OMG 😳 more Italian lovers out there. Can't believe it 🥰 I love your POV, it totally resonates with me. I also started to learn Italian 5 years ago, always loved the process. But what really blows my mind that there are times roughly the first 3 years where you feel that you learn a lot but can't really do anything with your new skill. You can order things and in your head you have wonderful conversations with others. But as soon as those conversations are in RL you happen to miss all these words when it's your turn to answer. Something magical though is happening when you hang in there - this time was last year for me - I suddenly could articulate myself and THAT felt fu**** liberating 🥰💖 it's like being a toddler again, the first 3 years you can't say anything but after that you just talk. 😂😅
Thank you so much for reading and for your sweet words! and YES it took me like 3 years of listening and learning to then finally feel like I can have a conversation but I hit a wall. just felt so block like I was never going to be able to actually talk to people, but over the last year and after visiting Italy I am starting to gain more confidence. And I feel like not having to understand *every* word and realizing context is everything has been super important for me. I love that you are also on this language learning journey - it's such a fun club to be a part of!
Language is not just words, it’s worlds ;) it’s a new culture, a new way of thinking, new people, places, food… I’m also learning Italian and in love with Italy 💜 This is a beautiful post, Katie!
Oh my gosh I absolutely love the way you phrased that! YES. thank you so much for reading and your kind words 🤍 what do you feel like has been the most helpful resource along your language journey? Always open to new ones!
Thanks for this post! I learned italian 18 years ago, but just recently decided to get back to it because I didnt want to forget it, so I started lessons with a tutor and I am enjoying them so much! So glad you posted this just now, all the resources will be great to use during the summer brake!
Thank you so much for reading! I am so happy you have gotten back into learning Italian - it truly is such a magical language. Had you learned it in school previously?
I spent a year studying Italian at my university before moving there for two years. It’s honestly such a beautiful language. I’ve lost quite a bit of it from being back in the states for ten years now, but it’s a gift that will never fully go way.
It’s so true! I think once you’ve learned it, it always sticks with you, both the language and the things you loved about living there! I would love to live in Italy for a chunk of time and have property there some day!
I never really know the Italian language. But your experience of learning Italian reminds me back in the day when I was learning German. Learning a language can be hard but once you get a hack of it, you understand also the culture and so much more
I’ve always felt that more people would be interested in learning a new language if they just gave it a try. Many don’t realize that you don’t need a specific reason or necessity to start - language learning can be a rewarding hobby and a powerful mental workout that literally ANYONE can benefit from. You don’t have to be traveling or living abroad to find it fascinating or worthwhile. I love hearing how much joy it’s brought you, and I hope it inspires others to take that first step too!
I completely agree! And it was so much more fun choosing to do it for myself and not being forced to do it at school. It feels so empowering! Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words! 🥹🤍
This post so resonates with me. I too started to learn italian a few years ago following a trip to Venice. My first trip to Italy where I fell in love with the beautiful melody of the language. I now take solo trips to Italy and can make out conversations in a bar and communicate a little. I find myself interested in Italian history, art, cooking and people. I sometimes can't believe this is me now, if someone had told me this ten years ago!
Thank you so much! Your kind words mean so much - I’m so glad you resonated with this! It’s been so cool to chat with several people who feel the same way. It’s so crazy to think back to a time when I didn’t know Italian - I’m just so thankful! I also do solo trips to Italy and it’s some of my favorite memories ☺️
and to make it even better, she's an interesting young lady from Colombia who currently lives in Buenos Aires, so there's plenty of chance for me to learn something about her culture(s), and now and then, for me to mention something that's of interest to her, since I don't believe she's visited the US :)
I loved reading this! Huge congratulations on expanding your life in this way. ❤️
There’s so much overlap with my experience, too. I began learning French on Duolingo when covid started and now I accidentally live in France and have a French husband! Learning the language changed me in one thousand different ways, and I often joke that moving abroad has allowed me a second chance at childhood. This time, though, I’m a French child!
Oh my gosh I love this SO much!! Thank you for sharing some of your story with me. I love that language learning has opened up so many new doors for you and helped you find love 😍 it’s a dream of mine to spend some extended time in Italy and I definitely wouldn’t turn down finding my husband there too ☺️
Ohhhhh this is so beautiful! I grew up around the language but after Nonna passed my exposure was limited again (mostly to cursing - which I am rather proficient in 😅). Over the last few years it’s something while growing the business I felt like I couldn’t do, yet funnily enough it was just the other day that I sat down and decided I could actually in fact do so. And this, this is a sign!
Ah I love that! I’m happy my Substack is your sign to keep it up ☺️ thanks for taking the time to read and comment! Love knowing that other people enjoy learning Italian as well!
Hi Katie, I feel a twin soul! I learned French at school to A level and Spanish and loved learning them and speaking them on holidays etc but then I found Italian through a local adult education class and started to visit Italy over the years and fell in love with all things Italian like you! Food, wine, the country and now the language. I began Duolingo around the time of the pandemic and that’s great but learning the grammar/verbs still a weakness. My two week holiday in Florence with a travel buddy in 2023 where we stayed in a beautiful apartment, shopped at the local supermarket, lived La dolce vita was a dream come true and I loved speaking the language at every opportunity and felt a tiny bit Italian. I’m still on Duolingo but really appreciate the list of resources which I will look at as there is no Italian language class near me at the moment. I’ve had someone ask me ‘what’s the point of learning a language you’ll never really use?’ Well, because it’s a feeling you get when you immerse yourself in something you’ve a passion for and in this case it’s more than just a romantic language it’s a way of living too! Oh, my wonderful half Italian/Irish friend I met through that adult education class many years ago bought me a Moka authentic Italian coffee pot a couple of weeks ago and I treasure it! I feel like I’m Italian every morning when I make my coffee! Thanks again!! ❤️🇮🇹👏
Thank you so much for reading and your sweet comment! Learning Italian + visiting Italy really has lead to a lifestyle shift - I love that way of putting it! I hope that the resources are helpful. Duolingo is great for basics but to be conversational it was really important for me to listen daily and practice with someone. I also think the YouTube channels I have shared are really comprehensive and fun! They include vlogs around different Italian cities and fun, relatable topics as well as helpful grammar lessons. I love that your morning routine now includes Moka pot coffee - so dreamy!
Amazing! Bravissima, l'italiano è una lingua difficile! Complimenti. La mia newsletter settimanale parla dell'Italia se sei interessata. E scrivimi pure se vuoi fare conversazione!
OMG 😳 more Italian lovers out there. Can't believe it 🥰 I love your POV, it totally resonates with me. I also started to learn Italian 5 years ago, always loved the process. But what really blows my mind that there are times roughly the first 3 years where you feel that you learn a lot but can't really do anything with your new skill. You can order things and in your head you have wonderful conversations with others. But as soon as those conversations are in RL you happen to miss all these words when it's your turn to answer. Something magical though is happening when you hang in there - this time was last year for me - I suddenly could articulate myself and THAT felt fu**** liberating 🥰💖 it's like being a toddler again, the first 3 years you can't say anything but after that you just talk. 😂😅
Thank you so much for reading and for your sweet words! and YES it took me like 3 years of listening and learning to then finally feel like I can have a conversation but I hit a wall. just felt so block like I was never going to be able to actually talk to people, but over the last year and after visiting Italy I am starting to gain more confidence. And I feel like not having to understand *every* word and realizing context is everything has been super important for me. I love that you are also on this language learning journey - it's such a fun club to be a part of!
You are all so brave for learning Italian. We make things difficult with all our local dialects and accents. Complimenti!
Grazie mille! 🥰
Language is not just words, it’s worlds ;) it’s a new culture, a new way of thinking, new people, places, food… I’m also learning Italian and in love with Italy 💜 This is a beautiful post, Katie!
Oh my gosh I absolutely love the way you phrased that! YES. thank you so much for reading and your kind words 🤍 what do you feel like has been the most helpful resource along your language journey? Always open to new ones!
Thanks for this post! I learned italian 18 years ago, but just recently decided to get back to it because I didnt want to forget it, so I started lessons with a tutor and I am enjoying them so much! So glad you posted this just now, all the resources will be great to use during the summer brake!
I need to get back to it to! I studied it ten years ago before moving to Rome and I worry I’ve lost SO much of it since returning to the states.
Thank you so much for reading! I am so happy you have gotten back into learning Italian - it truly is such a magical language. Had you learned it in school previously?
No, I am from Spain so I learned English at school. I learned Italian when I was 30 because I had an Italian boyfriend and lived there for a while!
☺️
Ah amazing! Where in Italy did you live?
learning the italian language is also on my list ❤️
One of the best hobbies I have ever pursued!
I spent a year studying Italian at my university before moving there for two years. It’s honestly such a beautiful language. I’ve lost quite a bit of it from being back in the states for ten years now, but it’s a gift that will never fully go way.
It’s so true! I think once you’ve learned it, it always sticks with you, both the language and the things you loved about living there! I would love to live in Italy for a chunk of time and have property there some day!
You really should. I think it would be a lovely place to retire.
I never really know the Italian language. But your experience of learning Italian reminds me back in the day when I was learning German. Learning a language can be hard but once you get a hack of it, you understand also the culture and so much more
Yes! I completely agree ☺️ it’s so much more than just learning a language - one of the many reasons I love it!
I’ve always felt that more people would be interested in learning a new language if they just gave it a try. Many don’t realize that you don’t need a specific reason or necessity to start - language learning can be a rewarding hobby and a powerful mental workout that literally ANYONE can benefit from. You don’t have to be traveling or living abroad to find it fascinating or worthwhile. I love hearing how much joy it’s brought you, and I hope it inspires others to take that first step too!
I completely agree! And it was so much more fun choosing to do it for myself and not being forced to do it at school. It feels so empowering! Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words! 🥹🤍
This post so resonates with me. I too started to learn italian a few years ago following a trip to Venice. My first trip to Italy where I fell in love with the beautiful melody of the language. I now take solo trips to Italy and can make out conversations in a bar and communicate a little. I find myself interested in Italian history, art, cooking and people. I sometimes can't believe this is me now, if someone had told me this ten years ago!
Great to read your writing today.
Thank you so much! Your kind words mean so much - I’m so glad you resonated with this! It’s been so cool to chat with several people who feel the same way. It’s so crazy to think back to a time when I didn’t know Italian - I’m just so thankful! I also do solo trips to Italy and it’s some of my favorite memories ☺️
My story is similar but I’m learning Spanish! I took a couple semesters in a community college in the US & currently have a weekly tutor via Preply 😀
That’s awesome!! It’s definitely so beneficial to be able to practice speaking with someone
and to make it even better, she's an interesting young lady from Colombia who currently lives in Buenos Aires, so there's plenty of chance for me to learn something about her culture(s), and now and then, for me to mention something that's of interest to her, since I don't believe she's visited the US :)
Love this💕💕
Thanks so much! 🤍
I loved reading this! Huge congratulations on expanding your life in this way. ❤️
There’s so much overlap with my experience, too. I began learning French on Duolingo when covid started and now I accidentally live in France and have a French husband! Learning the language changed me in one thousand different ways, and I often joke that moving abroad has allowed me a second chance at childhood. This time, though, I’m a French child!
Oh my gosh I love this SO much!! Thank you for sharing some of your story with me. I love that language learning has opened up so many new doors for you and helped you find love 😍 it’s a dream of mine to spend some extended time in Italy and I definitely wouldn’t turn down finding my husband there too ☺️
Ohhhhh this is so beautiful! I grew up around the language but after Nonna passed my exposure was limited again (mostly to cursing - which I am rather proficient in 😅). Over the last few years it’s something while growing the business I felt like I couldn’t do, yet funnily enough it was just the other day that I sat down and decided I could actually in fact do so. And this, this is a sign!
Ah I love that! I’m happy my Substack is your sign to keep it up ☺️ thanks for taking the time to read and comment! Love knowing that other people enjoy learning Italian as well!
Hi Katie, I feel a twin soul! I learned French at school to A level and Spanish and loved learning them and speaking them on holidays etc but then I found Italian through a local adult education class and started to visit Italy over the years and fell in love with all things Italian like you! Food, wine, the country and now the language. I began Duolingo around the time of the pandemic and that’s great but learning the grammar/verbs still a weakness. My two week holiday in Florence with a travel buddy in 2023 where we stayed in a beautiful apartment, shopped at the local supermarket, lived La dolce vita was a dream come true and I loved speaking the language at every opportunity and felt a tiny bit Italian. I’m still on Duolingo but really appreciate the list of resources which I will look at as there is no Italian language class near me at the moment. I’ve had someone ask me ‘what’s the point of learning a language you’ll never really use?’ Well, because it’s a feeling you get when you immerse yourself in something you’ve a passion for and in this case it’s more than just a romantic language it’s a way of living too! Oh, my wonderful half Italian/Irish friend I met through that adult education class many years ago bought me a Moka authentic Italian coffee pot a couple of weeks ago and I treasure it! I feel like I’m Italian every morning when I make my coffee! Thanks again!! ❤️🇮🇹👏
Thank you so much for reading and your sweet comment! Learning Italian + visiting Italy really has lead to a lifestyle shift - I love that way of putting it! I hope that the resources are helpful. Duolingo is great for basics but to be conversational it was really important for me to listen daily and practice with someone. I also think the YouTube channels I have shared are really comprehensive and fun! They include vlogs around different Italian cities and fun, relatable topics as well as helpful grammar lessons. I love that your morning routine now includes Moka pot coffee - so dreamy!
Amazing! Bravissima, l'italiano è una lingua difficile! Complimenti. La mia newsletter settimanale parla dell'Italia se sei interessata. E scrivimi pure se vuoi fare conversazione!
Ma grazie! Sei molto gentile ☺️ È un po’ difficile ma mi piace molto, quindi ne vale la pena!