Reviews of Scuola Virgilio, Trapani (Sicily), Italy

All the teachers were very good and enthusiastic about their work. Every day we got lots of material: texts, grammar points and excercises. We were given lots of homework which I liked since I feel I learn by doing. As all the teaching was in Italian I really learned a lot and became more confident in using Italian. It was a very nice experience and I'm already planning my next learning holiday.

Because of students coming and going, each week is a separate entity. For a student who stays several weeks, this is a bit confusing. If we got homework on Friday, it would be good to have it checked (or corrected) next Monday. I would also have liked to have more progressive method, sometimes I felt we were jumping back and forth in between grammar issues. I understand this is a huge challenge for the school and probably a problem only for us who stay longer.

Stefano's tours and cooking class

It was the first city in Italy where locals always spoke Italian to me. For a language student this is a huge advantage! Trapani is also a city with lots of local life, not just shops and restaurants for tourists.

Suitable for all, leaves lots of free time to explore the town and surroundings.

I love how kind and helpful everyone is. I love the quality of education.

I was put in a Homestay with someone who seemed a bit anxious. Even before I moved in, they asked me to move out. It would be nice to have more homestay options. And it still turned out great at the Bed and Breakfast I am staying at.

Don't miss Erice.

I love it and can hardly wait to come back.

I think Trapani and the area is beautiful, friendly, with great activities and excellent food.

Very good.

The school is centrally located between the old town and the new part of Trapani. It is also easily accessible by bus. The classrooms are air-conditioned and have a digital blackboard. The staff are always available to answer questions, including holiday-related questions, and provide valuable tips. The lessons are structured in a varied way and the small group size means that you are well integrated into the teaching process. Through the afternoon programme, you quickly get in touch with the other participants.

As this was my first language study trip, I can't really compare. I was alone in Trapani for a fortnight and can only say: Have the courage, it's fun!

To learn the Italian language and gain an insight into life in Sicily, Trapani is ideal.

The course was above my language level, but I was well involved and learned a lot as a result.

Very enthusiastic teachers, especially Daniela in week 2-3. The lessons were an excellent mix of free speaking, clear explanations of grammar, reading texts and exercises and individual correction. All this with a lot of humour and fun and interesting topics. I learned a lot about traditions, but also about everyday life.

The lessons in the 1st week were focused on the (only) classmate, and 2 levels above my level. We did 4 tenses that were new to me in 3 days, 2 of which I got as a note for self-study in the afternoon. As an alternative, a beginners' course was offered. From mid-October/early November onwards, there are almost no other students, there are virtually no leisure activities (a guided tour of the city on the third last evening) and the reduction in lessons with only 1 or 2 students seems above average to me. This period is unsuitable for those travelling alone, unless you love being alone.

Trapani is always worth a visit. My comments are purely subjective, travelling alone in the low season. Here I would recommend a different period, or you come as a couple or with friends.

The school has moved, the information on Languagecourse.net is not correct. The school is NOT directly on the beach, but 850m away. Of the general school facilities, I only experienced the WiFi. However, the almost complete lack of leisure activities during my stay was disappointing. When I first contacted the school, they said there would be a guided tour of the city and an aperitif meeting each week. The aperitif was completely cancelled, the guided tour was postponed several times and finally done on the third last evening.

In general, Trapani is a very beautiful and interesting city in a fantastic location. Unfortunately, many things are closed in the off-season, e.g. museums and excursion providers, and most buses do not run on Sundays. The student card was also hardly usable, as the providers were closed.

In general, the lessons are very good, they bring a lot, are fun and are a good mix of systematic and free speaking, but the placement in the classes does not always fit. You should inform yourself well in advance, especially in the low season, about the terms and conditions and the class reductions for a small number of students, e.g. 40% for individual lessons and 50% for 2-3 people per class, plus restriction to Monday-Thursday, i.e. no lessons on Friday. This is not transparent on Languagecourse.net either, you only get this information in the small print with the registration confirmation. When I asked during my stay, Languagecourse.net first had to request the terms and conditions from the school.

Teachers staff, reception and availability of school's director