<p>Any singers (or others) here had any experience with an Italian immersion program in Italy? Would like to hear the good and the bad. thx</p>
<p>DD did a 7 week Italian immersion program at Middlebury in VT. Her voice teacher did not want her in Italy for it since she thought there might not be enough total immersion in the Italian. Folks let you get away with English and even want to speak English for their own practice. </p>
<p>If it is a true immersion program, NO English, then it would be great. Middlebury is total immersion, no English at all for the 7 week summer term. Can’t even ask a question in English. She was in tears almost for the first 3 weeks even though she had taken 2 terms of Italian at school. But then the light came on and she got it. When she was in Italy this summer she was able to slide back into Italian and get along great in the town she was staying in. Her voice teacher noticed the difference in her song treatment afterward so I highly recommend a true immersion program. If it is in Italy that would be great. I would love her to do immersion in French and German, too, if we could get it scheduled.</p>
<p>Oberlin has a January session and you have to do a “winter term” for 3 of the 4 years so D asked teacher about doing Italian immersion (even though she is taking Italian this semester). Teacher thought it was a great idea and would sponsor the plan she put together. So now I just want to be sure she finds a good one and it has to be in January. She is asking at school but asked me if the CC family had some advice.</p>
<p>D did a singing program in Florence for four weeks, followed by six weeks staying with my friends on Lago di Como. She picked up a heck of a lot more Italian hanging out with the family (especially their gorgeous sons) than she did going to class with other “stranieri”. If you can find a program that suits, I would recommend one that includes accommodation with an Italian family. Unfortunately, in many of the study abroad programs, students bunk with other English speaking students. Even in many of the immersion programs you are listening to other non native speakers and you can pick up some odd accents.
You might look into <a href=“Dante Global | Dante Alighieri Society”>Dante Global | Dante Alighieri Society; The Instituto Dante Alighieri has family stay options. She might even be able to find a private singing teacher while she attends one of the schools.</p>
<p>Why did this thread title make me think of Mediterranean beaches?</p>
<p>Oh yah…these opera students having to learn Italian, while sipping on an aperitivo and watching the sun set on another bel giorno.
(mamma mia)</p>
<p>Some of DD’s friends have gone here, but I do not know if they have a January session. [Italian</a> language school beach, learn to speak Italian, learn Italian language, dante alighieri school](<a href=“http://www.dantealighieri.com/]Italian”>http://www.dantealighieri.com/)</p>
<p>Thanks. This website looks great. I emailed them.</p>
<p>What about this one in Taormina, Sicily? You can stay with an Italian family. I can vouch for the fact that very few Sicilians speak much English. I do not know this program, but it’s worth researching.</p>
<p>I’m sensing a similar request coming up from my D, maybe for summer…</p>
<p>[Italian</a> Language Study in Taormina, Sicily: Intersession - Study Abroad and Study Abroad Programs with StudyAbroad.com](<a href=“Study Abroad Programs Around The World for Undergraduates”>Study Abroad Programs Around The World for Undergraduates)</p>