Learning Italian with ADHD: Struggling to Stay Committed

Learning Italian Part 2

Three years ago, I started learning Italian with ADHD. Well, I assumed I had ADHD. I’ve always checked every box. One day, when explaining my brain to my mom, she told me I was on ADHD medicine as a child. I got the official diagnosis not long after. I’m on medication now, and it has helped with certain aspects, but it doesn’t make me the locked-in zombie that a lot of people think happens when someone is on ADHD medication.

One area in which I struggle is learning Italian, one of the things that means most to me. I have big dreams of speaking fluently, connecting with my wife’s family in Italy, and eventually reaching B1 proficiency to pursue Italian citizenship. But here I am, three years later, and I have to admit—I’m still struggling.

The truth is, I haven’t made as much progress as I’d hoped. It’s not because Italian is too hard or because I’ve lost interest. Staying committed to learning has been the biggest challenge of all.

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ADHD, Medication, and Focus

Since writing my first blog post about learning Italian, I’ve been officially diagnosed with ADHD—a revelation that explained so much about why I’ve struggled with consistency and forming habits throughout my life. I’ve started taking medication, which has been a game-changer for staying focused—at least when it comes to work.

Here’s the thing: ADHD medication helps me focus, but it doesn’t magically give me more energy or time. And, most days, my focus gets used up on work. By the time I’ve finished my job and taken care of everything else I need to do, I feel like I have nothing left to give to learning Italian.

It’s not that I don’t want to learn. I do. I love the language, I love the idea of being bilingual, and I genuinely enjoy the process (when I actually do it). But making time and energy for it feels like an uphill battle.

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It’s Not the Language That’s Hard—It’s the Commitment

When I do sit down to study, I’m reminded that learning Italian isn’t the hard part. The grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation are challenging, sure, but they’re not impossible. What’s hard is sticking to it.

ADHD makes forming habits incredibly difficult for me. I get excited about starting something new, but after a few weeks, the novelty wears off, and I struggle to stay consistent. I thrive on structure, but I also resist it. I plan to study for 30 minutes a day, but then life happens, and I don’t follow through.

It’s a frustrating cycle. I feel guilty for not doing more, which only makes it harder to start again.

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What I’ve Been Doing (So Far) to Learn Italian with ADHD

Even though I’ve struggled with consistency, I haven’t completely given up on learning Italian. Here’s what I’ve been doing when I do make time for it:

• Duolingo: This has been my go-to tool for quick, bite-sized lessons. I love the gamified approach, and it’s easy to use when I have a spare moment. But staying consistent with it is another story. I’ll have a good streak going for a few weeks, and then I’ll miss a day…and another…and another.
  
• YouTube and TikTok Channels: Occasionally, I’ll watch videos from Learn Italian with Lucrezia or ItalianPod101. Seeing and hearing the language in action is helpful, but again, I struggle to make it a regular habit.

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I Need a Plan for Learning Italian with ADHD

What I’ve realized is that I need a plan—a real, actionable plan that fits my ADHD brain and my busy life. Here’s what I’m thinking:

1. Start Small and Build Gradually
   Instead of trying to do everything at once, I want to focus on small, manageable steps. Maybe that’s just 5 minutes a day on Duolingo or watching one short YouTube video a week. The key is to start small and build from there.
   
2. Create a Flexible Routine
   A rigid schedule doesn’t work for me. I need flexibility. Maybe I can set aside time to study after work on certain days or during a lunch break. The important thing is to make it part of my routine, not just something I do “when I have time.”
   
3. Use Visual Reminders
   ADHD makes it easy to forget my goals, so I want to create visual reminders to keep Italian top of mind. Maybe I’ll put sticky notes with Italian phrases on my desk or set reminders on my phone to practice each day.
   
4. Celebrate Small Wins
   Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. I want to focus on celebrating the little victories—like learning a new word or completing a streak on Duolingo—instead of getting discouraged by how far I still have to go.
   
5. Find Accountability
   I’ve noticed that I do better when I have someone to hold me accountable. Whether it’s a language partner, a friend, or even just writing updates on this blog, I think having that extra layer of accountability could help me stay on track.
   

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Moving Forward with My Italian Language Journey

Learning Italian is still important to me. It’s not just about passing an exam or earning citizenship—it’s about challenging myself, connecting with my wife’s family, and experiencing the language and culture in a deeper way.

I may not have everything figured out yet, but I’m determined to keep going. I know it’s going to take time, patience, and a lot of trial and error to find a plan that works for me. But I’m ready to try.

If you’ve struggled with staying consistent in learning a language (or anything else), I’d love to hear from you. If you’re also learning Italian with ADHD (or any other language), I’d love to hear your strategies for staying motivated and building habits. What strategies have worked for you? How do you stay motivated when life gets in the way? Let me know in the comments—I could use all the advice I can get!

Grazie mille for reading and supporting me on this journey. Here’s to taking the next step, one small win at a time.

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Do you have tips for learning Italian with ADHD? Share them in the comments below! If you want to follow my journey (and maybe learn alongside me), subscribe to our blog for updates!