The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. – William A. Ward
This quote greatly reflects the importance of good education. It’s also for this reason that teachers are often the most celebrated and often more under-appreciated professions at the same time.
That’s because education is often so multi-dimensional and at the same time, personal according to each student. Similarly, this principle applies to the teaching and learning of languages. To teach someone a brand-new language from its basic components requires lots of patience, technicality and observations.
Many language teachers will tell you that the teaching process is both a science and an art.
If you are currently planning to learn Italian, you might be looking at the prospects of hiring a private Italian tutor or enrolling in formal Italian lessons.
In this article, we will be reviewing some important characteristics of a good Italian teacher and exploring some of the best platforms to look for one.
What Should You Look For In A Language Teacher?
I think it’s fair to talk about language learning from a general perspective first before we go into Italian.
You have to remember that as Malaysians, we are blessed to live in a multicultural society. This implies that we are naturally accustomed to multiple languages from a very young age. In fact, Malay and English are core subjects since preschool levels.
There are also vernacular institutions that use Mandarin and Tamil as their medium of instruction too. We have specially trained teachers to teach us all these four subjects in schools.
So when it comes to learning Italian, it could be our fourth language to master outside our usual education scene. More than often, it means we have to look for an Italian teacher based on our own initiative.
Here are a few pointers that you should look into when you’re looking for an Italian teacher.
The first thing to look for is expertise. This means the Italian teacher needs to have a comprehensive knowledge of the Italian language.
What is knowledge of the Italian language?
Your teacher should be capable of instructing you on:
- The entire Italian alphabet
- Various Italian grammar rules and vocabulary according to the contexts
- Italian verb conjugation, usage of adjectives
- The accurate Italian pronunciation and listening comprehension
- How to read and write in Italian
- Effective translation of Italian and English
Not only that, he or she needs to be well-versed in the Italian language and culture, as well as demonstrate a degree of fluency and confidence in speaking.
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The second thing to look for is experience. If you are learning Italian from scratch, it would be best to learn from someone who is used to teaching absolute beginners.
That way, he or she would be able to relate to you during the tutoring process. They would understand the common challenges or mistakes that are experienced by beginners when they are learning Italian.
Furthermore, an experienced Italian teacher would know how to adjust their teaching methodology and structure according to the student’s pace and preferences. For example, he or she would know the right teaching materials and resources to give out based on each student’s progress.
Having said that, your tutor should be able to evaluate your actual learning level and slowly adjust the intensity of your lessons as you move forward from a beginner to an advanced learner of Italian.
The third thing to look for is compatibility in terms of communication.
By that, of course, we mean that your ideal Italian tutor should be bilingual: preferably someone who can speak English /Malay/Mandarin and Italian.
He or she could be a Malaysian who has learned (or is learning) Italian or a native Italian speaker who speaks fluent English. That way, your tutor would be able to comfortably switch between the languages when they need to explain complex matters such as grammar or when they are trying to correct your pronunciation.
One important note to remember is to check if your Italian tutor speaks Standard Italian.
That’s because Italy boasts more than thirty regional dialects, all of which are recognised as official languages by the country shaped like a boot.
It’s best to have a strong foundation of Italian through standard Italian pronunciation to avoid any confusion. When you master standard Italian, you won’t have any problem travelling to any part of Italy. Everyone would be able to understand you perfectly. You’ll probably sound like native speakers.
Let’s say you are only ever interested in visiting the Tuscan region, or sojourning in Sicily, then you might probably want to master some Italian dialects.
And that brings us to our next question.
Why Do You Want To Learn Italian?
You don’t randomly wake up one day with the desire to study Italian.
Let’s get real.
Deep down, there must be a motivation that drives you to want to master Italian.
There are numerous reasons why people choose to learn the Italian language
- They are aware that Italy is one of the top-five economic power in Europe in terms of GDP
- They hope to land a job in the fashion (Gucci, Prada) or automotive (Ferrari, Lamborghini) industries
- They are die-hard foodies hoping to explore the variety of Italian cuisine (pizza, pasta, gelato, tiramisu, expresso), from Sardinia to Genoa, by learning from the masters
- They are planning to embark on a trip to Italy: floating down the canals of Venice or enjoying Tuscany's sun-drenched hills
- They simply wish to immerse themselves in Italian culture and tradition (opera, music) after watching a documentary or a movie that is set in Italy
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Malaysian students who have studied Sejarah would know that the Renaissance movement began in Italy and would know about the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo. Yup, they are all Italians!
If you are a history and art lover, this could be a sign for you to learn Italian too!
Mastering Italian As A Bridge Of Communication
Are you marrying into an Italian family? If so, you may want to learn to speak Italian so that you can converse with your new relatives.
Planning to work in a local Italian company in Malaysia or pursue a career in diplomacy? You can enrol for either Italian business lessons or Italian conversational lessons.
Remember that at the end of the day, mastering a language is essentially about communication. To be able to express yourself confidently.
What Are Some Language Tips To Take Note Of If You Decide To Learn Italian On Your Own?
When it comes to learning a language, naturally, anyone would want the best teacher for his/her money.
Language learning is after all a journey of cost and commitment.
On that, we are in complete agreement.
The question remains: what do you mean by “the best teacher”?
Granted that everyone has different learning styles and preferences, everyone would have a different definition when it comes to “the best teacher.”
For some of us, we prefer to take learning into our own hands.
That means, learning Italian at our own pace. This could mean two things.
First, self-paced and independent language learning without any tutor guidance. Second, hiring an online Italian tutor.
Let’s go through the first method in this paragraph.
If you choose to learn Italian on your own, here are some tips that you can follow.
Tip 1: Set a realistic language learning goal and list down your learning outcomes
If you are set to learn Italian independently, you need to be honest about how and what you will learn within a specific time frame. You can’t expect to master 1000 new vocabulary in one month on your own.
When it comes to learning outcomes, make sure you are specific in terms of the various language components: progressively listening, speaking, reading and writing. You can print them out and put them in a place where you can view them consistently to stay on track.
Tip 2: Enrol in a flexible Italian online course and download a wide range of online learning materials
You can separate the influence of online education when it comes to independent language learning. To have a consistent learning pace, it’s best to join an online Italian course with a systematic curriculum so that you won’t miss out on all the core components in terms of vocabulary, grammar and culture.
Apart from that, you can also download lots of free Youtube Italian tutorial videos or free Italian reading and writing notes on various language learning platforms. The Internet is literally your language-learning playground!
Tip 3: Keep track of your learning progress
Every time you achieve a learning outcome, make sure you note them down and continue to persevere. It’s essential to maintain the momentum as you progress from a beginner to an advanced level.
Don’t forget to explore these amazing Italian resources here.
The Benefits Of Hiring An Online Tutor When You Are Learning Italian
Another method of finding an Italian teacher is through online learning platforms.
We highly recommend you to head to Superprof to find a reliable online Italian tutor.
At Superprof, it’s super convenient to find an Italian tutor that matches your preferences. The whole hiring process is very user-friendly and efficient at the same time.
Here are a few benefits of hiring an online Italian tutor via Superprof.
Benefit 1: You get a wide selection of tutors with diverse backgrounds and experience
Some students may prefer to learn from a student tutor instead of an Italian teacher.
At Superprof, you will be able to select tutors with diverse teaching experience and age ranges. That’s because tutors can register with Superprof even if they have no teaching experience.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of learning Italian words and phrases from a student is that the cost is likely to be lower than if you were taking an Italian course through a language school.
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For example, if you are planning to pursue culinary in Italy one day, you might prefer to learn from an Italian chef or an Italian foodie to learn more about that particular field instead of mastering Italian as a formal language. At Superprof, you can find a tutor like that!
That’s why it is so important to know your priorities and main reasons for learning a language.
Benefit 2: The online tutoring fees are generally cheaper
This is obviously an important reason why people tend to prefer online lessons these days. You get to save a lot on transportation and administration fees.
You also don’t have to spend a fortune on thick and expensive Italian textbooks. All you need is just a mobile device and a stable Internet connection and you can download all the Italian learning resources easily!
Furthermore, 95% of Superprof tutors offer their first lessons for free, so it is generally a good investment!
Benefit 3: Your Italian lessons will be more personalized and flexible
When you arrange for online lessons, you get to have the final say in your language learning direction. As it will be a one-to-one lesson, you get to enjoy undivided attention with minimal distractions too.
For example, if you are preparing for an Italian examination, you can request your Italian tutor to give you extra exercises and sample questions. Likewise, if you are determined to improve your Italian conversational skills, you can arrange for solely speaking practices with your Italian tutor.
Online lessons also mean that you can arrange for flexible learning, where you get to determine the frequency of the lessons and overall schedule.
You also don’t have to worry about the complications of rescheduling should any last-minute things were to happen. Online lessons are all about convenience and flexibility!
Don’t forget, you can also record and review your Italian lessons anytime and anywhere you want.
Get The Best Of Both Worlds In Your Italian Learning Journey
Now that we have reviewed some of the aspects of hiring an Italian teacher, it is also important to incorporate a comprehensive language learning guide to have the best Italian learning experience.
Here are some concluding tips to kickstart your Italian learning journey.
Tip 1: Identify your most effective language learning method
If you are a visual learner, you might learn better with an online tutor or through Youtube tutorial videos. On the other hand, if you tend to learn more effectively by writing and reading, it is probably time to invest in some good Italian language books.
Tip 2: Make the best out of all the available Italian learning materials and opportunities
Don’t miss out on any physical or online Italian learning materials, especially if they are free of charge.
Also, if you happen to come across an opportunity to meet a native Italian speaker or join an Italian cultural event like an Italy film festival, seize that chance to immerse yourself! Don’t be shy to speak Italian and don’t be afraid of making mistakes! Every master was once a beginner.
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Tip 3: Work together with your Italian tutor towards your learning goal
Give your very best during your Italian lessons and don’t be afraid to voice out your concerns about your learning goals. If you do not understand anything, be quick to seek clarification and explanation. Your Italian tutor is committed to helping you improve and in due time, you will see the fruits of your labour.
All the best in your Italian learning journey!
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