I want to learn Italian – Four types of people
Maybe you have expressed this wish before: “I want to learn Italian”. I don’t know with what intensity these words have been uttered. But once you have pronounced those words with your mouth or in your head, presto, here we are! 🙂
When I started to get acquainted with all the resources that are available on the Internet to learn languages, I thought: “Surely in a few years, all of us will be polyglots!”. But thinking this more carefully, I came to the conclusion that not necessarily a person that has the resources to learn a language, will learn it!
So I have made a list of four different types of people. This list considers their attitude when it comes to learning a second language. In which of these four groups of people would you be when you expressed “I want to learn Italian”? Here is the list:
1.) The Joker: “I want to learn Italian… just kidding”. Not everybody wants to learn a second language, and that is reasonable. A lot of people feel comfortable just speaking their first language and they find no use in speaking a second one. I understand this point of view but I think it’s not the correct thing to do to set your back on the opportunity of learning a new language. A second language opens doors for you, and besides, it also is an excellent exercise for your brain.
2.) The Dreamer: Some people have always wanted to learn a second language, or even become polyglots, but it only is a kind of dream. They’re not willing to put in the effort to achieve this goal. Learning a second language requires time and discipline. Learning a second language is not like downloading an app to your smartphone. It’s not a one step task. A person that only dreams of learning another language but does not take action will never get there.
3.) The Go for it! Some people want to learn a second language and are willing to put in it all it takes to achieve their goal. But they do not know where to start! They can’t afford a private tutor and have limited resources to buy programs online. If that is YOU, congrats! You’ve come to the right place. Our site, italianlg.com is built with all of you in this third group in mind! Here you will find a lot of free resources to start learning Italian. And we only recommend paid programs for advanced stages in your learning process.
4.) The very busy: we still have a group of people in mind that don’t pertain to the former groups. Those who want to learn a second language, are willing to put the work in, have limited resources and DO NOT HAVE TIME! If this is your case, we still have activities for you that you can incorporate into your daily routine. These activities will advance you in your learning of Italian. To read more about what you can do if you can’t set aside time to learn Italian during the week, click here.
So you and I can conclude that even thou there is abundance of resources, not everybody is willing to put in the work to learn a second language. To which group of people do you belong? Just remember that if you want to learn Italian, you will have no excuses from here on! If you’re willing to take action, click here!
I have been learning Spanish for a couple of years, and have advanced quite a bit! But now I also want to learn Italian.
I consider that I am in category number 3, but on occasions, I find myself in category number 4 because I am just too busy. You have some great ways to still learn for busy people like myself. Thanks for the post.
Hello, Ms. Kay. If you have already been learning Spanish, then learning Italian will be much easier for you. It’s great to know that you want to learn Italian. Even thou you are sometimes very busy; don’t let that stop you from achieving this goal. If you ever need help, we are here to lend you a hand. Best wishes! 🙂
Italian is one of the most melodious languages to the ear.
And learning by singing is one of my favorites.
Your approach is wonderful!
Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m grateful for your support. Stay tuned, a lot of awesome things are coming to this site. All the best!
Hello! I lost the Italian lessons I was already practicing. I wish to continue.
Hi, Victor! Which Italian course were you taking?
You could take a look at Duolingo. It’s a free online course and it’s very good. To read a bit more about it, click here.
I definitely would love to learn Italian but I consider myself as one of the very busy types. Its quite unfortunate that I haven’t seen a program that fits into my time yet but that is not a discouragement. I had started with French earlier on in life but my interest switched to Italian and then I got busy, too busy actually. Thanks for the informative writeup though, I will keep working on finding a break even ground. Cheers
Hi Samson! Thank you very much for stopping by my site and commenting. Not giving up your yearn for learning a second language despite your very busy agenda has been a key factor that indicates your outcome will be fluency in Italian and/or French!
The fact that you’re visiting this site shows you have the drive to pursue this purpose. I say, give it a go! Click here to read an article you may find interesting.
I think I dither between 3 & 4 in person type!
There are some studies that recommend learning a new language as you get older – it keeps your brain active and sharp.
With the methods suggested on your site, it will be a breeze to learn a new language; not at all like the dry method of a classroom!
What is the shortest amount of time someone has learned Italian using your resources? Do you ask clients to give you this sort of feedback? I tend to get competitive and would like to know the record to set myself against as I go through your resources. I find that fun!
Hi Cath! Yes, an important section of population find learning languages in a classroom very uninteresting. The terms “dry” and “far from reality” suit some of the classroom methods very well!
Being competitive and contrasting yourself against some record tables has its advantages. In that connection, you may find this post useful, click here to take a look at it!
Keep well! Don’t hesitate to ask questions along your journey learning Italian. I’ll be right here waiting to lend a hand! All the best! 🙂
I thing I belong to group 3 from those you’ve described. You have great information about learning Italian. When you do have the right mindset to put effort learning a foreign language, you’re wondering how to start, and if you haven’t any idea how to do that, you give up. When you get guidance where to find free Italian courses and how you plan and get the time needed to start learning, then you’re already in half way of your goal.
Hi Kari! Thank you very much for your comment! That’s my intention with this site! I know how difficult it’s sometimes to find proper guidance when we’re learning a language. There is no “one size suits all” concerning languages, but having options to explore what makes you click is all important.
Providing abundant free resources is also a key factor. Most students are on a tight budget.
II wish you success on your journey learning Italian. Remember; write to me immediately if you encounter any difficulty or have questions related to your language learning process.
Hi there, italian language is amazing, I had the opportunity to live in Turin as a child for two years, I am from Romania and is very easy for us to learn it because our language is Latin as well. I still speak it very well after 13 years that I left Italy. Good luck and all the best. 😉
David
Hi David! I have also spent some time in Turin, in Piossasco spefifically! It’s a cool place to live!
Yeah, I would like to also study Romanian. I also speak Spanish, I am progressing learning French but I would like to become fluent in all the Neo-Latin languages. It’s quite an easy goal!
Thank you very much for your comment! Keep well! 🙂
Hello Henry, how are you?
I hope you remember me, I love your site. I have always wanted to learn a second language about all Italian since my mother is Italian born very close to Milan.
I place myself in the category “Dreamer”. Tell me what I have to do to be in category 3? I wait your answer.
Greetings from Buenos Aires.
Chau, amigo mio!
Claudio
Hi Claudio, my friend! It’s great to hear from you again! It’s always a pleasure!
I have been a couple of times in Milan and I have enjoyed my days there very much! The last time I visited the city was during the Expo 2015.
The Italian language must definitely bring you so many good memories from childhood. In fact, I can assure you that learning Italian, in your case, will be something very easy to attain, and here are my reasons:
1.) You’re eager to learn the language. You’re emotionally involved. Even though you don’t know the language yet, Italian is already an important part of your being.
2.) You’re familiar with the cultural background and idiosyncratic aspects of the language.
3.) Your first language is Spanish. Italian and Spanish both are Romance languages. So you already have, I would say, more than half of the way covered. In your case, one of the easiest languages to learn is Italian!
4.) You’re already bilingual: English and Spanish. For people that already know two languages, learning a third is way easier!
So, probably of all the people who have stopped by this post, you’re the one that has the most advantage! I have expressed all this to encourage you! Italian is just one step away!
To jump from person type 2 “Dreamer” to person type 3 “Go for it!” I would recommend to start with something simple, easy and fun! This would just take you 10 minutes a day (if you could devote more time to it, it would be fine too, but 10 minutes is a good start). I want to take you to a free, very popular platform. It will get you started with vocabulary, and hopefully get you exited about learning Italian. To check it out, click here.
Hey there Henry! I like the vibe here – I feel inspired! I’m a number 4: “The very busy” – I’m lucky enough to be bilingual (English and Afrikaans) but I really would love to learn a third language! I did a TEFL course and in this course they mentioned that a student who is fluent in two languages can learn a third one easier than those who only know one language. I hope this is the case for me!
Hello Nadia! Thank you very much for your comment! And I’m glad to hear that about this post!
Yeah, in the world we live nowadays, we’re all kinda in that category. But what you mention, being bilingual is a huge advantage. Yes, being fluent in two languages will enable you to learn a third one easier.
Take a look at some activities you can incorporate into your daily life, that won’t consume much time, but will help you improve your skills in a new language. Click here to take a look.
Its so sad that I fall in the dreamer category 🙁 I have 4 years now trying to learn Italian, unfortunately, I don’t tend to put enough effort. One day I am working hard to learn the language, then I spend 2-3 months without thinking of it.
Thank you so much, from today I am going to put maximum effort , want to fall in the Go For It category. Speaking Italian will have a big impact to my job, however, I have been thriving to find an eligible platform for learning the language in vain. I have bookmarked your website and I am going to be a frequent visitor.
Hi! I’m glad you have found my site and I would like to help you with this goal! There is a very important point and it’s that probably during these past years you didn’t have access to enough resources, or maybe the ones available were not appealing to you. I hope that from here on this may change! Let’s keep in touch!
I ran across your post and looked in to catch your thoughts. You list 4 kinds of people who say they want to learn Italian. I am maybe number 5. I wouldn’t mind knowing it and then doing one of my bucket list tasks of going on an extended food tour in Italy, but I will never do it. I studied French for 4 years and lived in Africa for 3 giving me a chance to develop fluency . At the same time I learned the local language, Wolof. It took all my time studying and working at it to develop my skills there. Later I started on Mandarin Chinese and moved to Taiwan, Hong Kong and China for 30 years. I have needed to study practically daily for that period of time to stay on top of it. I am now tired and do not have the energy to put the effort into learning Italian properly. Plus I am old and my memory and ability to learn new vocabulary is not what it once was. Learning a language without making a full time job of it is a feasible task for a child or younger person.
Hi! Thank you very much for your comment! You have made a very important point, and it’s that learning a language may demand full attention. I partly agree with you. But I also know that a lot of progress can be made incorporating into our life simple things that expose us to the target language: such as listening to radio for kids, or audio files with vocabulary (and listening over and over again). You’ll be surprised of the progress!
You did such a marvelous work Henry! And thanks for your generosity in giving all of us FREE resources that we can take advantage of to learn the Italian language. To be honest, I love languages and I have always had the desire of learning a new one. My ONLY problem is time factor.
My schedule is so tight that I don’t have enough time for myself even to have some good rest. So, I think I fall in the forth (4th) category. But I’m glad you made some provision available for those of us in the 4th group as well. I’m going to have a look at the link you left there so I will be able to see how I can, well, plan my activities in order to start learning Italian.
I can’t wait to start. I know learning new languages open for you a door of many opportunities and I want to take advantage of this. Thanks for sharing this useful information with us.
Stephen.
Hi Stephen! Yeah, time is so precious! I’m sure these resources will help you in your first stages learning Italian!
I would say I am in category 4 and partly in 3. Well now I’m not in category 3 anymore, hahaha.
This is a great step to encourage us to learn a new language. I think people in the third and fourth category will benefit a lot from your site. I’m happy I have landed here and I’ll take action following your recommendations.
Have a nice week
Cheers,
Sammy.
Hi Sammy! I’m happy I have encouraged you to take action. There are so many resources online that if we don’t learn the language we’re studying, we’re the only responsible for it.
I know you must have a very busy life. But please keep frequently visiting my site for further recommendations for people in your category.
Hi there! I saw Italian and got excited. I taught myself Italian about 5 years ago but I’ve forgotten a lot due to a lack of practice. I fall into a different category altogether as I studied languages to university level but I’ve not used them much or practised regularly since then so I have forgotten stuff over time. I started learning a couple of new languages (German and Welsh) last year on Duolingo though, and I’m planning to brush up on my Spanish after a recent trip to Cuba. I’ll also use Duolingo to refresh what I have forgoten of Italian.
I read on your about me page that you spoke quite a few languages too. Which has been your favourite language to learn?
Hi Cindy! Yes, I’ll have to create a new category for people that have learnt a language and later want to brush up their skills. I’m glad you’re eager to learn new languages. And I encourage you to start with Italian again. For you it will be a breeze.
I’m actually learning Hebrew right now. And I’m very excited because I never believed I could get to this point were I am now. It definitely has been my favorite language up to this point.
Hi Henry,
I am a “Go for it”! I think speaking a second
or third language would be fun and very helpful.
I would love to learn
Italian but just didn’t know where to start. And as an anwer to that, I
have found your site. I see you have a bunch of courses and
recomendations here. I’m excited and I’ll follow them. Thank you!
Ann
Hi Ann! It’s great you’re eager to start. I’m also excited you have made up your mind and are ready to plunge right into Italian. I’ll be here. Don’t hesitate to ask for help whenever you need it. Keep well! 🙂
Hi Henry,
I think that, unfortunately for me, I am the dreamer when it comes to learning more Italian. I love the idea of being able to understand and speak Italian, but alas I know in myself I don’t truly believe I will take action at this point in my life. That being said, now I have found your site and you have so many fabulous resources here that I really have no excuse!
I learnt Italian all throughout primary school and up to Year 9 at high school so I have many of the basics. Now my kids are learning Italian and I’m surprised at how much I actually remember. I really love the Italian language and I’m so glad I found your site. Perhaps I need to take it slow so I go from a dreamer to a ‘go for it’!
Hi Melissa! All you need is to take the decision. I encourage you to brush up your Italian while your kids are learning it. It will help you, because practicing a language is gymnastics for our brains. You’ll also be helping your kids with their assignments. And it will even contribute to another pleasant experiences in your family that your children will remember as grown-ups.
I typed “I want to learn Italian” in Google and your site popped up! And I must admit I expressed it as a desire but was not really intending to devote time to accomplish this goal. So I definitely fall into the dreamer category. But you have made me reconsider my dream. Yes, we have all these resources available and all we need is to really want to lean Italian. In many other areas of my life, I have put in the hard work. And I’m embarrassed I haven’t done the same concerning Italian. So, your post has made me value this wonderful opportunity to learn the language.
Hi!
I learned to speak Spanish a long time ago but never used it much. I can understand more than I speak,
I have been taking free French classes from an app I downloaded. I don’t have a lot of time but I would love to also learn Italian. I have read on your bio that you also speak Spanish. I know both descend from Latin. But I would like to ask: In your experience, how useful is to know Spanish before starting to learn Italian? Thanks.
Blessings,
Lynda.
¡Hola Lynda!
That’s a very interesting question. You can already understand Spanish and you’re learning French. Once you decide to start learning Italian, you’ll have a huge advantage over many other students that can only speak English.
In your case, you’re already taking a course to learn French, and also want to learn Italian; so you may find this post interesting. I deal with that giving my recommendation. Click here to read the post.
Knowing Spanish makes learning Italian a very pleasant experience. You may even learn Italian effortlessly. Just placing some Italian on the background will do a lot for you. And will prepare your ear for when you start taking courses. This post will also be an excellent read. Click here to take a look at it.
I always wanted to learn Italian but never found any good resource to practice. I found some books on French and German, learned some words and sentences. But I was more inclined to Italian because I wanted to understand the Pope’s message.
Through your website I found a wonderful resource, I will surely use it to listen. Though I find myself in Category 4, but I’ve the traits of Category 3 as well. It may take more time, but I’ll keep practicing.
Thanks a lot for sharing this post. My search for Italian language source ends here.
Hi! Thank you very much for your comment. I’m grateful you have found good resources on this humble site. It’s my desire to be helpful to all of you who want to learn Italian.
As a mater of fact you have a wonderful resource very close to you that can aid you learning Italian, and it’s the Word of God. You can select passages of the Bible you’re well acquainted with in your native language. And then hear them over and over again in Italian. This will help in two different ways:
1. You’ll get familiar with the sounds and words in Italian. Your brain will do the associations since you already know those portions in your own language. It will help you keep those portions fresh as your brain goes over them on a daily basis, and that leads me to the second advantage…
2. You’ll be listening to the best audio that will ever touch your ears. And it’s benefits will transcend beyond learning Italian.
Henry, I think your people classifications are right on. In any learning situation, there will always be the jokers and dreamers who don’t make a start for whatever reason. Action is missing even though they do say they want to do something.
Those who go for it always have my admiration. They are walking their talk and that is great.
And the ones who are really busy… well, I’m afraid that’s me. Mostly I’m busy because I’ve already taken on projects that require some intense focus, a heck of a lot of learning and growing, and I am trying to integrate new stuff into what I’m already doing.
I like your response for that last group. Chunking down the desired knowledge into little bite-sized pieces that you can incorporate into your daily life does work.
Hi Netta! Thank you for your words concerning the classification. Those who are walking their talk deserve our admiration, as you have said.
I’m happy to also offer bite-sized pieces for those that are too busy, but still want to learn Italian. The goal is to get started.
I really wish you success on your projects. And remember the Italian bite-sized pieces here. 🙂
Ok, that was weird. Your first paragraph was almost my exact thoughts. And just like that, you made my day. Thank you for posting this article because I want to learn Italian.
I never thought of it as being brain exercise. Kind of like doing Sudoku. So far, I can adjust to learning a second language.
I fall in group 3, based on the categories you mentioned on this post. I decided to hang around and get started today. Thank you for such a great approach.
Ok, talking about strange, as I was looking around your site, I notice that I’ve been here before. Exactly, and I mean to the date, a year ago. That must mean I was meant to learn Italian.
Hi LeNard! I’m glad to have you back here on my site. And it’s even more exciting that you have made up your mind to learn Italian. It will be a very pleasant journey. Take advantage of the recommendations we give on this site. And I’ll be here if you need a hand. All the best.
It is not easy to learn a second language. I consider myself a dreamer.
I learnt basic Spanish. I didn’t want to fail school exams, so I tried really hard and learnt a bit of Spanish.
I have wanted to learn Italian for some time. I have a friend that’s Italian, but so far it’s still a dream.
I’m really busy and that has been my excuse so far. But your post has motivated me and I’ll give Italian a shot!
Hi Stella! Most of us dream first and that becomes fuel to pursue our goals. So you’re on the right track. I’m glad to hear you’ll give it a shot! All the best!
Hi Henry!
This is a great website. I loved your thesis. Lots of people have a different reason to learn a second language. The best part of learning a foreign language is that it enables you to travel freely to the area where the language is spoken.
English is not my first language. And once you learn a second language, the third is easier. Researching, I have read quite a few different reasons people express that have encouraged them to learn Italian. Some state family connections, others passion for traveling, and even interest in their cultural and historical background. But for me, it’s a business opportunity.
Thank you for your inspiring post.
Shogun.
Hi! Thank you very much for stopping by. I really wish you success in your journey learning the language. Yes, once you have learned a second language, the third and the forth are easier. 🙂
And remember I’m here to help if you ever need a hand. All the best.
Hello. I like your post and honestly, I am the kind of person, who talks about learning Italian and still did not find the way how to do it effectively and cheap :). I have tried Duolingo and some application on the mobile phone, even tried personal teacher, however, in the end, I end up with still not learning Italian and still want to – as I am going to visit Italians quite often, I would love to be able to communicate with them in their native tongue.
I love Italy and all the related topics about the country: food, culture, history… So I appreciate your post and website very much. Hopefully, it helps me to start with my Italian courses.
Thank you for this post and have a great time!
Bye, Renata.
Hi Renata. It’s never late to start and there are so many good resources available. Come, give it a try. Learning a language I fun. 🙂
I have fallen into “The very Busy”, “The joker” and “The dreamer” groups when it comes to learning a second language over the past couple of years. But since I read that learning a new language exercises the brain and all the opportunity it brings, I am now going for it by learning french. Even though I spend less than 20 mins a day it is paying dividends as I am becoming familiar with new words. It really gets easier when you start! Italian is on my to do list and I have the perfect place to get started here 🙂
Yes, learning a language has many benefits and that’s one of them. Good you’ve already got started. All the best!
So true, I guess I’m number 3 and 4! I’ve been learning Italian and after a year, work has gotten the better of me and I missed out on a lot of classes and focus groups that I began to feel that my Italian is super rusty! I do still love the language and I try to watch movies and change my phone language too so that I can retain some Italian elements so that I do not forget. What would you recommend for those in my situation? 😀
Hi Riaz. Thank you very much for stopping by and for your comment. I’d recommend listening to Italian on the background while you do your daily activities. It could be the radio, some podcast or even Italian music.
Thank you! It’s nice to see what type of person I am. I’m number three. The type of person this site was made for!
Private tutors are so expensive. And I cannot afford them with the way things are going right now due to this global pandemic. At times, I feel I may also be a number four. But that is due to my current personal goals.
Hey Jessie, yes, this site is for you!
All the best with your personal goals!