Sometimes I wonder if I have forgotten how to learn! This month I have renewed my vow to learn Italian and have actually been studying it. But MAN - it's hard! I used to think I was good at learning languages (I took a ton of French and could actually speak it... at one time anyway) but now I am starting to wonder.After a long, busy day at work, studying is the last thing I want to do. I am taking an online course which is good, though I have to say sometimes those peeps talk way too fast! On alternate days, I have Stefano help me conjugate verbs and make sentences. In addition, the dang Rai International channel is on every nite (can I tell you how much I hate Porte a Porte?).
Ok, so for the most part I can get an "idea" of what's being said; I can pick out a few words here and there (which trips me up cuz then I translate them and get behind.. I know I know - I shouldn't translate them) but I feel like I should have a better handle on sentence structure. sigh
I believe the old saying that you're never too old to learn but sometimes i wonder. Could it be I've just forgotten how to study? Have I not studied Italian long enough yet? Am I ever going to reach that "click" moment when things just fall into place? SIGH... I DON'T KNOW. I do know it is very frustrating and I hope I'm not the only one out there struggling - it makes me feel like an idiot really. lol
More later...
7 comments :
Hi! Let me encourage you, You Are Not the Only One Struggling! I have been living here in Italy for about a year and a half, and I KNOW I need to study Italian more. I am still daily frustrated by my inability to communicate as freely as I would like. But Italian can sneak up on you too. Just last week-end I surprised my husband by fully contributing in a conversation in Italian with his parents... later he was like "Wow, you are really speaking well." and this happened kind of out of the blue. Don't worry, keep studying, but... maybe the immersion thing works more than studying (Like watching more RAI and listening to Italian on the radio). Anyway, Good luck! and I am sorry I left such a long comment! Ciao!
Ciao carissima!
Sono sicura che imparerai benissimo l'Italiano. Non preoccuparti! Vai in Italia il piu' possibile :)
Ho insegnato Italiano al mio ragazzo e ora lo parla benissimo.
You guys have a good saying for that: You know what's the best place to learn a language? On the pillow :) :)
It's true, though, being with someone who speaks natively the language you want to learn really helps a lot. Try to talk in Italian with him, at first just things like 'passami il sale, per piacere' and in some time you'll discuss about philosophy together :)
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I like your blog very much!
If you watch RAI television and understand even only a few words you are doing a good job already. Just keep listening to it and talking to Stefano in Italian like the previous commenter suggested and I'm sure you'll get the hang of it right a way. Also a trip to Italy non sarebbe male. :)
i think the best solution is to GO TO ITALY!
corraggio, vai! a che aspetti?
ambra - thanks alot for your comment. Im hoping it sneaks up on me soon.
chemcookit - I can't repeat that pillow-talk in public! hehe just kidding. I think we are going to make one night a week Italian only night. and i am glad to be learning from a native speaker - that helps alot.
j.doe - I hope so, some days I feel like a complete idiot. lol i hope you are having a good time in Italy right now - I'm so jealous!
Tracie - I know right??? I think we'll be there by spring for a visit if nothing else. but who knows, the way job searching is going, we may be moving there sooner rather than later! which is not so bad really =) hehe
Dont beat yourself up. First off, the older you get the harder it is to learn a new language. This is bad for someone like me who already has a really BAD memory!
I have had Italian friends tell me that I should really be better after living in Italy for two years. Well, I am better but not great yet. The problem (this is true for you two I think) is that my husband was speaking English when we met. It is really hard to force ourselves to speak in Italian when we can understand each other much better in English.
Give it time, it will come.
Cyn
you're right cyn, gennaro and i have spoken italian from day one and that has really forced me to learn more than i would have otherwise. now he wants to learn to speak english better, but it is just so hard, like you said, to force ourselves to do it when it's som much easier in italian.
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