Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

 

Do I need to speak Italian to study in Italy?

Is it easy to find a flat? How expensive is it to live here?

Here’s what you need to know if you want to study in this country!

Milan, in Lombardy — the region of Italy with the most international students. And who better to tell us about studying here, than an actual student?

 

Why Italy?

 
I’m meeting with Diane Capelle who has been living in Italy for two years.

Diane Capelle, Student from France: “Thank you for having me!”
Diana Piñeros, Journalist: “It’s always a pleasure. Thank you!

Journalist: “So, you are from France. Tell me, why did you decide to study here?”
Diane Capelle, Student from France: “I decided to come here for various reasons. My course specifically for the international reputation, and the fact that it was like more technical.

And especially just the culture in Italy is fascinating. I mean, you can easily do day trips to the most beautiful cities in the world.

And I just think it’s just such an enriching environment to study in.”

Journalist: “Here, for example, there are many programs in English. But, would you recommend coming here without the language?”
Diane Capelle, Student from France: “I gave myself the challenge. I thought, OK, I’ll give myself three months to learn the language. I think it does make the experience much more enriching and fulfilling in my opinion, but I wouldn’t say it hinders you in your everyday life.”

International students

 
Founded in 1863, the Politecnico di Milano is the first university in Italy to offer all Master of Science programs in English.

Professor Stefano Ronchi told me about the programs here.

Journalist: “How big are the English programs for international students and how important is that for the university?”

Stefano Ronchi, Professor of Management, Polytechnic University of Milan: “We have over 30 Master of Science programs taught in English. And we attract students from all over the world. Thirty percent of our master students are coming from outside Italy.

Why is that important for us?

The first reason is that we aim to be a real international hub.
The second reason is because we work closely together with companies, and companies are asking for graduates from our architecture, design and engineering courses coming from all over the world.”

Facts & figures

 
Italy is in the top 10 most popular countries worldwide for international studies, hosting around 125,000 students from abroad. Most of them come from China, Romania, Albania, Iran and India.

The country has a long academic history. In 1088, one of the oldest universities in
the world was founded in the city of Bologna. Historical figures like mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope Alexander VI studied there.

Let’s talk about money!

 
Tuition fees in Italy vary. Public universities charge from €900 to €4,000 a year.
But you also need to pay your rent and living expenses!

Now, I’m meeting a student who just bought groceries.

So, let’s talk about prices!

This is Spencer from the USA.

Journalist: “Hi, nice to meet you.”
Spencer, Student from the US: “Nice to meet you too.”
Journalist: “Thanks for coming here. So, what do you have here?”
Spencer, Student from the US: “I got a lot for just 15 Euros.”

Journalist: “What?”
Spencer, Student from the US: “Bell Peppers (€1.95) . . . Penne (€1.29) . . . Four tomatoes (€1.35) . . . Arugula (€1.00) . . . Milk (€1.99) . . . Tomato focaccia (€2.19) . . . Ten eggs (€2.19) . . . and three tortillas (€2.35).”

 
Journalist: “But, what about rent? Is it easy to find a place here?”
Spencer, Student from the US: “Rent is a little bit more expensive in Milan. And I’ve lived in a couple of different places, but I finally found a place that I’m really happy with. So, I’d be happy to show you.”
Journalist: “Oh really? Yeah, let’s go!”

Spencer came to Italy on a Fulbright scholarship.

Journalist: “Nice!”
Spencer, Student from the US: “Welcome to my apartment.”
Journalist: “Ohh, wow, nice!”

And he shares the apartment with another student. Obviously, not everyone can afford a place like this.

Spencer, Student from the US: “Well, the university doesn’t offer a lot of student dorms within the city of Milan; and many of their dorms are further away from the campus.

I wanted an apartment that was really close to the campus. I was able to find this apartment after quite a bit of searching.

Usually for an apartment in the center, the apartments can be about 1,400 per
month and on the outside of this city, they’re around 900 for a one bedroom.

La dolce vita

 
Imagine visiting Milan cathedral or just walking around while studying here. Is it really a dolce vita?

I’m meeting two students from Iran and Brazil — to find out more about their lives here.

Journalist: “So guys, how is life here? How do you like it?”
Alice Kafrune, Student from Brazil: “I really love everything about life here, the lifestyle, the culture that they have. And at the end of the day, having an aperitivo or a drink. This is absolutely my favorite part about it.

When I first came here, I was so focused only on the studies. But then with time, I learned to balance that. But in the end of the day, I also enjoy everything that Milan has to offer.”

Journalist: “What is the most difficult thing about living here?”

Mohammadreza Kashizadeh, Student from Iran: “Housing can be really hard because students come here with apartment expectations and they need to lower their expectations to some rooms.

And also something that is better to keep in mind is that some landlords expect students to have a guarantee or stable bank account.”

Alice Kafrune, Student from Brazil: “Also the bureaucracy. When you come as an international student, you have to get a lot of documents. And everything takes months.”

Journalist: “Is a student job enough to live here?”

Mohammadreza Kashizadeh, Student from Iran: “When we talk about student jobs we need to mention which city we are talking about. I can say in Milan it’s not enough, we need to have another source of money because the cost of living is too high. But in some cities I know it is possible.

Alice Kafrune, Student from Brazil: “Most people don’t know about it, is that, depending on your degree you can’t find a job in the first semester or even the first year. Not because you’re not allowed, but because we have classes all day long.”

Insider tips

 
So, we’ve talked to international students. But what do locals say about living here?

Fabio Bruno, Student from Tuscany: “I suggest to study very, very hard: exams here are quite difficult. Don’t come here thinking it is a vacation, because it’s not.”

Though it is quite hard, Italian people tend to be very welcoming with foreigners.

Veronica Marrocu, Student from Milan: “If you are in big cities all the people know English, so it is not a problem, but if you are studying in smaller cities it could be a problem.

The rents are cheaper if you are not in a big city like Milan, Rome or Florence. The life here as a student is quite nice because we have a lot of activities and we have a very nice nightlife.”

So, off to Italy then?

Where should we go to next? Tell us in the comments! Ciao belli!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

 

Preschool, Nursery School. In the video, did only one person, the presenter, speak? Do only local residents study at universities in Milan, Italy?

Kindergarten. Is Diane Capelle from the United Kingdom? Does she focus all her time and effort on her studies?

Elementary, Primary School. Before enrolling in courses, all international students must master Italian. Is this right or wrong?

Junior High, Intermediate School. Are the Milanese xenophobic? Do they dislike and distrust foreigners? Do most international student come from other EU (European Union) nations like France, Germany, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands?

High School, Secondary School. Is the oldest institutes in Italy the Athenaeum in Rome, founded in 135 CE?

Community College, Vocational-Technical School. Rent and the cost living expenses is very expensive in Italy. Is this entirely true, mostly true, in the middle, yes and no, partially true, largely false, or completely false?

Apprenticeship. Is it easy to get all the necessary paperwork completed? Can foreign students work in Italy?

Private College. Are all parts of Italy — urban and rural areas — the same?
 
 
 
University. Many students from my country study abroad. Yes or no? What are some popular destination? Why do they study there? What happens after they complete their program?

Department, Faculty. Are there (many) international students in your city, region or country? Who are they? Where do the come from? What do they study?

Master’s Program. Is higher education big business? Is higher education an “industry”? Is it very lucrative?

Doctorate Program. What might happen in the future?

Internship. Young people should study or do internships abroad. What do you think?