This Is How I Learned Italian (The Easier, Better Way)

I’ll tell you how I learned Italian by myself so thoroughly that I was able to pass along my knowledge to at least 200 students.

Who I Am and What I Do

Since I was a young child, one of my passsions has been teaching. However, my parents expected me to become a nurse, which I did. But working as a nurse wasn’t my thing. I decide to follow my passion, which has grown into a career.
I’m here to help you become fluent in Italian by offering one-on-one language courses so you can gain self-confidence and knowledge.

My name is Kati, and I live in the magnificent old city of Perugia, which is part of the Umbria region in central Italy. I am Italian by adoption because I have lived there for the majority of my life and speak the language fluently at a native speaker level. My Italian accent is clear and easy to understand and echoes the accent from Sardinia. Have you ever gone to Sardegna, by the way? That’s the name we gave it.

I’m trilingual because I also speak English well. I’m currently studying French and German.

For the past four years, I have been teaching English and Italian online with an emphasis on conversation.

Two years ago, I obtained my CELTA certification as a qualified tutor. I offer English and Italian lessons for students of all levels, from absolute beginners to more advanced students.
More information about my teaching style is available on this page. Why are you holding out? Schedule a lesson with me to learn Italian, and let’s begin this new journey together! In the meantime, you can take a look at one of my lessons.

This Is How I Learned Italian by Myself

Despite my curiosity in this stunning language, I never had any ambitions to learn it. Additionally, I had no plans to relocate abroad due to how strict my parents were when I was younger. However, I had a strong desire to “leave” Romania, so I made the decision to go to Italy.
The moment I set foot on Italian ground, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life there.
I have lived in Italy for at least 20 years and I stll have no plans of leaving this wonderful country, where I also found the love of my life.

Unfortunately, there was a difficulty that might have made my life simpler. I had no Italian knowledge whatsoever. I truly mean it. I only knew the word “ciao” in Italian. Without knowing Italian, how could one possibly survive in Italy? Simple response: Unless you wish to speak English, you cannot. However, not all Italians speak English, particularly the elderly and those who reside in rural areas.
There was an imminent need for action. I had to start studying Italian all by myself. There was the option of enrolling in a course or getting private lessons, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could master Italian on my own.

I would like to share with you the 4 tips that helped me learn Italian. If you are in a hurry you can download a PDF version of my four easy steps. So this is how I learned Italian, the better and easier way for me.

Tip Number 1: Buy a Guidebook and a Grammar Book

First and foremost, I purchased an Italian grammar book. I had brought a guidebook with me before I arrived in Italy (who doesn’t bring or buy a guidebook when they travel? ), so now I had two books to use for learning. Even if you do not intend to visit Italy, you can buy or download a guidebook.

Tip Number 2: Learn Chunks, Not Single Words

Second, I began memorizing chunks of phrases daily. The key is to learn sentences rather than individual words. Guidebooks have phrases in Italian on the left and translations on the right, so understanding the meaning should be straightforward. Memorizing was not an issue for me because I was committed to studying EVERY SINGLE DAY.

It is not necessary for you to memorize twenty sentences per day. Stick to five, but do it on a regular basis. I got more familiar with the sounds of the above-mentioned words as I learnt them, and I began to grasp what the Italians were saying.

Tip Number 3: Study Basic Grammar Points

I then flipped open my grammar book. You detest grammar, I know. So I did. I wasn’t in a good mood or psychologically ready to practice my Italian grammar, but if I wanted to succeed I needed to change my learning approach. If you understand it, grammar is simple to master. Otherwise, have someone explain it to you. I addressed the problem directly and studied BASIC grammar. I focused on learning just one grammar rule at a time and made sure I grasped it well. I would always use the terms I had learned.

If I wanted to go to the train station and buy a ticket, I would have asked: Posso avere un biglietto per Roma per favore? (Can I get a train ticket to Rome, please?). I would grab the guidebook from my bag and read the relevant paragraph whether I was missing a sentence. Per favore, posso avere del pane? is what I would have replied if I needed to buy bread. I picked up all the phrases I needed to use in various day-to-day scenarios by constantly saying the same things.

Additionally, learning grammar gave me a better understanding of sentence structure, word choice, and other aspects of grammar. I assure you that learning the basics of grammar will make a difference.

Tip Number 4: Ask Native Speakers to Correct You

I found it simple to immerse myself in the language because I was living in Italy. I was always asking people to correct my Italian wherever I went. But if you’re not as fortunate as I was, don’t be upset. You can still follow the advice given previously and succeed in learning Italian. Maybe you have an Italian friend or know someone who speaks Italian. I have a good feeling they’ll be happy to help you. If none of these apply to you, then you can always check my Italian lessons.

After I had followed these steps regularly for about three months, something MAGICAL happened: I found myself speaking and understanding native Italians at the same time.