Teach Spanish or English to my family, assist me at school and learn Italian in Sicily, Italy

Details

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  Description

  ###(1 month stay)
  ### volunteers are needed from SEPTEMBER until middle JUNE
  # please note that we do not host in July and August!
  #very basic Italian knowledge required
  #English language speaker as a native language or C2 level
  #no smokers
  #no Italian citizenship seekers and no salary seekers. Sorry!
  
  DEAR VOLUNTEERS,
  
  Are you an English or Spanish teacher or are you studying to become a teacher?
  Are you a curious and indipendent person?
  Would you like to discover Sicily?
  Would you like to get to know the Italian school system?
  Do you like spending time with kids?
  Would you like to learn the Italian culture?
  Do you come from one of the following English and/or Spanish speaking countries:
  UK, IRELAND, USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SPAIN, SOUTH AMERICA ?
  
  If you answered YES to all the questions, carry on reading because you might be our volunteer!! :)
  
  #Long stays are encouraged in order to make a more family-friendly relationship.
  
  We are a family of three living in a village close to Ragusa: I am a 43 years old primary school teacher and teacher of Italian as a second language, my husband who is an engeneer and our 14 years old boy who is the main reason why we are here.
  
  #Our son is a clever teenager, he likes to do many different activities such as art crafts, board games, just like outdoor activities like swimming, playing football and riding his bike. He was introduced to the ukulele by one of our volunteers and he's been studying drums since two years now. He loves to have his indipendence but he enjoys sharing some of his free time with volunteers, as well.
  
  #About me, I have a background of linguistic studies and a passion for the Middle East and foreign languages, I am a good listener, and I enjoy reading books and watching movies.
  I am a life-long learner and I truly believe that opening my house to the world is a wonderful chance to nourish our minds and to open our hearts.
  I speak English and I am a beginner with Spanish but very eager to learn it!
  I am a collector of magnets and pencils from all over the world, I like cooking healthy and I'm trying to instill this love also in my son!
  Before teaching in a public school, I was a teacher of Italian as a second language and a cultural mediator in a Reception Centre for both adult and minor migrants. I believe that intercultural dialogue can be the key to a more peaceful world: getting to know different people can help us be more tolerant and open to diversity. For all those reasons, I wish my son could grow up surrounded by people with different backgrounds.
  
  ##We are not looking for a nanny because my son is old enough to take care of himself but a big sister/brother for our son, a sincere reliable and smiling volunteer who is able to inspire him and enrich him, in other words, a caring person we would like to welcome as a family member!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Help around the house
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You can learn how the Italian school system works and be immerse in a school environnement.
  We live in a small town located in the South east of Sicily (less than 10.000 inhabitants), in the area of the famous tv-serie "Montabano" narrated by the Sicilian novelist Andrea Camilleri.
  Chiaramonte is a super quiet and safe place, it's the perfect place where you can relax and meditate about life.
  We are on a hill-top 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Ragusa at an altitude of 668 metres (2,192 ft) above sea level. The town is also called Balcony of Sicily for its panoramic position, with views over the Valley of the Ippari and its towns (Comiso, Vittoria, Acate).
  ##Chiaramonte is surrounded by a beautiful pine-forest where you can enjoy running, walking, cycling (mountain bikes) and being in contact with nature. Many locals are used to go and run in the pine-forest or around the town.
  ##Winter is not very cold and the spring usually comes very early compared to other Italian cities because of the Mediterranean climate.
  
  The town was founded by the Greeks, but then colonized by Arabs and Spanish as well.
  Chiaramonte produces a highly rated olive oil, accredited with the Denominazione d'Origine Protetta (DOP), not to mention premium pork products, from salami to salsicce (sausages).The local economy is based on agriculture, mainly olives, vineyards, vegetables, almonds and the raising of pigs and cattle.
  ##We are omnivorous and our diet consists of eating lot of fresh vegetables and fruit, meat and fish. We try to eat healthy and to avoid processed food as much as we can. Due to logistic reasons, we accept a volunteer who's omnivorous like us (no vegan, nor vegetarian, sorry! )
  ## I will be happy to help you Learning Italian if you wish.
  ##I like cooking and I will be more than happy to teach you some Italian (and Sicilian) recipes and, if you wish, we can cook and put the recipes in my foodblog where there's still a part of international recipes.
  ## When we have vacations, we will be happy to do some trips in this beautiful area
  ##You can discover the real places used for the famous Italian TV serie "Il commissario Montalbano"
  ##You can experience the Sicilian traditional food made by local farms where you can meet the cows and see how they make fresh ricotta cheese and other food and ride horses.
  
  WHAT YOU WON'T FIND:
  #CLUBS (but there are bars where young people are used to meet at night, especially at the weekend)
  #CINEMAS (the closest cinema is in Ragusa)
  #BUSES AT NIGHTS
  
  TRADITIONAL EVENTS
  ## In February (4 weeks before Easter and three days before the Ash Wednesday) in town there is the Carnival: a big event that lasts 3 days and you can see the amazing parade and all the related events.
  ## May is the month of Our Lady Mary: a unique occasion to see how faith and folklore still exists combined in the biggest parade and religious celebrations.
  ## June: on the 24th we celebrate St. John the Baptist.
  ##August: we celebrate St. Salvatore and St. Vito, who is the Patron Saint of the town.
  In summertime they also organize countryside festivals where you can eat traditional Sicilian food and play old games.
  ##In middle September - October there is the Olive harvest: an occasion to see with your own eyes the traditional method of making the most green (and tasty) olive oil you have ever seen!
  
  We will do our best in order to make your stay a cultural exchange: you will have Sicilian food and we will invite you to cook and learn new recipes, we are as well very interested to get to know your area's peculiarities. cc

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  Au Pair Help

  Further details can be found here

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We are looking for a joyful and reliable volunteer in order to help me with my son's, playing with him in the afternoon through educational games, board games or any other games that will entertain him in an active way (AND KEEP HIM AWAY FROM MOBILE AND PLAY STATION!!!!)
  It's very important that you push him to speak and you interact with him in English/Spanish.
  Sometimes he will suggest you the way he wants to play, but it's better if you suggest him what to do, the lenght of the game and encourage him, so we expect you to have an organized schedule!
  
  I usually need your help just for a couple of hours in the afternoon for spending some quality time with my son as long as a general cooperation to the family life.
  I wish you could assist me at school during my English classes: you will do a good practice of teaching English as a foreign language and will be involved in a friendly and warm groups of pupils who are very eager to get to know everything about your and about your culture!
  
  ###EXPERIENCE with kids of 13-14 years old (boys) is preferred because it will make everything easy and of course, you must be a kids lover, playful, smiling, positive and able to find clever strategies when needed!
  My son and his wellness are my PRIORITY: he has to feel good with you. If you don't like kids, or you may find hard or boring deal with them, please, don't apply!
  
  You are not required to clean the house (YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR ROOM AND BATHROOM TIDY AND CLEAN!) but some help will be appreciated like doing the vacuum, help at dinner time or when you wish.
  WEEKLY, you are required to clean carefully your own bedroom and your bathroom (dust the furnitures, vacuum and mope the floor)
  IT'S NOT A JOB NOR A HOLIDAY. I would say that it is an experience to learn about a new culture, a new language and travel a bit, living in an Italian family.
  
  Moreover, we would be very pleased to show you the most beautiful places of our areas or to go on a trip when we are on vacations.
  
  IN A FEW WORDS ..
  Our ideal workawayer must be:
  family oriented
  clean and tidy
  has experience in teaching to children in order to help our son improving English/Spanish and being more confident.
  has basic cooking skills (very basic!)
  not internet/mobile/social/TV addicted (at least, not when she has to spend her time with him)
  very talkative and energetic but calm at the same time
  loves playing with children and she/he is responsible
  a tidy person who helps at home as a member of the family
  not a party girl
  interested in languages and culture exchange
  interested in being part of our family
  
  What I expect from you to do:
  play with our son
  actively push our son to speak
  help him with writing and reading in English /Spanish and correct him and me speaking
  assist me at school
  
  What you will be able to do in your free time:
  go to the gym
  climb and run in the forest
  eat always a good quality of fresh food
  attending Italian classes twice or three times a week at the local CPIA (just for long stay from September onward)
  
  ##### Weekends are always free: a chance for you to explore the island
  #Visit Sicily during the weekend (we live in the area of the famous tv serie "Montalbano")
  #Visit some of the most beautiful historical cities: (the airport of Comiso is a 20 mins drive far from here) during the weekends.
  Of course we can be flexible on your schedule if you want to go somewhere, but it is important that you tell us in advance. At reasonable hours, we will be happy to drive you to the nearest bus station where you can catch a bus to the nearby cities (or to Catania and Palermo): it's a ten minutes drive and I can pick you up on your return.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Arabic: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I speak English but I am a beginner with Spanish and very eager to learn it! I am a teacher and I also have professional experience in teaching Italian as a second language.
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  Accommodation

  Our apartment is not very big but you will find everything you need.
  You will be provided a private room with single bed, a couch, a wardrobe, a desk + Private Bathroom and a big panoramic terrace!
  Free wi-fi
  Our collection of books in Italian, English and Arabic
  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included/if we go somewhere you are welcome to come with us.

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  What else ...

  #Experience with kids-boys (I am going to ask you references of previous jobs related to kids)
  # honest, sincere and empathetic volunteer
  # Language Teaching experience
  #Basic cooking skills (don't worry: you won't be asked to cook!)
  #No smokers, drugs or alcohol users
  #Driving licence would be a plus!
  
  
  AIRPORTS TO GET TO US:
  #The closest airport (15 mins far from my place!) is located in Comiso , a small one served mainly by Ryanair flights (some European destinations and Italian ones) N.b: Always availabe to pick you up here!
  #The international airport of Catania N.b. Before you book a flight to Catania, ask us if we are available to pick you up there. (Btw, there are buses every hour that can take you to my town!)
  
  
  #In town there are two sportive centers, one of them is brand new. Joining the sportive center could be a nice way to keep fit and meet locals of your age.
  #You can learn Italian at the local CPIA (Centre for Adult Education) that offers Italian language classes from middle September to middle June.
  #You can visit the local museums and the town itself, enjoying the relax offered by the small park located in the city centre (5 minutes walking from our apartment) or the pine-forest just outside the town.
  People here live in an easy and relaxed way and we are far from the chaos and the traffic of big cities.
  You can enjoy exploring our narrow and typical alleys of the city center.
  #Chiaramonte is not far from the city of Ragusa and Comiso (15 minutes driving, 30 minutes by bus). Catania is 1 hour driving and there are buses almost every hour.
  Here you can discover the wonderful baroque of the area of Ragusa (Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto, Scicli and so on)

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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