Top tips for learning Italian

Everybody has their own preferred method of getting to grips with a new language. Some are visual learners, while others prefer audio based techniques to memorize words and phrases. Here we’ll review some of the best tips for learning Italian. Choose the ones that work for you and use them to boost your Italian studies.

Don’t be afraid to get stuck in to Italian literature. There’s a big misconception amongst those looking to learn Italian - or indeed any language. For some reason, many seem to believe that it’s necessary to learn a language in its entirety before applying it. For example, believing you have to know Italian inside out before opening an Italian book. This is the wrong way to look at your studies. Embrace Italian culture from the outset. Pick up Italian books, subscribe to Italian magazines - give yourself maximum exposure to the language you’re learning.

Stock up on reference books. You can never have too many learning materials at your disposal when studying Italian. A good selection of books should be a given, and we can’t even begin to describe the importance of having a decent dictionary handy. Collins Italian Dictionary: Complete & Unabridged is a brilliant reference which not only etails the Italian vocabulary - but also the Italian culture too. If you’re serious about learning Italian, it should be snapped up as your first purchase.

Masculine one day, feminine the next. Just like French and Spanish, nouns in the Italian language are divided in to two groups; masculine and feminine. Yes, it’s a bit inconvenient and yes, it’s a bit of a pain having to learn two variations of each noun you encounter. Even more frustrating is the fact that not every word follows the rule you’d expect. How do we deal with this? Through good old fashioned memory boosting techniques, you’ll find. Draw up a list of nouns and spend one day learning them in their masculine form. Repeat the same exercise the next day, except learning the feminine variation. This pattern is MUCH easier than learning both versions at the same time, and once you get to grips with the general language rules, life should become easier.

Immerse yourself in Italy. This, naturally, might not be an option for everybody. But if you have the means to spend a couple of weeks or more in Italy, the situation of being enveloped by the Italian culture will do more than any book or course for getting you actively speaking Italian. You’ll pick up phrases as you go about your day to day activities. Not to mention, Italy is a wonderful place to visit with culture, history and attraction oozing from every city. What better motivation to advance your skills than by being around the very people that have already got them?

Search out an Italian-speaking penpal. As an easier and much cheaper alternative to immersing yourself in Italy, why not use one of the many social networking websites to find yourself an Italian penpal? Facebook and MySpace act as virtual homes to many millions of Italian speakers. You will also find several penpal themed websites designed purely for connecting likeminded people. Having an Italian penpal will push you to learn and develop your skills in a natural environment - without the pressure. Ask your penpal to communicate solely in his or her native tongue, then make it your goal to write back in Italian too. You’ll soon be able to tell how well you’re progressing by whether you get a letter back!

Learn to make use of those movie subtitles. How many DVDs do you have sitting on the shelf? How many of them come with Italian subtitles? Watching your favourite movie with the Italian subtitles turned on is a brilliant way of memorizing certain Italian phrases and words while still having a good time. We all love to crash out in front of a good film from time to time, so why not make it an educational experience too? If you’re extremely dedicated, you can go the extra mile and import an Italian copy of your favourite DVD with actual Italian audio dubbed over the usual soundtrack. For those who know the script inside out, the benefits are obvious!

Small sessions of revision produce big results. It’s been proven that the best time to study is in the short thirty minute time span before you go to sleep. This is when the brain is most settled and willing to soak up new information. If you’ve been studying throughout the day, have a list of key points which sum up what you’ve learnt. Take this list to bed and spend fifteen minutes recapping. You’ll be amazed how much faster you get to grips with Italian when you add this tiny window of revision in to your study regime.

The Internet is your best friend. Well, maybe not. But when it comes to resources for learning Italian, there really is no topping the global scale of the Internet. It encompasses a web of information which makes your local library look like a tiny star in a galaxy. Thanks to the power of search engines like Google and shared communities like Wikipedia, you have access to just about every bit of information you need to teach yourself Italian. One thing to remember though - books do have one advantage in that they’ve been verified before publication. Don’t trust every page of information you read on the Internet.

Join Italian messageboards. The Internet community is thriving with other users in the same boat as yourself. Always remember that you’re not the only one learning Italian. And no matter how hard it may seem during a time of difficulty, there’s always somebody to share your problem and take inspiration forum. Throw “Italian learning forum” in to Google and you’ll get pages of results. Find a forum that suits you, register for free, and involve yourself with the discussion. You’ll quickly take motivation from being around other Italian students and you’ll also be free to test your budding skills.

Take advantage of our online Italian courses. If you haven’t worked out already, we’re pretty hyped about Rocket Italian and we believe you should be too! No other Italian learning software has come close to bundling the important aspects of learning Italian in to such a fun, dynamic learning package. Interaction is paramount to learning any language, and having the opportunity to put your skills in to practice is a massive advantage as you go about learning Italian. Online courses are perfect for those who have lots to learn, and not enough time (or money) to attend a private class.

Check out our online Italian courses to see how you can take your Italian to the next level in quick time.

Share/Save/Bookmark