Learn To Speak Italian Fluently

Ling Tong asked:


The best way of learning Italian quickly is to immerse yourself in the language and the culture. If you have time and money, you can move to an Italian speaking country where you will be surrounded by the language at every turn. You can take classes in the language at the same time and when you are outside of class you have ample opportunity to practice and use what you learn in class. For many students in university, attending university in an Italian city is a very effective way of becoming fluent in the language and gaining credit towards their degree at the same time.

For most people who do want to learn italian, moving away from home is not a viable option. They may be able to avail of Italian classes in their home community through college courses, but they can also take online courses and stay home. When you opt to learn Italian through such a course, you do not have to make any changes to your work schedule. You do, however, need to set a schedule for yourself to study at home on a daily basis. This should be a time when you know that you won’t be interrupted.

You don’t need to have any prior knowledge of Italian to succeed in an online course. These courses start with the premise that you are a beginner and the first lesson is about the alphabet and the sounds of the letters. This will take some time for you to fully understand all the nuances of the ways in which the letters and clusters of letters are pronounced. You will also receive instruction in the accents on the parts of the Italian vocabulary words you learn.

Along with reading the instruction on your computer screen, it is essential that the course you choose to take includes a listening component. Without this you will not be able to hear how the letters and words are pronounced and when you speak, you will have a very distinct accent. You may even pronounce some of the words incorrectly and say something completely different from what you want to say. For example, if you pronounce the cluster as you will be making a mistake. Through the rules of pronunciation that you learn in your course, the instruction will tell you that this cluster is pronounced as and that the is ignored.

When learning to speak italian, you need to start out slowly and really make sure you understand each lesson before you move on. Each subsequent lesson builds on the previous one.  Be prepared to make mistakes because this is a normal part of learning anything new. Make sure you reinforce your learning by completing the exercises through which you learn to write grammatically correct Italian sentences.  Always start off with the basics, whether you are learning Italian grammar or reading and listening to short passages. Find italian books written for young children in which the words are accompanied by pictures. This is one of the best ways to increase your vocabulary.



Caffeinated Content

Benjamin Wise asked:


Imagine you were trying to become a designer looking to travel the roads of Europe. On your travels you want to learn about different cultures, language and cuisine. Your goal is simple; take in as much as you can. Suddenly, you find yourself in Milan in a great discussion regarding the future of design and fashion, chatting over a glass of red wine sitting at a quaint coffee shop. You know that your success abroad will depend on your ability to learn enough of any given language to complete your goal.

For me it is simple. I have to listen to how a language is spoken in order to be able to speak it. That is why foreign language audio books work very well for me. In this example let’s use Italian. I use the audio to get myself speaking Italian quickly. I have to admit it is always funny when you listen to yourself attempting to pull of certain pronunciations.

The benefits of a simple audio program are many. On my way to work I can be yapping away to myself in Italian. By listening to an audio book you can quickly learn italian that you can use in real situations.

By listening to the pronunciations you can learn how to practically apply what you have learned. You can learn the vocabulary through engaging stories. You can discover easy and effective memory tricks. With the audio format you can practice on your laptop at home or while traveling

Whatever your position in life, whether you’re brushing up on a forgotten language or just interested in learning a new one, audio is one of the most practical and simple ways to do so. You will learn the skills you need at the pace you want using a variety of methods that keep the experience fun, fresh and motivating.

Learn a new language in no time. Start today. There is something fun about learning a new language.



Create a video blog…instantly.

Shareen Aguilar asked:


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.



Caffeinated Content

Dinah Leabeau asked:


You do not have to speak a word of Italian to explore Italy. Italian hand signals, an outgoing personality, and a genuine smile are all you require. You’ll be all set to explore Il Bel Paese before you know it.

If you learn italian online, you will be better off enjoying Italian culture and relating to Italians. Nonetheless, here’s a short guide to Italian hand gestures that you can apply to supplement your Italian.

To explore Italy, you do not have to speak a word of Italian. Italian hand signals, an outgoing personality, and a genuine smile are everything you need. Before you know it, you’ll be able to conquer Il Bel Paese.

Still, you are better off studying italian before you leave. To guide you, however, you can utilize these Italian hand signals.

Un momento!

In English, this means “one moment, please.” Just make a number one with your index finger, pointing upwards. You can also use this to mean “may I speak, please?”, though learning Italian will come handy then.

Ho fame

” I’m hungry”, is what this conveys. Hit your stomach with the side of your flat hand to send a clear message to your hosts to feed you. Learn Italian to know the difference between polipo and pollo if you’re sick of pasta and pizza. You will be able to prevent allergies and grasp Italian food better.

Ehi tu, vieni qui

“Come here”, this hand gesture conveys. It’s the same come hither gesture used in America. You must use this with care because this could seem sexually inviting or rude. It is still safer practice to learn to say “prego, potete aiutarli” to ask somebody to come over.

Silenzio

This is done by pressing your index finger to your lips, the universal gesture of “silence.” But successfully explaining why you want quiet is another story. You’ll need to learn Italian to achieve this!

Idea!

You can aptly translate this as “I have an idea!” Simply put your hand on your head and wear a happy face, and you have conveyed that you do have an idea. But putting your great idea across will require time and effort if you didn’t bother to study italian.

Perfetto

To compliment somebody with a perfect score, use the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to create a circle. This is very useful in your Italian travels as this does not demand that you speak italian.

Scusi, devo andare al bagno

Put on a pained expression while holding up your index and middle fingers if you want to go to the bathroom. This is handy if you need frequent bathroom trips.

This is a very useful signal that translates to “I have to go to the rest room.” Just hold up your index and middle fingers, put on a pained expression, and you’ll be directed to the closest bathroom. For the diarrhea-prone traveler, this is very important indeed.

Indeed, it’s sheer poetry, these Italian signals. To read Italian street signs and speak with the locals, though, learning Italian is still handy. You can choose to have the best of both worlds.



Caffeinated Content

Ling Tong asked:


Italian is one of the romance languages and contains many beautifully sounding words and phrases. When you want to learn italian for whatever reason ?business or travel ?you can do so from the comfort of your own home through a free course online. Whether you have some knowledge of Italian or you are a beginner, you can take advantage of all levels of courses from beginner to advanced. You learn to read, speak, write and understand the language to become fluent in the language. There are no additional letters in the Italian alphabet, but it is important to start with learning the different pronunciations of the letters. You have to start at the beginning just as you did with learning your own language.

The pronunciation of the letters of the Italian alphabet should not be difficult for native English speakers.  Many of the letters are pronounced in the same way. The main difference is in pronouncing the vowels. You do not have to change how you pronounce them depending on their position in the word as you do in some English words. The vowels and are the only ones that have different sounds depending on their use in a word. They are always pronounced as short vowels. If you look at the phonetic spelling you will see that there is an included after each one to show that it is short.

When you pronounce a word in Italian that contains an you have to roll the letter around your tongue. This is why you need to listen to native Italian speakers to gain a sense of how to pronounce this letter correctly. There is no graphic way of denoting this sound so you will not notice any difference when you do look at the phonetic spelling of the word. You do have to be cognizant of the way the letter sounds when you say it.

In the italian language there are special clusters of letters that are pronounced in a certain way. The cluster is pronounced cha. You do not pronounce each letter when you say this combination. The rule to remember is that when ci is followed by a vowel , you do not pronounce the When you say the cluster of you pronounce it as you would in English and sounds like the English sound of The letter when followed by vowels, sounds like the English letter  When is followed by another vowel, the becomes silent. Thus, is pronounced like.

There is also a difference in the way you pronounce words in Italian that have double consonants. Unlike the English pronunciation, you do pronounce both of these consonants as if there were two separate syllables. There is a short suspension between the consonants giving them two distinct sounds. Any consonant can be doubled in the Italian language except for the letter .

In your course, take the time to listen to the sounds of all the letters , the clusters and the double consonants to give you a greater understanding of the proper pronunciation.



Caffeinated Content for WordPress

Dinah Leabeau asked:


Without speaking a word of Italian, you can explore Italy. You are set to explore Il Bel Paese armed with only an outgoing personality, a warm smile, and Italian hand signals. Or, are you?

Still, you’re better off studying italian before you leave. But use these Italian hand gestures to help you.

Arguably, you can travel in Italy without speaking a word of Italian. You’re set to explore Il Bel Paese armed with just a gregarious personality, a genuine smile, and Italian hand gestures. Or, are you?

You’ll be better off relating to Italians and enjoying Italian culture if you learn italian online. Nevertheless, here’s a short guide to Italian hand signals that you can apply to supplement your Italian.

Un momento!

In English, this means “one moment, please.” Just point your index finger upwards like the number 1. This can also say “may I speak, please?”, but it’ll be needed to learn Italian then.

Ho fame

This translates to ” I’m hungry”, a plea to your hosts to feed you. You should hit your stomach with the side of your flat hand, which ought to send a clear message. Still you will need some Italian food words to grasp Italian food; otherwise, you will find yourself gagging on pasta and pizza. Besides, when you study italian, you will learn the difference between polipo and pollo. Who knows what allergies these dishes might bring to you?

Ehi tu, vieni qui

This translates to “come here.” The same come hither signal used in America is used here. Because this could look rude or sexually inviting, it is advised to utilize this with caution. It is still better practice to learn to say “prego, potete aiutarli” to get someone to come over.

Silenzio

This is made by pressing your index finger to your lips, the universal gesture of “silence.” However, successfully explaining why you want silence is another story. This proves that you still have to learn Italian!

Idea!

You would’ve successfully emphasized that you have an idea when you look happy with your hand on your head. However, learning Italian will be useful when you tell them all about this idea.

Perfetto

Made with your thumb and index fingers creating a circle, do this with both hands, and you’ve complimented somebody with a perfect score. This is very handy in your Italian travels as this doesn’t demand that you speak italian.

Scusi, devo andare al bagno

This is a very useful gesture that means “I must go to the rest room.” You’ll be pointed to the nearest rest room by wearing a pained expression and holding up your index and middle fingers. For the diarrhea-prone traveler, this is very useful indeed.

Indeed, Italian hand gestures are sheer poetry. To read Italian street signs and speak with the locals, though, studying Italian is still handy. Opt to have the best of both worlds, instead.

It’s poetry in motion to see these Italian hand gestures. Still, it never hurts to understand and read Italian poetry in books, billboards, and street signs, which requires that you do have to learn Italian! Why not get the best of both worlds, then?



Caffeinated Content

Arnie Jacobsen asked:


As an inveterate traveler, I am always trying to pick-up new languages. I have to admit though that I hadn’t been having that much luck. Oh sure, I have a smattering of German, and a word or two of French, but nothing that would allow me to actually carry on a lengthy conversation. So I decided to learn italian.

Now, I have been studying italian for a couple of years, but getting nowhere. Nothing unusual in this story so far. Many people can relate. It was like I hit a brick wall. Which isn’t that unusual when you aren’t able to use the language on a daily basis.

I had begun to immerse myself in all things Italian. Interesting considering that I’m German/Danish by heritage. I knew all about italian language and Italian culture, but I have never gotten the hang of speaking like a native speaker.

Then it struck me, like a bolt out of the blue. I was missing the language learning boat. The idea of learning Italian in Italy had not even occurred to me, to tell you the truth. Oh sure, I knew in theory that the best way to learn Italian was to learn it abroad, but it had never occurred to me that this was something that I could do myself. Which is pretty strange given our love of traveling and the number of times we have been there.

For many people, myself included, when they decide to study italian in Italy, choose the city they go to based on what they want to see. Or a region that holds some particular interest for them, like Cinque Terra and the beautiful coastal villages there. For some, the decision can be much simpler. Do you have relatives in Italy? If so, this is perfect. Go to learn Italian in Italy, and live with them if possible.

If you can, find a study abroad in Italy program that is located near their part of town, which will make everything so much more convenient. You will find that this offers have advantages over most people who decide to learn Italian in Italy. Having family to keep you company and show me everything that they know is a great benefit.

Okay, so you don’t have family there. No problem. You are going to be living there for a few weeks right. You are there to immerse yourself in all things Italian. You just need to make sure that you don’t allow yourself to fall back on English as a crutch. Any good school will make this very difficult for you to do. You just need to get yourself out there and practice, practice, practice. Visit the markets, the cafes, and interact with the people.

They’ll love it and so will you.

Bon Voyage



Caffeinated Content

Shareen Aguilar asked:


The italian language can be easy for some and yet still appear difficult for most of the people who are trying to learn it. Though there are similar and common reasons as to how difficult to learn the Italian language is, there are still ways and means how to solve these problems.

You can get down and serious, crazy or purely insane. It doesn’t matter how you act towards your Italian lessons or how weird your approach of practicing it becomes, what matters is that you have all the concentration and focus needed to accomplish these things.

A few reminders though, when learning Italian, similar to other European Romance languages, it is important that you learn distinctions such as familiar versus formal greetings and gender-based words. There are more to these areas of the Italian grammar which need to be understood very well. But of course, in terms of using the formal way of greeting someone in Italian, it should be highly observed especially when you are meeting a person for the very first time. When you don’t have any relation to a person, respect should be rendered at all times. The last thing you want to do in speaking to Italians is to show rudeness.

So much for formal and familiar greetings. If you happened to learn the German language or any other languages which possess strong accents, spare the Italian language. As for the English language and native English speakers, you will need to learn the sing-song accent of the Italian language. It’s not only evident on the accent, but on the faces and actions of the Italian natives. When speaking in Italian, accompany the words with your facial expression and body language. This makes your stance even more convincing and real in speaking the language.

But, don’t worry. All of these things will come along just fine accordingly. You don’t need to worry whether you are going to do good or not. It’s more important that you learn what is right in a way that is compatible to your learning style.



Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress

Enrique Helmbrecht asked:


Travelling abroad is a great experience to immerse into different cultures and landscapes. learn italian in Italy and discover unique settings. Encounter the majestic Alps and the numerous rivers and lakes that crisscross the entire nation as you learn Italian in Italy.  

Across the northern part of Italy all rivers are born from mountain glaciers. As you learn Italian in Italy visit this pure and deep blue lake region that is surrounded by pine woods and mountains, just a breathtaking postcard. Learn Italian in Italy while travelling around the country through its vast watercourse. In the north region of Italy you find the most extensive lake in the country, Garda Lake. Learn Italian in Italy and take a tour around this particular lake that is surrounded by mountains at the north while in the south it broadens with a flat landscape. Visit Garda Lake as you learn Italian in Italy and discover the most varied scenery around it, from pines to lush vegetation and colourful flowers, from attractive villas to wide range of lemon trees. Modern navigation services and facilities are available to make your water trip unique as you learn Italian in Italy.

   

The deepest lake of the country is also found in the north. Learn Italian in Italy and travel around Como Lake that counts with charming villages and luxurious resorts on its shores. As you learn Italian in Italy go around its tree branches and find numerous lush parks and a pleasant climate. 

Learn Italian in Italy and discover in the region of Piedmont three more lakes that are relevant in the north setting of the country. Maggiore Lake, Iseo Lake and Orta Lake are perfect destinations to relax as you learn Italian in Italy. Maggiore Lake offers incredible entertainment spots on its western shore and abundance of exotic and rare plants and flowers. Learn Italian in Italy and sightsee Iseo Lake and find the biggest island of the country called Monte Isola. Also enjoy extensive vineyards, olive yards and orchards as you learn Italian in Italy. On its behalf, Orta Lake counts with the Island of San Giulio with a Basilica in the middle part. 

 

There are many more lakes and rivers worth as visit as you learn Italian in Italy. You shouldn’t miss Trasimeno Lake in Umbria with a rounded shape and three islands in its centre. Other impressive region to explore as you learn Italian in Italy is the Alban Hills where you will come across Albano Lake and Nemi Lake at the east. Learn Italian in Italy and travel to the northwest of Rome where you will discover Bracciano Lake, an impressive lagoon from the volcanic region of Colli Albani. In this section you will locate Gandolfo Castle, a popular summer resort for the Pope.  

Learn Italian in Italy and choose your best pick to go around in a boat trip. There are many more options, especially in Veneto and Trentino districts. As you learn Italian in Italy take a guided tour around any of these lakes to get to know about the history, the artistic expressions and the daily life of locals in that region.  



Caffeinated Content

Shareen Aguilar asked:


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.



Create a video blog