How long does it take to learn Italian? Strategies and methods to master the Italian language in one year

How long does it take to learn Italian? If you are approaching the study of Italian, you may have asked yourself this question.

It is not easy to answer this question: how many weeks it takes to learn Italian may vary greatly from person to person and depending on the method used. However, the fundamental question to ask when venturing into studying a new language is: what is my goal?

This seemingly outlandish question is what will allow us to get our bearings. Does learning Italian mean for me to be able to get by on my trip in Italy? Or, does it mean being able to hold a business conversation? Or, again, being able to spend a semester as a visiting student in one of the Italian universities?

Each of these aims has different goals and a specific vocabulary.

In this article you will find some clarification on proficiency levels, estimates of learning timelines, and tips and thoughts that we hope will help you set your goals.

Decoding Italian Fluency: Understanding Proficiency Levels

Concerning European languages, of which Italian is a part, the Council of Europe has established the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which divides language proficiency into six levels, based on language mastery and contexts of use.

In the tables below you will find the CEFRL levels, compared to the Interagency Language Roundtable (IRL) scale^[1], and information on the skills expected for each.

CEFRL	IRL
A1 – Breakthrough	0/0+

Competences

Chi ben comincia è a metà dell’opera (Well begun is half done)!You are at the beginning of your journey; soon you will be able to:recognize words and simple sentences related to yourself or people around you (pronouns, adjectives, basic verbs, etc.) if the speaker talks slowly and clearly;ask and answer simple questions about matters of immediate need (“Can I have some water?”) or common issues (“Is it hot here in the summer?”);read familiar names and phrases on signs and posters (“Conference room,” “Don’t touch”), and write short messages or fill out forms with basic data (first name, last name, place of birth, etc.).

CEFRL	IRL
A2 – Waystage	1

Competences

Chi va piano va sano e lontano (Slow and steady wins the race)…but after all, it took less than you feared to learn the first words, right? Great, now you are ready to:

• understand and communicate simple information about common topics (“Do you have siblings?”, “What city in Italy are you from?”, “I am a mechanic and have a passion for motorcycles”);
• read short and simple texts looking for information related to everyday and familiar areas (menus, brochures, schedules, etc.);
• write short messages regarding immediate needs, greetings or thanks (“Dear greetings from Italy,” “Thank you again for a wonderful day”).

CEFRL	IRL
B1 – Threshold	1+

Competences

Siete al giro di boa!^[2] (You are at the turning point).

You have passed the initial hurdle, and although you may still feel awkward and uncertain, don’t be intimidated, because this is the passage in which you will learn to:

• understand the general meaning of most discussions that may occur in the workplace, at school, or in recreational activities;
• spontaneously intervene in a simple conversation regarding your interests or relevant aspects of your life;
• read short texts (such as emails or short articles in newspapers), and write simple but organic texts regarding familiar topics or topics of your interest, and perhaps describe your experiences and impressions (“Today I joined a drawing class in Italian. My basilica lions still look like chubby cats…but at the end of class we had an aperitif at sunset in St. Mark’s Square.”)

CEFRL	IRL
B2 – Vantage	2/2+

Competences

Siete a cavallo^[3] (You are home free)! 

This is the time when you will achieve full autonomy in the use of language. You may not yet be able to understand the group of elders quarrelling over trump cards, but you will certainly be able to:

• follow long and articulate discussions, such as lectures, documentaries, movies and news broadcasts;
• casually participate in conversations on everyday topics, expressing your point of view or needs;
• read reports and articles in trade journals;
• write a clear and detailed text about various familiar or interesting topics, reporting different points of view and opinions, and clearly expressing your opinion.

CEFRL	IRL
C1 – Advanced	3/3+

Competences

I knew you were cheating: you have an Italian nonna (granny)! Or maybe not. You don’t need to have Italian ancestry to achieve an excellent command of the language, and the fact that you got here proves it. By now you are independent in the use of the language, keep persevering and you will also be able to:

• follow movies and TV programs with ease, being able to understand speech even when the argument is not structured and much information is implied;
• express yourself with language property, with a varied and flexible vocabulary depending on the context of use (family, work, formal occasions, etc.);
• understand literary texts, specialized articles, and technical explanations;
• know how to write an articulate text, selecting the most appropriate style and vocabulary for the context (personal diary, work chat, a cover letter for a job application).

CEFRL	IRL
C2 – Mastery	4/4+

Competences

Uè paisà^[4] (Hello fellow)! 

Consider yourselves honorary Italians, because by this time you will be able to:

• understand any type of conversation or recorded message (television or radio) and become familiar with different accents and cadences;
• communicate effortlessly, knowing how to distinguish between colloquial and formal formulas, and convey different shades of meaning as needed;
• read complex texts, including those on theoretical and/or abstract topics, and write complex texts with an appropriate style and a good command of vocabulary and grammatical structures.

So, is it necessary to reach C2 (4+) level to be considered ‘fluent’ in Italian?

Not necessarily. The concept of fluency is relative and depends on what your goals are. For example, you may be interested in achieving basic oral production skills to have a simple conversation, but your main goal is reading Italian literature classics. In this case, you could combine an intensive course to learn the basics of spoken language and gain some confidence in expressing yourself, and then establish a constant daily reading practice to sharpen your skills in understanding literary texts. This will certainly demand much less time than reaching a C1 level in an exam, allowing you to fully achieve your goal.

Basics and Challenges of the Italian Language

Italian is one of the members of the neo-latin family, those languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin^[5]. Italian has specific grammatical characteristics that may make it relatively easy (or difficult) to learn.

Let’s start with the good news: it is very easy to learn reading and pronouncing in Italian, because of the regularity between its phonemes (i.e. sounds) and graphemes (i.e. letters). This means that letters always have the same pronunciation (differently from English) and you will just need to learn a few special rules. No time to spend doing spelling!

Now, the difficult part: as a neo-latin language, the grammatical system includes very structured declination, which means that nouns, adjectives and particles will change depending on the grammatical number and gender. But don’t worry, you’ll see how all that is way less complicated than it seems!

How Long Will It Take Me?” Factors That Impact Learning Speed

Back to the question we started with: how long does it take to learn Italian? Is it possible to learn Italian in a year?

As mentioned above, many elements can determine the answer to this question. Below we analyze the factors that have the greatest impact.

1. Personal goals

We have seen it before, but it bears repeating: the time it will take you to reach your goal is directly proportional to the ambition of the goal. Reaching a basic proficiency (A1 or A2 level) will take less time and energy than reaching an advanced proficiency level (C1 or C2).

Much will also depend on the milestones you set to judge whether or not your goal is achieved. Picking up on the example from earlier, if your goal is to be able to read and appreciate literature your milestone might be reading your first novel, rather than achieving a language certification, the timing of which depends on achieving a consistent score in all areas, the technical timing of exam dates, etc. 

If, on the other hand, your goal is to work organically on all areas of proficiency and obtain a certification that is useful for study or work-related matters, then you can rely on a structured language course that allows you to achieve your goal in a fairly defined time frame easily.

2. Age

Is learning Italian easy for mature students? Am I too old to learn? Not, age is not an obstacle to learning a language. You may not have as much time to devote to studying as you did when you were younger, but you might have a greater awareness of which method suits you the best. With the right method, you can achieve excellent results. Plus, various studies highlight the cognitive benefits of learning a new language as an adult.

3. Your mother tongue

Is learning Italian easy for a native English speaker? Many Italian terms are similar to English and can be easily understood by English native speakers. As we will see in a moment, Italian is considered to be a language quite similar to English, which is why it is among those that a native English speaker can learn relatively quickly.

4. Prior experience in language learning

If you already speak more than one language you have probably already learned and consolidated your own strategy, this makes you more aware of what approach is best for you, guiding you to choose the best and fastest method for you.

5. Method

As mentioned above, the method is perhaps the most impactful factor, not only for timing but generally for the effectiveness of your learning. Adopting an immersive approach, such as a language course in Italy, or even just short but immersive experiences focused on the acquisition of specific vocabulary, is what will probably allow you to achieve the best results in a short time.

Estimated Timelines: Journey Towards Italian Mastery 

But let’s cut to the chase: how long does it take to become fluent in Italian? How many hours do I need to learn Italian?

As mentioned earlier, the time it takes to learn a language may vary depending on many factors. However, there are some estimates available that can help guide you to better plan and organize your study.

For example, the U.S. Government’s Foreign Service Institute has produced estimates of the number of hours needed to achieve General Professional Proficiency (IRL 3) in the most commonly spoken languages in the world, for English speakers. Italian is among the languages classified in Category I due to its assonance with English. According to the reference table provided on their website, it takes an average of 24 weeks to learn Italian, corresponding to about 600 class hours.

So if your question is “Is it possible to learn Italian in a year?” the answer is: definitely yes.

Different Learning Approaches and Their Impact

Each of us has different characteristics and a different personal, family and professional situation. Luckily, there are also different ways of approaching language study, so that is easy for everyone to find the one that best suits their needs. Below you will find some of the main approaches, their characteristics, the resources you can rely on, and the pros and cons of each.

Self-study (books, apps, online courses) and its pros and cons

The autonomous approach to study is particularly suitable for people whose schedules are fragmented, unpredictable, or leave free only when it is difficult to find classes. This allows you to organize your study around your hourly needs, perhaps planning more or less intense, or longer or shorter activities, depending on your time and devices. For example, you can schedule a couple of structured study sessions a week and take advantage of bus rides or waiting at the doctor’s for short exercises or listening.

There are many resources at your disposal: you could use a book (with grammar explanations, exercises, and materials) or a self-paced course for longer sessions and use apps or TedTalks for exercises.

The benefits of self-study are several. Among them:

• flexibility
• the ability to manage schedules based on your needs
• being able to set your own goals 
• it is also a relatively cheap approach because it is easy to find free or inexpensive materials on the Internet.

However, it is good to keep in mind that it is a solution that requires deep determination, self-discipline, and organization. In addition, the absence of immediate feedback and support may risk taking you longer or making mistakes.

Formal education (classes, tutors, online tutors ) and its effectiveness

A more “classic” approach is frontal teaching classes, either within a course or with a private tutor. This approach ensures uniform preparation in all areas of language skills: grammatical basics, comprehension of written and spoken language, and text production or oral interaction.

The resources in this case are mainly courses, tutoring, and the recommended books used in classes and for home study.

Formal education provides the opportunity to quickly learn the basics of the language. In addition, the presence of a teacher provides not only support and constant feedback but also guidance in navigating the learning path.

Certainly, the need to agree on times and days makes this approach less flexible than self-study, and costs tend to be higher. Also, for some people, face-to-face classes may be uninspiring in the long run.

Immersive learning (learning in Italy)

The immersive approach to learning involves the direct engagement of the learners in a dynamic and interactive environment. In the case of language study, these are often courses that take place in the country where the language is spoken.

Immersive learning provides a strong stimulus and allows you to approach the study of the language directly in a context of use. You will develop appropriate language and vocabulary (for everyday life, work settings, or contexts related to specific interests), in addition to rapid progress in comprehension and production skills in spoken language.

Of course, in this case, the costs of the course are compounded by the costs of travel and the need to stay a few weeks away from home, but…weren’t you looking for a good excuse for a trip to Italy?

Practical Tips to Speed Up Learning

Learning a new language is a lifelong process: there will always be new words, meanings, and idioms to discover, and Italian in this respect is an extremely nuanced language. And that is precisely what makes it so fascinating.

But you don’t need years of study to start reading and speaking Italian. Here is a short list of suggestions for making faster progress in your study (you can have a look here for more).

• Set specific and realistic goals;
• Be consistent;
• Listen to music, read children’s books and comics, and watch movies;
• Keep a journal;
• Travel.

Overcoming Challenges in Learning Italian

Many challenges come with learning a new language and that can lead to frustration. Do not be frightened by this perspective: there are many different ways in which you can deal with these moments.

If you are tired of a hectic time at work or the university, it is not surprising that you may feel like you can no longer assimilate anything. Don’t give up. Instead, try to ease up, perhaps by pausing the study of grammar and trying some review exercises or watching some video that interests you.

If the problem is not being able to memorize phrasal verbs, irregular verbs, or even simply new words, you can try the flashcards method. In any case, don’t be afraid to change or modify your strategy if this is necessary to keep your motivation high and get to your goal.

Learning Italian at Easy Italian Language & Art

In conclusion, with the right approach and method, learning Italian in one year is possible. Once you have established your needs and goals you will be able to choose the solution that fits you the best.

The Easy Italian Language & Art School, based in the heart of Venice, offers a wide variety of courses and classes. From online courses, to long-term courses in Venice, to immersive experiences of various kinds (art classes, practical classes, and many more), this school provides courses and solutions for all needs.

The school offers intensive courses in class (one week to one month) and outdoor courses such as the Walk and Learn courses, where you can visit Venice and learn Italian simultaneously.

Are you ready to choose the best one for you?

Notes

1. This consists of descriptors of language communication skills used in US federal services to assess language competency.↵

2. Literally: you went around the buoy. This is an idiom that echoes the language of nautical races where buoys mark the point at which to make a turn to change direction. It is used to indicate a decisive turn.↵

3. Literally: you are riding the horse. It means having overcome difficulties and finally being on the right track.↵

4. Literally: hello fellow countryman. This idiom has a curious history: at the end of World War II, it was used by Italian-American soldiers as an epithet in addressing civilians, as a reminder of their common ancestry. Today it is jokingly used by out-of-town workers and students, especially those from southern regions, to greet people from the same city or town.↵

5. Vulgar Latin refers to colloquial Latin developed from the period of the Late Roman Republic (between the 2nd and 1st centuries b.C.).↵