How to Learn Italian at Home
when you're the only one speaks it!
Learning Italian is always a challenge, but figuring out how to learn Italian when there is no one around to help is even harder again!
So how do you learn Italian and practice the language on your own?
There is a way! — Many ways in fact!
This blog post is all about resources that you can use to learn Italian effectively on your own so that when you DO find someone to practice with, you are prepared!
Ready to up your Italian study game?
Let’s go!
This post contains some affiliate links.
Part A) Websites with Free Italian Language Resources
While there are plenty of Italian learning websites out there, I have included the ones that have the most variety of *FREE* online resources for you to use at home.
#1 : Online Italian Club
This website has a ton of free content for learning Italian! It is easy to find something that is suitable for you because much of it is ranked by level from A1 – C2. You can choose from free listening comprehension exercises, vocabulary, grammar lessons and more!
The website and format are basic, but it has a lot of good information that you can use to practice your Italian skills.
The great part is that you don’t need anything extra to use this site. The answers are free and ready on the pages and you can browse the site as much or as little as you want without paying!
#2 : One World Italiano
One World Italiano is a website with a lot of variety. It has free grammar explanations with examples, select vocabulary lists, video exercises, proverbs and more.
In all, there are little bits of Italian learning throughout the website with the major attractions being the grammar points and language activities.
One of the bonuses about this company is that they also have a YouTube channel with tons of free videos!
#3 : Learn Italian Online
This is the website / blog of an Italian teacher named Laura. She has a wonderful website!
Some of the resources included are: free printable Italian vocabulary and worksheets, Italian short stories, and sections of translated Italian works of literature.
I have to say, the printable are awesome and I love the short stories! **If you are a beginner, the short stories will require quite a lot of translation.
In addition to the resources above, the blog posts are detailed descriptions about how to use different Italian grammar points with FREE exercises!
With the exercises, you are able to fill in the blanks and check them automatically to see if you are right.
If you are looking for tutoring, Laura also offers private lessons via Italki and gives details about that on her site.
It’s always nice to know that you’re dealing with a person and not just a big corporation… am I right?
#4 : Learn a Language - Italian
Learn a Language has a great selection of free Italian learning resources as well.
They have a great selection of free Italian vocabulary lists, verbs, and phrases.
In addition to the lists, you can practice the vocabulary and verbs through “mini-courses”.
These “mini-courses” include LEARN, REVIEW, QUIZ, and COURSE components for each topic that you can use to build your Italian vocabulary / verbs knowledge.
Part B) Online Italian Courses
#1 : EdX Italian Language and Culture courses
- EdX is a virtual education website that offers a ton of courses in different subject areas.
- There are 3 levels of Italian language and culture courses available.
- Courses are free (or you can pay for a certificate)
- Lots of great information to get you started or practice
- Gives you an overall structure that you can use to build your own Italian learning strategy (which grammar points to learn, what order they come in, etc)
- Different types of exercises are available: listening, grammar, dialogues, etc.
OPINION: Overall, EdX’s Italian courses have a lot of good information and exercises for you to practice Italian. However, I would recommend having a basic knowledge of the grammar point you are looking at before doing that part of the EdX course. The organization of the lessons and some of the explanations can be confusing and overwhelming for a beginner. In some sections, vocabulary is used that hasn’t been taught yet so you will need to use your dictionary as well.
#2 : Rocket Languages - Italian
- Rocket Languages is a well-established and highly-rated program
- Courses are well-organized, detailed, and give you lots of practice to improve your pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary skills
- Courses are paid (prices start from $99.95)
- Your paid membership lasts for a lifetime so you can go back for a refresher whenever you need it
- Gives you learning techniques that help you to learn Italian faster
- Different types of exercises are available: listening, grammar, dialogues, etc.
- Built-in flashcard app
- “Saved vocab” search option that you can use to find words (definition and in context)
OPINION: As far as paid courses go, Rocket Languages’ Italian course is great value for the money. It is flexible in the sense that you can skip lessons that focus on parts you already know or you can continue in the logical, effective format that the course has laid out. Rocket Italian covers all components of learning a language (including speaking!) so you get a comprehensive experience. If you are looking for a well-structured, complete course for learning Italian, Rocket Languages is a great option.
#3 : Glossika - Italian
- Glossika is an innovative and highly-rated Italian learning program
- Courses are based on your interests and focus on using words and phrases in context
- Courses are paid (prices from $25 / month)
- Dialogues are natural and how people actually speak. All audio is done by native Italian speakers
- Automatically gives you review questions and spaces out repetition to help with retention
OPINION: Glossika is a very popular and effective way to improve your Italian. The downside to courses that focus primarily on whole sentences is that it can be hard to alter them on your own or to create your own from scratch without more grammatical preparation. Glossika is excellent for developing a natural feel for how Italian is structured and if you have a grammatical base to develop from (or in conjunction with Glossika) it can be very useful.
Part C) Italian Phone Apps
#1 : Duolingo
This app has changed a lot over the years and it is harder to keep going on the free version compared to what it was before. But, it is still FREE!
While I definitely wouldn’t recommend Duolingo as your main way of learning Italian, it can be great vocabulary practice when you only have a few minutes to spare and you want to work on your Italian!
Duolingo is fun, easy to use, there are lots of different activities you can do on the app and it feels like a lot less work than grammar exercises in a book.
So there are a lot of positives!
Another feature that people like about Duolingo is the fact that you can learn multiple languages at the same time!
So if you are a French student or Spanish student as well, you can get some practice in with those languages too.
Overall, I would recommend keeping Duolingo as an occasional vocabulary / basic phrase tool and leave the grammar and structured Italian practice to more reliable sources.
#2 : Busuu
Busuu is an excellent phone app for learning Italian.
Compared to other apps that teach you primarily vocabulary or little pieces of phrases, Busuu puts things in context and teaches you Italian that you can ACTUALLY USE.
The app is easy to use and the lessons are designed in a way that makes sense for learning a language (not random sentences thrown together).
There are many parts of the app that you can upgrade and if you subscribe to the premium version you can even write to Italian native speakers.
Overall, if you want a full language experience on your phone and learning Italian is more than just a hobby, it might be worth paying the small fee each month.
#3 : Mondly
Mondly is another great phone app for learning Italian on the go.
Mondly is easy to use, has very clear explanations, and (the most fun part) the chance to compete with others using the app!
As a person with a competitive nature, I love this part of the app!
It also gives you both an extra incentive to learn Italian and a feeling of accomplishment aside from completing the activities.
Another great feature of the app is that it gives you verb conjugation tables and grammar points.
While learning phrases and vocabulary is great, it’s also helpful to know where those words are coming from and how to make the verbs on your own!
While Mondly is a paid app (there is a free trial period), it is not horribly expensive and definitely worth the money.
#4 : Babbel
Although Babbel has a higher price tag than other apps, it is still consistently rated very highly and it has a TON of users.
Babbel does a great job of teaching Italian through authentic conversations, practical vocabulary, and review sessions that make sure you have understood the material.
Babbel’s app is also very to use and you can clearly see your progress in the language.
Another feature that you may enjoy is the ability to switch between the phone app and the desktop.
This makes learning convenient if you don’t always want to be on your phone!
There is a free trial period where you can access the first lesson. I would recommend trying this out to see if the $10+ / month cost is worth it for you.
Part D) Italian Language Textbooks
#1 : Rosetta Stone Lifetime Pack
Rosetta Stone has been around for a long time and there is a good reason for that.
For independent learning, they really do have excellent resources.
The reason that I chose this package is because you get LIFETIME online access in addition to the reference books.
So you get: a dictionary, a grammar reference book, and unlimited access to the course for the one price.
PLUS, if you are a person who likes learning languages, you have access to ALL of Rosetta Stone’s other online language resources without needing a new subscription.
French, Spanish, German, etc. ALL FREE to learn if you buy the lifetime access bundle.
As a language enthusiast, I think this is an AWESOME deal!
#2 : Soluzioni - a practical grammar of contemporary Italian
This Italian grammar book is one of the cleanest, most comprehensive, and best organized ones that I have found.
The grammar points are clearly explained and the exceptions indicated with examples. There are some short grammatical exercises as well.
Soluzioni is super easy to use and it helps make up for not having an Italian teacher around to clarify concepts.
A must-have reference book for learning Italian!
#3 : Italian in 10 minutes a day
I love the approach that this book takes to learning Italian.
It breaks the language down into manageable chunks – designed to fit into 10 minutes a day.
While this may not seem like a lot, the commitment of setting aside 10 minutes for your Italian learning is a BIG DEAL.
Most likely, if you set aside 10 minutes, you will be able to extend that time into a longer study session. The “10 minutes” works as a great motivating tool — if you do only 10 minutes, AWESOME! — if you find the time to do more, be EXTRA PROUD!
This workbook also makes Italian learning more fun than your average textbook.
It is colourful and engaging to look at with flashcards, sticky labels, and software to accompany it.
If you are looking for a fun way to learn Italian, this package is an excellent choice and very affordable!
Part E) Italian YouTube Channels
While there are plenty of good Italian YouTube channels out there, these are my TOP 5.
- Learn Italian with Lucrezia (Italian teacher) – https://www.youtube.com/c/lucreziaoddone/featured
- LearnAmo (Italian teacher) – https://www.youtube.com/c/LearnAmo/featured
- Breaking Italy (Italian news) – https://www.youtube.com/user/breakingitaly
- Podcast Italiano – (Italian podcast channel) https://www.youtube.com/c/PodcastItaliano/featured
- Impara l’italiano con Italiano Automatico (Italian teachers) –https://www.youtube.com/user/ITALIANOAUTOMATICO
If you would like to know more about Italian YouTube Channels that are awesome to watch (and more lifestyle / travel options in Italian), I go into more detail about this in my post called: 13 Must-Know YouTubers for Learning Italian.
Part F) Italian Language Podcasts
#1 : News in Slow Italian
This Italian news podcast is an excellent way to learn Italian at home.
Not only is listening to slow Italian news much more interesting than the same restaurant / hotel / etc dialogues over and over again, you get to hear words that Italians ACTUALLY use.
If you would like premium access to their full website (including transcripts so you can read along as you listen), there is a 7 day free trial, and then after that you can decide if you want to continue.
My advice, check it out and see if you think you would use it enough to make it worth the money.
If yes, get the paper and pens ready for some intense note-taking!
If not, the podcasts on their own are still a wonderful resource.
#2 : ItalianPod101
ItalianPod101 is a great resource both in the free and premium versions.
For free, you get access to the podcasts, YouTube channel and also some limited content on their website including some grammar lessons.
You can also upgrade to the premium version to get the full language experience on their site.
Plus, when you sign up (even for free) you can pay $1 and get a learning package too!
#3 : Learn Italian with Italy Made Easy
Italy Made Easy with Manu is an excellent resource with TONS of learning options!
There is an interesting podcast, paid courses via his website, and a YouTube channel too.
All of these options are excellent quality and Manu really does provide a complete Italian learning experience.
The podcast is interesting and the Italian is slow and easy to understand. Check it out and add some episodes to your playlist!
Tips for Practicing Italian Independently
#1 : Talk to yourself
I know, this sounds very undesirable at first.
But I promise, as you do it more you will realize how unbelievably helpful it is.
Especially when you have no one else to speak with in Italian unless you have to pay!
In time, it will become easier and you will feel less awkward about it.
You’ll even start to talk to yourself in Italian without prompting!
No one wants to be the crazy person babbling away on the bus to themselves in another language. However, in the comfort of your own home / room, speaking Italian out loud will be a HUGE help.
You get used to forming Italian words and phrases without the pressure of people listening and looking at you, you get to perfect your vocabulary, and you get comfortable with the sound of how you speak Italian which will lead to a better accent!
There are a couple activities that are especially useful:
- Try to say what you are thinking out loud… in Italian. This kind of narration really helps you nail down the Italian vocabulary that is most helpful TO YOU. There are tons of words we learn that are simply not relevant to things that we like or our lives. Everyone is different! As you speak, see which words / phrases you are missing and look them up! Keep this list handy so that you can use it the next time you get stuck on the same words.
- Narrate something happening in real life (what you are doing / watching out the window / what is on the TV / etc). Just like the first recommendation, keep talking until you find words / phrases that you don’t know, look them up, and write them down.
- Read a book out loud. If you want a more relaxing way of speaking Italian out loud, pick an Italian book or online resource that you like and start reading! Not only is this useful for practicing your pronunciation, it helps your sentence structure overall because you are reading things written properly in Italian.
- Find conversation questions / discussion questions and answer them on your own. There are a ton of Italian and ESL conversation questions out there that are designed for oral interactions. However, you can practice answers to common topics on your own so that when the time comes, you already know a lot of your answer! Over time this will become more natural and you won’t have to think as much about what you’re saying.
- I have a page dedicated to Italian conversation questions that you can check out if you would like to take this approach! — All questions are available in a free PDF download that you can save as well. (CLICK HERE for the Italian Conversation Questions)
If you can get to used to speaking Italian, even if it is in the privacy of your home, it will be SO much easier when you have to do it in front of others.
Having confidence really does make a huge difference when speaking a new language!
#2 : Start an Italian Journal
Now that we’ve talked about speaking on your own at home, let’s take a look at writing practice!
One of the best ways to practice your writing (not just by filling out grammar exercises) is to start your own Italian journal.
Keeping a journal is an excellent, low-pressure way of getting used to formulating sentences on your own in Italian. You can take the time to look up vocabulary words and write about whatever you feel like!
Try to commit to writing just a few lines per day and then add to it if you are feeling motivated.
If you are looking for writing prompts, I post a new set of Italian journal topics every month! They are free to download or you can just check them out on the blog page. —> ITALIAN JOURNAL PROMPTS for July 2021 <—
#3 : Find an Italian tutor
Another option for practicing your Italian at home, is to hire a private tutor.
Hiring a tutor gives you a TON of flexibility with the content and the pace that you learn.
Qualified tutors will create lesson content that focuses specifically on what you want / need to improve to be successful.
Having a tutoring session is also not something that you have to do all the time!
You can add it into the mix with writing, grammar exercises, apps, and podcasts so that you have exposure to a wide variety of Italian learning resources.
Two of the major tutoring sites are italki and Wyzant.
While this may seem like an expensive option, tutors are much cheaper than you’d expect with some being under $10 an hour (MANY under $15)!
I hope that this post has given you some ideas for your independent Italian study!
While this is not a comprehensive list, it gives you some ideas about what is out there and a place to start from.
Learning Italian outside of a classroom is completely possible and as long as you continue to work at it, you WILL be successful!
If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to let me know. Happy Italian studying!
