Italian language courses in New York

Why Learn Italian?

Many people like to learn new languages for all the benefits they gain once they’ve become fluent speakers of a second language. If you, like many others, want to learn a new language but you’re still debating between which one you should pick, Italian is one of the strongest options you have. For instance, if you have never learned a new language, starting with an easy one might be a good idea. Italian is considered one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers. Italian may sound different when you hear someone talking and there are many accents, dialects, and body expressions that are different from American culture. However, the language itself is much more similar than you imagine it. Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese all have similarities with the Italian language. They all share similar vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures. Now, think about the opportunity of traveling to Italy. It is the dream of thousands of people to go to the Italian countryside during the summer or visit beautiful cities like Rome, Venice or Milan. If you choose to learn Italian, you won’t be able to stop yourself from daydreaming about this magical European country. Besides, could there be anything better than visiting a foreign country where you speak the language? Lastly, learning a new language can open many doors, and if one of your goals is to live abroad, you can start dreaming about Italy and its delicious food once you’ve become a fluent Italian speaker.  

Benefits and Challenges of Learning a New Language

There are countless benefits you can gain from learning a new language. Numerous areas of your life will be improved and benefited from learning a second language. The first thing you should know about learning a new language is that it will improve your memory skills. The vast amount of memorization that you will do is going to put your brain, and especially your hippocampus, to work. This means that your brain activity will be greater and therefore, healthier. Another benefit you’ll gain from learning a second language is that you’ll develop important communication and problem-solving skills. Learning the new language will push your brain to learn how to express yourself better as you find the correct words to say what you need to say. It will also drive you to think outside of the box when you’re troubled and stuck therefore enhancing your problem-solving skills. On the other hand, you need to know that learning to speak, read and write in a foreign language is no piece of cake. It will take a lot of hard work and years of dedication. Yes, it will improve your memory, but as with any sport, you won’t manage to excel or dominate it at first. Another challenge you’ll face will be when you start to learn about accents. Accents are hard to learn, and it's not simply about hearing the sound and imitating it. Imitation can be tricky. You will have to learn about phonetics, movements with your mouth and tongue, some that you aren't used to doing in your mother tongue, and practice a great deal of time. It won’t come easy but you know it will be worth it.     

Finding an Italian Tutor in New York 

Knowing more than one language can be highly beneficial but learning from scratch will be challenging. If you’ve set your mind on learning Italian, know that there are many options of institutions or private tutoring services in New York. The best option you have is finding a tutor who is a native speaker and has experience teaching people your age. This way, you can guarantee that you learn from an expert and that their teaching techniques will resonate with you. When looking for a tutor you need to pay attention to their profile. Look for both language and teaching certifications. Find out how much time they’ve been teaching Italian in New York or simply teaching Italian to English native speakers. You are allowed to ask for references and get as much information as possible. This way it will be easy to make a choice and hire a well-prepared and experienced tutor. Keep in mind that prices per hour may change depending on your area. Tutors or language institutions right in the center of Manhattan will be more expensive than the suburbs. In New York, tutors usually charge between $15 and $30 per lesson. You can compare the profiles of all the different tutors right here on Superprof. On our website, you can also enter the level of Italian you’re at and find a tutor prepared to teach you at your level, whether that is a beginner or advanced.

Learn Italian Faster With a Tutor

There are many advantages to learning a language, or any other subject, with a tutor. Having a tutor means you can learn many things that you couldn't possibly learn in a classroom with 20 other students. A tutor will give you their undivided attention as you progress at your own pace, without the pressure of learning at the same speed as your peers. Imagine you meet your Italian tutor for one hour three times a week. This means that you have three hours where every second will be spent on you and on answering your questions or overcoming your obstacles. With an Italian tutor, you’ll receive a personalized approach to your learning. Think of how things work in a classroom. The teacher has to accommodate the structure of the lessons to an average level to meet the needs of most. But what happens if you’re at a higher or lower level than average? You’ll start wasting time, and consequently, wasting money. A tutor will guide and provide support as much as you need.