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Thursday, February 9th
Created by a team of passionate linguists, Memrise's game-like platform prioritizes the inherent joy of learning. Why drill-and-kill with yawn-worthy verb conjugations if you can study Italian in a much more entertaining way?
Game-like format makes learning a pleasure
You'll never find a long-winded explanation of grammar or a clunky, old-fashioned phrase like the ones you remember from out-of-date high school textbooks in Memrise's Italian course. Instead, you'll be taught immediately-relevant words and phrases through the thousands of Memrise's "Learn with Locals" video clips. They are just what the name suggests: amusing 10-15 second clips of native Italian speakers using the coursework phrases, filmed in locations like shops and cafes or in front of tourist spots like the Colosseum. Not only will you have the chance to tune your ear to authentic Italian accents, you will also absorb aspects of Italian culture and become familiar with the scenery.
Seven levels of lessons categorized by topic
Memrise's Italian program is made up of seven levels in increasing degrees of complexity. (Note: anyone can create a course on Memrise, so be sure to select the official Italian course at the top of the page.) You do not have to complete the courses in order or finish one to gain access to the next level. Each level contains lessons organized by subject, including topics like Falling in Love, Technology, Dealing with Hotel Troubles, Heated Confrontations, and Talking About the Future.
Memory-focused algorithm
Memrise's algorithm determines which of your new Italian vocabulary words need work, using different exercises like speaking, listening, writing, and flashcards to help it stick in your long-term memory. Newly acquired vocabulary is indicated with a seed icon to the right of the exercise screen while a word that is "fully grown" in your memory will be signified by a flower.
Learn and play your way
Memrise gives its users full autonomy over how their learning sessions go. Maybe you want to spend an entire lesson watching native speaker videos, half an hour reviewing your Difficult Words, or ten minutes brushing up on your listening skills - or, maybe a mix of everything is more your speed. Whatever your learning style, the choice is yours.
Free access to all lessons
With most language learning programs, there is typically a free trial period after which you have to pay to retain access to the whole course. When you sign up with Memrise, you get the entirety of the course material for free, forever. There is one catch, though: you won't have access to all of the exercises (Learning with Locals and Speed Review specifically) or the ability to do them in the order you prefer until you upgrade to Memrise Pro.
Costs
Memrise regularly runs promotions, so keep your eyes open for 50% off deals for Yearly access. Your purchase is also covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, in the event that you try the Pro subscription and later decide that you don't want to continue as a paid subscriber.
No in-depth grammar explanations
The only reason you might not choose Memrise is the lack of detailed grammar explanations. Sometimes, you just want to know why the words are in a certain order or when you conjugate a verb one way and not the other - and you won't get that here. That's refreshing for some learners but frustrating for others.
Fun and affordable
Besides that, though, Memrise can be trusted to deliver Italian lessons that you'll enjoy. The native speaker video clips add a degree of authenticity to this platform that you won't get with most of Memrise's rivals. This platform is fun to use and gentle on your wallet: an option worth trying as you learn Italian!
Sight-seeing at the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a romantic gondola ride along the canals of Venice, or a visit to the art museums of Florence: if you're dreaming of a vacation to Italy, you would be in good company among the 94 million tourists who visit annually. In addition to being able to ask for directions or order your dinner without a hitch, there are many benefits to learning Italian before your trip.
If you're after a unique, more authentic experience in Italy, speaking the language can help you gain a deeper understanding of the culture, become friends with locals, and give you the confidence to explore places off the beaten track. Plus, Italian is an official language of other popular travel destinations, including Switzerland, San Marino, Slovenia, and Malta.
Italian is spoken by 63-85 million people around the world. Among tourists planning Mediterranean getaways, adults who want to find a use for their high school Latin, and people interested in reconnecting with their roots, Italian continues to be a popular choice for avid and casual language learners alike.
Aside from hopping on a plane and spending time in Italy, what's the best way to learn the language? Some of that depends on you! Are you most comfortable learning in a more traditional, structured way, with detailed grammatical explanations in English and lots of exercises for practice? Or would you prefer a smartphone app that you can use when killing time during your day, to do a quick flashcard session of key words and phrases? There are Italian lessons for each approach - and there's nothing stopping you from using several different services to get a good mix of materials.
Besides the overall teaching style, what other factors should you consider when deciding how to learn Italian? Keep these criteria in mind to help you choose:
To help you get the most out of your studies, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's best options for online Italian lessons. We're sure this information will help you find the right path for your language journey. Buona fortuna!
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