Learning Italian: Duolingo, group lessons or ‘the Nuns of Vught’?
Learning Italian is an adventure unto itself. Just a few words of this melodious language and you can already picture yourself in the world of opera, la dolce vita and, of course, mouth-watering Italian cuisine. It is therefore no surprise that many people have enthusiastically started using apps like Duolingo to learn the language. It is accessible, partially free and gamified. So why do so many people nevertheless end up quitting halfway through? Do they discover at that point that, despite their best efforts, they still cannot hold a conversation in Italian?
We spoke to Vera Carnielli, the head of the Italian department at Regina Coeli, about how to progress beyond the basics and really learn to speak Italian.
Duolingo: a playful start
Duolingo is an ideal way to playfully explore Italian. The short lessons and rewards make learning accessible and fun. Here at Regina Coeli, too, we see its value. ‘We often advise students to use Duolingo to get a head start on building vocabulary before their training,’ says Vera. Still, there is one caveat: ‘The structure of the language is more difficult to learn through Duolingo. Their programme is designed for English speakers, and English grammar can be very different to that of other languages.’
In short, Duolingo is a good stepping stone, but if you want richness and depth, you need more.
Theory, not speaking skills
Regina Coeli also welcomes students who have already taken group lessons in Italian, such as at a language school or from a private tutor. ‘They often know the structure and theory behind the language and can thus complete all kinds of grammar exercises flawlessly. But speaking Italian? Unfortunately, that does not tend to go so well. They simply have not had the opportunity to practise it enough because the groups are often large and they have too few lessons,’ says Vera.
You learn language from people
Regina Coeli students are taught by trainers from Italy who are, not unimportantly, native speakers as well. An added bonus is that they also have a good command of other languages. As a result, they can draw parallels with other languages quite easily. And that ensures you learn faster. What also helps is that you can immediately apply everything you learn to your own personal circumstances. If you are learning Italian for work, you learn completely different words and phrases than if you are learning the language to be able to communicate with your extended family or with the man who tends the garden at your holiday home in Italy.
Culture, gestures and cappuccino etiquette
All the while, your language trainers share all kinds of things about Italian culture. This goes far beyond telling you not to drink cappuccino after 11:00 a.m. And once our trainers hit their stride, you will automatically start learning Italian gestures. Duolingo is no match for that!
Benvenuto a Regina Coeli
Do you want to learn Italian properly? Then come to Regina Coeli. During your intensive training course at ‘the Nuns of Vught’, you learn to speak authentic Italian, complete with gestures and a solid foundation in Italian culture.
Arrivederci and see you in Vught!
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