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Learn  Italian  In  Italy - Cactus Language

For anyone planning a move to Italy, one of the foremost considerations before going should be gaining a decent grasp of Italian. While this could be said to be stating the obvious, there is a great British tradition of emigrating without trying to pick up even a basic level of the destination language first. The stunning Italian lake district is a great place to live, but the whole experience of relocating is made much easier if you decide to learn Italian in advance. The language has a beautiful flow and elegance about it, which sounds like an impassioned version of Spanish. If you take an Italian course in London before departing, it will still take a while to catch up with the speed at which the language is spoken by Italians in full flow.

An intensive Italian course is a perfect way to lay the foundations for a better understanding of the Italian language. A few weeks of hard graft immediately before leaving ensures that the language is fresh in your mind when you get there. One option is to take an Italian course in Italy. This way, not only go you get to learn Italian in Italy, but you are given the perfect opportunity to meet people in your new home. It would make more sense than taking an Italian course in Germany, after all.

Learning a new language is challenging but rewarding. British people in general have a poor grasp of grammar and foreign languages, as there is little focus on language learning in British schools. This situation looks set to worsen now a compulsory foreign language GCSE has been removed from the syllabus in Britain's state schools. If you already have a second language, on the other hand, studies have proven that it is considerably easier to pick up a third. This is because grammar acts as a set of 'hooks' on which new learning can be 'hung'. Whatever your level of Italian, you will find a course to suit you.

You will have a very different experience if you take an Italian course in Rome from if you were to take an Italian course in Florence. Rome is Italy's cosmopolitan hub while much of Venice is currently dedicated to tourism. Your classmates in Rome could well be looking to move permanently to Italy, while many language schools in Florence cater towards the language holiday market. Both are stunning cities with rich individual histories. Rome was the home of the classical empire while Florence was home to the later Medici dynasty. You will still find history lurking just beneath the surface of both cities.

If you are considering an Italian course in Venice, you should probably follow this ambition sooner rather than later. A study in 2000 showed that Venice was sitting 24cm lower against the water than in 1900. Experts are unsure whether the city is sinking or sea levels are rising. Either way, enjoy the experience while you can!

An Italian course in Milan gives you the perfect opportunity to discover the design capital of the world. While London, Paris and New York all have famous fashion weeks, Milan continues in this vein all year long. The city itself may not have the amazing visual allure of Rome or Venice, but the locals make a real effort to look smart before leaving the house each morning. Tracksuit bottoms are, therefore, best left at home.

A little effort spent learning Italian will go a long way if you wish to spend any time outside of the typical tourist hotspots. As with all languages, even a grasp of the basics will make a huge difference to your experience of Italian life.

About Cactus Language

Cactus is an award-winning company and one of the world's leading providers of language travel abroad and language training in the UK. Established in 1998 in Brighton's North Laine, we are proud to offer language courses in over 25 languages, and in some 45 countries and 150 destinations, worldwide.

We are passionate about languages and lifelong learning and, as well as speaking some 12 languages between us, have personally visited all the locations we send our clients - often taking the language courses ourselves!

This means that we are consistently able to offer you, our clients, the highest levels of customer service, good value and enjoyment. And, unlike our competitors, there are no hidden costs as all registration fees and course materials are included in our prices.