Top tips to help you learn the italian language

Top Tips to learn Italian

Some Italian learning websites and CD courses make extraordinary claims, like “speak Italian in a weekend”. We believe differently and yes, it is true that you only get out what you put in. As a famous golfer once said, “It’s funny, but the more I practice, the better I get”.

The same applies to learning a new language, but here are some useful tips to help making learning a language easier, some of these are obvious and some more radical, but each will help you reinforce your knowledge throughout.

Tip 1: Quality learning, not quantity

We firmly believe that you are better to learn 10 words properly than 100 that you are not so sure of. By learning less words but knowing them well and with confidence will ensure that you are not stumbling when speaking a sentence.

Tip 2: Practice

During the day, practice the words you have learnt previously and keep repeating them either out loud (when appropriate) or in your mind. This will ensure that you retain the words that you have learnt. The same applies to sentences, think of a sentence that you are likely to use in the future, translate it into Italian with the methods you have learnt, and then keep repeating that sentence until you know it automatically. You will also find by doing this that you know the individual words of the sentence better and those words will come to you in other sentences more automatically.

Tip 3: Apply your learning into your daily life

During the day, think of a small sentence in English and then try and work out what the Italian translation would be. Keep a pocket Italian / English dictionary with you and if you are not sure of a word, then look it up. If you are in café ordering something, order in English and then ask yourself how you would say it in Italian.

Tip 4: Speak clearly and slowly

When you speak in Italian, speak slowly and clearly. You are not trying to pass as an Italian; you just want to be understood in Italian. Many people make the mistake of trying to speak Italian too quickly to exhibit fluency. This is a big mistake and your mind will not have the time to recall the words you need to form a sentence quickly enough. Keep it slow and keep it clear.

Tip 5: Listen carefully, think laterally

When in Italian conversation, listen to the complete sentence and do not stop listening when you hear a word you do not understand or you will loose the meaning of the rest of the sentence. You can often grasp the meaning of a sentence even though you might not understand all of the words spoken to you. So don’t try and work out the English until you have listened to the complete Italian sentence.

Tip 6: Be expressive to be confident

The Italians speak with intonation and use their hands a lot whilst speaking. Try doing the same, they almost sing a sentence; speak the words you know as an Italian would with enthusiasm and confidence.