I always had English at school but like most people it wasn’t that good – it wasn’t till I studied at uni really that it actually became better. Italian, however, was a lot more recent. I practically learnt it on my own just before I moved to Italy which was around two years ago.

Now I realised there were things in common in the way I learnt them – things that helped me improve faster which hopefully will help you too, so keep reading.

 

1. Create your own environment

During my teenage years, I used to listen to music in English and for fun I’d try transcribe them, and later google the song and see if I got it right – my own way of practicing listening and writing.

When I arrived in Italy, I heard this song in Italian called “A Un Passo Dalla Luna” and became completely obsessed with it. I sung it with its lyrics a few times, noticed some interesting expressions and then I realised that many people my age where using those same expressions. It was crazy how much new vocabulary I had learnt and so useful as well!

 

2. Embrace

We need to stop reasoning languages – stop trying to find an equivalent.

In English we say “I’m 30 years old”, in Spanish it’s “Tengo 30 años”, If I translate it directly “tengo” means “have” but we can’t say “I have 30 years old”. Many students have asked me “why” in situations similar to this one and there isn’t a why; it is what it is. So, accept it, embrace it and use it. 

 

3. Listen and Replicate

If you live in an English speaking country, pay attention to the people around you – the expressions they use. Most times people of similar age will use the same words over and over again. So listen closely, try guess the meaning from context, listen more to understand in what situations they use them, take a mental note and put them into practice. You’ll be “grand”!, as Claire always says.

 

4. Can I learn on my own?

This answer depends on the type of person you are. Are you determined? Are you good at setting up a schedule and following it? From my personal experience, I was able to learn on my own but I still had conversation classes with a teacher – it’s just too hard to have a conversation with yourself.

You know your limits, so if you think you can do it, go for it! Otherwise, just see that you’re not that type of person and that’s okay too.

 

5. Last but not least… Study

I’m sorry, I know you don’t wanna read this, and I wish I could tell you that with the tap of my magic wand you’ll be able to learn English in three months but, unfortunately, that’s just not true. Learning a language takes time, it’s a process. Trust me, I know, I’ve been learning English for over 10 years and everyday I learn something new.

When I started with Italian, I had an app, two grammar books, another one to improve conversation, and was still taking lessons. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, this is the secret – the more you study, the faster you’ll improve.

Keep up the good work, you’ll get there soon enough!