Best Ways to Learn Italian | 5 Important Tips

By Ben Schmidt Aug 13, 2022

Italian is known for being a musical language. One is bound to fall in love with it at first encounter. And learning it opens the doors to the rich culture of what was once one of the most powerful and far-flung empires to ever exist. If that’s not enough, Italy has one of the largest economies in the world, so learning Italian can increase your chances of getting a job in a renowned Italian company.

“Easier said than done!” you may be saying. And perhaps you’re right. Learning a language is challenging, and many cannot reach the finish line. They leave midway, wondering how others are ever able to do this impossible task.

It’s not that it’s an impossible task. It’s that you need to know the right ways to do it.

Ways to Learn Italian

Here are the best ways to learn Italian:

Follow an Italian-language course:

Beginners ought to start with structured courses. They’re designed by people whose job is to teach and know each level’s requirements. At first, for example, they’re only going to present the most basic and common words and expressions.

On the other hand, watching random videos and reading random articles will leave you confused, and you’ll be doing much research in return for tiny bits of information. There will also be many gaps in your learning because the information will be fragmented.

It will also not follow a logical sequence in which each part builds on the last. You may run into more advanced lessons that frustrate you and give you a headache. Another thing to consider is the lack of a teacher’s invaluable feedback, especially as you start learning pronunciation.

There are two options for courses: in-person courses and online ones. Each has its pros and cons. In-person courses allow you to meet other people who share the same interest in Italian, which will increase your motivation–even more so if you’re competitive. However, you’ll struggle if you’re busy because they have a fixed schedule.

They’re also relatively expensive. As for online courses, they’re cheaper than the former. However, you will usually not be able to get much feedback unless you’re working with a personal tutor, and you’ll not interact with classmates as you would in an in-person course. However, their flexibility concerning lesson timing is an excellent advantage for busy students.

Immerse yourself in Italian:

After you finish a beginner’s course, it’s time to listen to authentic Italian. This will make you understand native speakers and construct sentences without thinking about grammar.

And how lucky we are that we live in the internet age. You don’t even have to go to Italy. Italy can come to you, or at least Italian entertainment can. Just search for good Italian movies, download them, and enjoy. There’s nothing to feel guilty about when spending two hours on a movie. It’s all part of learning.

You’ll listen to native speakers naturally using Italian and learn what Italians say in particular situations. You’ll also gain some understanding of Italian culture.

Songs are particularly great for learning pronunciation. You’ll listen to words being uttered usually at a slower pace than regular speech. In addition, we all feel the urge to sing along when a fantastic song comes on. Singing along is a wonderful way to practice Italian sounds.

Reading books and stories is another great way of exposing oneself to a language. At least you can see how unfamiliar words are spelled so you can search for them in a dictionary. And reading well-written books will help you become more eloquent.

But immersion can also be done using more serious and informative content. For example, you can do it by watching news broadcasts and listening to educational podcasts in Italian.

Although the most expensive of all, traveling is probably the quickest way to master a language. You will learn fast because you’ll have no other choice: People around you will speak and understand only Italian.

Practice speaking and writing with an Italian speaker:

Even if you’re a master of grammar and even if you’re great at comprehending Italian speech, you still have to speak this language yourself to get better at using it to communicate.

Getting yourself a learning partner to exchange conversations with is a great idea; if you don’t live in Italy, you may not get an opportunity to speak Italian otherwise. You’ll also give and receive valuable feedback.

If you do know a native speaker, make them your first choice. If you don’t, the vast virtual world will help you reach millions of them on social media, blogs, and websites. There are also unique apps, like HelloTalk, that can match you with native speakers.

Use language-learning apps:

Apps are great for those who don’t have time and those who get bored quickly. We carry our cell phones all the time. So why not use this to our advantage? A language-learning app usually has a daily-goal feature that lets you set a minimum duration for practice a day and lets you know when you finish. The duration goals are generally no longer than 24 minutes and can be as short as 5 minutes. Doable, right? You can check it out from your to-do list when commuting to work, for example, or during lunch break. Here you will learn not by studying hard but by playing fun games.

Use flashcards:

The use of flashcards is one of the most popular ways to memorize words and other information. They’re great because they help you revise what you know fast. You can use electronic flashcards or physical ones, depending on your preference.