5 Benefits of Learning Italian

‘Why should I learn Italian?’ It’s a question many ask who are either planning to travel, would like a new hobby, have relatives, friends or work colleagues with Italian as their native language – the list goes on.

Learning a second language can be a truly rewarding and life-changing experience, and there are several benefits that come with challenging yourself and opening your mind to a new way of speaking and engaging with the world around you. From helping to stave off brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, to inspiring travel and exploration, learning a language like Italian can literally change your life.

To help answer that question above, here are 5 reasons to show you how beneficial learning Italian can be.

Why Should I Learn Italian?

1. It is an Easy Language to Learn

Often when someone wonders why they should learn Italian, they are concerned it will be difficult. Fortunately, Italian is one of the easier languages to practice, particularly for English speakers.

Italian is one of the Romance languages, along with Spanish, Portuguese, French and Romanian. Originating from Latin, each of these languages shares many similar vocabularies, grammar and sentence structures. This means that once you can understand one of these languages, you will be able to begin to understand the others. As you begin to learn Italian, you will quickly recognise the Latin influences on the English language, with an estimated 60% of English words having Latin roots. The benefit of having these cross-connections between languages means that you will be able to learn Italian, or at least the basics, faster than other languages.

2. It is a Great Reason to Travel

One of the more exciting benefits of learning Italian is that it provides you with the perfect reason to get out and see Italy itself. It is true that speaking a language to the locals is one of the best ways to assess your skills and really immerse yourself in a language. As you take in the beautiful Italian landscape, you will have the opportunity to experience the culture firsthand, bringing context and depth to your studies and allowing you to appreciate the beauty of the Italian language more fully. Not only will this benefit your cognitive development, but it will also allow you to become more open-minded and knowledgeable of the world around you.

3. Experience the Arts in a New Way

With its rich history of music, literature and art, Italy is widely considered the home of over 60% of the world’s artistic treasures. As you begin to learn the Italian language, you will be able to appreciate more deeply the different wonders of Italian art, including the works of masters like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vivaldi, and Puccini, to name a few. By understanding the language, you will be able to benefit from understanding the original scores and translations to fully appreciate the beauty and meaning of various artworks throughout history.

The language itself is a rhythmic one, with its use of consonants and vowels creating an almost musical feel, which is why it can seem like you are singing as you speak. It is because of this musical element that Italian is so often considered the language of poetry, prose, and opera.

Again, to learn Italian enables you to connect more deeply with culture, not only in Italy, but around the world, opening you up to new experiences and creative opportunities.

4. Boost Your Brain Health

Another reason why you should learn Italian is that learning any language has the considerable benefit of working to keep your brain functioning healthily. Whether it is helping prevent the onset of diseases as we mentioned above, or improving processes like problem-solving and cognitive output, there really is no end to this particular benefit of learning a language. Research suggests that individuals who can speak more than one language perform better in relation to multitasking, following complex instructions and being able to understand and implement strategies. You do not have to be fluent to experience these brain-boosting benefits, either; Even as you begin learning a language like Italian, you are working to improve your mental abilities, which only continue to grow and benefit as your studies progress.

5. Challenge Yourself and Grow as a Person

When we think about the ways that learning Italian can change your life, there is none quite so profound as the impact it can have on your personal growth as an individual. As you learn Italian, you are forcing yourself out of your comfort zone, preparing yourself to overcome a range of obstacles that may challenge you more than you are accustomed to. In tackling these obstacles, you are challenging yourself and actively pursuing personal change.

Not only will pushing yourself in this way improve your Italian speaking skills, but you will experience a variety of benefits. Some of these could include becoming a healthier person, both mentally and emotionally, building confidence as you reach your goals, gaining awareness about yourself and the world around you, and even finding inspiration and a new sense of direction in life. By immersing yourself in the Italian language and culture, you will be able to open yourself up to the carefree, expressive way of life so beloved by the Italian people. Why not embrace this lifestyle for yourself and allow learning Italian to become a doorway to let yourself experience life at its fullest?

Learn Italian with the Centre of Italian Studies

Now that you have the answer to the question, ‘Why should I learn Italian?’, and know the vast array of benefits that await you when studying the language, we at the Centre of Italian Studies are primed to help you begin your journey. We have an extensive, flexible timetable that offers a wide range of classes for children and adults who would like to learn Italian, each one led by a teacher who is a native speaker and eager to share their love of Italy and its beautiful language. With over 40 years of experience, we at CIS specialise not only in teaching languages, but celebrating the rich and diverse Italian culture.

To learn more about who we are and what we can offer you as you begin your journey, contact us today on (03) 9347 9144 or leave us a message online and one of our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible. We would love to hear from you!