Italian Course-Week 1

So, we're doing it. We are actually, officially, studying Italian in a language school. We are doing a three week intensive course, and tomorrow marks the finish of our first week.

So far it has been quite an eye-opener. First of all, we are not in the same class. As it turns out, even though I always make Charles do all the talking when we're in public, I somehow have a higher level of Italian than he does! Go figure! My class is really hard, and I have to come home and study grammar in the evenings just to catch up with my classmates, but so far I am hanging in there when it comes to conversation and listening. The school has a focus on practical Italian, meaning they want you to have confidence to go out and speak the language when you leave, so grammar is not a huge focus (lucky thing for me!).

Charles, on the other hand, is in a lower-level class, but he is clearly one of the better speakers and listeners in his class. He tells me everyday how he cringes at the pronunciation of the other students, and they look to him for help when they don't know the meaning of a word, but he sometimes envies their grammar knowledge.

It's only been one week, but so far I am really happy with my results. Everything is done in Italian, and since my classmates come from all over the world we generally keep speaking Italian with each other even when we're just having a coffee during the break. It's such good practice, and the school is really great. I wish that we had done this when we arrived last summer!! Our motivation has really been increased to keep studying Italian after the course finishes. We may even take another intensive course in six months or so just to keep challenging ourselves (that will just depend on the availability of funds).