Going to the country (Immersion, Schools & Certificates) Language Learning Forum

Going to the country
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Language Learning Forum : Immersion, Schools & Certificates

numerodix Trilingual Hexaglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 6785 days ago 856 posts - 1226 votes Speaks: English^C2, Norwegian, Polish*, Italian, Dutch, French Studies: Portuguese, Mandarin	Message 1 of 3 15 April 2010 at 1:18pm \| IP Logged
	Later this year I'm going to be in Rome for a number of days, specifically set aside to just "enjoy the language". By that time I will have been learning Italian for close to a year and I don't expect to have any problems getting around. For those who've done this kind of thing before, what kind of things do you do when you're there? Aside from "being a tourist" and seeing the sights, what language-specific things do you do and what are some things you shouldn't miss out on? The motivation is obviously to learn more, to enjoy the language, maybe to test your knowledge a bit.. Edited by numerodix on 15 April 2010 at 1:19pm 1 person has voted this message useful
noriyuki_nomura Bilingual Octoglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 5342 days ago 304 posts - 465 votes Speaks: English, Mandarin, Japanese, French^C2, German^C2, Italian^C1, Spanish^B2, Dutch^B1 Studies: Turkish^A1, Korean	Message 2 of 3 15 April 2010 at 4:26pm \| IP Logged
	Hi Numerodix, Rome is a charming city that has always fascinated me, and it's definitely an ideal location to practise your Italian (though beware that the romans speak their local dialect). As an Asian, I discovered that many Italians are very quick to speak English with me, be it at the newspapers stand, shops, cafes...but then, these are mainly tourist places - such as Campo dei fiori, Pizza Navona, Fontana di Trevi etc. However, do reply in Italian, and there you are: you get to practise the language with locals! What I did when I was there: 1. ask for directions with someone eg. "scusi, dov'è si trova piazza navona?" and then from there, if the local has time to spare, you can always continue the conversation with him/her. Actually, I used this method the minute I stepped out of the customs at Fiumicino Airport. I approached an airport staff and asked her where the train station to Rome is, and she was so thrilled to see an Asian making the effort to come to Rome (as tourist) just to practise his Italian, and was happy to speak Italian with me. 2. next, when you are at the bookstores or any other stores (such as fashion stores), you could always ask the sales person about a certain book, or a certain piece of clothing item...they would be pleased to explain to you in Italian... 3. Vist Italian restaurants or cafes, I am sure you could at least practise some Italian by placing orders... That's what I did when I was in Rome...hopefully it helps :) Edited by noriyuki_nomura on 15 April 2010 at 4:30pm 1 person has voted this message useful
staf250 Pentaglot Senior Member Belgium emmerick.be Joined 5699 days ago 352 posts - 414 votes Speaks: French, Dutch*, Italian, English, German Studies: Arabic (Written)	Message 3 of 3 18 April 2010 at 3:02pm \| IP Logged
	Ya Martin, I wish you a nice stay in Rom! Four years ago, for the first time, I was able and absolutely willing to speak Italian. What follows happened also on a second trip in 2008. 1. In the plain I would not talk Italian to the hostesses, they are trained and seeking what could be YOUR language. You can try. 2. On the desk for a car, ticket or luggage, speak and keep speaking Italian, maybe meanwhile saying that you're learning the language. 3. Try to avoid speaking to slow or hesitating, (you shall do so the first hours), this is important, hence the person to whom you are speaking will change to maybe English. 4. Last hint. Did you do some training of speaking aloud and bind together words and putting a strong stress on the exact syllable? Maybe we could talk a bit via Skype or telephone, for exercise. When you come, one day, to Belgium, be my guest. I live 35 km from Antwerp ... Good Luck 1 person has voted this message useful

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numerodix Trilingual Hexaglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 6785 days ago 856 posts - 1226 votes Speaks: English^C2, Norwegian, Polish*, Italian, Dutch, French Studies: Portuguese, Mandarin	Message 1 of 3 15 April 2010 at 1:18pm \| IP Logged
	Later this year I'm going to be in Rome for a number of days, specifically set aside to just "enjoy the language". By that time I will have been learning Italian for close to a year and I don't expect to have any problems getting around. For those who've done this kind of thing before, what kind of things do you do when you're there? Aside from "being a tourist" and seeing the sights, what language-specific things do you do and what are some things you shouldn't miss out on? The motivation is obviously to learn more, to enjoy the language, maybe to test your knowledge a bit.. Edited by numerodix on 15 April 2010 at 1:19pm 1 person has voted this message useful
noriyuki_nomura Bilingual Octoglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 5342 days ago 304 posts - 465 votes Speaks: English, Mandarin, Japanese, French^C2, German^C2, Italian^C1, Spanish^B2, Dutch^B1 Studies: Turkish^A1, Korean	Message 2 of 3 15 April 2010 at 4:26pm \| IP Logged
	Hi Numerodix, Rome is a charming city that has always fascinated me, and it's definitely an ideal location to practise your Italian (though beware that the romans speak their local dialect). As an Asian, I discovered that many Italians are very quick to speak English with me, be it at the newspapers stand, shops, cafes...but then, these are mainly tourist places - such as Campo dei fiori, Pizza Navona, Fontana di Trevi etc. However, do reply in Italian, and there you are: you get to practise the language with locals! What I did when I was there: 1. ask for directions with someone eg. "scusi, dov'è si trova piazza navona?" and then from there, if the local has time to spare, you can always continue the conversation with him/her. Actually, I used this method the minute I stepped out of the customs at Fiumicino Airport. I approached an airport staff and asked her where the train station to Rome is, and she was so thrilled to see an Asian making the effort to come to Rome (as tourist) just to practise his Italian, and was happy to speak Italian with me. 2. next, when you are at the bookstores or any other stores (such as fashion stores), you could always ask the sales person about a certain book, or a certain piece of clothing item...they would be pleased to explain to you in Italian... 3. Vist Italian restaurants or cafes, I am sure you could at least practise some Italian by placing orders... That's what I did when I was in Rome...hopefully it helps :) Edited by noriyuki_nomura on 15 April 2010 at 4:30pm 1 person has voted this message useful
staf250 Pentaglot Senior Member Belgium emmerick.be Joined 5699 days ago 352 posts - 414 votes Speaks: French, Dutch*, Italian, English, German Studies: Arabic (Written)	Message 3 of 3 18 April 2010 at 3:02pm \| IP Logged
	Ya Martin, I wish you a nice stay in Rom! Four years ago, for the first time, I was able and absolutely willing to speak Italian. What follows happened also on a second trip in 2008. 1. In the plain I would not talk Italian to the hostesses, they are trained and seeking what could be YOUR language. You can try. 2. On the desk for a car, ticket or luggage, speak and keep speaking Italian, maybe meanwhile saying that you're learning the language. 3. Try to avoid speaking to slow or hesitating, (you shall do so the first hours), this is important, hence the person to whom you are speaking will change to maybe English. 4. Last hint. Did you do some training of speaking aloud and bind together words and putting a strong stress on the exact syllable? Maybe we could talk a bit via Skype or telephone, for exercise. When you come, one day, to Belgium, be my guest. I live 35 km from Antwerp ... Good Luck 1 person has voted this message useful