If you wish to learn how to speak Italian, start with these tips for language acquisition and specifics on the Italian language. You can find free and inexpensive Italian courses online, or you can take an Italian course at a community center, college or language learning center. The course that's right for you depends on what you want to learn and how well you learn when you're on your own.

Language Learning Tips
The fastest way to learn a language is to hear, see and say the words. Involving multiple senses in learning makes for deeper and longer-retained knowledge. The more you can be immersed in a language-rich environment, the faster you will learn to speak Italian.

Babies learn language by hearing it spoken all around and to them, in short, simple sentences, with repetition. This is the most natural way to learn a language. The more time and practice you can give to learning, the faster you will learn, and the more you will remember.

Attitude
Being enthusiastic about learning Italian and having an attitude of success will be an advantage. Regular, focused study and practice will help you learn, especially if you do so with a positive, can-do attitude. Worrying that it’s too hard, or that you can’t learn a new language, will impede your learning and actually cause mental blocks, so avoid negativity whenever possible.

The Basics
Learn how Italian vowels and consonants are pronounced as you start. Make sure you can hear the language spoken, and have a chance to repeat words. If you are learning online, there should be an audio component to the lessons that lets you pause, rewind and repeat as often as you need to pick up the subtleties of pronunciation. Know that the letter “r” is trilled in Italian, and that the second-to-last syllable in words receives the stress. If a word has two syllables, the first syllable is the one stressed.

Try practicing conversation with another person; if you can find someone who knows a bit of Italian, all the better. Begin with some key conversational phrases to get you speaking right away. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Regular study and practice will give you the fastest progress.

Don't spend a lot of time worrying about verb conjugation and proper grammar. This is where most people lose interest in language education. While you'll want to know these things eventually, the first part of picking up a new language is learning to think in that language. Focus on expanding your vocabulary by getting to know the Italian words for things you see and use every day.

Before signing up for an online course, try a free one and see if it works for you. Not everyone has the discipline and focus needed to be a self-directed learner. If you find yourself struggling with a free online course, it simply means that you'll have the best chance of learning Italian in a classroom setting.

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