English Immersion Campus for Music and Songwriting FAQs

Speak is a company offering residential English language immersion programmes in Italy.

We bring together native English speakers from around the world to immerse Italian learners in an environment of authentic English conversation. Our programmes develop the language skills of speaking and listening at the same time as supporting Learners with targeted workshops and language sessions lead by our team of qualified English teachers.

Each day offers a full, varied and rewarding programme in which all Participants can enjoy a range of activities. Through One-to-Ones, creative or competitive challenges, Group Discussions and cultural events our Learners can spend every moment in English supported by Anglos and Teaching Staff.

Each day is busy but no two hours are alike. As Anglos, your partners in the One-to-One and group sessions will constantly change, allowing you to meet all our Italian Learners. We start the day having breakfast together and end after dinner with activities that prioritise social English and teambuilding.

Learners at the Campus are young people in higher education music study programmes which include music performance, production, songwriting, mixing, sound engineering at music academies around Italy.

Our Learners are coming to Speak specifically to improve their competence and confidence in speaking and listening through natural conversations with native English speakers, helping them develop their English skills for their future careers. 

Anglos are mother-tongue English speakers from around the world. Anglos come to Speak in order to help Italian leaners improve their English through simply engaging them in conversation while experiencing a taste of Italy and meeting new people.

At the Campus, Anglos will be between 18-30 years of age offering diverse experiences and world-views.

This year, many Anglos will be from musical and performance backgrounds and study programmes but we welcome applications from Anglos of all backgrounds!

Yes. The Campus offers a combination of natural conversation sessions, workshops, activities and challenges with our Anglos, together with a dynamic academic programme developed by the Speak teaching team in order to develop the language skills of Learners.

Going abroad to study in an English school, aside from the practical inconvenience involved, doesn’t necessarily reap the desired results. Studying in a language school in an English-speaking country often provides the same classroom-based study that learners can experience at home, with opportunities to actually practice the language just as limited. Excluding some minimal conversation at the airport or at the bar to order a coffee, the opportunities to improve fluency and engage in natural conversation are limited to chatting with fellow-students often faced with the same difficulties.

Our immersion programmes allow Learners the opportunity to make significant strides in their communicative English whilst remaining here in Italy.

The minimum age for applications from Anglos at the Speak Summer Campus is 18 years of age.

There will be a total of around 40-50 participants at each Campus this year including Learners, Anglos and Speak staff. 

Anglos are accommodated in multiple rooms at the Spedale del Bigallo. 

Participants will share large, spacious dormitory rooms that reflect the venue’s history as an ancient hostel and honours its Tuscan heritage.

Each bed has its own storage space and each dormitory includes shared (unisex) bathrooms

The Spedale serves the best of simple local Tuscan cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients from the surrounding area. The catering team can also provide alternative menus in the case of allergies or intolerances.

You will need to arrive in the Meeting Point city (Florence) the afternoon before the first day of the Campus:

• For Campus 1 - arrive in Florence on Sunday 20th August
• For Campus 2 - arrive in Florence on Friday 25th August

For Anglos, our Speak Campus begins at a Meeting Point. This is a central location in the Meeting Point city - Florence. Once you have been accepted as an Anglo, we provide you with a Pre-arrival Information Pack including travel tips and suggestions for your arrival and departure. 

We strongly recommended that you arrive in good time in the meeting point city. You will need to organise your own travel to Florence before the Campus starts and your own travel home or on to your next destination after the end of the Campus.

Once you have arrived in Florence:

• On the afternoon before the Campus: All Anglos will meet in central Florence at 18:00 the evening before the Campus. Speak will then transfer all Anglos by private coach transfer to the location, Spedale del Bigallo. That evening, Anglos can enjoy a Welcome Aperitif and dinner as well as overnight accomodation.

• The next morning there will be an Anglo Induction Session before lunch. Our Italian learners begin to arrive just after lunchtime when the Campus will officially begin.

• On the final day of the Campus, all participants will depart together in the early afternoon, returning to the Meeting Point city (Florence).

Clothing:

Participants should bring practical, comfortable clothes and footwear for the Campus. Our Campus location provides towels and bedding.

The venue also requests that slippers or flipflops are worn in the dorms, so please bring either of these. 

Please note: While Italy is famous for its beautiful sunshine and hot weather, the location location is in the hills and there may also be showers and cooler temperatures, especially in the evenings.

Personal objects:

Speak will provide all the materials necessary for the Campus. However, you are also welcome to bring a musical instrument or anything else which reflects your personality or culture! It can also be useful to bring along small personal items, such as photos, which might aid discussion with the Learners. 

Medicine: 

Please bring any medicines that you would usually take in the case of minor ailments. If you are on prescription medication please be sure to bring it with you as you may be unable to access the exact same medicine locally.  

We will send all successful applicants a Pre-arrival Information Pack with full details of what to bring.

Once your participation is confirmed, we will provide you with a Pre-arrival Information Pack including travel tips and suggestions for accommodation in the Meeting Point city (Florence).

Please note however that Speak cannot make any travel or accommodation bookings on your behalf.

Should you require any specific assistance, do not hesitate to contact us at anglos@speakinitaly.com

Speak will take care of everything during the Campus so that Anglos can relax and enjoy the experience. Speak provides the following:

• Group coach transfers from the Meeting Point city (Florence) to the location (Spedale del Bigallo) on the evening before the Campus.
• 6 days/ 5 nights accommodation and full board in our location from dinner the evening before the Campus to lunch on the last day of the Campus.
• Group coach transfers from the location to the Departure Point city (Florence) on the final day of the Campus.

Speak takes care of everything at the Campus which is free of charge for Anglos.

During the Campus, Speak covers:

Accommodation:

Speak offers quality accommodation for 5 nights (1 night prior to the Campus + 4 nights at our location Spedale del Bigallo).

You will need to cover the cost of any accommodation you book outside of these dates before or after the Campus.

Travel:

Speak offers a Group coach transfer from the Meeting Point city (Florence) on the evening before the Campus to the location as well as a Group coach transfer from the location to the same Departure Point city (Florence) on the final day of the Campus.

You will need to cover the costs of your travel to and from the Meeting Point city before and after the Campus.

Full board catering:

Speak offers quality full board from dinner on the evening before the Campus to lunch on the final day of the Campus.

You will need to cover any extra catering required above the full board offered (bar, snacks etc.)

Anglos must be sure of their legal entitlement to be in Italy for the entire duration of the Campus. 

Our Anglos come from all over the world and therefore every case is different. While citizens of many countries do not need any kind of visa to enter Italy as a tourist (at least for a period of less than 90 days), Speak advises all Anglo participants to check the procedures required with the relevant authorities in your home country and your ability to meet the requirements necessary in order to enter Italy. 

A good starting point is the Italian Foreign Office official website which offers advice to nationals of different countries wishing to enter Italy. Please click on the link below to find out more:

http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

You will be covered by Speak’s Public Liability Insurance (Unipol Sai) for the duration of your time at the Programme. 

However, we strongly recommend that Anglos take out private travel/baggage/medical insurance.

Please do not purchase your travel tickets or accommodation in your Meeting Point city (Florence) until we have confirmed your participation in the course and sent you our Confirmation email.

Once your participation is confirmed, we will provide you with a Pre-arrival Information Pack including travel tips and suggestions for accommodation. Do not hesitate to contact us at anglos@speakinitaly.com should you require further assistance.