Learning Italian Part 1: Starting My Journey

Ciao

Sono Kurt. Vengo dalla Louisiana. Ho quarantotto anni. Piacere di conoscerti.

Yes, I’m learning Italian. Mrs. Nola Nerd Couple’s dad is from Italy. She still has zie e zii (aunts and uncles) there. We visited them in 2010 when we took a month-long trip to Europe.

Because of her lineage, my wife can apply for Italian citizenship. She is in the process of doing this now but, unfortunately, was delayed by consulate closures due to Covid. Once my wife earns hers, our daughter automatically gets it.

For me, the road is a little more complicated. I have to pass a language exam at the B1 level. This level is “an ‘intermediate’ level and means you are proficient enough in the Italian language for everyday interaction to live, study, and work in the community.”

It doesn’t mean I have to be completely fluent in Italian, but I have to be able to get by in Italy by speaking, reading, and writing basic Italian.

The exam has four parts: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It’s going to be the most challenging exam I’ll probably take.

I should have worked hard on this during Covid and Ida, but I didn’t. But, one has to be motivated to learn, and I didn’t wasn’t until now. Like keeping up this blog, I have to find myself where I’m not worried about a thousand other things.

Here are some pics with family in Sulmona, Italy.

Main Guide to Learning Italian: Rocket Languages

For an extensive learning program, we weigh our choices. It came down to Rocket Languages and Rosetta Stone. After a thorough reading of what both had to offer, Rocket Languages met our needs better than Rosetta Stone. We didn’t test RS, so I can not equivocally say Rocket is better. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoy Rocket Language.

It does, however, have some issues, and for the price, I wish it would offer a little more, especially with audio-visual elements. Yet, as a teacher evaluating it, it does a great job of introducing a subject and providing ways to practice. Its voice recognition is very tough, which forces this Cajun to watch his pronunciation quite often. This feature is something I appreciate.

However, I don’t use Rocket Language alone. I supplement with a lot of other items.

Using Apps

I love Duolingo and can’t recommend it highly enough. Join me in learning a language by getting the app. This plea is unpaid and unasked for endorsement…I love the community aspect of the program. I want the motivation friends can provide

What Duolingo does well, even at the free level, is gamified learning. I love the free version because I have hearts to lose, and I can’t play for a while. It makes me stay sharp on the lessons. I’ll probably shell out for the paid version, but right now, it serves more like something to do when I’m not doing Rocket Languages.

I can use Duolingo it anywhere I want. Rocket Languages has a great app, but Duolingo is perfect while waiting at a doctor’s office. Its short lessons are great for learning on the go.

Another great app is Drops. Again, the paid version is probably great, but the free version is fine. What is great about it is that it is highly visual. The bad is that you can only do one lesson every 10 hours on the free version. I use it once a day, and it is handy for increasing vocabulary.

Youtube and Facebook

Youtube is another excellent resource. My two favorite channels are Learn Italian with Lucrezia and ItalianPod101.com. Videos allow you to see someone speak Italian and provide that visual element. Frequently, the way someone moves their mouth in pronouncing a word is helpful for a person like me.

Lucrezia is great because she is highly personable, and her videos feel like you have your tutor. ItalianPod is just massive with videos on practically everything.

I’ve also done a few things to help me learn Italian. If I am going to be on the hellsite known as Facebook, I can use it for learning. First, there are tons of groups/pages dedicated to learning Italian. Second, I changed the language of my Facebook to Italian. The content is still in English, but all Facebook’s commands are in Italian.

One Italian YouTube suggested watching QVC Italia to learn Italian. At first, I was like really? But then he explained how the hosts of the Italian QVC speak standard Italian and are often pointing to the object they are talking about using the colors to explain it. In other words, its great for building up vocabulary. Plus, it helps train the brain to focus on the flow of the language if you are just passive listening.

Excited and Scared

I’m extremely early in my learning. It is overwhelming how far I have to go. Yet, it is incredible how far I have come in a short time.

Grazie a tutti i nostri lettori!