Immigration to Italy?/Ameican citizen interested in college there?

Question

will someone please give me information about immigrating to Italy? What if I wanted to go there straight out of highschool?

Answer 1

It's difficult enough for Italians to find work.  For you, it will be even harder.  I lived in Florence for a year and I could not find any kind of work.  I did work in the mercato... but, it's not my cup of tea.  I also made almost nothing.  

I don't know that you can go straight after high school... but here is one solution.  You can study English or Linguistics and maybe do a year abroad, preferably your last one and then try to find a job as an English teacher.  I had a hard time finding one while I lived there, but I had to live in Florence.  You will find more jobs in the North.  You can find jobs in the South too, but, they pay less and many times the school won't get you the proper documents.  Italians prefer the Brits since they already have European citizenship, as in EU, so they don't need a work permit - permesso di soggiorno.  

That being said here's site - www.eslcafe.com.  Under stuff for teachers you will find the International Job Forum.  Look up Italy and you will see many posts from various people who are living and working there now.  

My Italian friend just moved back to Torino a month ago and she is even having a hard time finding work.  However, like with anything else, with enough persistence, you CAN succeed.  

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Some colleges in the states have programs which allow you to spend a semester studying in Italy for credit.  I think your chances of staying there as a 'landed' immigrant would be good if you have Italian ancestors--or for that matter ancestors from any European country--that would allow you to get a EU passport.

Answer 3

if you speak Italian you can go straight to school,but if you don't...I'm sorry but in Italy,my country,our language is Italian not English! our schools are harder than yours...we study more than ten subject...we go to school from Monday to Saturday...if you fail a class,e.g. maths you have to start before the school and if you fail more than three you can't go in the next year e.g. if you are in year 12 and you fail,next year you'll be still in year 12...we finish when we are 18-19 years old...and we have oral tests and written and our marks are from 1 to 10...at the end of the high school we have to do a national exams during the holidays(June -July) and if you don't pass you have to do again the year13...so our school is very difficult and it's not easy...maybe other people think we are stupid but instead of many of you I can speak Italian English Spanish and French....and i study Latin too and some people ancient Greek,therefore WE ARE NOT stupid!

Answer 4

Do you speak Italian? If not then you cannot come to study here unless you get a student visa and save enough money to go to an international school where they teach in English. Like the others suggested the best way to come for a bit is to go to college where ever you live and do an exchange program. There are lots of Americans in Rome for example who come for 3 - 6 months and live with Italians and study here.

Job wise you need a visa before you even consider looking for anything and these can be difficult to come by. The jobs situation is hard enough for over qualified Italians so will be very hard if you are young, do not speak the language and have no qualifications.

Sorry if I sound harsh but you need to know the reality of the situation. I love italy and I live here, but too many people watch Under the Tuscan Sun and those sorts of films and think life is easy here. It is lovely alright but not easy.

Answer 5

Hi,

a friend of mine who lives in Italy but he is originally from NYC got a job as English Teacher.

He hasn't a qualification and he doesn't speak Italian.

If I were you I'd try to call some English school in Italy  and ask them if they are looking for a teacher or tutor, also you could teach privately.

Good luck and remember that if you won't go you'll regret for the rest of your life.