How to pass the Concorso: An Interview with Sabina Damiani

I spent a few months working with many teachers during our consultation sessions trying to give them the best possible feedback on their lessons so that they had a better shot at passing the concorso.

I accumulated hundreds of hours of experience, which I put together in my top tips to pass the concorso.

And in this work, nothing pleased me more than receiving an email from teachers telling me that they had been successful.

That was the case for Sabina Damiani. She sent me the following email:

Hi André!
I just want to let you know that I got 90/100 on the second exam on marine engines!! I worked till 4 a.m., but I pust so much effort into the presentation that in the end, I was able to explain it even better than the first one.

Sabina Damiani

Since I know one of the best ways to succeed at anything is to listen to the story of people who have been through the same, I reached out to Sabina and asked her a few questions about the experience of passing the concorso. Check them out below!

✅ Tell us what you have accomplished after passing the Concorso

After the Concorso, I was lucky enough to get a job as a permanent teacher at a high school not far from where I live. I still can’t believe it, but it’s true!

✅ What were the major challenges you faced when preparing for the concorso?

There were many different challenges to face: first of all, I felt I had to practice the language: I lacked confidence in my fluency and speaking abilities.

Then, I found it very difficult to translate all the theories I was studying into practical ideas and lessons. I worked a lot but always needed clarification about the results of my work.

Ultimately, at the beginning, I felt a bit lonely: when you start to study for a Concorso, the programme is huge, and you feel lost; it is crucial to have someone who shares your anxiety and excitement.

✅ How has LanguagEd helped you?

To fight the loneliness, I started looking for people in the same situation and courses that could guide me. LanguageEd has helped me make things clear.

All the theories and concepts were reorganised, and I was helped to put the theory into practice.

Thanks to the individual consultation, I had the chance to show and discuss my lesson plans with experts and, at the same time, to gain confidence in my speaking. And I felt understood and cared for.

✅ What are your tips for teachers going through the same challenge?

I would suggest clearly defining the things to do and creating a flexible study plan. In my experience, developing a network of people who can support you in this adventure is also essential.

And the last tip is: don’t get discouraged! Sometimes I felt that the difficulties were insurmountable. In these moments, it is important to hang in there and not give up.

Sabina has also told me she’s adapting to her new reality and that she still faces challenges. Her biggest challenges now have to do with motivating and managing the behaviour of more disruptive students as well as preparing lessons with very technical language. I know she’ll be able to manage and she knows she can count on LanguagEd.

What about you? What’s your story? What are your tips? Let me know in the comments!

André