During my time studying abroad in Florence, Italy, I had the opportunity to teach English to both local kindergarten and middle school students. This experience allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and become more connected with the community. At first, I was hesitant to take on this opportunity. I was nervous about traveling by myself, going outside the city center, and being surrounded by locals who spoke little to no English. In the end, I am so grateful that I accepted the challenge. I got to see what school life looks like in Florence and how it differs from my own experiences. The joy on the kids’ faces when I arrived was unmatched; some of them were even wearing USA shirts!
My first day at the middle school
For my kindergarten students, I focused on very basic vocabulary and key terms that are easy to remember and recognize. I started by teaching them expressions such as “thank you,” “goodbye,” and “hello.” Then we worked on colors, body parts, animals, days of the week, months, foods, and more. What really excited them about learning English were the songs we sang. I used “Wheels on the Bus,” “Walking in the Jungle,” and “Rock, Paper, Scissors”. This was a fun way to keep their attention focused while learning animals and objects through songs they already knew.
Outside the kindergarten school
For my middle school students, I used a different approach and teaching style. They were more curious about my personal lifestyle and how I live at home. For every class, I prepared a 20–35-slide presentation about myself, my hobbies, the cities I have traveled to, foods from the USA, my high school, and more. They were very interested in everything about life in the United States. Their favorite part was learning about high school, and a few students even mentioned wanting to do an exchange year in the USA. This was so touching to me, and I had such an amazing experience with them.
A presentation I made to share with all my student
For future students interested in studying abroad in Florence, I recommend keeping an open mind at all times and immersing yourself in the community as much as possible. Even if you aren’t interested in teaching English, there are so many other ways to get involved and give back to the city that you get to call home for four months. Take every opportunity to explore neighborhoods beyond the main tourist areas, try local food, and practice speaking Italian; even small efforts go a long way.
This experience has been incredibly rewarding, and I have grown so much as a person through both this community engagement and studying abroad. Living in Florence taught me independence, adaptability, and cultural awareness, and gave me a chance to see the world from a new perspective.
Written by: Evelyn, Spring 2026 Florence student from University of Kansas
