According to the FSI, Foreign Service Institute, which provides language and culture training
to U.S. government employees, English-native speakers would have to spend 24-30 weeks (or
between 600-750 class hours) to achieve basic fluency.
Ma è impossibile, Maestro.
Aiutami per favore.
If you were studying in the classroom for 2 hours a day, 10 hours a week, you would
reach basic fluency in Italian in 60 weeks.
A year and two months, to be precise.
Maestro, I am not a US diplomat.
I don't have £1000 a week to give to my tutor.
I have got family, friends, a real job, chores.
Come on, tell me what to do.
Well, consider yourself lucky because, always according to FSI, Italian belongs to CATEGORY
I Languages, which are more similar to English, therefore easier to learn.
It would take more than 1000 hours to learn Russian: Vodka, Dostoevsky, Spasiba;
and over 2000 hours to achieve basic fluency in Chinese Mandarin.
I don't what he said.
What is basic fluency?
What does it take to be fluent?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary: When a person is fluent, they can speak a
language easily, well, and quickly.
But also, when a language is fluent, it is spoken fluently
and without many pauses.
Truth is that some of my most dedicated students have more advanced knowledge about Italian
grammar and vocabulary than my mom or a shepherd in some remote Italian valley.
However, they can all, including my mom and the shepard, get by in everyday situations.
They would all struggle in an academic context (and with them a good 80% of Italians), as
everybody would when required to use and understand technical jargon, which doesn't belong to their field
of expertise.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
Let me explain that in 3 simple steps: Numero 1.
Binge learning Italian in May just because
you booked a holiday in June will not give you as much knowledge and confidence as David,
Irina, Jo, Rafik, Rob, Sue, who have been studying Italian with me for 1,5 to 3 hours
a week for the last three years.
I need to go to beach next month.
Jason Momoa is just genetically lucky.
Why isn't it working for me?
Numero 2.
Listening to music, podcasts, and tv in the
background is great to increase your exposure to Italian (especially if you live abroad),
but no hell, not! Limiting your Italian learning experience to this is a complete failure.
And it tells me you are lazy.
Lazy, lazy, lazy.
You will never understand words you have never used in active contexts,
whether it be reading and translating,
real-life situations, or grammar exercises.
There are specific techniques to learn through listening and watching, and writing.
Ask your tutor.
Increasing your exposure to Italian is a must.
If you have an Italian partner, then under your tutor's guidance you should start speaking
Italian at home for a certain amount of time (whatever happens) and/or in specific rooms (e.g.
in the kitchen, where people are generally more relaxed).
Well, not my wife. But generally...
If you don't have an Italian partner or if he/she is not very collaborative, then go hunting.
I'm joking.
Not really!
Use the mirror, repeat sentences while doing things, change your phone, laptop, tv, and
car settings in Italian.
Read instructions in Italian.
Watch Italian movies.
Listen to Italian songs.
If you have already a tutor, then it is fine to complement the lessons by wasting your
precious me-time after homework on TikTok or Instagram reels, or on Duolingo and some other apps
which will never answer your questions.
If you don't have an Italian tutor, give up the idea of learning Italian and watch cat
clips on your phone.
I never said it was easy, but if you have to spend 600 hours on Italian, you better
be smart.
Now, how to choose a tutor who doesn't rip you off?
Click on the picture on the screen now.
Dal Maestro è tutto.
Mi raccomando: Studiate!