What is the secret of successfully learning Italian? Is it the course that your choose, the books that you buy, or how exactly you organise your study plan? Find out, with this series of articles!
The First Secret of Learning Italian
I have been teaching foreign languages to adults (and children) for nearly twenty years and in that time I have met precisely TWO people with an exceptional talent for langauge learning (both teenage girls, surprisingly), and maybe a dozen or so who were really incapable. Virtually everyone, therefore, fell into the “can do it given time and effort” category, so that means you too!
My own French teacher at secondary school rated me “incapable” of learning a foreign language, but I have successfully learnt to communicate first in French, then Turkish and now Italian, the latter to a level when I run my business in the language.
So, I am well placed to tell you secret no. 1 of language learning success:
LANGUAGE LEARNING SUCCESS TAKES TIME!
Lower your expectations – in a week or two, nothing much changes in your brain, except your attitude and motivation levels. Think medium-long term, and you will get results. You may not speak and understand Italian this week, next week, or next month, but if you keep at it and manage to keep interested, one day you will amaze your friends with your fluency. We promise!
Read more: Secret no. 2