Would you like to know how long does it take to learn Italian? The Italian language is amongst the 21 most spoken languages in the world. Therefore, it is a very attractive romance language to learn for your personal and professional life.
It is possible to learn Italian and gain basic language skills in approximately 600 hours. But this timing can change based on the learning process used. Therefore, a lot depends on dedication and how much you can practice Italian.
This article goes over how long it takes to learn Italian and what you can do to learn Italian faster.
What Types Of Italian Levels Are There?
Based on the criteria established by the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), there are three levels in a language learning process. Each level is divided into two parts. The three levels are categorized into A, B, and C, and they are divided into the following levels:
- A1 – Beginner level
- A2 – Pre-intermediate level
- B1 – Intermediate
- B2 – Upper intermediate
- C1 – Advanced
- C2 – Proficiency
When a person reaches the A1 level (beginner level) they can understand the most common Italian words and essential phrases. In addition, the person can speak Italian well enough to introduce himself or herself and ask basic questions about the life of the people.
The A2 level is a step further; the person can use and understand the most common expressions and exchange information. Finally, at the B1 level, one can speak Italian well enough to deal with different situations, describe experiences, and express opinions and plans.
Speaking Italian at the B2 level means being able to express complex ideas and speak pretty fluently. At the C1 level, a person can express thoughts and ideas using a vast vocabulary and understand complex texts or sentences.
Finally, at the C2 level, a person is close to the native language level. A person can understand everything being said or written and express thoughts in different shades of meaning and humor.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Italian At The Different Levels?
Learning Italian, as well as any language, is always a commitment that requires perseverance and determination.
Each person can approach the language learning process differently, but some guidelines will give you a pretty good idea of how long it takes to learn the Italian language.
For a person to progress through the levels described above, it is necessary to study between 80 and 120 hours. Which means:
- A1 – Beginner level (80 – 120 hours)
- A2 – Pre-intermediate level (160 – 240 hours)
- B1 – Intermediate (320 – 480)
- B2 – Upper intermediate (640 – 960)
- C1 – Advanced (1280 – 1920)
- C2 – Proficiency (2560 – 3840)
Based on these guidelines, a person should study and practice Italian for 3840 hours to reach the maximum level.
For example, if you study Italian for 20 hours a week, you could reach the beginner level in just six weeks. If you keep the same schedule, it is possible to get the maximum level, the C2, in 128 – 192 weeks.
These timings give an idea of the estimation of the effort required. But learning Italian can be faster or slower depending on the person, methods used to study, etc. In fact, going to Italy for a while can speed up the language-learning process, and increasing the number of study hours can also help.
Learning Italian can be easier for those who already speak French or Spanish, but it doesn’t mean that others can’t learn Italian well within this timeframe.
How Can I Learn Italian Faster?
While attending a course or working on a weekly homework assignment can be an excellent strategy for learning Italian, there are other things that language learners can do at the same time to speed up their progress.
Here are some great tips to speed up your Italian language learning:
1. Listen To A Native Speaker
The first piece of advice is to listen to the language you want to learn. The radio is definitely a great way to listen to Italian. With the internet, you can easily listen to any Italian radio station that broadcasts on FM.
You can also watch YouTube videos where there are Italian speakers. Listening to Italian music is another excellent way to learn more words. It is helpful at the beginning to look for the song’s lyrics.
If you go to an Italian-speaking country, you can practice a lot in speaking Italian and listening to others, so you can also improve your Italian pronunciation.
2. Read Italian
Another great thing you should do to learn Italian is certainly to read a lot. Read books, newspaper articles, and texts on the internet. If you want to learn Italian online by reading articles on websites, you can use translation software to help you understand the words.
3. Watch Italian Movies
One of the best learning methods is to watch films in their original language, initially with subtitles in Italian. It’s best if you watch films that are in a genre that interests you and that you already know.
4. Improve Your Grammar Knowledge
Putting extra effort into learning grammar can speed up the learning process. However, basic knowledge of the grammatical rules of the language is helpful, above all, to be able to speak it correctly and to write.
Therefore getting a good book of grammar rules with a few exercises is important. You must pay special attention to verbs, their tenses, and their correct use in Italian.
5. Excercise Your Writing Skills
Exercising writing skills can help tremendously speed up the learning process and help you learn Italian correctly.
6. Travel Abroad
If you can travel abroad, you can visit Italy. In this way, you can get close to Italian culture. In addition, it can be a fun and fascinating opportunity to become fluent in Italian faster. When you go abroad, take advantage of your stay in the country to speak the local language as much as possible, with native speakers if possible.
Would you like to learn more about the Italian language?
Learn Italian With The Ling App
You can use the Ling app if you want to become fluent in Italian or any other language.
It is a tool available for all mobile devices or desktops that can guide anyone in learning Italian or any other foreign language. If you are curious about Italian culture, you can check out Happy Birthday In Italian and Italian Insults.
What are you waiting for? Download it from App Store and Play Store for free!
