Learning to Speak Italian: The Fun Stuff

                Learning to speak Italian doesn’t always have to be like a school lesson.   I would have never stuck with a classroom approach to the language.  I don’t have that kind of time in my day and it’s just not appealing to me.  If you thrive on that stuff, that’s great.  If not, consider adding as much fun stuff as you can to your language learning journey. 

Here are some of my strategies for learning.  Feel free to comment and share what helps you learn.

Duolingo

 While it is marketed as a complete learning package, it wasn’t a fit for me.  I used Duolingo as a game on my phone and played it in the small snatches of time during the day when I found myself waiting in line or at a doctor’s office. I chose Rosetta Stone as my main learning method.  They also have games available as a supplement.

Youtube: Daniel Tigre

Yes, it’s the PBS children’s program,  Daniel Tiger, in Italian.  It is produced for a preschool audience. The dialogue is clear and evenly paced.  You’ll hear simple conversations and see visual cues that will help you understand.  Each segment is 11 minutes long. 

Netflix

Many Netflix original shows are available in Italian.  While there isn’t a good way to search for programming with Italian dubbing, it’s worth checking to see if your favorite shows are available in Italian.  At the time of this writing, I could start playing a Netflix original, go to Audio and Subtitle, then choose from the list of available languages.

Television

Sling currently has five Italian television channels available for subscription. Bear in mind news and other programming are coming from Italy and based on their time zone.  What you watch in the morning may be showing in the afternoon in Italy.

Radio

Several apps are available that allow you to stream live radio.  I use Italy Radio Music and News.  You can browse available stations by name, location, or genre. While radio is more difficult to understand because you have no visual context, you can learn about some of the local culture and hear the way the people in a specific location talk.  I chose to listen to radio stations from Udine, since it is close to my grandfather’s hometown.  Once you find a radio station that you like, you can search the web for your chosen station.  Many times you can find programming schedules or other information of interest.  Again, anything live streamed will be broadcast at Italian time.  If you listen in late afternoon you will most likely be hearing late night programming if you live in the United States.

Rai FVG   Rai radio station for Friuli Venezia Giula

Radio Spazio  Udine

Postcards from Udine  An example of a radio program that will tell you (in Italian) about all the interesting places and things to do in Udine.

Learning a language isn’t a once and done process.  I can now speak Italian well enough to get along quite well while in Italy, but in many ways I am still a beginner.  My goal is that one day I’ll be able to talk to people in Italian with almost as much skill as I talk to people in English, my first language.  There will always be more to learn.   

Villa Manin
copyright 2017 Candace Borth