Perhaps you have planned a trip to Italy and you have decided to teach yourself Italian realizing you need to be familiar with some of the words and phrases. Where do you begin? Is your trip for business or pleasure? Do you want to learn basic phrases just to get by for a short period of time or do you need a more in depth understanding of the language? No matter which scenario best describes your situation there is a way to teach yourself sufficient, understandable Italian to meet your needs.
Teach Yourself Italian
Learning a foreign language is challenging but a goal that is obtainable. Determination, discipline and a commitment to succeed will aid in your success as you teach yourself Italian. If you know Spanish, French, or Portuguese you will have an advantage in learning Italian since all are Latin-based. Various words will look familiar and perhaps even have the same spelling although the pronunciation will be different. Even if you do not have a background with languages you will find many Italian words to look familiar to some English words and that the Italian is not difficult to pronounce. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t give up. Keep at it! It is work. When your desire to learn brings you to the point of living, eating, and breathing Italian success will be knocking at your door.
What type of materials do you need to teach yourself Italian and where do you find these materials? First decide what level of proficiency you wish to obtain. This will help in choosing the right materials for your situation. Begin by browsing books learning to speak Italian at the library or the local bookstore. You might also consider looking at a child’s dictionary with pictures. This will give a basic knowledge of a few Italian words and the pictures will help you to remember them. Building vocabulary is a must for writing and reading. Just knowing words will not be an asset, however, when speaking if you do not understand the meaning of the words or if you cannot pronounce the words correctly. It is essential that you be able to pronounce them properly. It is difficult to carry a pad and pencil with you while you travel and write down everything you are trying to communicate!
It is the recommendation of many to choose a computer program to help you teach yourself Italian. These programs offer workbooks, activities, dialogues and drills as well as videos and audio to hear the correct pronunciations. The Internet abounds with free downloads, free e-books, and innumerable lessons ranging from very simple to advanced. To begin look for a program that is easy but thorough. It should cover basic words and phrases building on one step after another.
Commonly used words that should be learned when you teach yourself Italian should include but not be limited to days of the week, numbers, foods, and names. The teaching material should include basic phrases such as how to understand directions and introductions, how to ask the cost of something, how to order from a menu, how to make a phone call or ask for first aid. You should also give to attention to the basic verb tenses so you will be able to express yourself in the proper time frame. In this way you will not be talking as though something happened in the past when it is happening in the present!
A wide variety of teaching helps can be found on the Internet. You will find a large selection of audio and video tutorials that are great when you teach yourself Italian to hear and see the pronunciation of words and phrases. There are also free study materials such as Italian grammar exercises and various other activities to help you sharpen your skills. For a quick start you might look at sites that offer lessons for Survival Italian including studies on the alphabet, nouns and adjectives, numbers, vehicles, clothing, and the like. Other sites offer interactive audio lessons where you record your voice as you speak Italian and then listen as a native speaker pronounces the same words or phrase. Others offer trial lessons to let you decide if the lessons are what you are looking for. Some lessons can be downloaded to mp3 players giving you the flexibility to study and learn where ever you go. There are also forums available offering help 24-hours a day seven days a week to assist you with your questions. The availability of resources to teach yourself Italian has never been greater. The secret is to be dedicated and persevere. Don’t give up. Just a little practice each day will bring results.
Something to add to your list of things to do as you teach yourself Italian is to include lessons on the Italian culture. This will bring the language to life and add meaning to words. Visit an Italian neighborhood or restaurant. Visit with a foreign exchange student and ask them about Italy’s style of dress, what the favorite foods of Italy are, or what they do for entertainment. Listen to Italian music, videos and watch Italian films. Pay attention to the way words are pronounced or listen for slang phrases. As with English, Italians normally do not speak correct Italian but rather use slang phrases. The more you learn to talk like an Italian the more you will fit in and it will not be so easy to be singled out in a crowd.
Teach Yourself Italian – The Conclusion
As you teach yourself Italian remember that it is dedication and commitment that gets the job done. Learning vocabulary is important but it is more important to learn the meaning of the words, how to correctly use them and the correct pronunciation. Study time is important as well as memorization to sharpen your abilities, but practice in conversation will bring noticeable improvement quicker than sitting with a book in your hand. Learn to enjoy Italian things. Get out among Italians and talk as you teach yourself Italian!
