If you are planning to live in Italy (or even just to come and visit), you are going to need to learn a bit of Italian to help you get around. I have written in the past about how lonely it can be to learn a language, but today I want to write something that is not just relatable, but also helpful.
Whether you are learning Italian from scratch or you are trying to improve the Italian skills you already have, here are five tips that could help you get to the next level.
5. Language Learning Apps and Programs
Language learning apps take the number five slot on our list because your mileage may vary. Some can be very helpful, and others can be a kind of expensive way to waste your time. Also, in most cases, you get out of these apps what you put into them: if you make it a point to practice every day, you will definitely learn vocabulary and common expressions along the way. But, if it is something you just do from time to time only when you’re in the right mood, you won’t see much improvement.
That being said, some of the most popular apps and programs for learning Italian are Duolingo, which is fun because it gamifies the experience (and it’s free unless you want to upgrade to the premium version), Babbel, which has lessons, games, and podcasts to help you improve, and Rosetta Stone, one of the original language learning programs that focuses on immersion, one of the most important aspects of language learning (see #2).
4. Watch Shows and Movies in Italian
To work on your listening comprehension, a good way to practice is to watch t.v. series and movies in Italian. Luckily, we live in a day in age when you can easily just switch the language on the show you’re watching on Netflix or other platforms, so there is no need to seek out Italian content specifically if you don’t want to (plus Italians are weirdly awesome at dubbing, so the Italian version is usually both easy to understand and well-acted).
When you start out, feel free to put on the English subtitles while you listen to the Italian audio, but make sure not to keep this up for long. The best tip I’ve ever learned is that, once you start getting used to the language and expand your vocabulary a bit, switch those subtitles to Italian. That way, you can see the words you are hearing, which helps you, not just to learn vocab and spelling, but also to know how to pronounce things.
Eventually, you’ll reach a point where you can phase out the subtitles entirely, and just listen to the Italian audio (unless you’re watching a show in which they are speaking in a Neapolitan, Roman, or Sicilian dialect, in which case even some Italians need subtitles!).
3. Read in Italian
As someone who has always connected more to the written word than to spoken ones, this was my way “into” the language. Challenging yourself to read things in Italian can help you to really start thinking in Italian, which will make it easier to express yourself when you are speaking, since you won’t have to translate in your mind first (more on that next).
If it seems intimidating, start by just reading one short news article in Italian each day, or even an Italian children’s book. Then, gradually, start reading longer pieces, working your way up to full newspapers, magazines, and books. I can’t tell you how accomplished you will feel when you are able to say that you have read a full book in Italian — finishing the entire Harry Potter series in Italian was and is one of the proudest moments of my life!
Luckily, the internet is full of things to read in Italian, and if you are already in Italy, I also recommend checking out the local library and/or one of the many bookstores to find something that interests you.
2. Immerse Yourself in the Language
This is number two on the list, but may actually be the most important aspect of learning Italian, or any language. If you really want to get to the point where you can think in your target language (which makes it way easier to find the words when you’re trying to talk to someone, trust me), surround yourself with Italian. Read the daily news in Italian. Watch all your shows and movies in Italian. Switch your phone settings to Italian, and your browser’s default language too. If you want to look something up, look it up on Italian Wikipedia. Make it so that all the input you are receiving is Italian, so your brain will soak it up and make a deep connection with it.
Now, I know that it’s not always possible to read, write, listen to, and speak Italian 24/7, especially if you, like me, live in Italy but work remotely with Americans. But immersing yourself for even an hour or two a day can go a long way toward improving both your Italian language skills and your confidence.
1. Interact with Actual Italians
I know, scary, right? But language apps and watching t.v. can only get you so far. In order to improve your Italian, you have to actually use it. The best way to do this is to practice with native speakers, whether that be your husband or wife or the cashier at the grocery store. It is intimidating, but the more you speak to others, the more confident you will feel about speaking to others.
Yes, you will make mistakes. But that’s okay! In general, I have found Italians to be very forgiving when it comes to making speaking errors. They often try to help, and are very patient as you work to get out what you want to say (some of them will even try to speak English, but, while sweet, kind of defeats the point of the exercise, so try to persist in Italian if you can).
The absolutely most important thing about learning Italian, though, is just to try. And you’ll find that, the harder you try, the more you improve.
What is your best tip for learning Italian? Let us know in the comments!
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Some Americans who reside in Italy may not know about the requirement to file electronically FinCEN form 114 (FBAR or Foreign Bank Account Report) with the US Treasury Dept when combined balances in all foreign bank accounts equals or exceeds $10,000.
A separate filing requirement, but with much higher balance thresholds in foreign assets, is filed with the IRS with Form 8938 (FATCA or Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act). A transfer of a significant sum to a foreign bank account in anticipation of purchasing a property could trigger this filing.
Filing either or both of these forms is relatively easy and there is plenty of information via the internet. If you are required to file either or both of these forms, severe penalties may apply for failure to do so
Disclosure: I am in no capacity a tax or financial consultant. In no way should my comments be taken as advice in any way. My comments presented here are for informational purposes only. As always, taxpayers should consult with a qualified tax professional for all details regarding FBAR and FATCA.
Thanks, Thomas, that is some important information! The FBAR and FATCA are two things that American expats in Italy should really read up on.
And for the readers who didn’t get the connection, this topic comes from the American in Italy Newsletter I sent to announce this post! If you want to sign up to get more tips and insight, you can do so via the box in the sidebar or at the bottom of the page. 🙂