Why working online is nice

Translated by Alanna Quintyne

In this article called “Why working online is nice”, I am going to talk about my job, the reasons I chose to work online, and why I enjoy it. I will also discuss an Italian mindset that still keeps many Italians tied to the idea of permanent employment.

A question that people I’ve just met or haven’t seen in a while often ask is the classic: ‘Ilaria, what do you do for work?’

It’s one of those questions I always enjoy answering, especially to see their reactions, as they often look at me with puzzled expressions.

Why do I say this?

Because I live in a place where people are still very attached to the concept of a permanent position, perhaps in public administration, as the comedian Checco Zalone brilliantly explained in his famous film Quo Vado. This type of job provides a lot of stability and ensures you have a fixed salary each month that doesn’t depend on external factors.

Watch this video with English subtitles to understand a little better what I’m talking about.

I work online

I deliberately chose to follow a different path and work online. This is probably a riskier and less stable route, but it has brought me great satisfaction so far.

For some, I may seem crazy; for others, very enterprising. In any case, I’ve listed below the reasons why I love working online:

• Working Anywhere

Working online allows me to work anywhere. I can comfortably stay at home or travel without necessarily having to block or cancel lessons: I just need to organize myself a bit, and that’s it.

With a job like this, I only need a computer, an internet connection, and the desire to continue sharing and teaching everything I know about Italy and the Italian language.

• Meeting people with stories and backgrounds different from mine

My job allows me to meet new people every day who live in different parts of the world and who have experiences very different from mine.

Teaching Italian not only allows me to share my knowledge but also to learn a lot from my students. Through them, I can better understand many aspects of distant cultures and different lifestyles, which I might not have encountered had I been in a more ‘typical’.

It’s clear that these exchanges can only help me grow and develop as a person.

• Having motivated students in front of me

The last point on the list, but not the least important. I am certain that it would be very frustrating for me to teach in a public school and have even one student who feels obligated to attend lessons and has little or no desire to listen to what I have to say. Generally, my students are professionals who, for one reason or another, have decided to dedicate themselves to studying Italian.

They have voluntarily chosen to study with me; they weren’t forced by anyone, not by their parents nor by institutions, and this is very clear. So, it goes without saying how satisfying it is for me to always be in front of motivated students, interested in the Italian language and culture, who are eager to learn and improve.

In this article called “Why working online is nice”, I have shared a bit about my life and some of my work experience. Do you think like me? Do you have a traditional job and are you happy with it, or do you dream of working remotely?

Let me know what you think in the comments and, don’t forget to follow me on my socials!

Listen to this episode in Italian . You can find here the script!