7 things you probably don’t know about Italianforawhile

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering who we really are. Maybe you’ve seen our name pop up on social media, or someone mentioned us when looking for a language program in Italy. You might even be doing a little background check before making a final decision (which is fair, by the way, the internet is full of fake promises).

So here’s the truth: Italianforawhile isn’t a random company that appeared out of nowhere to sell “fluency in three weeks.” We’re a group of people who believe that studying and living abroad really changes lives. And we’re just trying to make that experience accessible, real, and meaningful.

And since transparency is kind of our thing, here are 7 things you probably don’t know about us: the good, the funny, and the honestly human parts!

1. Our founder sold his motorbike to study abroad, and that’s how it all started

What better fun fact to start with than this one? 

Brian, our founder, had what you could call a classic “life pivot” moment. Years ago, after high school, he decided to join a “learn and work” program in Australia to improve his English. The catch? To pay for the trip and language courses, he had to sell his beloved motorbike!

Now, of course, what followed was nothing short of amazing. The experience was a bit chaotic (which is normal when living abroad for the very first time) but it was exciting, fun, and transformative. At the end of it all, he came back completely convinced that this kind of experience can change your life. For better, of course.

And he didn’t just stop there. He started convincing his friends to do the same. One went to Australia with the same program, another to Japan (and never came back, he’s married with kids there now!), and so on. Eventually, when he realized he’d run out of friends to “convert,” he created Italianforawhile: to find new people to convince to go live abroad. 

That’s literally how this whole thing was born.

2. We started right after the pandemic (yeah, not the best timing, we know)

When Italianforawhile was finally born, the world had barely reopened. People were still anxious about traveling, studying abroad felt too risky, and most of us were still figuring out how to socialize again.

So, yes. Maybe it was not the easiest time to start convincing people to fly to Italy for a language immersion program. But that’s also what made it meaningful. We could bring back something the pandemic had stolen: the joy of being somewhere new, meeting new people face-to-face, and rediscovering the world. One cappuccino at a time!

3. Everyone on our team has lived abroad, and that’s not a coincidence

When we say that we understand what it feels like to study abroad, we actually mean it. Every single person on our team has done it before, with all the good memories and homesickness that comes with it.

We just said that Brian studies English and worked in Australia, but did you know that Annetta (our favorite gap year counselor) spent her fourth year of high school in a small town in Pennsylvania? And our social media manager lived in San Diego for a full semester during college. And I spent my fourth year of high school in the Dominican Republic (the best culture shock ever) and then a semester at university in China.

Those experiences weren’t just trips. We were much younger (because we’re still young) and learned a lot about independence, patience, and how to adapt when nothing goes as planned. That’s why, when we talk to our gappers, we just get it. We’ve been there before, from the very awkward first days to the bittersweet goodbyes.

4. Our first logo had a (very stupid) typo

When we first launched, our logo proudly said “Italian for awhile.” And I bet that you spot the typo; we did too, after a while (pun not intended).

We knew English, obviously, but still somehow got it wrong. It’s simply proof that, no matter how well you know a language, mistakes are inevitable. Eventually, someone pointed it out though. We argued a lot about it, laughed a bit, and fixed it. But even now, someone occasionally types “for awhile” by mistake and the old logo story makes a comeback. Together with the arguing.

I really like to joke about it, and I love this story because it’s one of those things that reminds us we’re human. We mess up sometimes, we learn from it, and we move on. Preferably with good humor!

5. We actually tell you if your chosen city isn’t right for you

This surprises some people, but it’s one of the things we’re proudest of. Before anyone joins our programs, we have a real conversation about who they are, what they want, what kind of vibe they’re after, what Italian city they’d love to live in, and so on. 

Because we want you to have the best experience ever.

And when it’s finally time to choose your Italian home, we don’t just nod and say “perfect!” If the city you’ve picked doesn’t really match your personality or lifestyle, we’ll tell you. Not to be difficult, but because we actually care about how your experience turns out.

We’ve learned that the right city can completely change how someone feels about their stay. And your comfort and happiness is what matters most to us. So yes, we’ll share our honest advice, even if that means suggesting a different destination. 

You’re always free to choose, of course. But after hundreds of chats and a few “you were totally right” messages, we can say this with confidence: most of the time, we really do know better.

6. We refuse to sell “fluency in 4 weeks”

We know it. The web is full of tempting promises like “Speak fluent Italian in 2 weeks!” or “Master the language in a month!” 

Us? We don’t say it. At all.

We will never promise you something that’s impossible. Learning a new language takes time, consistency, and a willingness to try and make mistakes. We know it better than anyone else. And that’s why we can’t promise you’ll be fluent at the end of the program, but we can promise that you’ll build a solid and realistic foundation for your Italian learning journey.

After all, the goal here isn’t perfection: it’s connection. We don’t want you to leave Italy just able to speak Italian, but with friends and with a feeling of belonging.

7. Our very first students were a German couple on a 3-week intensive course

Every story has a “first”: ours started with a lovely couple from Germany. They signed up for a 3-week intensive program at one of our schools just to learn some Italian and experience Italian culture for real.

They threw themselves into it (classes, gelato breaks, weekend trips, the whole thing) and loved it so much. That’s when it clicked: this is working, for real. Not because we could bring people to Italy with our programs, but because those people were having genuine and fun experiences.

And honestly, that’s still how things grow around here: one student at a time, one city at a time, one story that inspires the next.