Ciao! Interested in learning Italian? Being able to learn a foreign language is one of the most fulfilling things you could do in your lifetime. Not only would it broaden your horizons and give a whole new perspective on a different culture (pasta, anyone?), this knowledge would also open your doors to more career opportunities. In addition, studies show that learning a new language is one of the best ways for a person to keep his mind sharp even throughout old age.
Italian is spoken by more than 60 million people (some estimates put up this number to about 70 million), and it is spoken primarily in Italy, Switzerland, the Vatican City and San Marino.
One of the best ways to learn Italian (or any language) is to learn it in a place where it is being extensively used. This would enable you to use the more apt term and force you as the learner to use the language that you are learning in your daily interactions. This is good, since using a language daily would train you towards proper use and a richer vocabulary.
So say you’re looking to learn Italian, and you ultimately want to spend your time in Italy while you’re studying it. Generally, you could go about it two ways: the first way is for you to enroll at a language center near your home and then apply for a language exchange program that would have you going to Italy; and the second is for you to directly enroll in a language school in Italy itself.
The first option is admittedly the easier one. You can find a language school teaching language classes through searching for listings at bbb.org (look under the category language schools). There are many reputable language schools in most places, so whether you live in Delhi, Seattle, San Francisco, or San Diego (or in a country like Costa Rica), you would definitely be able to locate a good one.
A cheaper alternative would be to inquire at the Foreign Language department of a college or university close to you (particularly language colleges). If you’re currently still in college, consider the option of taking language courses for your elective subjects. If you’re determined to have the opportunity to go to Italy for more intensive training, make sure that the language school you enroll at has language exchange programs with affiliated colleges in Italy, which would enable you to go there on scholarship or for minimal fees.
The second option may be a bit more complicated, but then again it may be a wiser investment: since many language schools in Italy offer to give their foreign students rooms and board throughout the duration of the classes, it would be cheaper to travel to Italy through enrolling at language courses compared to going there simply as a tourist. Also, you would be sure to have a richer cultural experience as a student, since excursions and immersion activities are part of the coursework.
First of all, invest time choosing among the different language schools in Italy. Some websites to try out include languagecourse.net, schools-in-Italy.studyabroadworld.org, and italy-schools.com. Make sure that you are able to contact a representative from the school you’re interested in, so you could inquire more about the services they provide, the rates, and the coursework (how many hours, the class size and the school’s accessibility). Of course, different schools have different rates, but generally you’d find prices ranging from less than $1,000 (600 Euros) to about $3,000 (2,000 Euros).
Another way for you to go would be to inquire at the Italian Embassy. They would provide listings of very reliable and government-accredited schools; plus, you might be able to win some scholarship offerings that they have for language students.
So take this time now to enrich yourself! Learning Italian in Italy would definitely be an experience you would remember for a lifetime.
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