The Italian Language

IS LEARNING ITALIAN NECESSARY?

Depending on where you live in Italy, learning Italian may or may not be a necessity. In large and popular cities like Rome, Florence, or Naples, you will find many people who can communicate with you in English. The Old Lady knows best, and would strongly recommend that you learn Italian anyway. After all, you are moving to their country and culture. It would be wise to try to learn the language of your new home. Besides, learning Italian can also bring you many benefits, such as making new friends, enjoying the rich literature and art, and enhancing your cognitive skills!

WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO LEARN?

If you’re a fellow Old Lady, know that we understand your concerns. Our brains aren’t getting any younger, and the older we get, the more difficult learning a new language can become. Below are some of the best ways to learn at any age.

  • Using an Italian learning app or an online course that provides interactive lessons, audio tracks, pronunciation practice and culture tips. Some examples are Duolingo, Speakly and Rosetta Stone.

  • Talking to native speakers online or in person. You can find a native Italian tutor on platforms like Justlearn or Italki, or join a language exchange community like Tandem or HelloTalk.

  • Immersing yourself in the language as much as possible. You can watch Italian movies and TV shows, listen to Italian music and podcasts, read Italian books and magazines, and follow Italian social media accounts.

  • Studying smarter by using effective techniques like spaced repetition, flashcards, mnemonics and active recall.

  • Set realistic goals for yourself. It’s easy to feel like you’re not making enough progress, or not retaining information. Don’t give up! If learning a language were easy, everyone would be multilingual.

The most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy learning this beautiful language!

ITALIANS ARE FORGIVING!

It’s okay to mess up, Italians are typically just happy to see you’re trying to learn the language. Your Old Lady author was in a small village produce store some years back. It was there I said in Italian, “I talk baby,” which was received with a laugh. He replied “a prima,” which means “at first.” That man in the produce shop gave me the confidence boost I needed to continue learning Italian, and now, I hope to pass that inspiration on to you.