Cactus Language Blog

Cactus Opinion: Italian course in Tropea

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus Staff Opinion, Italian, Learning a language

Sarah Gooding, Online Editor at Cactus, reports back from her Italian language course in Tropea (May 08)

Most people don’t know where Tropea is, and it would appear not many airlines do either. It took a lengthy slog to get to Stansted and several hours’ missed sleep to get the only flight leaving the UK for Lamezia Terme, Tropea’s closest airport – Ryanair’s 6.05am departure on a Sunday morning. Ouch.

But wasn’t it worth it. Tropea may be remote – it is located in Italy’s southern-most province of Calabria, the ‘toe’ of the boot – and it may be hard to get to, but if it means that less people visit and it stays as it was when we were there, I’ll take that early morning flight any time.

Tropea is a stunning medieval town perched on a cliff some 40 metres above the sparkling turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sea this clear and inviting outside the Caribbean – and despite the initial chill when I first dabbled my toes, as the water hadn’t yet had time to warm up, I found it impossible to resist. Almost every day after class I found myself swimming along the beaches and out to headlands, tiny silver fish darting around me, Stromboli rising from the haze of the horizon, the beautiful pastel façades of Tropea behind me. If this was what a language holiday entailed, then bring it on!

Which brings me to my main reason for coming. I had come, with my boyfriend, to learn Italian at the Italian language school Cactus works with in Tropea’s Old Town, or centro storico. We only had one week, a short time to learn a language by anyone’s standards – but meglio di niente, or better than nothing, as they say. I knew some Italian, while he was a virtual beginner, but we both already spoke Spanish and French which would give us a small head start.

The school in Tropea is small but that’s exactly what we wanted – it made for a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and, even better, meant that classes were restricted to a maximum of 6 students. In my class we were just four, the perfect number to encourage interaction and enable the teachers to focus on our individual needs.

As is the case with most schools, all students sit a placement test on the first Monday morning, to ensure they are placed in a class at the correct level. It seemed a bit strange that beginners sat the test too, but they did what they could and by mid-morning we were all placed in our respective groups and raring to go.

I was in Intermediate, or Medio 1, with teachers Emanuela (for grammar) and Margherita (for conversation). We had 2 hours with each teacher each morning, which turned out to be the ideal combo. How Emanuela made the grammar classes fun I don’t know, but they flew by, and we then had to incorporate what we’d learned into our conversation classes with Margherita. Our discussions ranged from our own jobs and travels to religion and racism – interesting topics with our mix of one Brit (me), one Pole and two Austrians, and of course our Italian teacher. Both teachers were encouraging and enthusiastic every step of the way and I felt that I learned a huge amount. I was genuinely sad when the week came to a close…one week really did seem too short.

But our Italian learning didn’t stop once classes were out - and this is where learning a language abroad really comes into its own. With your newly-acquired vocabulary and grammar fresh in your head, you’re itching to put it into practice, and how better to do so than with the locals, asking for directions, ordering pizza, buying fresh cherries in the market, etc. And what a feeling when they smile, understand and reply back! It really doesn’t matter how little or how much you know – people appreciate you speaking their language no matter what.

The great thing about Tropea is you really do get to practise your Italian – the locals don’t reply to you English, even if your accent betrays you. Perhaps this is because much of the tourism is from Italians themselves, who flood to Tropea in July and August (one time I wouldn’t recommend coming) to escape the heat of the cities and enjoy its beautiful long beaches. Either way, I had no excuse not to speak Italian outside class – and this is where I got most enjoyment, and gained most confidence, in speaking it.

All in all, Tropea was a fantastic location to learn Italian. It’s not the place to come if you’re looking to party, but for amazing beaches, spectacular views, delicious food and plenty of local history and culture, you can’t go wrong. I would recommend it, but then again I think I’d rather just keep the secret to myself - and not complain next time I have to go to Stansted.

* Photo of language class by Steve Watkins. All other photos by author.

Tags:calabria, Italian, italy, language learning, stromboli, tropea