Learning the Language of a New Country is the 1st Step into its Culture
I am really motivated and enthusiastic to study and teach. Learning process is a journey, a path, step by step.
Imparare la lingua è il primo passo per sentirsi parte di un nuovo paese!
When I moved to Italy, I knew one thing for certain: without learning the local language, I wouldn’t truly be part of this world. I could speak some Italian before coming here. I had studied it 2 years in a group. As a younger woman I also spend some months in a family taking care of the home and the child.
A new country means a new culture, a new way of life and at the heart of all that is language. You can’t fully understand a culture unless you speak the language. And Italy, with all its beauty, complexity, and regional diversity, makes that especially true. English is not spoken widely.
I’m incredibly proud to share that on December 6th, 2025 on Finland’s Independence Day I passed the Italian B1 Cittadinanza (needed for the citizenship) language exam with excellent grades: 44 out of 48 points.
But getting here wasn’t easy.
Italian isn’t just one language. Every region, even every town has its own dialect, often with deep roots in Latin, not necessarily in standard Italian.
In Tuscany, for example, people often pronounce "Ho capito" as "Oh hapito" instead of the textbook "Oh kapito." For a language enthusiast like me, these differences are fascinating, but also confusing.
Not everyone speaks slowly or clearly. Not everyone even knows when they are using dialect versus standard Italian. As a foreigner, you need to learn to listen carefully. You learn to feel the language.
Here are a few things that helped me on my journey and maybe they can help you too:
Here we made with our study peers our exam on 6.12.2025, a bit outside of Firenze.
Start early. If possible, study the language 1–2 years before moving. Online lessons, evening classes, or private tutors.
Find a course as soon as you arrive. I was lucky to find free Italian lessons in my small village south of Firenze, taught by a retired language and litterature teacher at the local ARCI (Casa del Popolo).
Use all your senses. Read street signs, menus, and headlines. Listen to Italian TV and music. Sing! I’ve always loved singing in many languages, and Italian is especially musical as a language.
Don’t fear mistakes. You will mess up verb tenses. You’ll forget words. That’s part of it. Speak anyway. Mistakes are how we learn.
Immerse yourself. Ask locals to speak to you in Italian, not English. Switch to English only if you really need to. Listen to people in cafés, repeat what you hear. Do not give up!
Keep your brain active. Language learning is also brain health. It keeps you sharp, curious, and connected. Learning can be fun also!
Learning a language is not just about grammar. It’s about belonging. And for me, passing the B1 exam was more than a test result. If you want to learn Finnish, English or German, please do not hesitate to contact me.
This was my first Italian book in year 1987 when I started my journey with Italian language in Finland.
ITALIANO
Imparare la lingua è il primo passo per sentirsi parte di un nuovo paese!
I miei consigli per chi vuole imparare una nuova lingua:
Inizia a studiare prima di arrivare, se puoi.
Appena possibile, cerca un corso locale o un insegnante.
Ascolta, leggi, canta, parla! Anche con errori.
Chiedi alle persone di parlarti in italiano, non in inglese.
E soprattutto… non mollare! 💪
Imparare una lingua è anche un esercizio per la mente. È fatica, sì, ma anche gioia e connessione.
P.S. Il 6 dicembre 2025, il giorno dell’Indipendenza della Finlandia, ho superato l’esame di italiano B1 per la cittadinanza con 44/48 punti. Sono molto felice!
Se vuoi imparare il finlandese, l'inglese o il tedesco, non esitare a contattarmi. Sono un'insegnante professionista, lifecoach e ho un MBA (Master in international business.)
