Mini-Group Italian Course

I very much liked my Italian language classes and learned so much. I gained great confidence in speaking better Italian. I was placed in the advanced class, and there just three of us, so we got individualized attention. Our teacher, Elisa, was outstanding. She was creative in her teaching approach. We played games, and even had an interactive market day to enrich our vacabulary. We reviewed the different grammar tenses, and she had us write all the tenses on one sheet of paper, which was helpful tor handy reference. We also listened to songs and dialogues, and did a lot of different written and oral assignments. Every morning, we drew faces on the white board and each person got up and told the class how he/she was feeling that day (in Italian, of course). Elisa's teaching format was absolutely the best for learning Italian, as she used so many different methods; and although it was hard, it was fun too. She was supporting and encouraging every step of the way as we mastered new concepts. I found the books to be perfect for my learning style and bought them both, as they delve into two characters exploring Italy together, and the story continues from chapter to chapter.

The location of the school was excellent as well -- a five minute walk from my apartment, and right across from the train and bus stations. There was also an elegant cafe around the corner. The afternoon activities and excursions were wonderful! We explored all the neightboring towns -- each one with its own special charm. One evening, we engaged in a fun cooking class and made pasta and focaccia. The activities were well thought-out and carefully planned. Another day we visited an olive grove, and it was amazing to see these beautiful trees up close. Another outing was to an elegant winery for an amazing wine tasting with grapes grown on their grounds. Our group was international and fun to be with, and everyone enjoyed the experience.

The housing was excellent. I opted for a private apartment and it had all the basics -- a kitchenette with a microwave, a refrigerator, and a stove top for cooking (which I didn't use.) It would have been helpful to have a small desk and chair to do homework, but I could do my homework at the kitche,n table, although the light was weak. The landlady was so friendly and hospitable. She would bring out homemade desserts and other food to try, which was extremely thoughtful of her. She also did our laundry. I had a nice Swiss woman lodging in the apartment next to mine, and it was wonderful to have her company and eat lunch together on the outside terrace, which was lovely. I was grateful to be placed in this apartment, which met my needs and was so conveniently located to the school.

This was the best italian language immersion program I have taken, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a two-week immersive Italian language course for the 50+ age group. Puglia is strikingly beautfiul; and Alberobello, where the Trullli School is located, is a gem with the traditional Trulli houses adorning the city and dotting the landscape. It's an idyllic and picturesque region of italy. Best of all, the staff at the Trulli School went over and beyond in helping me with my needs -- whether it was figuring out the train to/from Bari and where to buy a ticket, to settting up my round-trip airport transportation, I felt like they were always there for me. Elisabetta, Andrea, Eliza, and Angelica were warm and friendly -- like family, and I felt at home there. It was sad to leave!

Studying Italian at Trulli Italian School was an incredible experience. Both Andrea and the team of teachers at the school are incredible, the welcome breakfast, the pedagogical follow-up, the personalized attention and the social outings were an excellent framework for quality learning. Everything was very careful in every detail, I will return without hesitation.

Thank you Andrea, Elisabeta, our teacher Angelica and the rest of the Trulli School team. An Italian language school all'altezza di Alberebello e delle sue beauty.

Desidero ringraziare moltissimo Andrea e tutto il team della scuola dei Trulli. Mi è piaciuta la scuola e tutte le persone che ci lavorano, competenti e che creano contatti semplici e piacevoli.

Ho apprezzato molto il mio soggiorno ad Alberobello.

Grazie a Elena per i suoi corsi stimolanti in un’atmosfera rilassata e amichevole. Penso di aver fatto progressi nella conoscenza della lingua italiana, alla fine delle due settimane iniziavo a pensare in italiano invece di pensare in francese e tradurre…
Continuerò a imprare, lo so.

Grazie anche per avermi fatto scopire e amare una regione d’Italia che non conoscevo.

Buon proseguimento a voi ! E chi lo sa, ci vediamo la prossima volta !
Françoise Ninghetto

The school was great way to improve your skills and get an insight into Italian culture. The location and facilities are fine but I do think the class could use a little more structure. The instructor was great to work with and the class size and demographic worked well.

I received a very warm welcoming, the language barrier was barely noticeable and you are quickly put at ease by Andrea and Paula. The group of girls i was with were very sweet and by the end of my stay i had created tight bonds with all of them. The activities were very well planned out and the organization was outstanding. Everything ran smoothly from the morning Italian classes to the afternoon excursions. The host family i stayed with made me feel at home and catered to my needs, the food was delicious and homemade. Overall the trip was extremely enjoyable and i will come back next year for another 2 weeks of learning and fun!

The Trulli Italian School is outstanding - I would love to add five more stars to the rating!!

Andrea, head of school, is responsible for everything. He is a wonderful person, competent, very helpful and with a nice sence of humour! He organizes everything including all the activities around the classes. He tries to show to the students as much as possible of wonderful Apulia by driving them around, explaining everything, telling stories... We got to see wonderful sea side towns, beautiful villages on hills, exciting archeological places, old churches, amazing countryside, we even went to a boat trip and had a phantastic cocking class with Nonna. Andrea is always around and never tired to help where ever it is necessary. The students feel very much taken care of!

And than there is Tiziana, an excellent teacher for Italian! She is also a wonderful person, very competent and flexible, taking care of the students in an extremely individual way, according to their level and need. I can recommend her only very very much! I was very lucky also because most of the time we were only two students in the class, sometimes I even had individual lessons. I improuved my Italian very much thanks to Tizianas lessons and thanks to the fact, that Andrea - and charming Paola! - and Tiziana strictly spoke only in Italian to us - an immersion course indeed!

The school is located in the center of a picturesque village and is a vey welcoming place with all the facilities necessary.

I highly recommend the Trulli Italian School to everyone who wants to learn Italian in beautiful surroundings with phantastic people!
Arrividerci!

Andrea, Paola and Tiziana did a wonderful job putting together an excellent mix of one 2 one learning, complimentary tours infused with care, attention to detail and supportive insights. My week at the school was an outstanding experience which exceeded my expectations. It is hard to imagine how one might improve on the tuition provided. I would thoroughly recommend the Trulli School without any hesitation.

My +50 program is fantastically planned in times, activities and number of students. The methodology used by the teacher, Tiziana, is excellent and the school facilities are modern and welcoming.
The activities (spectacular excursions in this region, cooking courses, tastings in wineries and oil mills...) thought out to the last detail and all of them fascinating.
The coexistence with Andrea and her team has been very endearing, full of details and kindness. The programmates of different nationalities, all a luxury.
In short, experience to try and repeat. Without any doubt, a program of authentic immersion and totally recommendable.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

I spent 2 wondeful weeks in Alberobello. My italian made more progress than in 1 year at home. The location is perfect, Alberobello is such a wonderful place. Nearly every day there was an afternoon activity, from excursions to the near lovely towns like Matera or Monopoli, a boat trip, an e-bike tour, a cooking class with nonna, etc. Andrea is really making every effort to make the student's life pleasant.
The accomodation was near the school - the neigbours and the landlord of the apartment were very nice to me.
The teachers are qualified, particularly the lessons with Tiziana were a great pleasure. During my stay, there were only 3-4 students. An ideal size for a class!

(PS - private comment): I regret Tiziana was not available in the second week. Vito was ok, but by far not as good as Tiziana. He sometimes follows stubbornly his teaching concept and has a lesser good feeling what the students are able to or want to do)

Great place to learn and relax. School is not big, well organized, the teachers are great. We learned in small groups, it was very effective. The whole team is very engaged to make the stay pleasant and interesting. this personal approach is a huge advantage.
Andrea, who is leading the school, is a great guide and takes good care of all guests.

It is a pleasure to spend time with nice, intelligent people truly passionate about their country and it's culture.

Alberobello and surround is very nice (trulli everywhere - one has to see it!). The school offers many interesting activities, worth attending to learn more about the region and tradition and have conversation in Italian also in the afternoon.

My expectations were average, but my experience in the Trulli school have surpassed them all. Very pleasant ambiance, with a common coffee room, always coffee ready for use, pleasant classroom, good teacher who was interested in everything had to say, correcting us when necessary and very accommodating in stimulating and motivating us the use the Italian language.

Facilities were modern and up-to-date. Location was fine for me, just a 5 minute walk from my apartment. Activities in the afternoon were well-organised and very pleasant in the small minibus.

There is not flaw in the organisation or on the whole in my experience. It was fine and I am very grateful for all the service and the schooling I received.