Italian Language Classes Around The US Are Here For You!

Italian language classes are the best way that you can learn about the culture, meet new friends and experience Italy in ways that tourists only dream.

When I decided I wanted to move to Italy, my second priority, after getting my Italian passport, was to develop my language skills. I looked into a number of options, including taking a class at a University, using online tools, following bad suggestions like only listening to Italian music or watching Italian movies and I even looked into how the Foreign Service teaches languages. In the end, I decided a varied approach, which included books, podcasts, movies, private tutors, iTalki and classroom study would keep me on my toes.

Popular Italian Language Classes

I’ve previously written about language exchanges and online learning, but this post will focus on language schools that can help you on your journey. These schools are available for adults as well as children as young as preschool age. The sizes of the classes can vary as well, from only 2 or 3 students to as many as 15. They can also be taken in the evenings or during the day multiple times a week like a traditional college course or once a week for the busy student looking for a smaller time commitment.

University Italian Language Classes

Most larger universities have a language department and in a large enough school, Italian will be an available course of study. When I was a full-time undergraduate student I took Italian as a part of my normal workload. At that time I didn’t know my future and unfortunately I didn’t take the course too seriously. I thought that since I knew a bit of Spanish from high school, that the course would be an easy A. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The lessons I learned, however, were important: There are no half-measures. Take language learning seriously and make the commitment of time and effort.

My second experience with language learning at a University was when I was an ‘adult’ in my late 20’s and living in New York City. NYU had an Italian language and culture department that offered courses in the evening for part-time students. This fit my schedule perfectly, and since it was considered Continuing Education, the other students were adults as well. This time my focus was on preparing for an upcoming and first trip to Italy. I thought a couple classes would get me far enough along to handle anything. This was also very wrong. After two semesters I was comfortable with letters, numbers, days, months and some basic verbs. Not quite enough to fully engage deeply in the small Sicilian mountains towns that were an important part of that trip.

Once I decided to return to my Italian studies, I was now in my late 40’s and I was no longer interested in being the ‘Old Guy’ in a class of much younger students, so I looked for an alternative.

Smaller Single Location Italian Language Classes

Moving away from the University setting, I wanted to find a school that focused on Italian Language learning and development. These are examples based on my familiarity with schools in New England, but you should use these only as examples because there are many other schools around the country like these that you can find with a quick Google search.

• Passport To Languages – This is a small but passionate school based in Rhode Island that offers classes in Italian and Spanish. The classes are typically in-person, but during the pandemic they switched to online learning, like many other schools.
• Burlington Sons of Italy Lodge 2223 – The purpose of this lodge is to enroll all eligible persons to promote national education, encourage the dissemination of Italian culture in the United States and Canada while protecting and upholding the positive image and the prestige of the people of Italian heritage in the United States and Canada. There are other lodges around the country that have a similar mission, so you might benefit from seeing if there are any Sons of Italy lodges in your area.
• La Scuola Piccoli Italiani di Boston – Children as young as 2 years old, depending on their existing skill level, can immerse themselves in this school, which began holding classes in 2014 and whose objective is not only to help children maintain or improve their Italian, but above all, give them a way to grow and form friendships.
• The Italian Cultural Society in DC – The Italian Cultural Society of Washington D.C. is a center for cultural and social events in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. It also offers courses to learn or improve your Italian language skills. Its stated mission is: “to enhance the appreciation and knowledge of Italian language and culture”. They create opportunities to explore the many facets of Italian culture primarily through the Italian Language Program, founded in 1974, thanks to contributions from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Larger Italian Language Classes And Schools

• Foreign Service Institute – This is for Government Employees only, but I wanted to include it because their history and influence pervades a lot of language learning options in the US. The School of Language Studies provides language and culture training to U.S. government employees with job-related needs. It addresses all aspects of language training, from classroom instruction and distance learning, to learning consultation services and testing.

• EF Languages – Their experiential learning programs, which include guided tours worldwide, focus on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics. They also offer degree programs at secondary, university, and postgraduate levels as well as cultural exchanges.

What Is The Best Way To Learn The Italian Language?

The landscape for language learning has changed a lot in the last 20 years. There is content available online that can help you on your journey, and flights to Italy have never been cheaper if you want a more immersive experience. All of these options are great, but if you are like me and enjoy a classroom setting, some of these courses might be the best way for you to learn Italian. You won’t know until you try it, so check them out!

How Can I Learn Italian Fast?

There is no magic formula for learning Italian fast, apart from spending all your available time trying to learn it. This can (and should) include classroom lessons, reading, speaking with Italians, and watching Italian movies and TV. It is hard work and takes a lot of time, but your speed of learning is directly proportional to the amount of time you dedicate to it.

How Long Does It Take To Fully Learn Italian?

The term “Fully Learn” is not well defined, so lets equate it to the C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is an international standard for describing language ability and C2 means that your skills are those of a native speaker. As you can imagine, this can take years of study, complex conversations with native Italian speakers and a thorough understanding of the culture that can only be understood if you live in Italy. In other words, it will take years.

Can I Learn Basic Italian In 3 Months?

The term “Basic” is not well defined, so lets equate it to the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is an international standard for describing language ability and A1 means that you are a new learner. You will learn the alphabet, some basic verbs in present tense and a limited vocabulary. I think, with a good amount of independent study, you can master the A1 level in 3 months.

Can I Teach Myself Italian?

Independent study is possible, and it is a lot of work, but I have found that without speaking to native Italians and having someone correct you while you learn (like with a tutor) your ability to progress will be limited.

Is Italian Beginners Hard?

This obviously depends on the student’s passion, commitment and experience learning languages. That said, for me a romance language like Italian (or Spanish) is not as hard as other languages because of the phonetic pronunciation and the influence Italian has had in English. Don’t be scared and give it a try!

Recommendations For Italian Language Learning

My view, and that of others that I’ve read, is that you should definitely augment any classroom based learning with other channels. This will exercise other parts of your brain and more importantly keep this language learning journey interesting.

For example, be sure to include reading Italian books, listening to podcasts in Italian about a subject you are interested in, watching Italian movies without English subtitles and doing language exchanges with Italian speakers who want to learn English. This will keep you passionate about learning Italian and help make the journey fun.