You might be wondering if schools will teach your kids Italian the way American schools offer English as a Second Language programs, where a dedicated class or specialist works with your child until they can keep up with the rest.
The short answer is: not exactly, and it depends heavily on where you live.
Italian schools teach in Italian.
Italian public schools teach every subject in Italian: math, science, history, literature, music, etc. Your child isn’t being pulled aside for Italian lessons. They’re being placed in a class with Italian-speaking peers and expected to follow along in every subject. For a young child, this can work remarkably well. For a teenager, it can be academically and socially devastating.
Some support exists, but don’t count on it in rural areas.
A 2024 law allows Italian schools to assign dedicated Italian language teachers to help non-native speakers. But this only applies when at least 20% of students are new residents who don’t speak Italian well or at all. In rural areas and small towns, that threshold is very unlikely to be met.
ESL programs as Americans understand them are not a standard feature of Italian public schools. What exists is inconsistent and dependent on the school and local population.
Italian children are learning English, but don’t expect fluency.
Italian children in many areas are starting to study English. My 12-year-old cousin in Milan can tell you her name, her favorite school subjects, and some of her hobbies. It’s wonderful that they’re learning! But very few children are advanced or fluent. Your English-speaking child may not find an immediate friend group among their Italian classmates.
Think about this seriously before you move.
Imagine yourself at the age your children are now, moving to a country where you don’t speak the language. Not understanding what the teacher says. Not being able to follow along. Struggling to make friends because you can’t communicate. That’s a real possibility for your child, and it deserves serious thought and planning.
Age matters enormously. Young children (under 10 or so) tend to absorb new languages remarkably fast. They might play with kids and kick a ball around even if they don’t understand each other well. Teenagers face a much harder path, both academically and socially. Those are years focused on talking, self-expression, and making or selecting friends based on commonalities deeper than “we both like to kick a ball.”
Start Italian lessons before you arrive.
For the whole family, ideally. I recommend working with a private teacher rather than apps or group classes. Individualized and personalized instruction allows you to progress much faster. My teacher Beatrice Ferrara (#NotSponsored, just happy to recommend her) works with students at all levels.
Budget for private tutoring once you’re here, especially in the first year. And talk to the school before enrollment. Ask specifically what types of support they offer for non-Italian-speaking students. Get the details. Don’t accept a vague answer. Fun side note: that conversation will probably be in Italian; are you ready for it?
If you’re considering international schools, they tend to be in the major cities of Milan, Rome, Florence, Turin, and Bologna. They’re rarely in rural Italy or on Sardinia.
Contact me if there’s anything I can do to help. The first call is always free. Ci vediamo!