Many of us would love to learn a new language, and there could be unlimited reasons why that is. However, for some, it can be difficult to get started. It could be that some cannot afford in-person classes, private tutors, study abroad experiences, or simply do not have enough time. But this changes today, because it's never too late to start and it doesn't always have to be costly.

Think about it. Even if you haven't had the chance to set foot in Italy yet, you are likely exposed to Italian culture almost daily. Literature, art, and food from the Bel Paese are known and appreciated all over the world. You will always be able to find the opportunity to show off your Italian knowledge, whether it's during a museum visit, ordering food at an Italian restaurant, or when you ask an Italian out on a date. 

It ultimately depends on your end goal and whether your timeline for achieving it is realistic. If your goal is to get a C2 certification in one month, that probably won't work, and you'll drive yourself insane. If you would like to get to a level that is good enough for you to converse or watch television, and allow yourself enough time to do so, you might have much more fun along the way.

Before you start your learning journey, come up with a plan. Choose when you want to study, how much you want to invest (either daily or weekly), and finally gather all the resources available to you. Identify the learning method that is most suitable for you. If you don't enjoy reading, it goes without saying that reading in a foreign language is not going to be a pleasant experience for you. Try listening to music or podcasts instead. Watch TV in Italian. Start with English subtitles and eventually switch to Italian. Last but not least, you should practice your speaking, either with other language learners or, if possible, with natives. 

Netflix has a decent amount of Italian content you might be able to watch from your home country. If that's not the case, try using a VPN. 

Here's a list of Italian series and movies available on Netflix: Cinema Paradiso (Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 1989); Life is Beautiful (Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 1999); Under the Riccione Sun (Netflix Original); SKAM Italia (originated from Norway, every country has now a different version of it); The Life Ahead (Netflix Original); Summertime (Netflix Original); Suburra (Netflix Original); Baby (Netflix Original); Everything Calls for Salvation (Netflix Original).

The more you watch and rate on Netflix, the higher the chances you have of being suggested other shows you might like.

I don't necessarily like all of these artists. Still, hopefully you will find some whose music you enjoy: Ligabue, Maneskin, Ultimo, Ariete, Coez, Marco Mengoni, Jovanotti, Cesare Cremonini, Negramaro, Fedez, and more. Use a music platform that can suggest similar artists to you until you find your rhythm.

If you are looking for something to listen to while cooking, drawing, commuting, etc, podcasts might be right for you. I haven't actually listened to any of these, but I heard good things about them from Italian learners: Coffee Break Italian, Café Design, 5 Minute Italian, Italiano Automatico, ...

If you would like to practice your reading, I'd suggest you start with books you've already read in your native language. That way, you will be able to visualise the story, and it won't be too hard to follow. Additionally, make sure you always have a dictionary close by. Underline the words you don't understand and translate them. Some of the most famous Italian books you can read are the following: The Adventures of Pinocchio; The Late Mattia Pascal; One, No One, and One Hundred Thousand; The Name of The Rose, but these  - depending on your level - can be tougher reads.

These are just some of the many resources you can use to learn Italian. I haven't watched or read all of the things I listed above, so don't take my suggestions as personal recommendations. If you are learning Italian, have you watched some of these Italian movies and TV shows? Are there more you recommend? Any more books that can be good for beginners/intermediates? Respond in the comment section so that I can add them to the article. 😊