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.
Use Engaging Resources
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
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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