How to Learn Italian - Tips from an Italian Teacher who Speaks 10 Languages

13th January 2019

An interview with Italian teacher and language expert Stefano - get tips on how to learn grammar, make consistent progress and stay motivated all year.

No.60

Listen to the episode

Buon Anno! Happy New Year!

Are you feeling ready to learn Italian this year?

If so, this episode is for you. We've got a special extended interview with Italian teacher and language expert Stefano, who will give you tips on how to learn Italian, including how to:

  • Learn Italian grammar
  • Make great progress
  • Stay motivated all year

Our conversation is in Italian too, so you can learn some in Italian and get some tips at the same time. If you'd like to read the conversation as you listen, below, you'll find the transcript (+ other bonus materials).

To remember what you learnt in today's lesson, below you'll find bonus materials including word lists, quizzes and flashcards. But first...

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Transcript

See below for translations and a breakdown of each sentence/word

Buon 2019 a tutti! Oggi parliamo di cosa ci vuole per imparare bene l’italiano in questo nuovo anno appena iniziato. Innanzitutto, bisogna sapere ascoltare, per poi ripetere e imitare. Inoltre, ci vuole pazienza: meglio progredire piano e bene, che non rapidamente ma male. Infine, serve una forte motivazione: la nostra passione è il motore che può portarci lontano!

English Translation

Buon 2019 a tutti! Oggi parliamo di cosa ci vuole per imparare bene l’italiano in questo nuovo anno appena iniziato.
Happy 2019 to everyone! Today, we're talking about what's needed to learn Italian well in this new year (that's) just begun.

Innanzitutto, bisogna sapere ascoltare, per poi ripetere e imitare.
First of all, it's necessary to know how to listen in order to then repeat and imitate.

Inoltre, ci vuole pazienza: meglio progredire piano e bene, che non rapidamente ma male.
Furthermore, you need (it's needed) patience. (It's) better to progress slowly and well, rather than quickly but badly

Infine, serve una forte motivazione: la nostra passione è il motore che può portarci lontano!
In the end, you need (it's needed) a strong motivation: our passion is the engine that can take us far!

Today's Italian words

Buon 2019 a tutti! = Happy 2019 everyone
Buon = good
A = to
Tutti = everyone
Oggi parliamo di cosa ci vuole per imparare bene l’italiano = Today, we're talking about what's needed to learn Italian well.
Oggi = today
Parliamo = we speak
Di = about
Cosa = what
Ci vuole = is needed
Per = in order to
Imparare = learn
Bene = well
l’italiano = Italian (literally "the Italian")
In questo nuovo anno appena iniziato = In this new year (that's) just begun.
In = in
Questo = this
Nuovo = new
Anno = Year
Appena = just
Iniziato = started
Innanzitutto, bisogna sapere ascoltare = First of all, it's necessary to know how to listen
Innanzitutto = first of all
Bisogna = it's needed/necessary
Sapere = know how to
Ascoltare = listen
Per poi ripetere e imitare = in order to then repeat and imitate.
Per = in order to
Poi = then
Ripetere = repeat
e = and
Imitare = imitate
Inoltre, ci vuole pazienza = Furthermore, you need patience
Inoltre = furthermore
Ci vuole = it's needed
Pazienza = patience
Meglio progredire piano e bene, che non rapidamente ma male = It's better to progress slowly and well, rather than quickly but badly.
Meglio = better
Progredire = progress
Piano = slowly
e = and
Bene = well
Che non = rather than
Rapidamente = quickly
Ma = but
Male = badly
Infine = in the end
Serve = it's needed
Una forte = a strong
Motivazione = motivation
La nostra passione è il motore che può portarci lontano = our passion is the engine that can take us far
La = the
Nostra = our
Passione = passion
è = is
Il motore = the engine
Che = that
Può = can
Portare = take
Ci = us
Lontano = far

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Bellissimo!