So You Want To Learn Italian?

The Italian language is considered one of the oldest, most romantic languages in the world, and today, more than 60 million people around the world speak the language of ancient Rome and direct descendant of Latin. Though comprised of many different dialects, the language was standardized for the most part in 1860, when Italy became unified as a Kingdom. Today, more people than ever before are taking steps to learn Italian, and a wealth of teaching tools and methods make this endeavor possible.

While many schools teach basic Italian, most people learning the language are adults who travel to Italy and its environs for pleasure as well as business. The variety of teaching tools and opportunities to teach oneself the language are only limited by the imagination of the person wishing to learn Italian. Many arguments abound on the best way to learn any language, but as with nearly everything, the old saying, 'Different strokes for different folks' stands those wishing to learn Italian in good stead.

All however, agree that in order to master a language, it must be heard and spoken on a daily basis, even if it's just a few words or sounds. By becoming accustomed to the sound of a language, the student, no matter their age or method of learning, will begin to develop 'an ear' for the language that will help to learn speaking patterns and pronunciation as well as tones and later comprehension.

How to go about immersing oneself in a new language? Other than moving to the country to learn Italian, which is not practical for most learners, two choices avail themselves. One is to learn Italian at a school. The other method is to teach yourself with the aid of CD's, cassettes, textbooks and workbooks geared for independent learners. While these methods are great, it's nice to have some verbal feedback from someone who is familiar with the language to make sure you're learning proper pronunciation, cadence and phrases. We all know that the 'proper' way to speak a language is often not the one spoken on the street by everyday citizens, so learning slang and idiomatic expressions unique to Italian are a bonus.

Another method to learn Italian is to rent movies in that language. Today, movie rental businesses such as Blockbuster allow online movie renters to choose from a myriad of foreign films, and Italian films are extremely popular and worthwhile. Not only will someone who wants to learn Italian benefit from hearing the language spoken in normal tones and cadence, they will also benefit from viewing Italian culture and behaviors.

To learn Italian correctly, also try to obtain printed material in Italian, like magazines, newspapers and websites that offer news, games and other entertainment formats presented in Italian. If you're dedicated, make flashcards and tape them around your house, identifying furniture and other objects with Italian words or phrases. Get online and look for a pen pal who would like to offer you help with your Italian while you offer the same with your spoken language.

Learning any new language is challenging, and provides moments of laughter, frustration and accomplishment. To learn Italian, one must be dedicated and patient enough to learn the basics of the language, and from there, the rest is a matter of learning vocabulary. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead; take that first step to learn Italian. Buona fortuna!