The program listed below is designed for people who want to learn another language and experience the local culture with other students of a similar age and interests.
The language classes are normally held in the morning, leaving the rest of the day for a full program of cultural activities, trips, museum and gallery visits, lingering lunches and excursions to nearby areas of interest.
Please remember that all of our language and cultural immersion programs are open to adult participants of all ages and that the following program includes our recommendations for schools and locations where our slightly older students (those who are 50 and over) might flourish.
Italian study in Taormina, Sicily for Students Aged 50+
The island is famous for its citrus fruit, almonds, olives, vegetables, wine (including Marsala) and great fishing including (anchovies, tuna, cuttlefish and swordfish). Taormina, is a picturesque and immensely popular sea town, perched on a cliff within sight of Mount Etna. This beautiful town is full of history and culture, including historically important treasures such as a well preserved Greek Theater, Castle and a Cathedral.
Are you young at heart?
This course is specifically designed for students over 50 who want to study a language as well as the Sicilian culture. It’s the perfect way to enjoy your leisure time while socialising with others of a similar age and interests.
This two week program includes 20 classroom sessions per week and includes a full package of activities. Other students will be of a similar age, who wish to study and socialize with students of their own age or older. The language classes are normally held in the morning leaving the rest of the day for a full program of cultural activities, trips and excursions.
Our Mature Adult program includes the following:
- a guided visit of the town
- a full day excursion to Agrigento & Piazza Armerina
- a full day excursion to Siracusa & Noto
- an afternoon trip to Etna and the Murgo vineyard (including wine tasting), an afternoon trip to Catania
- a lecture on the ‘Words and Images of Sicily’
- a lecture on “The family structure as a substitute to the welfare system and its degeneration into Mafia”
- a “Wine, Cheese and Oil” taste of Italy lecture and tasting session
- a “cous-cous night” at a local restaurant
- a “granita” tasting afternoon
You can also choose your accommodation from among the different types offered below:
Host Family (includes a choice of breakfast or half board daily)
Living with a host family is probably the best and most effective way to become fully immersed into the language and culture of your chosen country. All families are chosen after a careful selection procedure and are visited regularly by the school to ensure that high living standards are maintained. As many of our host families live in the surrounding neighborhoods, the trip to school, is usually not more than 20 minutes away.
Self Catering Apartments (no meals included)
This is also a very popular option especially for those students looking for further independence. Our apartments are normally located within the same distance as the host families (many are closer) and many are shared with other students in the program.
All apartments provide an equipped kitchen (including cooking utensils), shared bathroom facilities and living areas. The apartments vary in size and number of bedrooms, depending on the location in the city. All apartments are self catering, which means meals are not included and students provide their own groceries and prepare their own meals or eat out.
Local hotels or guesthouse
If you prefer to stay in a hotel or guesthouse, please ask for additional information and choice.
See what other students say about the Club 50+ program
“I loved the program. The teachers were very dedicated and responsive and I raised my level of Spanish from low intermediate to high intermediate. …
