Dear Readers,

Here are some answers to frequently-asked questions about teaching English and living in Italy.

1. I want to move to Italy and teach English. I understand that a TEFL certificate can command a higher salary and give me a better chance at being hired. (I think some TEFL programs have a placement service as well.)

I went to New World Teachers (NWT) in San Francisco, California for my certification to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Unfortunately, NWT is no longer in business. I also supplemented my certificate with a TEFL for "Young Learners," which ultimately helped me get my job here in Lucca. To find work in Italy it is generally better to have a TEFL certificate, although you can often work as a private tutor without certification.

2. Should I secure work before I go?

You can send out your C.V., but many schools may want to meet you first. There is also an advantage to visiting a school before you agree to employment.

3. How do I get a WORK VISA?

This is how I did it:

I received my TEFL certificate and came to Italy in January 1999 without a job or a work visa. I stayed with a friend, started teaching privately and eventually moved into my own apartment. In February I hand-delivered my C.V. to all the schools in the area. I was hired in the spring as a "fill-in" teacher at the school where I work now. They needed help fast. They liked me and hired me for the fall. They informed me that I must have a VISA in order to work for them.

It is possible for an American to obtain a visa to work in Italy, but it isn’t an easy task.

You must return to the U.S.A. and apply in person to an Italian consulate in the state where you are a resident. It can take up to 30 days for the application to be processed. (You must surrender your passport while they process the visa.)

It is advisable to request a list of visa requirements directly from the consulate where you will make your application. Not all Italian consulates have the same rules for obtaining a visa. (Tip: Have your request sent to an American address, not to Italy.)

There are several types of work visas. The "easiest" to obtain is as an "INDEPENDENT working for an Italian company."

Some basic requirements are:

    -- A contract with a school. The contract is usually for a period of 9 months (or an academic year). As an "independent" you are responsible for some tax (approximately 6%) and the school pays an additional tax (approximately 11%). Paying taxes makes you eligible for health care.

    -- A TEFL certificate. (The woman at the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles was surprised and pleased when I presented my TEFL certification. She told me that many people "have the audacity to apply for a work visa to teach English without any certification at all!"

    -- Notarized letters of recommendation directly related to experience teaching English.

    -- Proof that you have money in a U.S. bank account to support yourself. ($10,000 is a good, round figure.)

(Tip: I am convinced that having money in the bank helped me get a visa. The TEFL certificate was also crucial.)

A visa is valid for the length of the contract. Once you re-enter Italy to begin work you must apply for a "Permesso di Soggiorno" at the local Questura (police headquarters) within 6 days of your arrival. The Permesso di Soggiorno is valid for one full year.

THE GOOD NEWS: If the school renews your contract, you don’t have to return to the U.S.A. to apply for a visa again. You need only to obtain another Permesso di Soggiorno at the Questura for the new school year. (Do not allow your Permesso to expire!)

Visiting the Questura is an adventure in itself. There are some tips to getting through the front door. If you have questions about this, or anything else, you may contact me directly via e-mail.

4. Do I need a visa to live and work in Italy?

Many people live here and teach without a visa. I want to stay here permanently, however, so it was important for me to do everything legally.

5. What about finding a place to live?

I went through a real-estate agent. I signed a one year, renewable lease and paid a refundable deposit of 2 month's rent to the owner. I also paid a "finder’s fee" of one month's rent to the agency. All utilities are in the owner’s name. Italians do not mind renting to foreigners. One reason may be that they are easier to evict than residents!

6. Why did you choose Lucca?

There are several reasons. Lucca is a beautiful city in Tuscany. It is small enough not to be overrun by tourists and close to Florence and the Italian Riviera. Also, I didn’t want to have a roommate. Although it is often easier to find work in larger cities like Rome, Milan or Florence, the cost of living is higher. This can make it more difficult to live alone on a teacher’s wages. For this reason it was very important for me to have some money to live on while I was looking for a job.

7. How much money should I bring with me?

I brought $5000 with me. It was enough to get an apartment and live on until I found steady work.

8. What can you tell me about the cost of living?

I BUDGET my money! Here is what I spend in one month:

900,000 Lire ($450) on rent for a one bedroom flat in the city center, 200,000 Lire ($100) on food, 200,000 Lire on utilities (gas, phone and electric). I have a bicycle and a moped. (The insurance on the moped is 200,000 Lire per year and I spend about 4000 Lire ($2) per week on gas.)

I recently had an ADSL modem installed on my computer. Connecting to the internet is so expensive here because you pay for every minute you are online. I pay a flat fee of 100,000 Lire per month ($50) for ADSL and have unlimited access to the internet. The connection is faster, too.

9. Is it possible to support myself by teaching? Can I save any money? Can I travel?

The rule of thumb is: You can support yourself on a teacher’s salary, but you have to "live lean." It is difficult to save money. I put some money aside to get myself through the two to three months of summer when the school closes. I also need some money to buy an airline ticket to visit my family in the U.S. each year.

I teach 30 - 35 hours a week (WHICH IS A LOT!). I recently quit my second job as a private assistant and started freelance writing. I have had some articles published in The International Herald Tribune's Italy Daily Section. Writing is like fishing- the more you put your line in, the better your chances are of someone "biting." I spend my free time querying magazines and newspapers with my ideas and doing research online. My schedule is exhausting sometimes, but I am happy.

I do not travel as much as I would like.

10. Do I need to learn to speak Italian?

Bless the Italians! They are very kind when it comes to foreigners "butchering" their beautiful language! I strongly recommend that you begin taking lessons as soon as you arrive. Don’t make the mistake of believing that you can "pick up the language just by living here." As an English teacher you are faced with a dilemma: You will speak English all day long with your students and your Italian will suffer for it.

ONE LAST NOTE: I brought my cat with me from the States. If you would like any information about travelling with a pet you can write to me. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at:

smarino2000@yahoo.com.

I wish you GOOD LUCK! Take care and enjoy.

Stephanie Marino
LUCCA, ITALY