Why TESOL in Florence/Tuscany, Italy?

Italy, the land of art, architecture, sculpture, high fashion, the Mediterranean and gastronomical delights. Italy is steeped in history. As, the once invincible Roman Empire, Italy still fascinates the world. Italy's claim to fame matches TESOL's substantiality and popularity as a TEFL course, promising lucrative ESL careers to its trainees. Today, Italy is a highly-developed country with the 7th-highest GDP and the seventeenth-highest Human Development Index rating in the world. Italy has been a seminal place for many important artistic and intellectual movements that spread throughout Europe and beyond, including the Renaissance and Baroque. Perhaps Italy's greatest cultural achievements lie in its long artistic heritage, which is often validated through the names of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael, among many others. Beyond art, Italy's contributions to the realms of literature, science, and music cannot be overlooked. But Italy is not just about monuments and structures, art and artists; it also has given the world Gucci, Pasta, pizza, olives and gondolas. Italy is an experience one can never forget easily. And to make this experience momentous, the TESOL Certification Program from TEFL International is the best possible choice for the Italy-bound tourists who also want to explore the ESL world.

What is the attraction?

What is it in the soil of Florence one wonders that has nurtured so many artists? The Duomo, the Battistero, and the Galleria Degli Uffizi, which houses the works of Da Vinci, Raphael, and Botticelli are all here. The cultural and historical impact of Florence is overwhelming. The city that hosts TESOL for TEFL International is also one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant places, retaining a strong resemblance to the small late-medieval centre that contributed so much to the artistic and political development of Europe. Its striking buildings, formidable galleries and treasure-crammed churches attest to the Florentine love of display. It is the renaissance city. It is also the city that brings new beginning in the lives of the ESL teachers through the TESOL certificate.

What is in it for you?

If you are someone who distresses by strolling on the streets then you will find from leather to shoes to renaissance style ceramics, all here. The best part is that you can find the artisans in their shops actually working on the pieces that they sell. Tuscan cuisine is steeped in peasant traditions: fresh ingredients thrown together in simple ways to make rich-flavoured dishes. Sample in trattorias (family-run places), osterias (traditional taverns) or ristorantes. If you're desperate for a leg stretch and a bit of fresh air, a stroll around the Giardino di Boboli is recommended - the views from here are magnificent. You can take full- and half-day mountain bike tours of the countryside around Florence, or rent a bike and tangle with the traffic in town. But don't forget to finish off your ESL lesson plans before you embark on a bike ride.

On the tourist map

Florence, a Renaissance city in the heart of Tuscany, is one of the most popular travel cities in Italy. Florence has some of Italy's best museums, beautiful cathedrals and churches, and interesting streets and squares with elegant buildings and shops. . Utilizing the weekends that punctuate consecutive weeks of TESOL classes, it is always a good idea to navigate the city and discover its irrepressible wonders.

For a feast for the eyes you won't need to venture far from Florence's centre, a medieval wonderland containing the graceful span of Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo's skyscraping dome, the gilded splendour of Basilica di San Lorenzo and the well-hung Uffizi gallery. Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people. The Galleria degli Uffizi holds the world's most important collection of Renaissance art but it's also Italy's most crowded museum. The Uffizi holds thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many antique sculptures, illuminations, and tapestries. Artists whose works you'll see include Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, and Raphael. The Baptistry of John the Baptist, from the 11th century, is one of Florence's oldest buildings. The Accademia Gallery is perhaps best-known for Michelangelo's David, removed after four centuries from Piazza Signoria, now exhibited in a specially constructed hall. Other works by Michelangelo include some of his "Slave" series and his sculpture of San Matteo. Museo di San Marco is in an old Dominican monastery, restored and enlarged by Michelozzo under the wishes of Cosimo the Old of the Medici family. The Medici Chapels are historical labors that are as grand in their own way as are the pyramids of Egypt. Started in 1605, these shrines were under construction for centuries. Florence's tradition of art and culture naturally creates an ambience of creativity and learning for the TEFL trainees as they hone their ESL teaching skills in their TESOL classroom.

Weekend excursions

From Siena to San Gimignano, to the wine-tasting in Chianti to the alabaster and glowing hills around Volterra, you will certainly be charmed as you are transported into a different world with each trip. Piazzale Michelangelo is the most panoramic and amazing place to visit in Florence. Overlooking the Arno, the city and the rolling hills of Tuscany, this site is great for everyone. A walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo from Porta Romana is truly an experience!

Apart from sightseeing in Florence you can utilize the weekends by going on day trips to Venice, during which it is possible to admire the Basilica of St Mark, with its marvelous mosaics and countless other works of art, the most celebrated Clock Tower, the exterior of the Ducal Palace, the famous Bridge of Sighs and other important places through tiny calli, typically narrow Venetian lanes. If you are staying in Florence while busy doing the TESOL course, it does not mean you cannot see Rome. Take a weekend trip to the "Eternal City" of Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, you can walk through the town center, where you can admire famous sites such as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza Colonna, the Pantheon, via Condotti, and Piazza di Spagna. On another weekend either you can discover the countryside of the Chianti region, with ever changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees or visit Pisa and have a look at the famous Leaning Tower. You can also go to Assisi, famous all over the world for being the native town of St Francis. See the Basilica of St Francis, frescoed by Giotto and Cimabue, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and other important places. A TESOL trip in Italy promises you much more than ESL teaching skills to carry back home.

Evening and nightlife

Florence has some of the most talented musicians playing in the streets at night. For those TESOL trainees who aren't interested in mingling with the party crowds or club-hopping, you can think of strolling along the banks of the River Arno and just watch the world sail by. If you want to dance all night long you can go at central park disco. Central Park is a great place to meet locals. The central dance floor (there are four) is outdoors. The shops remain open till night so you can go for shopping at night. Especially the shops at Ponte Vecchio look really beautiful. As you shop for teaching ideas inside your TESOL classroom, streets of Florence also kindle your shopping spree.

Weather

The candidates traveling to Italy for the TESOL certificate should ideally be informed that there are four distinct seasons in Florence. Summer can be incredibly hot and humid. The average highs hover around 31°C (88°F). Occasionally you can enjoy the temporary relief of a cracking good thunderstorm. Winter, on the other hand, is cool and often wet, although mercifully it doesn't last too long. Average temperatures in January range between 1°C (33°F) and 10°C (50°F) and snow is rare. This is because it is located between mountains and is therefore a few degrees warmer, thus eliminating the problems that snowfall can bring. Spring and fall are truly beautiful seasons here. Spring brings a wealth of flora with it for all to enjoy, and fall is a welcome temperature change from the hot August sun.