There are many ways to learn a new language, but you should really reflect on what works best for you. In this article, I list down the many ways in which I learned Italian for free during the past 3 years.
Although free learning materials are abundant, I found myself paying every day for coffee and snacks around the city of Turin for getting out and sitting in a study environment that is more suitable for me. This does add up, but the money is well spent.
Courses in Class
For those who must have a structured Italian course in presence, there are free or cheap Italian courses offered by universities and other institutes, usually starting once a year around September. CPIA is such a cheap course, but it was not to our liking. There are also intensive courses for about €1,000, designed to learn Italian quickly. The cheap/free courses take about one year, and they will teach you what the intensive courses teach in about 2 months.
Practice Italian Conversation
Municipal library
After learning the basics (level A1) from free online media, I started to practice conversation with Italian volunteers in the municipal libraries of Turin. There are such conversation groups in every branch of the municipal library, but I found the libraries in the city center to be of a higher level.
Language exchange meetings
In the city of Turin, as most probably also in any other large Italian city, there are multiple groups that meet weekly to have a language exchange, typically between local Italians and new English-speaking expats. This could be a great place to make new friends as well, and a great means to immerse yourself in the Italian society. Some of these groups are public on Facebook, yet for some hidden groups on WhatsApp and Telegram you’ll have to be invited by other members.
Tandem
This term generally refers to any language exchange meeting between two people, in person or online. There are many websites and apps to find suitable online tandem partners, such as Tandem, yet many of those platforms are swarming with creeps that use these for finding a date. On the other hand, my best friend found on such a website (Language.Exchange) her new husband, and they have been living together happily ever after.
An alternative to the specific tandem platforms is to post on local expat groups that you’re looking for language exchange partners, or in the less formal framing: “to sit down for a coffee or beer”.
Free Media
I studied most of my Italian online for free. After giving up on the Duolingo app that was great for the beginners’ level in German yet just terrible for learning Italian, I moved to other free media. I borrow language books from the local library to practice Italian grammar the old-fashioned way, read news articles online, watch series on RAI and YouTube and listen to Italian podcasts.
Channels for learning basic Italian
Learn Italian with Lucrezia
Levels A1-B2
YouTube
In my opinion, Lucrezia has the best online channel for learning basic to intermediate Italian. She covers the basics with a fun travel blog, Q&A and live sessions.
Italian Matters / Italian Grammar Made Easy
Levels A1-B1
Podcast, YouTube
This is the best I know for grammar. Short podcasts of a few minutes that focus on pretty important stuff. She is a great language tutor.
Passione Italiana
Levels A1-B1
YouTube
A cheerful professional Italian tutor that emphasizes grammar.
Learn Italian with Teacher Stefano
Levels A1-B1
Podcast, YouTube
A good Italian teacher for grammar, explaining the nuances in a simplified way.
My Italian Podcast
Levels A1-A2
Podcast
Short lessons of about 10 minutes each with specific subjects. A close friend of mine took private online sessions with the creator of this podcast, Sabrina Poggi, and his Italian improved significantly thanks to her.
Easy Italian
Levels A1-B1
YouTube
An informal way to learn a language through real life conversations. It is based on the format of DW, the German national broadcast service.
Learn Italian with Vaporetto Italiano
Levels A2-C1
YouTube
More advanced lessons and interviews, with fun quizzes for testing yourself.
Podcast Italiano
Levels B1-C2
YouTube
An interesting podcast that is intended to teach advanced arguments in the Italian language while learning the history and culture of Italy in a profound way.
Channels for advanced Italian speakers
Entropy for Life – Giacomo Moro Mauretto
Science
A professional blog focused on biology, evolution and scientific research.
Clorofilla Podcast
Environment
A few podcast episodes about environmental topics.
Lucy Sulla Cultura
Culture and art
Written articles, podcast and video channels about culture and art.
Francesco Costa – Da Costa a Costa
Politics and culture of the U.S.A.
An Italian channel that celebrates the culture of the U.S.A. and explains its current days’ politics.
Will Media
Politics
News coverage of the current politics with the focus of simplifying complex topics.
Nova Lectio
Politics
This is a profound news channel that discusses recent news along with coverage of historic events. Apart from some antisemitic remarks, I find it a great way to practice fast-paced Italian with a higher level of vocabulary and good pronunciation.
Breaking Italy
Politics
Analyzing recent political events in a critical thinking approach.
Starting Finance
Politics
An interesting political channel, yet not the best for learning Italian as the pronunciation is not clear.
Internazionale
Politics
An online newspaper with good articles suitable for intermediate level readers as well.
Alessandro Barbero – We Are History
History
Lectures of the renown historian Alessandro Barbero, which tells the history of Europe and the world as if it happened today. Not so easy Italian, but a must for history lovers.
Sara & Paolo Adventures
Travel
A cute couple that travels in the most beautiful spots in Italy and recently also worldwide. Thanks to their relatively slow speech, you can enjoy learning Italian along breathtaking views.
THE PILLOW
Travel
Slow documentaries about solitude in extreme geographical conditions.
A food blog that travel and eat around Italy and teaches also about the local traditions. You can learn a lot of Italian slang expressions, inherently many about the local food culture.
Daniele Tinti
Standup Comedy
Edoardo Ferrario
Standup Comedy
Le Coliche
Comedy
Italian Series and films
If you still don’t have any paid membership to online streaming media services, you can register for free to RAI Play, the official media streaming channel of the Italian national broadcast service. This channel offers new series and films alongside some Italian classics. I composed for you the following list of original Italian productions that I really liked and are good for advanced Italian language learning.
Series
- Cuori (2021, 2 seasons)
- Un Professore (2021, 2 seasons)
- 1992 (2015, 3 seasons named also 1993 and 1994)
- Bangla – La serie (2022)
- L’amica Geniale (2018, 4 seasons)
- La Linea Verticale (2018)
- Strappare Lungo I Bordi (2021)
- Questo Mondo Non Mi Renderà Cattivo (2023)
- La Vita Bugiarda Degli Adulti (2023)
- Odio Il Natale (2022, 2 seasons)
- Marconi – L’uomo Che Ha Connesso Il Mondo (2024)
- La Legge Di Lidia Poët (2023, 2 seasons)
- Antonia (2024)
Films
- Dogman (2018)
- A Ciambra (2017)
- Il Teorema Di Margherita (2023)
- Lo Chiamavano Jeeg Robot (2015)
- Bangla (2019)
Natalie
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