240-1302)
• Dante Alighieri (poet, 1265-1321)
• Giovanni Boccaccio (poet, 1313-1375)
• Filippo Brunelleschi (architect, 1377-1446)
• Lorenzo Ghiberti (sculptor, 1378-1455)
• Donato dei Bardi, a.k.a. 'il Donatello' (sculptor, 1386-1466)
• Luca della Robbia (sculptor, 1400-1482)
• Filippo Lippi (artist, 1406-1469)
• Antonio Pollaiolo (sculptor, 1432-1498)
• Alessandro Filipepi, a.k.a. 'il Botticelli' (artist, 1445-1510)
• Domenico Bigordi, a.k.a. 'Ghirlandaio' (artist, 1449-1494)
• Lorenzo the Magnificent (the most famous of the Medicis, 1449-1492)
• Leonardo da Vinci (artist, 1452-1519)
• Amerigo Vespucci (explorer who gave the name to the continent of America, 1454-1512)
• Michelangelo Buonarroti (artist, 1475-1564)
• Francesco Guicciardini (historian, 1483-1540)
• Andrea del Sarto (artist, 1486-1530)
• Niccolò Machiavelli (politician and historian, 1489-1527)
• Benvenuto Cellini (goldsmith, 1500-1571)

Some of the more important events you can enjoy in Florence are The "Burst of the Cart" (Easter), the Feast of St. John (June) and the "Historic Football in Costume" (June, July).If you are a lover of food, authentic Tuscan cuisine is a must-have. In the city itself, you will see vendors with market stalls that sell home-grown produce as well as hand-picked herbs. If you prefer not to cook, a plethora of ristoranti, trattorie, and pizzerie await you. Don't forget about the gelato in the afternoon or after dinner!

Tuscany is literally one of the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth.

The School

We have chosen Florence, the great Renaissance city, as our Tuscan location for our TESOL course. Its medieval structures and Renaissance architecture will leave you breathless and with a real appreciation for architecture itself.

On your way to class, you will pass by beautiful works of art by Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and other great names. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to imagine actually living in the Renaissance as you are transported to another time period.

Our school is located in a 'real' Italian area where students will meet, eat lunch with, and socialize with Italians who actually live and carry out their daily lives in the vicinity of the school. As a result, they will be exposed to the authentic Florence, not the Florence that is created for tourists.

This is one of our goals for our students; we want them to interact with and be exposed to the real, authentic Tuscan lifestyle. Since students may or may not be teaching in a big city where English is present, we want to prepare them not only to teach, but to succeed and flourish in their new Italian lives.

Your fellow students come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. The teacher trainers at the TEFL International centre in Florence are some of the most experienced and well trained in the industry.

The Italian support staff is extremely helpful and courteous, and will give you all the help they can to make your stay in Florence and your 4 weeks on the course as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Optional extra: Italian Language Course

Should you want to learn some Italian during your time in Italy, you could attend an Italian language program either before or after your TEFL course. This TEFL course/language program offers you the opportunity to become TEFL qualified with an internationally recognized TEFL certificate and immerse yourself in the local culture, improving your language skills.

Language courses start most Mondays, and are available for two, four and eight weeks.

Accommodation

There are several accommodation options available while you attend the TEFL International course in Florence:

1. A private room in Florence. We have a few different locations in Florence itself for you to choose from, and you may or may not be placed with other students from TEFL International. Some of our apartments are also rented by Italian students who attend the Universita degli Studi di Firenze who would be delighted to share their apartment with a visiting student. You would have your own room, so you would have your privacy, while at the same time you would have access to a “real” Florentine student’s life. You might even learn some Italian!

2. A shared room in Florence (limited availability). This is also a popular option, especially if you are coming to take the course with a friend or spouse. You will have a single bed (double in the case that you are with your spouse) in a shared room in the city. All apartments are furnished, and conveniently located in the city. This is also a good way to get to know another student in the area. TEFL International students will most likely be rooming together in this option, so you’ll have someone with whom to discuss your lesson planning ideas, or just go and take a coffee break!

3. Home-stay. Some students want the experience of staying with a host family. This option is for those who really want to experience the Italian lifestyle. While you will usually be very busy preparing lessons and teaching, you will have the chance to go home and eat an authentic Italian dinner nightly. If you have some knowledge of Italian, it’s a great opportunity to practice! Notes: No overnight guests will be allowed. We will need to schedule a telephone call if you are interested in this option.

4. Pensione. If you don’t want to worry about making your bed or going to the grocery store for breakfast, then you might want to stay at the Pensione Ferretti, conveniently located in the center of Florence. Roberto and Sandra, a Florentine married couple, would be happy to welcome you to their establishment. Pensione Ferretti also offers free internet and there are fixed phones available for use in every room. Note that overnight guests aren’t allowed.

All accommodations will be located within a maximum of 30 minutes walk and/or a 15-minute bus ride to the school.

Course dates

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

Accomodation Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

  Expand

  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, Pay Pal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Florence itself.

  The balance of course fees are payable on the first day of class and can be made with a credit/debit card, cash or travelers’ check.

  Course fees are all-inclusive so you won’t be asked to pay additional costs for course related materials or services. This also includes course moderation, accreditation fees and lifetime job assistance.

• What travel documents will I need for italy?

  Expand

  This information is specific to your country of origin and always subject to change. For the most accurate and current information regarding travel documents for Italy, please contact your nearest Italian consulate. There is also a very good chance that all the information you require (application documents, application fees, duration of processing documents), is available on the embassy’s webpage.

• What are my accommodation options?

  Expand

  Our first option is a private room in an apartment in Florence. These rooms are located in various areas of the city and you may or may not be (according to your wishes and availability) placed with other course students.

  Our second option is a shared room in Florence (limited availability so book early to avoid disappointment). This tends to be a very popular choice, particularly if you are attending the course in Florence with a friend or partner. You will be provided with a single bed (or double if you are with your partner) in a shared room situated in the city.

  Our third accommodation option is a home stay. Many of the students who attend our courses wish to experience staying with an Italian host family. This is a very popular option for those students who really want to fully experience the Italian lifestyle.

  If you wish to have a more comfortable and independent stay and don’t wish to be bothered with daily chores such as making your bed or walking to a café or restaurant for breakfast or dinner, then you may choose to stay at the Pensione Ferretti, which is nicely situated right in the center of historical Florence. Roberto and Sandra, a Florentine married couple, are more than happy to invite you to stay at their pensione. Pensione Ferretti conveniently offers free internet access and there are telephones in every room. Please note that overnight guests are not permitted without prior approval.

• What is the course schedule?

  Expand

  Class time is generally 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with mid-morning and afternoon breaks and a lunch break. On some days you will be expected to teach in the evenings with lesson planning assistance from your course trainers.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

  Expand

  Our trainees teach classes made up of actual English language learners. They come from a range of backgrounds, ages and religions. Trainees will teach students at all proficiency levels so that they are truly ready for any job opportunity that they find after the course.

• Who usually attends the course?

  Expand

  The average class size in Florence is 12, although during our popular months (June-September) there can be up to 25 students. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the English language.

• Is there a dress code?

  Expand

  During trainees’ lessons, casual attire is allowed. During teaching practice, you will need to dress in trousers and closed-toe shoes. Men need collared shirts, while women need to wear conservative tops that will cover their shoulders. Men need to shave or keep facial hair neatly trimmed. No visible tattoos or facial piercings are allowed while teaching local students.

• What should I bring for course studies?

  Expand

  Please be sure to arrive on the first day of the course with a notebook and a pen. We also encourage you to bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center. We will provide all course materials for you so there is no need to bring anything else for the course itself.

• What documents do I need for finding employment after the course?

  Expand

  Of course, you will need your passport. When you secure work, you may also be asked to provide translated and notarized copies of your birth certificate, college degrees and transcripts. You might also consider obtaining an international driving permit if you are considering driving in Italy. Please be advised that it may be necessary for you to obtain an Italian driving license if you plan to stay for an extended period of time.