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Why Learning Italian Language Before Planning Italy Travel is Great?

Learning Italian Language

Traveling to Italy after learning the Italian language is one of the great joys in life. It allows you to immerse in the culture and feel like a local in a new country. The best part is whenever you are navigating the streets of Rome on a Vespa or exploring a quaint hill town on foot; your language skill will enhance the travel experience that you might not have enjoyed otherwise. By knowing the Italian language you will be more in tune with the local culture and its people. This way, you will also be able to see Italy with a different perspective and not like an average tourist.

How to learn Italian

Learn-Italian-Language-online

According to reports, around 65 million people speak Italian as their native language and certainly it is one of the most popular languages in the European Union. If you have an interest in learning Italian and want to be fluent when you speak, there is no better way than reading, writing, listening and speaking the language every day. This will help in building your vocabulary and you will feel at ease when it comes to speaking. No matter, what is your level of proficiency but it is always fun to practice it when you are in Italy. The Italians are humble people and they always motivate tourists trying to learn and speak their language. Hence, it will certainly help you to make new friends and experience a better life when in Italy.

In the rural areas, not much people speak or understand English, if you are visiting such places knowledge of the Italian language can make things easier especially if you are traveling solo. The first step to learn the language is to focus on the grammars through books and tapes namely Penton Seas, ‘Learn in your Car’. There are several language books that will boost your confidence level and finally, you will be able to utter the Italian words aloud. Afterward, you can look for more ways to incorporate the language in your life. There are numerous online courses, all thanks to the internet that can help you to get a grasp on the language. The best part is these courses fit your busy schedule and you can learn at your own pace. Some of the premier courses include Rocket Languages, Cyber Italian and so on.

Quick Contact

It is recommended to take part in language forums such as LiveMocha and Impariamo where there are lot many Italians with whom you can interact and converse. If you want to take your Italian language skill to the next level, read Italian Giornali, watch Italian videos and television programs on RAI or practice listening online programs including Maxmondo Audio Rivista and Yabla. There are also options for Italian radio stations and watching Italian movies with subtitles to get accustomed to the language. Lastly, you can surround yourself with Italians and when they speak; their tone gets familiar to you. Thus, listening to them constantly will improve your language skills. And keep learning until the expressions come naturally to you.

While learning Italian you might embarrass yourself many times but trust me it is worth. However, it is not really necessary to learn the native language while touring a country but if you ever have to interact with a government worker, chances are they might not speak English. Apart from government offices, there is a higher probability that you will get the things by pointing at those even without speaking the local language.

Personal Experience

I will share with you an instance of how learning Italian has helped me to experience things differently. One evening, I was chilling in a pub in Gubbio, a little town in northern Umbria. There was an Italian gentleman who was sitting right next to my table. He had a very charming smile and wanted to test my language skill. Finally, I began a conversation with him and discovered that he is a truffle hunter. I was elated to carry on a meaningful conversation with him. Even though this man doesn’t understand English, I was able to converse with him for nearly half an hour. Later, he asked me to follow him to his shop in the town. He poured a glass of wine and opened the jars containing salsas, cheeses, and marmalades. Thus, we had a small feast in the middle of the night. If I was unable to speak Italian, I would have missed such an opportunity to experience the man’s hospitality and learn about truffle hunting.

Personal-Experience-in-Italy

So, in my opinion, taking an effort to learn Italian might be fruitful in the long run because you never know who you meet. Being a native English speaker, there are no chances that you will make a mistake but going out of the comfort zone and having a conversation with a local in their language is something worth remembering. Surprisingly, there are several words that are way too similar between English and Italian. Take a look at these words on Wikipedia.

If you need more ideas, you can go through my blog “Diario di una Studentessa Matta” that will give you valuable insight into the Italian language. I write this blog in both English and Italian and recommend a long list of sites that will help you grow on your journey to learn new Italian words. This way you can enrich yourself and gain such memories that you will cherish forever. Viva la Lingua!

If you have any suggestion and tips, share with us in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.

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By Priscila (266 Posts)

Priscila Siano is the Marketing Director of Tour Italy Now, an online tour operator specializing in Italy travel. She's a respected expert on making dream Italy vacations a reality for clients.

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