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Learning Time: 15 minutes

1. Repeat Everything Aloud

This might sound silly, but hear me out.

In a 2015 study conducted at the University of Montreal in Canada, researchers found that by repeating aloud something that you’ve just learned to another person produces the highest verbal memory recall. While repeating in your head is associated with the lowest recall.

Think about this when you’re reading through these pages. It’s not enough to just see the words, you must read them aloud and give them life so that the information is better retained in your memory.

Ok, so maybe you can’t repeat everything aloud as you read this book (especially if you’re reading this on the bus, instead try whispering), but find someone who can quiz you afterwards, or start speaking Italian to your cat! Find what works for you.

As you work through the pages of this book, make it a habit to repeat aloud what you have learned even if it’s to yourself to begin with.

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2. Commit to the Learning Process

It’s not enough to say you speak Italian. You have to get off your butt and actually do it!

I know what it’s like. You start to do something (like learning a foreign language). At first, you’re motivated and ready to attack the world. Then life gets in the way. You miss a day or two. Then you miss four in a row. And, finally you walk away from a project because “you just don’t have the time.”

What I love about the ‘Learn Italian FAST in just 8 hours’ model is it’s an achievable outcome. The finish line is always in sight! Just work really hard for a few hours and you’ll be rewarded by being a confident Italian speaker.

It’s not hard to do in 8 hours. Sure you might have to skip Dexter or The Real Housewives of wherever for a few weeks. Just remember it’s a temporary sacrifice because it doesn’t take long to start speaking Italian.

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3. Immerse Yourself at Home

Your viaggio (trip) to learning Italian begins with immersion. Before you fly, think about how you can surround yourself with all things Italian.

Enjoy cooking? Then download recipes in Italian.

Enjoy watching the evening news? Switch to the Italian channel and watch RAI Italian news.

Love fashion? Buy your next issue of Vogue in Italian.

It all starts with small shifts in behaviour.

Visit your local library and start reading easy learner or dual language books. Children’s books are also great. You don’t need to understand every word. Start with understanding the context and only look up words that are repeatedly used. This will ensure that you keep progressing..

Whip out your favourite DVD’s and start watching movies with Italian subtitles. I love this approach because you already know the plot and you can concentrate more on how things are being said. Take notes and start building up your vocabulary.

When you’re feeling more confident, start renting Italian movies. Watch the actors. Italians are famous for communicating with their hands. Try to mimic them. Make it a ritual to watch at least one movie each week.

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4. Flush Out the Negative Thoughts Holding You Back

There are two soul destroying reasons why most people are afraid to learn a foreign language.

The most common is fear and lack of confidence. The biggest obstacle for the adult is the emotional factor. Adults have bought into the myth that they just cannot do it. They are afraid of making fools of themselves.

I have often thought this is the reason children seem to learn languages faster than adults do. They simply are not afraid of making mistakes and are not embarrassed when they do make mistakes.

The second reason is age.

A lot of people think they are too old. However, there is no credible evidence to show that the older one becomes, the more difficult it is to learn a foreign language.

This belief stemmed from the theory on “brain development” in the 1960’s that taught that there was a “crucial period” (ie. before puberty) an individual had before the brain lost its “plasticity,” making learning a second language too difficult. (Lenneberg, 1967).

In fact, modern studies have shown that even though there are some differences between how a child and an adult learns a second language, the older learner has many distinct advantages.

Did you hear that? You have the advantage!

First, an adults maturely developed brain has the superior ability to understand the relationship between semantics and grammar.

Second, the adults brain is more mature in its ability to absorb vocabulary, grammatical structures, and to make more generalisations and associations.

Third, an adult learner’s better-developed brain is better at putting together all the pieces with a more developed long-term memory.

Still not convinced?

To be successful you must have a positive mindset. Dwelling on the negative thoughts as mentioned above will only set you up for failure. Essentially what you’re doing is failing before you even begin.

Start by changing your attitude. Do this by focusing on your end goal.

Address your negative concerns by writing each of them down. Alongside each one, write down why that negative thought isn’t true. For example, you might say “I’m too old”, to which you would argue saying “My brain is better developed which enables me to absorb the complexities of grammatical structures” or “If Michele, can do it then so can I”.

Don’t feel intimidated. Don’t forget that Italians are amongst the warmest, most hospitable, easygoing, and open-minded people you will ever meet. Your attempt to speak Italian will only make you more endearing and you’ll be praised for your efforts.

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Step 2: Unlock 17 Ways to Italianise English Words

Learning Time: 1 Hour

Step Overview

Instead of jumping right into the deep end of the large pool of Italian words, first we’re going to dip our toes in.

In this step, you are going to learn some Italian words that won’t seem completely foreign to you because they are exactly the same in English. Hurray!

We will move on to learn how to apply 17 simple rules to start Italianising English words you already know. Plus learn a few common false friends to avoid.

Andiamo!(aan-dee-yah-moh) Let’s go!

Popular Loan Words

Although Italians are very proud of their language, they have allowed some English words to creep in. Generally, they are pronounced the same way as in English with a couple of exceptions. You’ll be able to identify these nuances in pronunciation in Step 3.

They say, for example, words such as gadgets, jogging, feeling and shock. You’ll even hear them use the word okay.

Since computers have entered their lives, they say cliccare sul mouse (kleek-kah-reh soohl mouse), meaning ‘to click (on) the mouse’.

Finally, there’s lo zapping (loh zahp-ping), which means changing TV channels with the remote.

Consider the following list of words. Each is shown with the appropriate Italian definite article or better knows as the word ‘the’ which we will learn more about later.

la radio (lah rah-dee-oh)
l’autobus (laho-toh-boos)