In six months, I hope to be relaxing by the pool in a villa in Tuscany with friends and family.
And, before we leave, I intend to indulge my passion for other languages by learning something of the Italian language. I may never overcome my introverted nature to actually speak to an Italian, but what a super excuse to learn something about another language. The question is: How much Italian can I reasonably learn before I arrive in Italy?
Setting an appropriate goal for second language learning is anything but a straightforward decision. I often start with a lofty goal and then give up. So many factors must be considered — time available for study, dedication to study, materials to utilize, opportunities to practice the language, former experiences with languages, the list goes on.
First I have to curb my enthusiasm for a new language. I must admit to being a bit of a language junkie, always wanting to try something novel and exciting. Will I ever be able to read Dante's Inferno in the original Italian? Doubtful. I probably won't even get around to reading an English translation of it, if the truth be known. Will I be able to understand conversations around me in Italian? Also, very doubtful, unless they are close enough to Spanish or Portuguese to catch the drift. Will I be able to work out a problem at the train ticket window in Italian? Also, extremely doubtful. Stressful situations do not bring out my best language efforts.
So with these caveats in mind, what can I reasonably expect to accomplish in Italian from January to June, keeping in mind that the real world has a habit of messing with our best laid plans? Here's the study list I am planning to start with.
* Learn the sounds of Italian that are different from other Romance languages I have studied. Being able to read and pronounce even names of locations is a great help in planning a trip and navigating once we arrive. My husband, Wayne, and I once made a reservation at a B&B on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, the Bredalbane. We had been calling it the BREdalbane, and couldn't figure out why no one could give us directions to it until someone realized we are asking for the BreDALbane.
*Make a list of twenty possible questions on flashcards that I may ask in Italy, such as, "Where is the train station?", "How much does it cost?", or "Please bring me a coffee."
*Make a list of three possible responses on the reverse of each of the question flashcards above. It is pretty scary to ask a question in a foreign language if you fear that you can't understand the answer.
*Complete the "tree" in Italian on DuoLingo to get an overview of essential grammar and vocabulary.
This knowledge will be especially useful in reading signs and menus. As an added bonus, I get to analyze how the Italian language is put together, just to satisfy my curiosity.
*Investigate other online language learning apps, such as Italian by Nemo, which gives the opportunity to pronounce Italian and listen to yourself to check pronunciation against the original. Listening to myself speak Italian may give me confidence to speak, or not, depending on how I judge my performance!
* Pledge an extra 10 minutes a day to study Italian along with my daily study of other languages on Duolingo.
Hmm. Where do they say that road leads that is paved with good intentions? I would love to hear about successful activities of other language learners, just to keep myself motivated. So many fun things to do in life, so little time!
