Learning Italian – like any foreign language – is always a commitment that requires perseverance and determination. Here we want to give you some top tips for learning Italian!
1 – LISTEN TO SPOKEN ITALIAN
Our first advice is to listen to the language you want to learn. The radio is certainly a great way to listen to Italian. With the internet you can easily listen to any Italian radio station that broadcasts in FM. Many stations also have a website. Radio Montecarlo is good, but if you only want to listen to Italian music, Radio Italia is better.
2 – LISTEN TO ITALIAN MUSIC
Secondly, we suggest you listen to music on Youtube, possibly with subtitles for the lyrics. Just look for artists’ names with lyrics, (“Eros Ramazzotti con testo”).
3 – READ IN ITALIAN
The third thing you should do to learn Italian is certainly to read a lot. Read anything, books of course, newspaper articles, texts on the internet, etc. The use of parallel texts is very useful. You can start with children’s books and work your way up.
4 – WATCH FILMS AND SERIES
The fourth tip is to watch films in Italian. It’s better if you watch films that are of a genre that interests you particularly and that you already know. We recommend watching only Italian films and not dubbed from other languages. Also, if this is too hard for you, you can watch the Italian film in your language first so that you understand the plot. Then you can watch it in Italian, ideally with subtitles in Italian.
5 – STUDY GRAMMAR
A basic knowledge of the grammar rules of the language is useful, above all to be able to speak it correctly and to write it. We therefore recommend that you purchase a good book of grammar rules. In Italian you have to pay particular attention to verbs, their tenses and their correct use, for example.
6 – COMPLETE EXERCISES
Find a good book that offers exercise with a grammar focus. The book should also have the answer key, so that you can be independent in your learning. There are also many exercises online you can find.
7 – USE APPS ON YOUR PHONE
Another thing you should do is use reputable apps: Babel, Duolingo can help you. They are platforms on which you can do a little practice every day.
8 – VISIT ITALY
When you go abroad, take advantage of your stay in the country to speak the local language as much as possible, with native speakers. Get over the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ and try to speak – you’ll soon see how rewarding it is. Top tip: if you are not a very confident speaker, do not try to speak with a waiter in a very busy restaurant, as they may not have the time (or patience) to try to understand you. Instead, carefully look for opportunities to practise your Italian where the native speaker can actually listen and correct you if necessary.
9 – SKILL SWAP
Use reputable websites that allow you to share your skills and benefit from other people’s. You can help somebody with your native language and they can help you with Italian.
10 – ATTEND ITALIAN COURSES
Try to attend language courses, even online. There are many benefits to attending a language course. Here are a few:
- Improved language skills. The most obvious benefit of attending a language course is that you will improve your language skills. You will learn new vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. You will also get practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the language.
- Increased cultural awareness. Learning a new language also gives you the opportunity to learn about the culture of the people who speak that language. You will learn about their history, customs, and beliefs. This can help you to better understand the world around you.
- Personal enrichment. Learning a new language can be a rewarding and enriching experience. It can help you to connect with people from other cultures and to better understand the world around you. It can also boost your self-confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment.
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