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Faqs for students of italian in Italy |
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What about the climate?
Otranto and its surroundings have a typical Mediterranean climate. Summer is quite warm, with hot weeks in July and August. Spring and first autumn are milder, though it is still possible to bathe in the sea. In winter temperature rarely goes under zero. Average summer temperatures range from 18° C to 35° C . Average winter temperatures, from 5° C to 15°C.
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How
can I reach Otranto?
Otranto is a town
of 5.000 inhabitants 45 km south of Lecce.
You can easily reach it: - by car: Highway
A14, tollgate Bari Nord (150 kilometers from
Lecce). - by train: Direct links to/from Lecce
from Bologna, Milan, Rome, Turin and, in summer
time, from European countries. - by plane:
Brindisi/Bari airports – daily flights to/from
Rome, Milan, London- Stansted, Munich, Paris,
Barcellona. - by ship: port of Brindisi –
ferries to/from Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Egypt.
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Is there a post office?
The post office
is just near our school. Open time: 8.30 –
14.30
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Is there a bank where I can change money or use the ATM (automatic teller machine)?
In Otranto there
are three banks (open time: 8.30 –13.35 /14.45
–16.15), all of them with a ATM (automatic
teller machine) point 24h. a day). Closed
on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Where will I stay?/ What kinds of accommodation do you offer?
The accommodations
are in the building in which the school is
located, in double rooms shared with other
students from our school , in modern apartments
from 2 or 4 beds, with heating, television
, balcony with sight on the sea, veranda and
furnished of kitchen in order to concur independently
to prepare the meal and services. Sheet and
towel are supplied. The cleaning of the flat
and the change of the linen happen weekly.
The apartment is considered reserved from
Sunday evening before the beginning of the
course to the Saturday morning. Various days
of arrival and departure upon request. In
alternative is possible to demand the accommodation
in family in single room with breakfast treatment
(is also available the treatment of average
pension).
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Which
is the average age of students attending
the school?
Fifty percent
of our students are age between 21and 30,
twenty percent between 16 and 20, fifteen
between 36 and 50, ten percent between 31
and 35, five percent more than 51.
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What should I expect about meals?
A
typical Italian breakfast (usually served
at 8.00 a.m.) normally includes bread, butter,
jam/marmalade, or biscuits, as well as coffee,
milk or tea. At lunch (13.00) it’s possible
to have a first course (pasta or soup), a
second course (meat or fish) with vegetables,
and fruit or cake. At dinner (20.30): first
or second courses along with vegetables and
fruit or cake are the usual dishes, though
you can have pizza or some other specialities.
Water and wine are always on the table. At
the end of the meal we usually drink black
coffee.
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What about accommodation in families?
Our host families
are carefully selected. You will have the
chance of enjoying a friendly atmosphere,
practicing Italian in daily life situations
and tasting homemade food.
The use of a part of the refrigerator, hand-washing
of clothes, as well as the use of the ironing
board, and of the kitchen is usually permitted
with no extra charge. The laundry is near
our family accomodations.
If you choose a Bed&Breakfast or a half
board accomodation, please keep in mind that
the use of the kitchen to cook your own food
is normally not included. The best payment
is cash.
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Do I need to take my own bed-lines and towels?
No, you don’t.
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What about accommodation in a hotel or in
an “agriturismo” (ex- farm house)?
We can reserve
for you a hotel or an “agriturismo”
situated in Otranto, in the country or by
the sea. Prices are according to the categories
of hotels and the season. Please make your
reservation well in advance.
As to the accomodation in an “agriturismo”,
it is usually a simple room with basic facilities.
You live nevertheless in contact with nature.
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Am I supposed to communicate my arrival date
and time?
Yes, you are. We
need to know them well in advance in order
to make the waiting time for you and your
hosts as short as possible. And, eventually,
to organize your pick up.
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What documents do I need to come to Italy?
Citizens from the
European Union can enter Italy with an Identification
card or a Passport. Citizens from other countries
should check with the nearest Italian Embassy
or Consulate.
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Which is the Italian currency ?
Since 1st January
2002 twelve member countries of the European
Union have adopted a common currency called
“Euro”.
It is however still possible to change other
currencies: $, CHF, GBP, JPY, etc.
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Where and when is it better to change money?
If you want to
change large amounts of money, you better
to do it in Italy. You should also bring cash
for the first few days (taxi, bus tickets,
small purchases, etc). In change offices commission
rates are higher. The cheapest ones are at
the bank. For a stay longer than 3 months,
opening a bank account might even be more
convenient. We can give you information about
it.
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What about payments?
Credit Cards are
accepted almost everywhere. Euro-Cheques can
be changed in banks (each Euro check is guaranteed
max for Euros 200). You can receive money
at Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), if you
have an ATM card linked to an international
network (Eurocard, Cirrus, Plus, Maestro etc.).
Mastercard and Visa (with PIN number) may
be used to withdraw cash from an ATM machine.
In Europe, ATMs do not often accept PINs with
more than 4 digits. Cash from ATM is only
in Euro. The daily amount is limited.
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How much pocket money do I need?
Euros 100 per week,
in addition to the costs of accommodation
and food, should be enough.
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How much pocket money do I need?
Italy uses a 220
Volts/AC system. Additionally, wall sockets
and plugs may differ from those in your home
country. Be sure to get information about
the possible need for an adapter before your
departure.
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Am I insured during my staying at you?
During your staying
at our school you are insured if you communicate
us your staying period 1 months before arriving,
else you must be personally insured against
illness and accident. Contact your insurance
company to ask whether your personal insurance
is valid abroad. Otherwise purchase a travel
insurance. Members of the national insurance-companies
in EU countries should demand the E111 form
to obtain free health service in Italy.Robbery
coverage is often included in personal insurance.
If not, we suggest you to purchase coverage
for your stay in Italy.
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Which world time zone does Italy belong to?
Italy uses Middle-European-Time
(MET), i.e.: Rome = 0 / New York = -6 / Tokyo
= +8.
During the summer months (mid March to mid
October) the clocks are turned ahead one hour
to Middle-European-Summer-Time (MEST = MET
+ 1h), i.e.: Rome = 0 / New York = -5 / Tokyo
= +9.
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What should I check before leaving?
Here is a list
of things we suggest you to check before your
departure:
- Valid passport or identity card
- Tickets and reservations
- Insurance documents
- Money, traveller’s cheques and credit
cards
- Personal medicine or medical prescriptions
- E111 form (for citizens from EU countries)
- Italian address given to parents etc.
- School informed about arriving time
- Transfer requested from school
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Organize
your vacancy courses. |
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Check
on-line your italian knowledge. |
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Trace
your price in our list based for
you. |
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ILS Italian Language School
Head Office: Vico Antonio Sforza, 18 - 73028 Otranto (Lecce) - Italy
Mobile: +39 329 2956361 - Phone: +39 0836 801552 - Fax: +39 0836 805350
www.ilsonline.it - info@ilsonline.it |
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