Can Learning Italian Make a Visit to Italy Better?

While it’s not necessary to speak the Italian language to enjoy a visit to Italy, learning some words and phrases definitely helps enhance the experience, in my opinion. I think though, that the most important concept to take away is to not allow yourself to let the language barrier intimidate from you traveling to Italy.

Twenty years ago I couldn’t understand or speak Italian. Because of this limitation, I hesitated to travel to Italy, mainly because I was intimidated by the language barrier. I am so glad that has changed, because since then, I have fallen in love with Italy and never can get enough of bella Italia.

My first trip to Italy wasn’t until 2007, with my brother and sister-in-law. They had been there already, so I felt a bit more comfortable, going with them. From the day I arrived in Italy, I was smitten. Even though I understood little to no Italian, I knew I wanted to learn more, so I’d be able to communicate and understand better once I returned. Italians seem to appreciate any effort a traveler makes to communicate with them in their language, even though it’s far from perfect.

I hoped to experience more of my ancestors’ heritage, and each time I went to Italy, I always yearned to return. Since then, I have been to Italy time and again. I have now made twelve trips in all. It should come as no surprise that I am  planning another visit for later this year.

Learning the Italian language became important to me, so I’d  be better equipped to really immerse myself into the culture while in Italy. I wanted to understand the Italian people. I wanted to have conversations with them and learn from them.

According to the University of Oregon, “an estimated 180 million people worldwide speak Italian as their primary or secondary language. Almost 17 million North Americans identify as having Italian ancestry.”  Italian  is a romance language and I think, one of the most beautiful of all languages. I could listen to an Italian speak with perfect pronunciation all day.

I certainly cannot say that I’m fluent in Italian anymore, but since I first began to study the language I can understand enough of it to engage in conversations. At one point, after intense studying in preparation for a three-month solo trip, I was also able to read, write, and speak it well enough to communicate.

Today, I can enjoy watching Italian films and can understand some of it without the subtitles. I think learning Italian happens in steps, and I think the easiest to learn is the comprehension, or understanding. The hardest for me is the speaking, because I still have to think about how I am saying it.

Now many avenues exist to learn Italian, at all different levels. Years ago, I initially  started with CDs by Pimsleur and Instant Immersion and Rosetta Stone, but  I knew I needed to learn more. I joined an Italian Meet-Up group and started to take weekly group Italian classes. The teacher was from Italy and was wonderful. After about six months, the classes ended, and I decided to continue with her for private weekly tutoring.

This turned out to be the best idea because later, I had the opportunity to travel to Italy solo for three months, and I knew I would have to speak Italian in the small villages and non-touristy towns. By the time I was ready to go, I felt that I was adequately prepared to be able to speak and understand Italian. I guess I was right because several times on that trip, local Italians stopped me and asked for directions in Italian, and I was able to give them. Of course, it needs to be said that no matter how fluent one might become in the Italian language, understanding the dialect the locals speak is a different story.

Today many free resources to learn Italian exist online. One of my favorites is a YouTube site by a young Italian language student, whose name is Lucrezia Oddone. She features short videos that make learning Italian fun and also educational. You may want to check them out.  They range from simple introductory beginner videos to more advanced. I really like that she also explains which phrases are most often used, even though both might be correct.

Kathryn Occhipinti’s book, Conversational Italian for Travelers – Just the Important Phrases, is what you need in Italy and you can learn it so quickly here  with the author’s focus on “just the important phrases.” Her website, Stella Lucente,  includes many resources for learning the Italian language.DuoLingo  is an online interactive resource that also exists as an app for your phone or tablet. Other places to learn Italian include more formal classes and also language workshops held in Italy, so you can combine travel with learning.

I have found that in most places, the Italian people are very happy to see a traveler attempt to say a few words in Italian. They go out of their way to encourage you and have said “Bravissima” even when I didn’t feel like I was pronouncing something too well.

It pays to learn some basic phrases before you go and practice saying them, so they will roll off your tongue with ease. Learning to say easy but necessary phrases such as please, thank you, I appreciate that, can you help me, may I have the check, are just a few examples.  ReidsItaly.com  has several lists of useful phrases with pronunciation.

Of course, today, convenient apps like Google Translate make it easier to communicate in another language, but it’s still important to try to learn at least a little Italian and use it while visiting Italy. You’ll be glad you did.

I love feedback and would like to hear your thoughts, so please consider leaving a comment.

Grazie amici.

Ciao

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