ih BRITISH SCHOOL Reggio Calabria first opened its doors in 1964 as the first English Language School in Reggio Calabria. The founder Christa Willauer, set it up under the name “International School”. Since the very start, the school has invested a lot in the professional development of its entire staff, and this philosophy of being a learning organization is one of the main reasons its current owners, Patrizia and Marco, decided to join the International House network in 2015.
We start welcoming students from the age of 3 years old. The majority of our students are young learners between the ages of 7 and 17. We also offer adult classes. Many of our students study English for their future careers or to get into foreign universities. This means that they are generally very motivated and they often seek formal qualifications, such as Cambridge exams or IELTS. Teachers describe our students as friendly, outgoing and willing to participate in lessons. Italians have a natural desire to communicate with others and tend to enjoy speaking activities. They also have an excellent sense of humour, which makes teaching these lively learners an enjoyable experience.
We offer two main types of courses – “internal” (full courses held on the school premises with groups of max. 12 students or individual students) and “external” (usually shorter courses, often in preparation for exams, held in local state schools or kindergartens). All our courses range in level from Beginner to C2 (Proficiency) and are usually general English or exam preparation. With larger groups (e.g. pre-school or large classes), an assistant is present during the lesson.
In addition to English courses, we also offer teacher training courses, including the CELTA and Young Learner teaching certifications.
We aim to teach the learners, more than just the language. This means that we apply different approaches and methodologies, depending on what we deem best for each class or student. We strive to deliver engaging and enjoyable lessons, which are relevant to our students’ needs. Most importantly, we try to create a positive learning environment where each person is treated fairly and respectfully. Having worked with Italian learners for over 60 years, we know that they tend to excel when challenged, and therefore we push them to do their best during their time with us.
We know that moving to a new place and starting a new job can be a stressful time for teachers, so we provide support to help make the transition easier. We have a dedicated and bilingual member of our Italian admin team who accompanies new teachers to various offices to arrange residence, open a bank account and help with all other documentation required to work legally in Italy. The school also provides support with finding accommodation, by taking teachers’ preferences and needs into consideration and ensures that the place is ready upon the teacher’s arrival. We also provide assistance for healthcare and doctor’s appointments, if needed.
Just as we like to challenge our learners to do their best, we take the same approach with our teachers, encouraging them to progress in their careers. One of the things teachers consistently list as their favourite aspect of the school is the excellent opportunities for professional development.
With the wide range of class types that we offer, there are plenty of opportunities to develop in your career and explore different areas in ELT. Teachers who stay with us for more than a year can expect to be offered opportunities to develop in their career which may include taking on different roles, training to become a Cambridge or IELTS speaking examiner, becoming a CELTA tutor, attending national / international conferences, delivering workshops at conferences or attending a relevant professional development course, such as the DELTA or an IH online course.
All members of our academic management team are DELTA-qualified with several years of experience in ELT. In line with the ethos of any learning organisation, they too are continuously developing and seeking ways in which to become better language teachers. The team ensures that teachers are given all the support they need to be able to provide quality lessons to our students and they also play a key role in the professional development and wellbeing of the teaching staff.
As a learning organisation, professional development of all of our members is of the utmost importance to us. Teachers working with us can expect to benefit from a dedicated support network of DoSes, senior teachers, coordinators, and more experienced colleagues who are on hand daily to offer advice and a hand with lesson planning.
We also have an INSETT programme which covers topics related to the needs of the teaching staff. Furthermore, our observation programme includes regular observations, which provide our teachers the opportunity to watch each other’s lessons as well as get feedback on their own. Appraisals are held twice yearly to give our teachers further input into their development, not only as a teacher, but also as an employee in general. Our International House World Organisation and AISLI memberships give us further professional development opportunities, as well as access to a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of contexts.
One of the highlights of our school year is the annual teacher training conference, which has grown in popularity since its debut several years ago. We always invite at least one leading name from the ELT industry (past speakers have included Adrian Underhill and Jim Scrivener) as the keynote speaker.
In 2018, we were delighted to welcome teachers from all over the world to Reggio Calabria, when we were chosen to host the IH Young Learners conference. This is an important event in the ELT calendar and we were delighted to hear all the lovely comments from delegates about our team, our school and our city.
We also organize extra-curricular events for all our students, which provide a mixture of learning and fun, allowing them to practise their English naturally and in a relaxed environment outside of the classroom.
Nick Harvard | Senior Teacher for 2 years
At IH Reggio Calabria, Nick organised the INSETT programme and Younger Learner training course (IHCYLT) as well as teaching various ages and levels. After two years he went on to work for the British Council in Morocco.
“I enjoyed my time at IH RC so much. It was wonderful working in a family-run school where the owners really care about the progress of their students and the welfare of their teachers. Working with a group of teachers with a range of experience allowed everyone to develop during their time at the school. I look back on my time at IH RC very fondly and recommend it highly as a school.”
Mariam Durrant | Senior Teacher/ Head of Teacher Training for 2 years
Mariam worked in the world of ELT for 12 years before joining IH Reggio Calabria. She spent eight years working for the British Council and a German INGO on English teaching. In addition, she also worked in the field of teaching and teacher training in Sri Lanka and London, before becoming Director of Studies in Brighton. After two years at IH RC, she continued to pursue her interest in teacher training and teaching of exams courses in Bournemouth, UK and is currently working in Kathmandu, Nepal as a freelance IELTS examiner and teacher.
“I had a very positive experience working at IH RC. While having the opportunity to help other teachers professionally develop, I also learned so much myself from a knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated management and teaching team. I would highly recommend working at this school if you want to be in a friendly, supportive and professional environment that puts high quality teaching and the needs of the learner first.”
Megan Price | Teacher for 2 years
Before moving to Reggio Calabria, Megan completed a Masters in Russian Studies and worked at International house in Moscow teaching classes of all ages and levels. At International House RC, she coordinated events and taught a range of classes. After two years, she went on to teach English in the UK state system.
“The opportunities I received in Reggio have been integral to developing my teaching and preparing me to be flexible in a variety of contexts. My time at the school was extremely special to me: there is a strong sense of community and the local Italian culture is captivating.”
Jennifer Smith | Young Learner Teacher & Young Learner Events coordinator for 2 years
After spending time teaching in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Jennifer completed a CELTA in Edinburgh and was pleased to accept the role of Young Learner teacher at IH RC. During her two years at the school, she taught English to all ages and levels, including lessons in a local kindergarten. She became the Young Learner Teacher and the Young Learner Events Coordinator and was responsible for leading the YL Teaching Team to plan and deliver engaging programmes of study and organising fun, interdisciplinary, themed learning experiences throughout the year. She currently works as a primary class teacher in Scotland.
“The staff immediately made me feel at home and would always go out of their way to help me in all aspects of my life in Reggio. Through staff excursions, I was able to visit some of the more remote areas around Reggio Calabria, and enjoyed some of the finest culinary experiences. Within the school, the students’ positive attitudes and their willingness to have fun whilst learning made each lesson a joy to teach.”em.”
Gabrielle Lockwood | Teacher & Young Learner Coordinator for 3 years
Gabrielle joined IH RC after completing her CELTA course. During her three years at the school, she completed the CELTYL extension course and Module 2 of the DELTA. After leaving the school, Gabrielle travelled extensively before teaching short courses at various universities in the UK and working as a teacher mentor for primary school teachers on a British Council project in Borneo. Gabrielle is currently lecturing at a university in West Malaysia.
“I have no doubt that my experiences at the IH RC greatly helped me further my career. During my time there, I felt I learned so much thanks to the professional development opportunities the school gave me and also the management’s never-ending “you can do it!” attitude. I was able to work with students from a range of ages, from 2 to 60+, as well as gain experience of conducting English lessons in a state primary school.”
Fiona Cumming | Teacher for 5 years
CELTA in hand, Fiona’s plan was to stay in Reggio Calabria just for one year. Instead she fell in love with the city, education and linguistics. At IH RC, she taught English, led training seminars, and coordinated Junior and Senior events. After five years at the school, she moved back to the UK and completed an MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. From there, she went on to teach EAP in two east midlands universities.
“The British School played an incredible role in my professional and personal development in my twenties. My peers, the management and staff all helped me to become a more proficient, empathetic and creative educator. It’s a supportive and knowledge-rich environment in which to develop your personal approach to language teaching.”
