Chapters
"Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life." -Anna Akhmatova
Have you ever been to a place so dreamlike that you have to pinch yourself and continuously remind yourself that you're living reality? I have, and it's a place that goes by the name of Italy. With a beauty so raw, a people so lively with a lust for life, and a history that still can see, Italy is my coup de coeur and one of my favourite places on planet earth.
Even before I went to Italy for the first time when I was a teenager, I took classes in secondary school to learn Italian to understand the culture better and converse with the locals.
Although now, after years of not practising my Italian it is pretty much non-existent, it felt amazing at the time to be travelling through Italy with the ability to speak, read, and understand what was being said.
Now, enough about me, let's focus on how Italian beginners can improve their language skills and become fluent in Italy's language within a few months. Let's get started!
Complete Immersion
What is the best way to become fluent in Italian in a quick mode? The answer is simple: move to Italy! Is that true? Of course, it is, because by being genuinely immersed in a language and learning more about their traditions, culture, and food, students are facilitating their knowledge acquisition process.
And trust me, I'm not the only person that will tell you how great complete immersion is for learning a new language such as Italian, many language experts would suggest the same thing.
Why is complete immersion so beneficial to improve fluency? Well, for starters living in a nation where the language you are learning is widely spoken you slowly become accustomed to different accents, expressions, the modulation of tones, and how the tongue should be expressed in its purest form. Also, being surrounded by people who don't speak English is great because you are forced to practice Italian and not use your mother tongue as a crutch to prevent yourself from learning more.
Take it from me; I left Canada to work as a volunteer in South America in my late teens without any previous knowledge of Spanish, and now I am fluent. How did that happen? By being surrounded by locals who didn't speak English and by carefully learning from how they communicate. I truly believe that moments in life are the best learning experiences out there.
So, if you're truly dedicated to becoming fluent in Italian, consider the best option, moving to Rome, Florence, Venice, etc. to learn with the locals and create lasting memories. Trust the experts at Superprof it works, and remember there's a reason why dedicated students move to foreign countries to take language courses!
But what if you don't have the circumstances, desire, or budget to move abroad for a short time? Have no fear, the following subheading analyses the resources available online to acquire fluency without learning the motherland!
Search for the best Italian lessons here.
Use Engaging Resources
Since we are living in the digital age, the internet has become our best friend, and it is a necessity that slightly trails water, food, shelter, and clothing.
And, while it can be said that our reliance on the internet is a negative thing, there are so many engaging resources available within seconds that help us learn new concepts. Such as? A foreign language, an original recipe, how to install a light fixture or a complicated math problem.
So, as an internet defending Millennial, I fully stand by the frequent usage of the internet to learn information instead of the archaic methods of the past.
Therefore, instead of scoffing at the idea of using the internet to improve fluency in the language of the Romans, all individuals should be well-informed and take full advantage of online resources. Such as? We shall consider two essential facets that significantly contribute to learning Italian effectively.
Podcasts
Podcasts have become so commonplace that it is now hard to imagine a world without them. The variety of podcasts ranges from real estate to maths and languages to urban myths.
Therefore, when learning Italian to acquire fluency, it is wise to find a few informative podcasts that help students assimilate concepts such as grammar, pronunciation, idioms, verbs, vocabulary, and listening.
The following are a few of the most highly recommended podcasts to learn Italian:
- Italianpod101.com,
- 5 Minute Italian,
- News in Slow Italian,
- Podcast Italiano.
The four previously mentioned podcasts range from beginner to advanced level Italian learners. Still, one thing is guaranteed: by listening to them a learner's listening and fluency skills are greatly improved.
Additional advantages of using podcasts include the following:
- Podcasts can be listened to while travelling to work/on the tube,
- You can practice your Italian skills while also learning about a new subject or topic,
- Podcasts to learn Italian are mostly free.
Need I say more to convince you?
Assimil
What is Assimil? Stemming from the word "assimilate", Assimil is a language learning company based in France that has helped thousands of international students learn how to become fluent in languages such as French, Danish, Brazilian Portuguese, Norwegian, Hebrew, German, and, of course, Italian.
The Assimil method has become increasingly popular throughout the years to be recognised today as Europe's leading language methodology.
The Assimil method can be understood by highlighting the following points:
- You learn a foreign tongue the same way a child does,
- The Assimil method is aimed for teenagers and adults,
- There is a two-stage process: the impregnation phase and the activation phase,
- It is recommended to practice language learning between 30-45 minutes per day.
According to the current Assimil website, there are eight language learning programmes/guide books available to acquire fluency in the Italian language. We recommend checking out the website to consult prices, courses levels, and additional information about Italian courses.
Check for online Italian courses on Superprof.
Record Your Italian Speaking
Did you know that by recording yourself speaking Italian you can significantly improve your fluency? Sign me up!
Learners who frequently record themselves reading or practising free conversation topics can listen to their audios at a different time. To do what? To practice pronunciation, to see if they are following grammar rules, and see if they need improvement in any way.
Also, we highly recommend listening back to the audio recordings with a native Italian so that they can give you necessary feedback and tips to improve fluency; they might pick up on things you never thought about!
Discover the available Italian courses London here.
Hire a Tutor
Of all the suggestions to follow and advice to heed, that of hiring a private tutor reigns supreme. Why? When learning some of the trickier aspects of Italian such as pronunciation, accent, idioms, and the overall tone of the language, it is best to put your pride aside and consult with the experts right away before getting lost from the beginning.
Now that you've been convinced to seek the advice of a personal Italian tutor, there is only one question that remains: where I do find the best Italian tutors? The answer is easy as pie, Superprof!
Superprof has become one of the largest and most trusted tutoring communities on the world wide web today. There are so many reasons to choose a Superprof tutor, and the following are some of the best:
- Affordable classes that suit the budget of all types of learners,
- Experienced tutors that boast years of practice and prestigious qualifications,
- A blog that features well-written articles that make the learning process more engaging,
- A support team that fixes any problems that may be encountered during class time,
- The possibility to take in-person or online lessons.
While it is true that in-person lessons are still available with professional Italian tutors on the Superprof site, we remarkably recommend taking advantage of online courses since they are much safer during this current pandemic. Also, online Italian lessons with a tutor mean that you can choose a time that is most convenient for you without leaving the comfort of your home; sounds cosy!
The professional Italian tutors on Superprof that are based in the UK will significantly help learners develop fluency much more effectively and engagingly than an online application. Consequently, to master the complex eccentricities of Italian, we suggest hiring a native tutor that doesn't speak the best English since you will be forced to practice Italian and learn from their speaking style.
In conclusion, becoming fluent in the beautiful Italian language is not without its challenges, yet it is entirely attainable. And, if you following the advice in today's article you'll be golden; ciao!
Learn how to improve your Italian reading skills here.
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