Learn Italian in Italy: Tips for Immersion

How can you enhance your vocabulary quickly and effectively in everyday life while immersing yourself in a foreign language? Below, I'd like to share my personal tips that proved beneficial during my initial stay in Italy as an Au Pair.

A small paperback

I carried a compact leather paperback, initially intended as a diary, with me. Whether on the bus or with the children as an au pair in Milan, whenever I overheard conversations, I noted down new words along with an example sentence. Adding a drawing or annotation helped solidify the context and associating words with specific situations made the learning process more memorable.

Sing the language 

Engage with Italian songs and lyrics that resonate with you. Memorize the songs, dance to them, and watch music videos. It's an enjoyable way to expand your vocabulary. Artists like Jovanotti, Lucio Dalla, De André, Modà, 883, Emma, and even Baby K and Fedez can be great linguistic guides.

Dictionary app

While relying on Google Translate for longer texts is discouraged due to potential errors, having a dictionary app or a small pocketbook for Italian-German translations is handy for emergencies. Apps like Leo, Pons, and Langenscheidt are recommended.

Vocabulary cards

If you don't already have a vocabulary box, consider making one. Write cards with Italian on the front and German on the back, themed by category. Practice at home, alone, or with friends. You could even find ready-made vocabulary boxes available for purchase on platforms like Amazon.

Series, movies, videos, YouTube, and Netflix

Watching your favorite series or movies in a foreign language, or understanding an Italian film in its original language, can be both enjoyable and educational. Turn subtitles on and off as needed and remember that watching movies with Italian subtitles is useful to reinforce the auditory experience.

Tandem partners

Use Facebook groups or university tandem programs to connect with someone who wants to learn German while helping you with Italian. Meeting in casual settings like cafes or parks also provides a relaxed environment for learning and building friendships.

Post-Its

Place small Post-Its around your home with motivational sayings, expressions you wish to remember, or items you want to associate with their Italian names. Having these reminders visible will help you reinforce your learning!

Imitate and repeat

In conversations, focus on mimicking the intonation of your Italian interlocutor. Actively immerse yourself in situations where you're exposed to the language, such as talking to people who don't understand English or participating in activities with Italian speakers. The more you engage with Italians, the more natural and automatic your language usage will become!