Depending on where you live in the world, your reasons to learn Italian may differ. In the United States, for example, there are many people that have Italian family and heritage that can motivate them to learn to speak Italian. Being bilingual can improve your career prospects and is a skill that few others will have.

In Europe, speaking Italian is useful for tourists that want to get off the beaten track. Indeed, many retired people often decide to settle in remote but idyllic parts of Italy, meaning a grasp of the language is necessary and would make it easier to settle in.

So, if you want to learn Italian what is the best way to do it ? How can you learn it quickly without all the boring bits in between ?

Learning vocabulary and grammar is pretty dull and people don’t learn to speak their native tongues through rote or reading books. We learned to speak our mother tongue through repetition but more importantly a genuine desire to use the language.

If you have ever noticed how a baby learns a language then you will see this process in action. The baby listens to his mother early on. The words are repeated until he/she understands what is said. Pretty soon the baby wants to take part in the conversation (It may involve food or something that the baby has a desire to influence in some way). Indeed, the baby has a genuine desire to take part in the conversation.

At the start his/her grunts and mumbles may be unintelligible but eventually he/she will be able to say a few words. He/she will continue to hone these speaking skills by watching a listening to people around him.

Eventually he/she will be able to say a few simple sentences. At this stage, he/she probably knows all the basic elements needed to learn a language. From this stage on his/her speaking abilities will improve at a fast pace.

He/she will put new words and verbs into these simple sentences. He/she be encouraged by those around him and learn more from conversations he has. All the time he will be trying the new words and conjugating verbs as he/she speaks. He/she will make mistakes and will be corrected. He/she will always be learning new things about the language throughout his/her life.

To duplicate this method when learning a second language, you want to learn through immersion. Immersion learning starts by going to a country where the language you are learning is the first language.

This may sound scary at first. You are going to a country where you don’t speak the language, although you will probably have some simple words and understanding of the language. You will be doing a course in the country and learning the language as a child might learn his language.

You are exposed to the language all the time. In order to communicate you have to speak it. In order to speak it you have to have the desire. And believe me, if you are living in a country where you don’t have the language you have the desire.

Learning a new language is never easy however the desire to communicate will help you through the tough times. If you take a course in the Italian speaking country then you will also have some support in your desire to learn.

So I feel the best way to learn Italian is to go to a Italian speaking country. Take a course and then spend a bit of time there. this will really give you an opportunity to consolidate you skills and take them on further.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

The Best Way To Learn Italian

If you are interested in learning Italian, you probably want to learn it as quickly and efficiently as possible. In this article I want to explore the option of gaining basic fluency in Italian in 3 months or less.

In reality, many Italian students end up learning Italian for years in Italian language classes only to find that they still can’t carry on a basic conversation by the end of their studies. On the other hand, I personally know many people who have learned Italian or another foreign language in 3 months or less.

Before I get more into the plan, I should note that those of you who already know another romance langauge like Spanish or French will find this much easier to do. Also, if you have studied a foreign language that wasn’t necessarily a romance one, you will still have a slight advantage. For those of you who have never studied a foreign language before, you may find that the process takes you a bit more time because you are not used to learning foreign languages yet.

However, you should know that it is definitely possible to achieve basic fluency in Italian in 3 months as long as you stay committed to studying Italian each and every day for a serious amount of time.

Let’s go over some basic numbers so that you can see for yourself what is required to get to the basic fluency level in Italian.

Many language experts say that in most European languages including Italian, the 1000 most commonly used words make up 85% of common speech while the 3000 most commonly used words make up 95% of common speech. For our basic fluency goals in Italian, we will want to hit the 3000 word mark.

Additionally, many experts in languages say that in order to become fluent in languages like Italian, Spanish or French, 200 hours of active study time is required.

Given that you are going to study every day for 3 months, you have about 90 days which means that you will learn about 33 words per day. If you devote two hours of study each day that means you will get 180 hours of active study by the end of your 3 months which is basically the recommended 200 hours.

Many of you might think that learning 33 new words per day is too challenging. However, if you think about it, given that you have 2 hours of study time each day, that means you have to learn about 16 words per hour or about 1 word every 4 minutes. This is not so hard, is it?

Take into consideration the fact that many coganates exist between Italian and English like the English word “international” being “internazionale” in Italian and you will see that you will be able to pick up many Italian words in less than 5 seconds.

But we should also remember that you won’t always have 2 hours to study only new vocabulary. It’s also important that you review old vocabulary that you learned as well as concentrate on improving your grammar use. However, even given these other study areas, you should still have enough time.

Given this goal of 2 hours of active study each day and a goal of learning 3000 words by the end of your study period, you will achieve basic fluency in Italian in 3 months. The important thing is that you stay committed to studying each and every day and make sure that you are continually progressing. If you stay true to your plan, you will achieve your Italian fluency goal.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Italian Fluency in 3 Months With This Plan

You may be interested in learning Italian for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are going on a vacation to Italy or intend to live there. Maybe you have Italian ancestry or plan on getting a job that involves work with Italians. Whatever the reason may be, learning Italian can be a very rewarding exeperience.

Knowing another Romance language already can greatly speed up your Italian studies. The grammar between Italian and other romance languages like Spanish and French is very similar and almost exactly the same in many cases. If you studied a romance language even in high school, you will find many similarities to help you.

Italian is considered to be a very beautiful language. English speakers know that Italian has much emphasis on vowels including the fact that many, many Italian words end in vowels.

Some differences in Italian from English include the fact that there are two genders for nouns: masculine and feminine. It will be necessary to learn which gender a noun is everytime you learn a new noun. You will also find that Italian verbs conjugate quite differently based on the subject.

Word order, however, is quite similar between Italian and English. Both languages are subject-verb-object languages and because the syntax is similar, it will be very easy for you to start putting together your own sentences in Italian even as a learner.

Due to the large number of Italian speakers and Italian’s popularity as a foreign language, there is a wide variety of language textbooks and programs for learners to choose from. Depending on your ultimate language goals for Italian, you may want to choose from a quick audio program before your vacation or a textbook series to take you to fluency.

Before you begin learning Italian, you should remember to sit down and make a serious commitment to learning the language. It can be a tough process but if you stick to it, you will be greatly rewarded. On the other hand, don’t just simply do grammar exercises and read textbooks, you should also enjoy yourself in Italian, too! Watch an Italian film or buy an Italian language CD. You will find that these activities can be some of the most rewarding when learning Italian.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Do You Want To Learn Italian?

Before traveling, especialy to learn Italian in Italy, I was warned to not be the ugly American tourist. We must be sensitive and respectful. We must be open and understanding. We must not wear leisure suits and track shoes. I pride myself on my cultural sensitivity, which is probably why I was so traumatized when, during one of my first outings while I went to learn Italian, a fruit monger accused me of calling him a communist.

It was the first time for me to attempt to learn Italian and even experience the culture in depth. I soon discovered that buying fruit in Italy is an art. Fruit is beautifully displayed in baskets and stands, to be admired but never touched by the hands of the passing consumer. Picking up an apple for inspection in Italy is considered an act of aggression, one for which I was properly chastised repeatedly. Quickly I learned: ask for what you want, and the fruit monger, whose experience and knowledge of grape clusters is vastly superior to your own, will select exactly the right cluster to suit your needs.

Such a custom would never have occurred to me. In the US, you inspect each piece of fruit carefully, using techniques your grandmother taught you to make sure your melon is really ripe, your plums are not bruised, and your apple is crisp. But sure enough, this is what I experienced as I went to learn Italian abroad.

While I was packing and getting ready for my trip with the objective to learn Italian, my mother sat on my bed. She told me about traveling around France and Italy on the back of a motorcycle, stopping at markets to buy bread, cheese and blood oranges for impromptu picnics; she had also gone to Italy with the objective to learn Italian. My ears perked up at the mention of the blood orange-even its name sounded exotic and decadent. This was in the days before yuppie grocery stores sold goods from around the world, and in our neck of the woods, even the kiwi was still regarded as a novelty.

So, in Siena, with a few hours to spare after my first day of class to learn Italian, I wandered around the market, looking for my first taste of Europe. I had memorized that useful phrase, "I would like…" I have found that this phrase and a strong index finger are all the communication tools you need for basic survival until you learn italian. Unless you are picky. Unless you want something specific-not just any orange, for example, but a dark red, sweet, tangy blood orange.

I found a charming fruit market and greeted the monger, a graying old man with a wizened face and sharp, appraising eyes. It dawned on me that I was not ready for this first transaction after having had only one day to learn Italian! I hadn’t the slightest idea how to say "blood orange" in Italian. I tried a few variations-"orange of blood" brought looks of disgust and confusion. "Special orange" brought a torrent of language, none of which I understood since I had just started to learn Italian. I settled on "red orange, you know? Red, red!". Here is where I noticed that my trip to learn Italian in Italy would have to be recurring in order for me to be able to at least communicate an idea.

My fruit monger gave up. He was a patient man, a fair man, but I now had clearly gone too far. This young, impudent man not only touched his fruit, but insulted his character. "Non sono comunista!" he bellowed. He had a lot more to say, but to the untrained American ear, it sounded rather like, solononoglionomabuonomiaabonlagliono. Using my only other phrase of Italian-"excuse me!" I scooted away as quickly as I could, the entire market staring at me curiously; the American tourist trying to learn Italian in Italy.

Later, nursing a latte and my bruised self-esteem, I was able to make the connection: red meant communist. All those words of warning had done no good: even without a leisure suit, I was still that ugly American tourist.

It was several more weeks before I mastered the art of buying fruit in Italy, and finally tasted a blood orange. Buying that piece of fruit was now more than honoring one of my mother’s sappy memories, but a triumph of international commerce. It was delizioso! These are the times were you realize there is so much more to learn and I am so glad I came to learn Italian. Insistence makes perfection so I will be returning to Italy to learn Italian soon.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Travel Abroad To Learn Italian in Italy

Ever considered learning to speak, read and write another language? If you have, the Italian language is a good pick. The language alone is being spoken by over 70 million speakers and the country where this romantic language came from speaks for itself. Going down the records of history, Italians have contributed major events to the people of this generation. Italy has many of its glorious achievement in the major districts of the country for all to see. And the food is undoubtedly loved by everyone from anywhere in the world.

If these reasons aren’t enough for you to realize how interesting to learn the language is going to be, then you just probably don’t get it or you’re just not interested at all. Moving forward, the Italian language can be learned as well by anyone. Obviously, the internet and modern life of today play a big role in these aspects of learning any self-help subjects and the very reason why almost anyone given a chance can learn not just the Italian language but all the other languages possible to learn today.

The good news just doesn’t end there. Out of passion and mere interest to learn the Italian language, an individual can earn a career boost by just being fluent with this language. Of course it isn’t easy to have everything done but in due time, speaking the romantic language is a piece of cake. With that mentioned, career opportunities comes easy too, there are many career areas an Italian speaker can try. A foreign language translator here and abroad is a possibility. Even being a teacher for a second language is also an option.

When Italian basic is learned, learning advanced Italian later on can even increase one’s career development. Although, there are some pre-requisite qualifications, it’s not very difficult anymore these days to enhance one’s learning since the convenience and availability of trusted language programs online is abundant. It’s also a hassle-free approach to learn at home since there’s no pressure and interruption from the usual day’s schedule.

Learning the Italian language or another foreign language benefits you and you alone. It helps enrich and expand your vocabulary and reduces unemployment vacancy. There are just endless beautiful things to gain from learning the language so allow your self be enthralled by the opportunity.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

The Best Things About Learning Italian Now

Are you interested in learning the Italian language right in your own hometown? There are several options that you can explore to find the Italian classes that are just perfect for you! First, you should consider whether you would you enjoy the interaction that takes place among students in group classes, or if you would prefer the one-on-one attention of a private instructor.

1. Group classes at community colleges: One way to learn Italian in your hometown is to find a community college that offers Italian classes in your area. The internet can be an invaluable resource and with a few clicks of the mouse you can identify exactly where there are Italian language courses available. For example, if you live in the U.S. you can go to www.community-college.org, where you will find a complete directory of all of the community colleges throughout the country. Many of them offer evening or even online classes! Simply pick the college or colleges that can be found near you and check out their curriculum.

2. Group classes at a private school or institution: Another approach would be to find an independent language school where you can take group lessons. Do you have a Berlitz near you? How about an Inlingua Center? A great way to find the best schools in your area is to talk with people in the Italian community where you live! Many Italian communities even have websites that link to valuable resources. For example, you can find out about the Italian community in Washington, DC at www.italcultusa.org, in New York at www.italcultny.org, in Chicago at www.iicch.org, in Los Angeles at www.iicusa.org or in San Francisco at www.sfiic.org. You can find an Italian community near you simply by going to www.google.com and typing in ?Italian community in (Your Hometown).?

3. Private lessons: Not convinced that college classes or group lessons are for you? While group classes are more interactive and dynamic, you get less of the teacher?s attention. So, how about taking private classes? There are many ways to find a good instructor. For example, you could post a free ?in search of Italian instructor? ad at Craigslist – www.craigslist.org – if you live in an area that the site serves. Or, you could place an ad for free in a local newspaper or journal.

Italians take great pride in teaching their native language to non-native speakers, so simply by reaching out and asking questions, you are sure to find plenty of good advice and helpful people. Buon divertimento!

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Learn Italian At Home Is Easy

Reason 1 – Thousands of students travel abroad each year to learn Italian language. They realize that the most effective way to learn Italian language is to learn in the country the language is spoken and may be used not only in the classroom, but all day and in the street, shops, restaurants…

Reason 2<br>Italy is a world leader in the culinary arts, interior design, fashion, graphic design, furniture design, etc. Those planning careers in such fields greatly benefit from knowing Italian and Italy.

Reason 3 <br>Living in Italy can be a fantastic cultural experience. Although it can be said that Italian cannot be considered as a vehicular language, it is just as true that it cannot be relegated to a language of the past. <br>If you are you an art and culture enthusiast, Italy is the country with the highest concentration of art, history, culture, nature, good food and wine in the world, is one of the most popular vacation countries in Europe.<br>Wherever you choose to study Italian in Italy you will find something unique: beautiful natural scenery, history, customs, delicious food, colourful festivals and warm people.

Reason 4<br>The Italian welcome is warm everywhere, people are friendly and all seasons are good for a visit.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Why You Should Try To Learn Italian in Italy

You can combine your love of the Italian language with an unforgettable experience in the country where the language is spoken by studying Italian in Italy! Hands-down, the best way to learn a foreign language is to live, work, or study in a native speaking environment. Studying Italian in Italy is the best possible experience you can have to learn the language.

Would you like to study and live in Florence, Rome or Venice? Or how about in a smaller, quaint town such as Pisa, Siena or Otranto? You will find a comprehensive guide to top rate Italian language schools in Italy at www.studyabroaditaly.org. Wherever you decide to study and live, the experience is incomparable to learning Italian in any other way.

When living in a foreign country you have the wonderful opportunity to both learn the local language and also use it every day, all day long. Living in Italy is much different than visiting as a tourist. Tourists can easily manage getting around by knowing a few Italian phrases and by using English. In fact, tourists frequently will have trouble trying to use or improve their Italian language skills because Italians in most tourist locations can speak English very well and are eager to do so.

On the other hand, as a resident of Italy, you would have NO trouble trying to use or improve your Italian language skills because you would be continuously interacting with the native population at the supermarket, the post office, the bus stop, the small ?bar? where you get your morning cappuccino, and other places that tourists don?t usually visit.

If you open yourself to learning the language as well as experiencing the culture, you will be amazed with the progress you make from day to day. There is a big difference between learning Italian in Italy and learning it in your home country. While in Italy, you will only hear the Italian language spoken around you. This will encourage you to master the language quickly, because instinctively you will not want to miss out on the conversations taking place around you.

You may also want to consider the fact that even though most Italians will manage to make themselves understood in English, they will have a hard time sharing deeper thoughts and feelings in any other language than Italian. Other positive aspects of learning Italian in Italy include developing a good Italian accent (eliminating the somtimes artificial sound of Italian learned in your home country), and getting faster access to regional slang and humor.

The latter is particularly important when you become friends with Italian locals, as you will have a better chance of integrating in a group if you understand the subtle nuances of the language.

Finally, the greatest advantage to learning Italian in Italy is the opportunity you will have to make new friends that will certainly last you a lifetime. By learning Italian in Italy you will enjoy a unique life experiene in a place that is much different than anywhere else, and is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see. Buon divertimento!

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Learning Italian in Italy

Today, it is spoken by approximately 70 million people, and is the official language of several nations, including Italy, Slovenia, and Vatican City. If you are interested in learning to speak, read, and write another language, consider the romantic Italian language. You could study at a college or University and receive your degree in Italian. You could take one of many online accelerated courses. Or you could experience the beauty, history, and culture of the Italian language firsthand. You could attend one of the many Italian immersion programs available in Italy.

Earning a degree in Italian from a college or University will provide you with a thorough knowledge of written and conversational Italian. If you earn a college degree in the Italian language, you will most likely be fluent in it. This can lead you to several interesting career options. For example, you can find employment as a foreign language translator, either in the United States or aboard. You can also work as a teacher of English as a second language to students in Italy. If you are already established professionally, and find that you must learn Italian as a job requirement, you can enroll in accelerated courses in Italian online. There are several reputable programs offered via the Internet that are convenient and fun. Learning Italian in this manner will give you a very basic foundation in the language.

If you have the time to devote (a few weeks to a month) and the financial resources, an ideal opportunity is to learn the Italian by enrolling in an immersion program. By doing this, you will not only learn Italian, but you will get a taste of the exciting Italian way of life. Learning Italian in the beautiful country of Italy, where the language has its ancient roots, you will be thrust into the life and culture, and you will learn to speak and understand the language quickly and with surprising ease. You will learn the conversational and colloquial styles of the Italian language. You will interact on a daily basis with native Italian, and they probably won’t be willing or able to communicate with you in English. You will be absorbed into the everyday life of Italy. You can choose to study in historic Rome, Florence, Milan, or even Venice. You will learn to understand and appreciate the mythic Italian culture: the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will also attend courses in which you will learn how to read and write Italian. Can you think of a more fun and interesting way to learn a foreign language?

Knowing how to communicate in more than one language (such as English and Italian) can be advantageous to your career. If the business you are in demands international travel, being able to communicate with your associates in Italy will make your work easier and less stressful. If you are fluent in Italian, you can be certified as a foreign language translator for example (as mentioned previously). This is a challenging career opportunity. You can work full-time for a foreign language translation firm, translating important business documents or web pages for global corporations. Or you can do freelance translation work, where you make your own work schedule. You might also have the skills to teach English to students in Italian speaking countries. By knowing English and Italian, you would be able to live and work in Italy.

By learning to speak, read, and write the Italian language, you possess the potential to develop you career by working in Italy, or you can set out on a new career as a translator or English instructor. Learning Italian will also enhance your travels to Italy. Learning the Italian language is an intellectually and personally achievement that will broaden your scope professionally open your eyes to a new culture.

Find the essential information on where and how to learn a new or second language at http://www.foreign-languages-school.com/study-the-italian-language.html

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Studying Italian Language Abroad

While there are many who have enjoyed learning and speaking the Italian language, there are still people who are hesitant to continue learning Italian no matter how badly they really want to learn it. The Italian language is just one of the many international languages that need to be learned with dedication and pure interest.

There are people who just think too much of the disadvantages or ‘what if’s’ in learning the Italian language before even doing the real work first. But the real problem here is that, with this kind of attitude, there is really never going to be any work done, lesson learnt or even a single Italian word spoken.

Instead of wasting time thinking about what could happen or the difficulty of learning the Italian language, its best to break the myths and surpass the hesitations. Learning Italian could bring you interest you never thought you’d have and even the desire to visit the Italian speaking country at its best – Italy!

Now that it has been mentioned, the thought of not visiting Italy or visiting it for a just short time is one of the hindrances which most people think of right away and also the reason why learning Italian is never a top priority. But there is a purpose why you should learn the language. Many Italian lessons today offer survival conversational phrases which most likely can become useful if ever you find yourself under the shadows of the leaning tower of Pisa or inside a restaurant with staff and customers speaking Italian and Italian alone.

Another common reason why people refuse to get involve in learning Italian is because they think they don’t have the time to sit down and read on the texts of the language. Again, there are more sources now than before. It isn’t only getting to a language class where one can learn Italian but also online, movies, audio aids and immersion are tops for learning this language or even any foreign language for that matter. It’s everywhere and anyone can read through a 10 key point article about Italian basics each day. That could only take about 10 to 20 minutes.

The idea here is that there are certainly no limits to how a person can learn a foreign language. Italian is just one thing out of the other hundreds of foreign languages. It’s great to learn new things everyday and you don’t even have to lose anything. When you think you can’t, it could only be because you really don’t want to or just too lazy to do it.

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Learning Italian

Italian is one of the most widespread languages in the world, and speaking it can give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment, an edge in your career, and even a stronger bond with your ancestors if you are of Italian descent. There are many ways you can learn Italian, including textbooks, tapes, CDs, software, group classes or private lessons, but there are also ways you can begin or continue your studies of the Italian language entirely for FREE!

1. Online: Online, you can join an active community of people who are learning the Italian language just like you. One site is Impariamo – http://www.impariamo.com – which in Italian means ?let?s learn?. Impariamo is a forum where you can meet people from around the world who are learning Italian and share tips to improve your Italian language skills.

It is also a great starting point for finding new tools that will help you develop your Italian skills – all for FREE! Impariamo also has a feature called Quiz of the Week, where you can have a new Italian language quiz delivered to your e-mail in-box each and every week. In addition to Impariamo, you can also find other online communities at Yahoo! Groups or at MSN Groups.

Simply type in ?learn Italian? in the search box on either of these sites and you will find many groups that may appeal to you to join – again, for FREE!

2. Offline: Offline, you can join a group in your geographic area whose members share your interest in learning the Italian language through a free online service called Meetup. Meetup helps people find others who share similar interests, and form lasting, local community groups that regularly meet face-to-face. All ages and levels of proficiency are welcome to these group meetings! You can sign up to participate in any one of nearly 300 Italian language Meetup groups. Practicing your Italian among friends will help you improve your language skills significantly.

Learning Italian allows you to immerse yourself in a rich and diverse culture, and this can open entirely new avenues of self-exploration and personal growth. Whether you want to the Italian language for personal or professional reasons, you can make new friends, have new experiences, and open yourself to a new and beautiful culture. Buon divertimento!

Original Post: Learn Languages Now

Learn Italian