I loved reading the way you embraced this journey, I’m an Aussie, currently living in the US but moving to Europe later this year, likely the south of France. Wherever I land, learning the language will be a goal… one that I’m feeling super anxious about! Reading your journey gave me a sense of hope. How long had you lived in Italy before you started your language learning?
Can relate. I moved to Puglia 2 years ago and I thought I would be fluent by now! In my town no one speaks English so i am forced to speak another way, which is good I guess. My husband though, learnt conversational Italian in 3 months. I honestly think it comes down to confidence, he has so much of it! Doesn’t care if he makes a mistake, just laughs. Complete opposite of me 😆
I'm also learning Italian on duolingo, and got a lot from this piece. I'm curious about your intensive language school experience - would you be open to sharing your feedback on the school? My partner is Italian and while I've been making good progress with duolingo and practicing with her, I've often thought of enrolling in a short term course to boost my language skills.
If you're ever in Rome, feel free to hit me up for some recs too! :)
I started using Duo Lingo during the pandemic lockdown and quickly learned that if I had the paid version that I wouldn't get cut off until the next day because I had committed the 5 allowable errors. Duo Lingo is a good language learning resource for a number of reasons. It provides repeated spaced practice. It uses both auditory and visual modalities and if you write down what you can't seem to hold in your short term memory, then you add in the kinesthetic modality. Talk out load during the lessons you add another modality. For sure, the repetition of insanely stupid phrases is annoying but I've found that as a visual learner, that after a year of using Duo Lingo that I am recognizing more words and my auditory comprehension has improved.
Congratulations on your move to Italy. I'm totally in agreement for your reasons why. I would love to see your new place. Do people ever connect with one-another from this app?
The emotional blackmail from the Duo Lingo owl is real! I'm learning Spanish and have been feeling frustrated lately at slow/backwards progress since returning from my travels in Latin America last year. Like you, I'm trying to refocus on why I do it (for fun!) and how far I've come since my very first beginner classes.
It is so easy for someone on the outside to think language just comes easily for someone like you. Someone who has now learned two languages as an adult! I admit I have thought that without realizing all the effort you put in. It reminds me of your flute practicing in the morning before school. Always a dedicated learner.
Oh wow can I relate to this! I moved to Milan 14 months ago, but for my first year I was in an English-language master's program, so learning Italian was put on hold until I finished grad school. But tomorrow is my last day of six straight weeks of intensive Italian language school, and (insert crazy wide-eyed emoji here). It is A LOT. I went into this viewing it as a sprint, but as reality set in, I came to grips with the fact that—at least for me—learning Italian will be a marathon, not a sprint. But that's okay! I completed three marathons some years back, and when people would ask me how I could have possibly done such a thing, I would say in all seriousness: "One step at a time." Piano, piano.
I loved reading the way you embraced this journey, I’m an Aussie, currently living in the US but moving to Europe later this year, likely the south of France. Wherever I land, learning the language will be a goal… one that I’m feeling super anxious about! Reading your journey gave me a sense of hope. How long had you lived in Italy before you started your language learning?
Can relate. I moved to Puglia 2 years ago and I thought I would be fluent by now! In my town no one speaks English so i am forced to speak another way, which is good I guess. My husband though, learnt conversational Italian in 3 months. I honestly think it comes down to confidence, he has so much of it! Doesn’t care if he makes a mistake, just laughs. Complete opposite of me 😆
I'm also learning Italian on duolingo, and got a lot from this piece. I'm curious about your intensive language school experience - would you be open to sharing your feedback on the school? My partner is Italian and while I've been making good progress with duolingo and practicing with her, I've often thought of enrolling in a short term course to boost my language skills.
If you're ever in Rome, feel free to hit me up for some recs too! :)
I started using Duo Lingo during the pandemic lockdown and quickly learned that if I had the paid version that I wouldn't get cut off until the next day because I had committed the 5 allowable errors. Duo Lingo is a good language learning resource for a number of reasons. It provides repeated spaced practice. It uses both auditory and visual modalities and if you write down what you can't seem to hold in your short term memory, then you add in the kinesthetic modality. Talk out load during the lessons you add another modality. For sure, the repetition of insanely stupid phrases is annoying but I've found that as a visual learner, that after a year of using Duo Lingo that I am recognizing more words and my auditory comprehension has improved.
Congratulations on your move to Italy. I'm totally in agreement for your reasons why. I would love to see your new place. Do people ever connect with one-another from this app?
The emotional blackmail from the Duo Lingo owl is real! I'm learning Spanish and have been feeling frustrated lately at slow/backwards progress since returning from my travels in Latin America last year. Like you, I'm trying to refocus on why I do it (for fun!) and how far I've come since my very first beginner classes.
It is so easy for someone on the outside to think language just comes easily for someone like you. Someone who has now learned two languages as an adult! I admit I have thought that without realizing all the effort you put in. It reminds me of your flute practicing in the morning before school. Always a dedicated learner.
Haha learned to ignore the don’t break a streak stuff on Duo Lingo —it really can be annoying. This is encouraging as I’m starting from zero too!
Oh wow can I relate to this! I moved to Milan 14 months ago, but for my first year I was in an English-language master's program, so learning Italian was put on hold until I finished grad school. But tomorrow is my last day of six straight weeks of intensive Italian language school, and (insert crazy wide-eyed emoji here). It is A LOT. I went into this viewing it as a sprint, but as reality set in, I came to grips with the fact that—at least for me—learning Italian will be a marathon, not a sprint. But that's okay! I completed three marathons some years back, and when people would ask me how I could have possibly done such a thing, I would say in all seriousness: "One step at a time." Piano, piano.