whats the best and fastest way to learn a language (and learn it well)???

Question

i speak english, spanish and basic french. i need to learn italian for an internship i want to do in a year...so basically i have a year to learn...i cant go to italy before the internship because i will be in grad school and i cant take classes in school because that would increase my tuition immensely and i cant afford it. i know that knowing spanish will help me but im not sure i want to try to teach myself because i dont want to start learning it the wrong way!!

any suggestions?? any italian teachers/speakers that want to give me some pointers or lessons?

i will be moving to denver in late august and id really like to be able to have at least basic conversation skills by february or march. would this be possible??

Answer 1

You can try Rosetta Stone software (http://www.rosettastone.com/en/ ). It's a bit pricey (I think $320 something--but better than tuition for 4 Italian classes), but worth it, according to a friend of mine who used it to begin learning French so she can get a job when she and her husband move to Quebec in a month. She says it works very well, though of course her French is nowhere near fluent yet.

Also, there are bound to be Italian speakers in Denver--surely, at least, a couple at the University--so put up some fliers around campus or around the area asking for someone to practice with you. It really will help a ton to be able to speak it with someone. And if they can help you correct your mistakes and accent, even better.

Immersion is definitely the key to picking up any new language. Listen to music, watch movies, hang out with people, all in Italian. Even if it doesn't seem like that sort of "osmosis method" is really teaching you anything, it's getting your mind thinking a little bit more often in Italian, which is what you need.

Also, you shouldn't have too much problem with grammar, as you already speak Spanish and some French. I am going to assume you learned your French in school (??). If so, that might help you more than your Spanish, and here's why: when you grow up speaking a language, you obviously don't think as much about the grammar and structure as you do when you learn it later. For example, I learned Spanish (I'm not fluent, though), and I can read and mostly understand Portuguese, Catalan, Italian, and French because of it (not Romanian, though... that one hurts a bit--and of course, there are differences in all, so I'm not getting the full meaning when I do this). Meanwhile, I've spoken English all my life, and I can't read any of the related language (Dutch is particularly close, but I can only pick out words here and there). But I'm rambling, do you get what I'm saying? Rely on your studies of French to influence your intuition about Italian. It will probably be easier than you think.

Also, I've always found that languages are much easier to pick up if you have a genuine interest in the language and the people that speak the language. That's another reason why immersing yourself will help, you'll be more exposed to Italian culture and find yourself caring more about it.

Getting basic conversation skills down by February or March should be no problem. Just make sure you make time to keep up with your practice (which can be insanely difficult if you don't manage your time well--I'm a fellow grad student, and trust me, your life is going to be pretty busy as it is!).

OH! I almost forgot the BEST and cheapest way: You can always audit classes!!!!!! You don't have to pay for them, but if you're already a student at the University, you can sit in on any class you want (without getting credit, but also without paying), as long as you have the approval of the instructor. You won't get grades (they wouldn't count for anythng if you did), but do all the homework anyway. I have a friend in my grad program that needed to learn Spanish for an opportunity to do some research in Mexico, and she did just that for the 2 semesters before she went. Just find out who's teaching the Italian classes and contact them and/or the language department. Your course catalog (or bulletin, or whatever your school calls it) should have more information about that option. If you do that ON TOP of all the other stuff, you'll be speaking Italian in no time flat!!

Buena suerte!

Answer 2

I live in Denver, and I come from what is left of the North Denver Italians. It is a dying breed...lol.. Anyway, immersion is best, I agree. Since you can't move to Italy now, I would buy some language tapes and have them playing constantly. In your car, on some headphones when you can, even listen to them while you sleep. I had no education in French, and when I went to Tahiti, all they speak is French. For days I was lost, but after about a week, I knew enough to get by. I was there for almost a month, and improved everyday.

There are some similarities between Spanish and Italian, and French and Italian, but don't get too hung up on that. There are also quite a few differences too. I speak Spanish fairly fluently, and I can tell you that there some things that will throw you if you rely on thinking that it is similar to Italian. My mother and grandfather speak Italian, and sometimes we make comparisons.

Answer 3

1. Immersion by any means. Dedicated time where you are in an all Italian environment. Read an Italian book or newspaper, watch an Italian film, play an Italian video game, listen to Italian music, chat on-line with Italians, get a pen pal, etc.

2. Try software learning. There are many in the stores. I have heard particularly good things about Rosetta Stone software. Try it. Software teaches you and allows you to hear it, read it, write it, and now, a lot of the programs will allow you to speak it and voice match you while criticizing your pronunciation.

3. Search Amazon.com for books on it. You can probably even find a book on transitioning from Spanish to Italian which, since they are very similar would probably be simplest.

4. Meet native speakers and talk to them. If you can't meet them in person chat with them on-line. (possibly at language specific sites like: http://www.polyglot-learn-language.com/ )

5. Keep a journal in Italian. The words which you have to use to describe your day are the words you use most commonly and should consequently be learned.

Answer 4

Language "immersion"--the speaking of only the language being learned--is the not only the fastest way to learn a foreign tongue, but the most effective method as well. Since you can't go to Italy, the next best thing is to find some Italian speakers who you can live with (or who at least will hang out with you a lot) and have them speak Italian to you non-stop.

Learning from books and tapes simply can't match the immersion method.

Answer 5

Since you already speak Spanish, Italian shouldn't be too tough for you. If you can't go there or take classes, the best way would be to go to italian forums/websites on the internet, try to read italian books, some sort of online course, etc.

Answer 6

A few people here already gave you very good answers.

I'm just adding that if you opt for the online chat method, I can help. If you want to hear how you pronounce a word, or any doubt you have, please feel free to contact me. Unfortunately I live in the Washington DC Metro Area, so I can't help you in person. But it looks like you really need/want to learn some Italian fast, so I'm happy to help in any way I can. I'm always glad when someone wants to learn my native language, plus I also speak Spanish so that might come in handy.

Answer 7

Get by in Italian is good from the BBC website

Answer 8

I speak fluent Japanese. I learned this by listening to tapes while I slept. It's a fantastic method. The only problem is I can only speak it when I'm asleep.

Answer 9

you need to live in the country or immerse yourself in the community here in the USA..example...while I was living in college and learning Spanish...I spent 8 months only talking spanish...I made new friends with those who spoke spanish and I tried to speak it, sing it and read it everyday..

Answer 10

Pimsleur (I think that's spelled right) it taught me Romanian in 3 weeks! It was amazingly fast and effective, easy on the wallet too.