Are you dreaming of “la bella vita”? You could be blissful teaching English in Italy. Or you could be miserable Which will it be? Take a close look at your personality and character before making the decision to teach English in “the boot”.
Are you flexible? If you answered “no”, you might be better off choosing a different country. In Italy, things don’t always run smoothly or on time. And your expectations of someone or something (even an employer) may be completely different from the reality. Try to be as informed as possible, but don’t be surprised if things don’t work out the way you envisioned them. Take it in stride and add it to your growing list of “learning experiences”.
Are you social? Italians love to be social. They don’t much like being alone. If you’re an extrovert and like to make friends and add acquaintances to your contact list, you will be in a good position to take advantage of Italy’s social networks. Who you know is much more important than what you know. People who are too introverted are often overlooked, or worse, become food for gossip. You don’t want a bad or ambiguous reputation stacked against you when you’re trying to make a name for yourself as an ESL teacher.
Are you assertive? If you answered yes, that’s a good thing. In Italy, you really have to “put yourself out there” to get anywhere, and that even means waiting in line at the post office. You have to be ready to assert yourself to get what you want. This is different from being aggressive. In general, Italians appreciate assertive types, but they loathe aggressive ones. Stay within the limits, and you’ll be fine.
Are you traditional? Yes, you have to be a bit on the conservative/traditional side. Italy is very attached to its “roots” of religion and family. People who are too progressive may not have an easy time carving their niche. Don’t object to religion in the classroom. Respect the family structure and treat people decently. This should be enough to get you a passing mark from the Italians.
Are you energetic? Italians are very energetic and often even exuberant. They can be loud and animated. If you have any doubts, just sit down to lunch with an Italian family. Your ears will be ringing after the meal, and you may have difficulty remembering what was said, but you will have an appreciation for the importance of “drama” in Italian communication. If you aren’t very expressive or energetic, it may be difficult for you to relate to the Italian personality.
When making a decision on your ESL teaching destination, take a moment to analyze your character strengths and weaknesses. If you answered “no” to three or more questions on the list, you may want to reconsider teaching English in Italy.
