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According to the SAT College Board in 2002, the standardized test results showed that students who have focused on foreign language studies routinely achieve among the highest scores in all the subjects that were tested. Students are studying to learn to speak Italian, German, Spanish, French and other languages.

According to Fondazione Italia, California- based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the Italian language to schools, Italian language classes are experiencing increases in the their enrollment numbers. High schools and colleges in the United States are enrolling 15 to 20 percent more students in Italian compared to Spanish, German and French.

Italian is a language developed from Latin and an estimated 60 percent of the English vocabulary also comes from Latin. Knowing Italian may help improve the students scores in English.

Students who are leaning foreign language build stronger vocabulary skills in English, a better understanding of the language, and improved literacy in general. Higher reading achievement in the native language as well as enhanced listening skills and memory have been shown to correlate with extended foreign language study.

Also learning another language provides an opportunity to the speaker to get a view and context of the others culture. Without the ability to communicate and understand the culture on its own terms, prevents true access and understanding to the culture. Cultural sensitivity is very important since this is the foundation of trust, understanding, cooperation and unity.

Italy meanwhile is the world leader in music, art history, interior design, furniture design, culinary arts, and several other fields. Those planning a career in such fields benefit greatly from knowing how to speak Italian.

There is an estimated 7,500 American companies that do business with Italy. More than 1,000 United Stated firms have offices in Italy. Knowing how to speak Italian may add a competitive edge to any career that a person may undertake.

Aside from the big influence of learning to speak Italian can bring to your career, this can also lead you to have a great vacation everytime. Italy is one the premiere countries to visit for a romantic vacation get-away.

Italy has more than half of Europe’s Unesco-protected sights and monuments. Historical sites such as museums, sculptures, cathedrals, paintings and much more can be seen in Italy.

Italian is also as the language of the arts and gastronomy, meaning it is the language of skill and food. In the United States, United Kingdom, and even Japan, Italian gives a hint of cultured lifestyle. Italian food is known to be one of the best in the world. Even the majority of the most famous artists are from Italy, that is why art is all over the country. It would be wonderful to look at Michelangelo’s work in a different perspective and read La Divina Commedia as Dante had written it. Opera, food, fashion, art and history will best describe Italy, and leaning the Italian language can help you enjoy these more.

Though traveling is possible without learning the language of every place that you are going to visit, the experience from the vacation will be largely shaped by the ability to see beyond the surface of the culture. Some tourists experience language- barrier to post a somewhat frustrating even a dangerous situation.

Knowledge of the language will help tourists and travelers to have the comfort of being into different kind of situations, like ordering at Italian restaurants, asking for directions, looking for accommodations in Italy, negotiate cheaper prices for souvenirs or items, meet and talk with the natives. It is prevalent in most countries, that locals or natives show appreciation for people or travelers that are trying to learn their language.

Whether it is for travel or economic purposes, studying to learn to speak in Italian would be rewarding and fresh experience.

Learning a new language has also reached the digital age. These days you can buy it and then learn Italian on our own time and pace. Since there are so many of them around, you should consider what to look for when you are out shopping for one.

The first thing you have to consider is your learning style. Do you need a program that has various exercises you can try out or do you want one that simply tells what is the meaning of the word in English and vice versa? Do you learn better reading the words or hearing them?

There is not one program out there that can make you speak Italian. For this to happen, you will have to get more one program because it is not enough to understand what someone is saying but most importantly, how you are able to express yourself to whoever it is you are talking to.

The only way you will know what software is available is for you to go to the local book store and looking for similar products online. You can also inquire or purchase a CD from a language learning center.

Keep in mind that language software have different levels from beginner, intermediate to advanced. If you have studied Italian in the past and simply want to freshen up, maybe you can skip the 1st level and then purchase either the intermediate or advanced.

Once you have found it, narrow your choices down to at least 5 then find out which one is really worth getting.

You can do that by reading the reviews that were written about it. You can also ask other users what they think about the program to find out if it is really good value for their money. If possible, try and test it yourself so you are not influenced by what people say but rather through your personal experience.

This will be easy for you to do since most of the software have a test or “lite” version which you can download for free. If there is no free trial available, see if you can borrow it from someone and test it at home. It is only when you learn something that you should consider buying the program.

Don’t forget to also check who made the program. It is best to only buy an Italian learning language software that is made by a recognized institution so you don’t waste your time and money using it. A few examples are Rosetta’s Stone, Berlitz International, Tell Me More, Talk Now and Magnum Language.

The truth is every language software available in the market has its strengths and weaknesses. List them down and then see which one you think can really teach you Italian.

If you still can’t decide which language software to get, try asking a friend or your former university professor for some help.

A lot of people say that it is easy to learn Italian but you shouldn’t take their word for it and instead find out if this is true.

Aside from language software, there are audio books, language courses and other training materials available so don’t rely on just one to learn Italian. As much as possible try them all because these will all help you speak and understand the language.

Do you know that some words have two different meanings when it is pronounced a certain way? That’s true which is why when you want to learn Italian, you have to learn how to say it properly to avoid insulting or offending someone.

In order you to learn Italian, the first thing you have to do is spend some time tuning your ears to its sounds and rhythms. You can do this by turning your radio or television to an Italian broadcast, watching movies and listening to native speakers in your neighborhood.

When you are listening to it, don’t be surprised if you do not understand anything at all. Gradually, you will be able to pick up some familiar sounds and rhythm which you will soon be able to say when you finally begin to learn the language.

For that you will have to get material that will help you learn the Italian language that may come from text books, audio books, CD’s and DVD’s. Since you don’t know if what you are saying is correct, try to get someone in the neighborhood who speaks fluently in Italian to listen to you. If you are being corrected, just take it as positive criticism.

Better yet, enroll in an Italian language course. You can find this at the local college or online. Once you get the hang of things, you need to map the sounds to the written form of the language. The good news is that this is pretty straightforward for the Italian language similar to German and Spanish. Another way you can practice pronunciation is by coming up with a song, a poem, a story or a joke.

It is only after learning proper pronunciation that you can begin to learn Italian vocabulary. A lot of experts say that this is the most challenging and time consuming part when you are learning any language so just practice regularly and be patient.

The best way to do that is to associate words from that language to something that you are familiar with. From there, you should just test yourself at regular intervals so these will stay in your head. If you having a hard time remembering those words, try using flashcards.

Apart from listening, a great way to develop both pronunciation and vocabulary is to read books, comics, magazines and newspapers. You don’t have to read it from cover to cover so just focus on topics that you find interesting.

When you are reading, try to say the words and have an idea what it means. To be sure, check this in the dictionary.

Another text you can use is called a dual language book similar to a dictionary that can translate a word from one language to the other. The difference here is that you see both texts on the same page or you have the original in one page with the translated form in the other.

Again, you just have to practice saying it so you are able to get it right. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask because there are people and language centers around that are more than willing to help so you will be able to speak Italian or any other language you wish to learn.

For your trip to gorgeous Italy, it helps if you can speak the language as you go around the beautiful streets and take in the sights of this marvelous country. Italy’s official language is Italian but there are many other local dialects from the different regions of the country.

Any local will be able to distinguish between a Pisan and a Roman just by their accent. But all citizens of the country can speak Italian which is why it’s convenient for tourists to learn how to speak Italian even if it means just learning a few phrases.

Learning the Language

Italy is a tourist hotspot and tourism is a major industry of the country. Italians are used to tourists and they welcome them with open arms. Any traveler will find it quite easy to navigate through the major cities of Italy. Most of the people can speak a few and basic English phrases.

However, if your trip to Italy takes you to the smaller cities and regions, not many know how to speak English, which is why learning a few phrases can be handy. Plus, learning the language is also a great way to get into the Italian culture and get the full blown Italian experience.

Even more so is the fact that learning just a few phrases can get you plus points with the natives who will appreciate your gesture and you effort. By learning a few Italian phrases, you’re trying to connect with the locals and look very much like an educated tourist.

Talking the Language

When it comes to speaking Italian, pronunciation is very important to be easily understood and any amount of effort to do so will be greatly appreciated by the locals.

Easily enough, Italian pronunciation is simple. All that is required is to speak each consonant and vowel clearly. Italians tend to talk fast but with a light tongue. And like learning any language, practice make perfect. Remember, it’s the effort that counts so it’s alright to make mistakes.

Here are a few basic phrases that you can use as you go around Italy:

• Arrivederci- Goodbye
• Bene- Well or good
• Buon giorno! - Good day
• Buona sera! - Good afternoon or evening
• Sto bene - I am well
• Dov’è…? - Where is…
• Per favore - Please
• Grazie! - Thanks!
• Male - Bad
• Mi scusi - Excuse me
• No - No
• Si – Yes
• Prego - You’re welcome
• Quanto e’ - How much is…

Almost Like English

As you learn how to speak Italian or at least learn some basic Italian phrases, you will come to realize that it does sound almost like English. Just like Italian, English is a Germanic language and because of this there are many words that are shared between the English and the Italian languages. Although some words are pronounced the same in both languages there are those that are pronounced differently.

As you listen and read through the Italian language, it’s always important to learn and be observant of how every word is pronounced. You will notice as you listen in to conversations in Italian that most of these words you already know about.

There is an inexpensive way to learn Italian language than enrolling yourself in an Italian language class: learn it on your own. As with anything that you are trying to become skilled at, incorporating Italian into your daily life – as though it’s a part of your native tongue – is the key to practice the language.

There should be a realistic timetable for being able to speak Italian quite easier for you. Drop altogether anything whose catchphrase sounds like “speak Italian in 10 days” for you can rest assured such assurance will only disappoint you.

Following the tips below will help you learn the language effectively, and in no time use it as a conversation tool:

One small step at a time

Learn a few Italian words each day and know them by heart. The secret here is to be really familiar with only a few ones each time. For instance, learning 10 to 15 words accurately works better than trying to remember a superfluous of 50 per day. Don’t get stuck though - if you think you are already comfortable in the ones that you have learned, try to move on to a few more which you find confusing. This will help widen your Italian vocabulary in no time.

Practice makes perfect

Always bring your pocket Italian - English dictionary with you. Utilize your slack time by thinking of short, random English sentences and try to translate them into Italian. If you are unsure of how to translate a particular word, consult your handy dictionary. Repeat them in your mind or, only if applicable, say them aloud again and again. Hearing yourself say those phrases will help you remember them better. And you will gain added motivation hearing yourself speak a foreign language you so desire to learn.

Anticipating works

Practice saying common Italian phrases, especially the ones that you think you are most likely to use in the future when speaking Italian is the only way to do it. Picture yourself being in a scenario, like in an Italian airport, restaurant or a famous landmark. What are you most likely to ask or say to an Italian? You will probably ask for directions at the bus stop, or order an exquisite Italian meal in a café. Throw in a few frequently used greetings that will come in handy when interacting with others. Anticipate which phrases you are going to use in expressing gratitude, making a request or saying goodbye.

Watching Italians speak Italian

Rent a load of Italian movies to learn more vocabulary, structuring of sentences, and proper pronunciations and intonations. Each time you encounter a relevant line in the film, hit the pause button and repeat the line. But do so slowly and clearly; your goal is to be able to express yourself in Italian, and not try to pass as an Italian. You might want to write them down for practice and future reference. You can also listen to a lot of Italian songs, and might as well sing to them aloud for maximum retention.

When you try to learn Italian language on your own, remember that it is best developed if you are able to put it into good use. Incorporating Italian sentences into your daily life will not only give you practice, but ease and confidence in the use of the language as well.

More and more students are seeing and experiencing the benefits of learning a different language correlative to their English and language programs.

Students who have been learning to speak other languages are showing improvement in English vocabulary and literacy. Italian, meanwhile, is drawing more and more students. But for people, like me, who are totally confused by new languages, how can we learn Italian easily.

There are several tips on how to learn Italian quickly, without sacrificing the comprehension and quality. Approximately 62 million people in 30 different countries are already speaking Italian. So there is no surprise if we would like to be part of that population.

Expose yourself to the culture and traditions of Italy. Exposure and immersion to a local culture and traditions is one of the best way to learn the language. If it is possible, travel to Italy and stay there for a while. Although, it is encouraged to learn basic Italian first, before venturing to Italy. If travelling is not an option, then there are many different ways we can immerse ourselves to the culture, like knowing Italian artists, food, and culture. Joining an Italian conversation groups also is a great option.

Listening to Italian music or Italian opera is also a great way of being exposed to the Italian culture. Opera recording often comes with the libretto, a text in both English and Italian in a booklet form. It would be great practice to listen and read the popular works of Puccini such as “La Boheme”, “Madame Butterfly”, or “Tosca”.

Also watching Italian movie classics like “La Dolce Vita”, “Ladri di Biciclette” and “Il Postino” will enhance vocabulary and comprehension. Reading novels, travel guides and books will provide the great information. Some students who have already learned the basics of Italian move on to reading authors like Boccaccio or Petrarch. They even read Umberto Eco’s “Name of the Rose” in its original Italian manuscript.

Of course, taking a formal course at your local university or college will enhance your knowledge of the language. In enrolling, students get to practice speaking and writing Italian. It also enables the students to meet other people who are in the same page as you are.

If physical classes would be too much and may affect your work schedule, then there are several online classes offered. This links would provide flexibility. It is important to choose sites that have audio links where students can hear the words and would be able to help with the pronunciation.

Practice, as they always say make things perfect. In learning any other languages, practice is always encouraged. When travelling to Italy, practice the language and speak Italian. Italians may smile over your mumbling or exchanging Italian words, but locals and natives express appreciation to those travellers who exert effort in learning the foreign language.

Speaking out loud in Italian is entirely different from reading silently in Italian. With silent reading, visual memory is enhance while with speaking or reading out loud, the speaker would have the chance to listen to the words if they are pronounced and enunciated properly.

Think Italian! To speak fluidly in Italian, then think in Italian. Translate not the words into Italian but the concept and ideas the person would like to convey. When studying or enrolled in Italian class, never use the vernacular language or English. Never fall back into the comfort zone. Regularly test your Italian conversational skills.

Learning an entire new thing or any language is of course difficult, some people may find tips on how to learn Italian do not work for them as it does for other people. But the important thing with learning any other language, is thinking and talking with that language.

Studying Italian or any other language depends on you. Why? Because you are the only one that has complete control of what you do everyday. If you are really interested to learn it, you have to devote some time everyday.

When you study Italian, the first thing you have to do is figure out what materials are available to help you learn this language. There are courses at the nearby college, audio books, CD’s, books, private tutors and online resource material.

If you have a job or are studying, you just have to choose which of these resources can fit within your time and budget.

You could do this on the way to work or school when you play it in your car or your MP3 player. During breaks, you can bring it out and practice a bit. If you are good in multitasking, see if you can learn while you are jogging, doing some household chores or while you are exercising.

Another technique will be to switch your television to a channel that plays Italian shows or listen to an online radio station. You may not be able to understand every word they are saying but it helps you get used to the sounds and rhythm which in time will make you easily pick up new words and phrases.

You can also learn Italian words by buying or making flashcards so that you can bring them wherever you go. Studies have shown that this technique which is used to teach kids in their primary years helps them learn grammar and vocabulary.

Once you have mastered this, it is time to move to something else so you are able to learn more about the Italian language and culture. You should now buy books written in the language so you don’t only know how to speak the language but also read it.

Of course, this is easier said that done. Since you don’t have that much time, do your best to squeeze at least 30 minutes of this every single day as this will prevent your brain from ever going into overload. Have fun doing it making up a song, making various games, dealing with a few tongue twisters or cracking up some jokes. After finishing one exercise, go over it again as this will help the brain digest the material and retain it.

So you know you are improving, set yourself some targets and reward yourself when these are reached. Once you get the hang of it, relate this with things that interest you the most so you can talk about this with someone later on.

No matter how long you have practice the Italian language, don’t be afraid to make some mistakes. You surely make a few even when you speak English so take note of it and then try to do better next time so this does not happen again.

You can do that by speaking to someone who speaks Italian or converse with someone from the neighborhood who speaks it fluently.

It is never too late to learn a new language regardless of your gender or your age. The only one who can say you’ve got time to learn it is you so make it happen and have fun doing it so everything else will fall into place.

Should you learn Italian? The answer is yes. Now everyone will have a different reason for doing so but which of these reasons below is yours?

1. Some people who came to America came to Italy. If you want to know more about your family history, part of includes speaking in their native tongue. This will make it easy for you to talk with your great grandparents, cousins and other relatives who are still living there today.

2. Another reason which may sound funny is to understand what Luciano Pavarotti says when he sings. Of course there are other Italian singers and if you love the opera so much, then isn’t it worth learning?

3. If you happen to watch Italian movies, knowing what the actors are saying will make it easier for you to understand what is happening rather than relying on the subtitles.

4. For those who are traveling to Italy or certain parts of Europe, knowing the language will allow you to interact with the locals. This will enable you to talk with the locals, ask for directions, buy souvenirs and a host of other things when you are there on vacation.

5. Learning Italian will be useful at home should you decide to walk into an authentic Italian restaurant who’s owner and staff are probably Italian themselves.

6. If your work involves speaking with clients that happen to come from Italy, you won’t have a hard time talking to them about their needs. This will also help you negotiate with them so an agreement can be reached and contracts can be signed.

Since your employer will take notice of this, you might even be tasked to travel abroad or even relocate there if needed.

7. You may also find Italian useful if you are doing research. You have to remember that not every book or study is published in English so knowing the language will enable you to understand the material and converse with fellow students and researchers in the field.

8. Italian believe it or not is one of the easiest languages to learn. If you are required to finish a language elective in school, learn it.

9. The same goes if you plan to study in Italy or maybe in France for college. Again, not all schools teach their students in English so you have to be prepared.

10. Though a lot of speak Italian, there are more who don’t. If you don’t want people around to hear what you are saying, speak in Italian making it your own form of secret communication.

11. Learning another language allows you to learn about others as well as yourself. This will also let you have more friends which you can visit if you decide to travel to that part of the world.

12. Lastly, simply because learning a new language is a way to challenge yourself.

There are many reasons why you should learn Italian and which one of these happens to be yours? It doesn’t matter if it is as trivial as ordering food in the restaurant or learning the meaning of the song. What is important is your willingness to get out off your comfort zone and learn something other than English even if it is spoken by a lot of people.

You can start to learn Italian online the minute you realize you really want to, or when circumstances really require you to. There are a lot of online sites and CD-packed tutorials that offer to teach you how to speak Italian in no time at all. Yes, these methods are useful and you will really learn but it is up to you to develop this new language into your system.

You will have to practice speaking it or you will simply forget what you learned. This is why some think it is best to learn Italian onsite – in the beautiful country itself. In Italy, you could apply the lessons to your daily conversations.

Using the language will help you become more and more familiar with it, that is why you are encouraged to immerse yourself into everything Italian. Besides, when you’re in Italy and people respond back to your Italian, you will get this huge feeling of achieving something.

Quality Versus Quantity in Learning Italian

Learning to speak 10 words by heart is much better than knowing 100 words but you are not really certain how to use them. Work on lesser words and know how to properly apply them in a conversation so you don’t struggle in making simple sentences. You will eventually know 100 and more words and phrases as you go along.

The More You Practice, The Better You Will Get

This goes hand in hand with repetition. Repeat the new words over and over again. Use them and say them out loud or silently. This will help you retain the words in your memory. In your online or tutorial sessions, you will learn some methods in sentence construction.

Practice by translating some English sentences to Italian. Repeat the sentences until you are not anymore struggling for words. Soon you will be saying these sentences in Italian automatically.

Apply What You Have Learned

While stuck in traffic, or while walking to your destination, try to translate some short sentences in your mind. You should have a pocket dictionary for English-Italian words so you have an instant reference. Try going to an Italian restaurant and order in Italian. If you have a friend or lover who is Italian, talk to him using what you have learned.

Do Not Hurry It Up

When you are just beginning to learn Italian, it is natural that you are speaking slowly. What is important is that you speak the words clearly so you can hear yourself talk Italian too. You shouldn’t try so hard to speak like you are an Italian.

You just want Italians to understand your Italian. Do not even attempt to speak fast because you will lose the words. It will be difficult to recall all the words you’ll need to make a logical sentence. So, it pays to be patient about it and just keep it slow – until you are ready.

Listen Very Well to Those Talking Italian

When you are listening to an Italian conversation, in the movies for example, you should concentrate on listening to the complete sentences that are being delivered. Do not stop at words you don’t understand. Focus on the overall thought of the sentences.

Often, you will be able to tell what is being discussed even without understanding every word in the sentences. Do not start working on the English translation until you have finished listening to the whole sentences.

Since you are already trying to learn Italian online, these tips can also help you and reinforce whatever you have learned from your tutorial sessions.

Learning Italian is just as challenging as learning any other language. You won’t be able to get it overnight but you will eventually get the hang of it by following these tips.

First, study the pronunciation of the language. It is best to practice the most difficult sounding words regularly until you get it and then work your way down to the most common words and short phrases. To be sure you are getting it right, check how it sounds with someone who speaks Italian fluently.

From there, you can now practice the native intonation, stress and rhythm of common, short sentences and social questions as this will help make you sound like a local instead of a tourist. The best tool to help you here are audio and video language kits. If someone in your neighborhood speaks Italian, practice with this person and tell them to correct you.

Audio books have limits to what they can teach you about the Italian language so buy a dictionary to learn other words. If you happen to encounter a new word, find out what it means and try using it in a sentence.

Given that you are just learning the Italian language, don’t expect to know everything. If you are lost in words, it is good to have a translation dictionary which will translate English to Italian and vice versa. You can also put notes all over the house describing different objects in Italian.

It is not enough that you learn how to speak language. You also have to be immersed in their culture. One way you can do that will be to borrow or buy some well known Italian literary works. Check out some plays, short stories and even the opera. If it is possible, try to read a magazine or newspaper that is written in Italian.

You should also learn how to act Italian. Across the Atlantic, people over there kiss each other on the cheek when they meet someone they know. There is no malice involved here just a sign of affection for a loved one similar to when we shake someone’s hand or give them a hug.

If you have money, pay someone who speaks Italian to tutor you through one on one conversation practice. Record the sessions, play it after and take notes so you know where you should improve on.

When all else fails, enroll in class because the instructor will give you activities to do. The community college is the best place to check if there are no language centers in the neighborhood.

The most important tip to become well conversant in Italian is practice. Don’t be ashamed if you are corrected many times because this is the only way you will learn this new language. From there, you become a better person and are now more confident in speaking that language to fellow Italians.

There are different ways to learn Italian so you must never stick to just one. This will make it easy for you to engage in a conversation with the locals when you meet someone from there or when you are there on vacation. If you feel like giving up, remember again what got you interested in learning the language in the first place then you are back on track.