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A rewarding challenge.
As the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”.
This seems to be a good advice for every tourist in every foreign
country, not only for those visiting our beautiful capital. Learning
the habits and the lifestyle of a country is not only useful and
polite, but it’s also the best way to really appreciate its
culture. Getting to know at least the basics of our language, for
example, will help you understand what Roman people is all about
more than everything else; it will also be a precious component
of your “surviving” kit in all those situations in which
any English speaker seems to be at hand. This is not going to happen
in the shops of the Rome
city centre or in the museums, seeing that tourism workers have
all studied English, as well as many younger Italians. But especially
if you are interested in experience the hidden jewels of the Rome
or even more if you are here to work, you will have to be able to
speak some Italian to communicate with government office
employees, old style business men or that nice couple who run that
little restaurant with home made food, over there, around the corner,
out of the tourist spotlight.
Once you have started speaking our language, no matter how bad at
first, you will also be rewarded by the kindness and the big smiles
of the people, because we truly appreciate the efforts of foreigners
who try to get in touch with us in the right way. Let me say you
will probably get the best table in the restaurant,
and probably the best service! So don’t hesitate no more:
if you’re planning your trip
to Italy, get yourself a good conversation guide and start practicing
a little bit. You will find several of these guides in any big library
in your country, or at least at your local airport: you will still
have the whole flight duration to get started! Almost any of these
books seem to do its job well, but if you are looking for an advice,
here it is: “Easy Italian Phrase Book: 770 Basic Phrases for
Everyday Use” (Dover Publications).
While you’re here, don’t be shy or afraid to sound goofy
and start trying to use your basic Italian (even if it’s a
very basic one!), but don’t stop studying it otherwise you
will hardly improve. I’m pretty sure you already know some
words: ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, grazie, prego. I know you’re
thinking it’s probably not that much, but believe an Italian
guy who did the same with your language: you definitely have to
start somewhere! Use every chance that you get to practice it and
make English speaking Italians help you: ask them for translation
of words and ways of saying you’re interested in knowing.
Kindly ask people to speak slowly ( parlare lentamente) while you’re
asking for directions on the street and try to catch the right pronunciation
of the words you already know. You will also find a precious support
from the people working in your hotel
in Rome.
If all this should be enough for a curious tourist to manage with
the Italian language, it will probably require some more serious
efforts for the ones of you who need it for working
in Rome. You should probably try to attend a real course in
one of the several Italian Language schools for foreign people available.
I will list some address below, just to mention the most popular
ones.
• Istituto Italiano, Centro di Lingua e Cultura( IALC): as
an international association member, the Ialc teaches Italian to
foreigners since 1984. Via Machiavelli 33, tel.0039 06 70452138
• Dilit: a well known school with plenty of different courses
and cultural activities. Via Marghera 22, tel 0039 06 4462602
• Italia Idea: short period and long period group or individual
courses. Evening courses also available.
• Dante Alighieri: Traditional Italian teaching for every
level. Special courses for Business Italian. Piazza Firenze 27,
tel 0039 06 6873722
• Leonardo da Vinci: classes for all levels all day long.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele 39, tel 0039 06 6798896
Hope these information will help you with our beautiful language
while I’m sure that speaking
Italian will make you enjoy Roman lifestyle in the best possible
way.
Bye now and see you soon
…ehmm ehmm…arrivederci e a presto!
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