Italian is certainly one of the most popular languages in the world. In fact, linguists estimate that there are as many as 85 million Italian speakers across the planet. This should not come as a great surprise when we remember that Italian is a direct descendant of Latin; a foundation for countless other romance languages (such as Spanish, Portuguese and French).
Still, learning Italian can be quite difficult if you have no prior experience. Whether you hope to visit Italy in the distant future or you have simply fallen in love with the way words are pronounced in this foreign tongue, there are many useful techniques to consider. Let’s take a quick look at some helpful suggestions.
The Power of Subtitles
One effective way to get a grasp of Italian (or indeed any foreign language) involves leveraging the presence of subtitles. For example, you can choose one of your favourite movies and change the language settings to Italian. By reading the associated English subtitles, you will begin to learn new words and to appreciate the more subtle pronunciation aspects of Italian.
Online Italian Courses
While attending a real-world foreign language course is useful, many of us do not have the time to devote to physical classes. This is what a growing number of eager students are instead interacting with professional online Italian tutors. Not only can you leverage the benefits associated with native speakers, but targeted lessons will be provided around your own skill level. This is normally not possible to achieve within traditional settings. Furthermore, online classes can be scheduled at the most appropriate times. This ensures that you will be able to devote your full attention to each lesson. However, online Italian language tutors are the most effective way to learn the language fast.
Seek Out Italian Speakers
One of the keys to learning any language involves real-world conversation. So, make it a point to seek out native speakers as well as anyone who has a basic understanding of Italian. It is also wise to think slightly outside of the box in order to encounter numerous opportunities. Here are some strategies to adopt:
- Register with online Italian forums.
- Place an advertisement in a local newspaper for a one-on-one language exchange.
- Speak with friends and co-workers to determine if they know anyone who speaks Italian.
Finally, you can also choose to offer your services at a local school devoted to teaching English as a foreign language. You may very well come across someone who is willing to teach you Italian in return for your dedicated services.
Keep in mind that becoming fluent in Italian will not occur overnight. It requires time, dedication and a significant amount of patience. This is even more relevant if you hope to appreciate the differences between individual dialects. However, there are still several similarities between Italian and English. You could even improve your current vocabulary by picking up a handful of new words and expressions in Italian! Regardless of your ultimate goal, the learning process will be a great deal of fun.