Coming from a Cuban-American family, I naturally know how to speak Spanish. I've been learning French in an International Studies Program for the past 8 years, and am taking an AP exam in May for French, and plan on taking it during high school. I know both languages fluently, as well as English. Here's the problem, I am in complete, and utter love with Italy. I have visited Italy twice, and I can honestly say I think of both my trips every day of my life. Naturally, I want to spend some time of my life there since both my visits were life-changing. I want to learn Italian, but I'm scared to mix both classes through out high school since I already know French. Please give me advice on how to learn Italian.
2007-01-07 15:00:17 · 7 answers · asked by ♥ 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
If you have been studying French for the past eight years and know it fluently, then you shouldn't have a problem distinguishing it from Italian. If you know French as well as you say you do, then you have a solid understanding of it, so you shouldn't confuse it with Italian. Actually, it will make learning Italian easier, not harder.
2007-01-07 15:04:15 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbityama 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Rabbit.." is right. At least, I agree with him.
The one problem you might have is pronunciation. Sometimes, it takes a while for our brain to make the association between a sound that we know in French and Spanish and then see a new symbol for that sound in yet a third language. However, it doesn't take long for the brain to adjust. And, the more languages you learn, the easier it is for the brain to make those associations more quickly, especially if the languages are related, as Italian, Spanish, and French are.
Don't give the idea that Italian will mess up your French a second thought. It won't. Take Italian in HS if it is offered, or see if you school will give you release time to take it at another HS or local college. Many of the latter have computer classes as part of their distance learning programs.
While your at it, tackle Portuguese, as well. It's an easy jump from Spanish and Italian. And, Portugal is beautiful! (So is Brazil.)
I admire you!
2007-01-07 16:04:07 · answer #2 · answered by SafetyDancer 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Besides of English and Italian,my mother tongue, I'm also speaking (pretty fluently) French and Spanish and I must say that actually I'm never mixing up/confusing words of different languages. My studies are rather backdated (I'm 62) but I don't remember having had particular difficulties in learning French and Spanish; therefore my suggestion is to go on with yr project and study Italian too. As far as how to do that it's depending on which is yr real intention but I would suggest to take a regular course (possibly held by mother tongue teachers). I guess you've done this already with yr other languages and if you're happy with yr level of knowledge with them I wouldn't change and go on with the same system.
I'm happy with yr words about Italy and probably our Country is more appreciated by the tourists that occasionally have the chance to come here rather than by natives who never miss the occasion to badly speaking of their own nation. I'm instead proud of being Italian and I thank God for having had the opportunity to live here.
Buona fortuna (Buena suerte,bonne chance,good luck)
2007-01-07 16:03:39 · answer #3 · answered by martox45 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you already speak Spanish and French and don't mix them, you'll be able to speak Italian too, since all are Latin languages with common roots and structure!
2007-01-11 01:29:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I speak all three (Spanish, Italian, and French) and I took all three in high school. If you are fluent in at least one of them, it is pretty easy to keep them separate. If you are really opposed to that idea, try Berlitz language school
2007-01-07 16:02:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The basics are all in Latin, Spanish and Italian are so close just need to learn different pronunciations.
2007-01-07 17:53:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
omgosh!...i have this same exact problem!!!...my parents are from mexico, im born here, so i speak spanish and english fluently, im currently taking French 3 @ school and planning to take French AP next year....but, seriously, me encanta l'italiano (having italian ancestry myself)...and je parle un poco, but wanna learn more...so i asked my prof de français de que debo hacer and she told me to just stick to one for now cuz i might get em mixed up...pero i dont think so...they're not THAT alike como para confundirlos, especially for u que tienes mas tiempo con french...so i say go for it :) ...wow, i just talked sprenchlish...lol
2007-01-07 16:08:15 · answer #7 · answered by Javy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋