Joinki the Culture Connector

I had a wonderful experience! Joinki connected me with an amazing family who had two young boys. I enjoyed being able to teach them English and to pick up some Italian in the process. The home cooked meals and day trips around Trentino Alto Adige I will never forget.

If you love Italian culture, food and history I definitely recommend this program. Italians once they know you’re a good person, they are extremely kind people.

This program was a good fit for me because I enjoy helping people. Being able to tutor some English was very rewarding for me.

Sabrina’s program was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I stayed with a wonderfully friendly and accommodating family for six weeks during the summer, where I experienced heartwarming moments and saw some of the most beautiful sights alongside them. Throughout this experience, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching my host family English in fun ways, such as through board and card games. There was never a dull moment with them. As I became part of the family, I also discovered more about myself—more than I could have ever imagined. Now, as I plan to move to Italy to teach English as a second language, I intend to nurture and maintain the bonds I’ve created for the rest of my life. Overall, this experience has given me a family in every sense of the word. For anyone considering this program, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the chance and apply—it will truly have a positive impact on your life!

I cannot thank Sabrina enough for her determination and dedication to create such an enriching and fulfilling language exchange programme. After finishing university, I wanted to experience living in another country and broaden my cultural understanding. The Joinki experience went above and beyond - in the 4 weeks I spent in the Trentino I was given so many incredible opportunities to fully immerse myself in the Italian culture. Beautiful landscapes, interesting historical cities, and of course the delicious and authentic Italian food! It is also so rewarding to see the progress of the language tutoring you are offering to your host family. My host family were so generous and kind, and I would now consider them my second family! Sabrina takes such care and consideration in matching tutors, and is so helpful, involved and supportive during your time in Italy. What an incredible experience, and I couldn't think of a better programme to have gone on this journey with. Thank You!

Words cannot express my gratitude and admiration to Sabrina’s for her passion and vision in creating this language program. Because Joinki, I came away with an understanding of Italia that I never would have had before, had I just been a tourist. I came back to the United States with my heart full of love and memories, and a brand new family. I would go back in a heartbeat to invest in the relationships that I created while I was there. This was a life-changing experience for which I am truly grateful!

My time in the Trentino was a very fulfilling and educating experience. I spent 6 weeks during January and February living in a small town with a dynamic, warm-hearted host family, who taught me so much: I experienced an immersion into their daily lives and greatly improved my Italian. Living in the middle of the mountains was a beautiful experience, as I find it to be an environment which truly calms me. I also greatly enjoyed exploring the surrounding cities during the weekends: for example, Verona, Venice and Milan. There is only one thing I would have done differently in my experience: I recommend you plan your experience in the Trentino in the spring/summer months, as the region is even more beautiful during this time. Nevertheless, the landscape was still spectacular during my stay in the Winter and I am very happy with my experience.

In addition to tutoring my host family in English and German, I supported language teaching in the local primary schools 3 times a week. This was an unpaid but extremely fulfilling job, and I will remember the students very fondly.
My experience of 6 weeks flew by, and I gained so much from it: linguistically and emotionally.