The weather, it seems, can be just as changeable in Italy as in the UK. On Saturday we enjoyed a hot, sunny day in the park. Couples were canoodling on the grass (people are more openly affectionate here) winter wear was abandoned and ice-creams were queued for.
Today, it’s back to winter. It was eight degrees c when we went off to our first Italian lesson today, and raining. The winter coat came out again (and gloves).
Mark and I are in the same class which means we can ask each something we don’t understand and check that we know what the homework is. Bizarrely, we are a very balanced group – three young ones (aged 19 or 20) plus three ‘oldies’ (us plus a German chap who is a year older). On the way home we realise we’re old enough to be the youngsters’ grandparents.
Our class is for beginners, which is good. Having done an online course, we have studied a lot of grammar, but are not too good at conversation.
It is interesting being on the other side of a desk. When I first started teaching, I taught English as a Foreign Language. Most of my students were young and were learning English to further their careers, whereas in our class everyone is learning Italian for leisure.
It seems that some things are the same though, as in problems with the photo-copier and getting the worksheets in a muddle.
Tortoise Travel 