Do you want to learn Italian, the language of Dante, whose musicality is renowned worldwide? You’re in the right place!
The enthusiasm for the Italian language remains strong, as it ranks fourth among the most learned languages, after English, German, and Spanish. Today, there are approximately 63 million native Italian speakers worldwide.
There are many reasons to learn Italian: discovering the country’s cultural richness, engaging with natives, enhancing your CV, and more. The list is extensive.
While learning Italian is an exciting process, it also requires patience and diligence. So, how can you stay motivated and committed in the long run? Find the answers in this article. Andiamo!
Assessing Your Italian Level
Piano piano… Before starting, it’s essential to know your Italian level. That’s why our online Italian course, Saga Baldoria, offers a free level test.
After completing the first 7 free lessons, you receive a personalized educational assessment with an estimate of your level, mastered concepts, and areas to work on.
Learn Italian with Saga Baldoria 🇮🇹
Time and Motivation
Rome wasn’t built in a day! Learning Italian requires patience. If, by chance, you’ve studied Italian as a second language, you might recall certain concepts. However, only regular practice of the language will help you progress, emphasizing the importance of staying motivated from start to finish. With a well-defined schedule and short, regular sessions, you’ll be able to maintain the pace in the long term.
To stay motivated, set goals. Travel provides a good opportunity to practice the language, so why not plan a trip to Naples or the Cinque Terre? Moreover, Italian is the official language of six countries and states: Italy, of course, but also San Marino, Malta, Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovenia. The language also consists of ten regional dialects, each with its own grammar and vocabulary. Another reason to delve into its linguistic subtleties.
Resources and Fun Learning Methods
Gone are the days when language learning relied solely on endless grammar books. Fortunately, there are fun and entertaining ways to learn Italian. These methods and resources, whether free or paid, will allow you to immerse yourself gently in the bella lingua.
Watching Movies in their Original Language
Did you know that Italian cinema is one of the most renowned in the world? The neorealism movement, emerging during World War II, became a cornerstone in the history of cinema. In the 1960s, as Hollywood faced an unprecedented crisis, Italy became the epicenter of world cinema with renowned directors like Roberto Rossellini and Luchino Visconti. If you’re learning Italian, this cultural wealth is an opportunity to practice the language while discovering cinematic masterpieces that have marked the history of the 7th art.
Watching movies in the original version is a fun and accessible learning support. It not only improves your listening comprehension through intonations and accents but also familiarizes you with Italian culture. If you have the proficiency, consider adding Italian subtitles to enhance your reading comprehension.
The advent of streaming platforms, especially Netflix and Amazon Prime, has made hundreds of Italian films accessible. From thrillers to comedies and science fiction, you can explore all genres. Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” or Sergio Leone’s westerns will soon hold no secrets for you!
If you’ve never watched Italian films, start with one you already know. This way, you can focus on the language and intonations while following the plot.
Check out our selection of 5 films to learn Italian in no time.
Watching Series with Subtitles
Like films, watching series in the original version is an interesting learning complement. Choose a series equivalent to your level to avoid getting discouraged too quickly.
Series are popular and offer a wide variety of themes and formats. Horror, fiction, dystopia… there’s something for every taste. Regular viewing will help improve your listening comprehension and train your ear to different sounds and accents. Unlike movies, series allow you to follow a storyline across multiple episodes, ideal for staying committed to your learning beyond a single evening.
With subtitles, you can also practice your reading comprehension, especially with Italian idiomatic expressions or more advanced vocabulary. When you become more comfortable, try watching without subtitles to assess your progress and identify areas for improvement.
Learning Italian through Songs
It’s well known: Italians are romantic and express it through songs! Umberto Tozzi’s “Ti Amo” or Laura Pausini’s “La Solitudine” are iconic hits from recent years. From rap to opera, pop to rock, Italian music features artists and masterpieces that have often crossed borders.
If you have a Deezer or Spotify streaming account (or any music streaming account for that matter), why not select Italian playlists to improve your listening comprehension? At home or during your daily commute, music is an ideal way to memorize new vocabulary. Studies have shown a strong connection between emotions and memorization. If you enjoy the music you listen to, you’re likely to retain what you learn more easily. And if you feel like testing your speaking skills, karaoke is also an option!
In this regard, we offer a list of 5 songs to get familiar with the Italian language.
Reading Novels in Italian
Reading novels in the original version will help develop your language skills. Ideally, choose a writing style that you enjoy to make learning enjoyable and interesting.
Some works of Italian literature have become classics, such as Dante’s “Inferno” or Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose.” However, be aware that the elevated language used by authors could discourage some learners.
If you’re a beginner in Italian, it’s better to start with works with modern and accessible vocabulary. Whether you read children’s novels, poems, or even comics, you’ll discover that reading in Italian is a good learning complement. Thanks to e-books, there’s no excuse not to accumulate books at home! You’ll have access to an infinite number of works and can vary your choices based on your desires and proficiency level.
If you prefer audio formats and want to explore Italian literature, audiobooks are a good alternative to progress in Italian. The advantage is that you can listen to them anywhere and at any time.
Here’s a practical guide to 5 books to learn Italian and broaden your general knowledge!
Listening to Italian Podcasts
Podcasts are an ideal format to train your ear to different accents and intonations of a language. To stay motivated, choose the duration that suits you and the theme that interests you. There are numerous Italian podcasts for all levels and tastes, so dive in!
“News in Slow Italian” is designed for beginners and offers a short format, grammar reviews, and an overview of Italian idiomatic expressions, perfect to start with! As you advance to an intermediate level, continue gradually with “Coffee Break Italian” to practice your ear to the sounds of the language. Finally, move on to thematic podcasts intended for advanced levels, such as “Finestre sull’arte” , a podcast dedicated to art.
Our dedicated article on the 5 podcasts to learn Italian might interest you, check it out here!
Watching Documentaries
If you’ve noticed real progress in Italian, why not combine learning with general knowledge? Documentaries are a real treasure if you want to learn more about Italian culture and enhance your level of listening and reading comprehension. However, be aware that they are more suitable for advanced learners due to the complexity of some subjects.
History, fashion, politics… The multitude of themes offered will allow you to familiarize yourself with more sophisticated sentence structures and new vocabulary. Feel free to watch documentaries focused on travel and discovering Italy. This way, you’ll learn what the intonations of Italian dialects sound like: from Piedmontese to Lombard to Sicilian, real disparities exist.
Reading Italian Newspapers
Reading foreign newspapers might seem ambitious, especially if you’re a beginner. Sentence structures, specialized vocabulary, and intricate topics can indeed be discouraging. However, the advantage of this format is twofold: it allows you to practice your reading comprehension while staying informed about current events. The daily newspaper “Corriere della Sera” is one of the most well-known, but feel free to find one whose tone and topics you appreciate. Keep in mind that this is a learning aid, not a task you have to do reluctantly.
Italian press is very rich: specialized magazines, regional newspapers, news websites… you have plenty of choices. Choose subjects that interest you to better memorize new words or idiomatic expressions. If you don’t understand them all, rely on the context to grasp the overall meaning of the sentence. And in case of doubt, you can always use a dictionary.
To progress, maintain the pace! 10 minutes a day are sufficient to observe significant progress; it’s up to you to be diligent!
Living in an Italian-Speaking Country
Nothing beats immersion to soak up a language and its culture. It’s an infallible way to improve in Italian. But which city to choose?
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Going on a Language Stay in an Italian-Speaking Country
To reinforce your Italian learning, a language stay in one of the Italian-speaking countries will help you achieve your goals. Italy, of course, but also Malta, Croatia, or Slovenia are ideal destinations to perfect your Italian. If you don’t want to go that far, other places with linguistic and cultural diversity are available: Northern and Southern Italy, Sardinia, Sicily… Dialects, historical vestiges, and even gastronomy differ greatly from one region to another.
The numerous immersion programs offered will allow you to attend Italian courses while enjoying the cultural richness of a country. Despite the financial cost they may represent, these programs will expose you to the language daily. You’ll likely observe progress in a very short time and be even more motivated to continue your learning.
Between classes, don’t hesitate to stroll through a museum or attend a concert: culture will make you discover the language differently. At the end of this stay, you might find yourself thinking in Italian, and that’s a good sign. It means you’re ready for the next step: becoming bilingual!
Going on a University Exchange
A university exchange is an opportunity to add a linguistic and cultural dimension to your curriculum. Numerous partnerships exist between schools and foreign universities to make these exchanges as accessible as possible. No more excuses not to try the experience!
Immersing yourself in a new environment can be destabilizing, but the more you speak Italian, the more comfortable you’ll be in conversations with native speakers, and your ear will get used to new sounds. If you’re afraid of feeling lost, consider finding part-time work, for example, as a babysitter or au pair. Talking with children will help you learn everyday vocabulary. The advantage is that they won’t judge you if you make mistakes!
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Practicing Italian with Locals
Oral expression is one of the pillars of language learning. Don’t worry if you can’t find the right words; the goal is to practice to gain confidence.
Exchanging with locals will immerse you in the country’s culture and help you grasp certain idiomatic expressions that are not taught in school or during language courses.
Don’t hesitate to practice whenever you can, whether asking for directions, booking a hotel, or ordering a coffee. And if you’re afraid, talk with your hands: Italians use them a lot to punctuate their speech!
Speaking with a Language Exchange Partner
No need to book a flight to Milan or Palermo: there are plenty of websites and apps to converse with speakers from around the world. The advantage is twofold since it allows your language exchange partner to practice their French, and you, to improve your Italian skills. You’ll feel more comfortable speaking to someone who is also learning and likely facing the same fears as you.
To make the most of these exchanges, converse with Italian speakers from different regions or countries to better understand different intonations and accents. Don’t forget that each dialect has its own grammar and vocabulary!
Saga Baldoria
Saga Baldoria delivers short, personalized and fun Italian lessons.
Our goal: your motivation, participation and progress.
How to Learn Italian with Saga Baldoria?
1. Every morning, a personalized Italian lesson with written, audio, and video content.
2. Immediate correction with your daily score and explanations.
3. A pedagogical path that adapts to your profile by reviewing your mistakes.
4. At the end of the course, a pedagogical skills assessment with level statistics, progress, and participation.