The Best Way to Learn Italian
The Italian national soccer team, known as gli Azzurri because of the blue of their jerseys, has for years ranked among the top teams in the world. Italy has won the World Cup three times, Italian-born players routinely sign multimillion-dollar contracts for European teams, and the Italian soccer leagues offer some of the most talented competition anywhere. The overriding reason for their success? Practice, practice, practice. And that's the secret to learning Italian or any other foreign language. Exercise your language muscles every day, and soon you too will be competing with the best of them. Just remember that you can't learn everything at once! Go slow and be thorough.
The eighteenth-century Palazzo Gallenga Stuart is headquarters for the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, the world's oldest and most prestigious center of Italian language education. State-of-the-art language labs and highly flexible course programs make this school an irresistible choice for anyone wanting to study in Italy.
The quickest and most effective way to learn Italian is the total-immersion method. This means traveling to Italy for an extended period, studying at any of the thousands of schools throughout the country, and speaking only Italian. Many programs include a home-stay component that enhances the cultural exchange. You literally eat, breathe, and dream in Italian.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to spend weeks or months in Florence, Rome, or other Italian towns sipping espresso, touring ancient ruins, and taking language classes. There are other ways to learn Italian without leaving your hometown, wherever that may be.
Many cable companies in the United States offer Italian programming through the Rai channel. Watching an Italian movie, news, or television show can help you develop an ear for the language. Check with your local cable provider to see if it's available in your area.
You've already taken the most important step to learning Italian when you picked up this book, because the most important thing is to start studying! And any method is appropriate, whether it's reading an Italian textbook, taking a language course at a university or local language school, completing workbook exercises, listening to a tape or CD, or conversing with a native Italian speaker. Spend some time every day reading, writing, speaking, and listening to Italian to become accustomed to the target language. Slowly but surely, your confidence will grow, your vocabulary will expand, and you'll be communicating in Italian.
Things to Remember
Try to avoid negative thinking. With time and effort, you will begin to put together the foundation for a wonderful learning experience. Don't be discouraged by what you can't do — focus on what you can do, and do it! When you start to put the language into practice, set reasonable expectations for yourself. Asking someone to repeat something can only help you understand. One of your goals should be to use the language as frequently as possible. Be vocal and don't be afraid to make mistakes!
