Studying and learning different languages is a really important and yet underrated quality in our society nowadays. Even all the way here in New Zealand, it would be a really great idea to learn an extra language or two instead of just relying on our English skills.
Many of the people in New Zealand already are learning the Maori language, as they should. However, what about learning a European language or an Asian language?
Of course we already know English as a European language, but what about French, German, Spanish, or Italian?
It is certainly possible to study Italian in New Zealand, even if it isn't as popular as learning Maori or Spanish.
You could be surprised at the amount of locations there are for learning different languages, even places to specifically teach you Italian.
That is especially true if you live in a larger city in New Zealand, while it may be a bit harder to find a place to study Italian in Tauranga or Manukau City, you won't much have as much trouble finding some spots to study if you live in Auckland or in this case Hamilton.
Hamilton is not the biggest city in New Zealand nor is it the capital, and even more unfortunate, there isn't even a beach.
However, Hamilton has plenty of options when it comes to learning, whether secondary school, uni, or for finding tutors.
If you have a passion for learning Italian and you are from Hamilton or going to be living there, where can you get some Italian classes?
In this blog you'll find out the answer to that question isn't all that complicated, and you'll find out some of the best places in Hamilton to learn Italian.
Advice for studying Italian
Before we begin to reveal where exactly you can find Italian lessons in Hamilton, it will probably be a good idea to review what are some good ways to study the language.
Italian is a really beautiful language, and while it has some big differences to English you can learn it really easily if you practice a lot and find the right teachers.
So what are some things you can really focus on while you are studying Italian to help you learn at a quicker pace.
Study the Italian and English cognates
As i've just mentioned, Italian and English have some differences. That is because they have different backgrounds, one being from Latin (Italian) and the other Germanic (English).
However this doesn't mean that cognates (similar sounding words) don't exist between the two languages.
There are plenty of cognates that will help you learn a bit quicker if you can find a way to study them faster. Learning the cognates can make your vocabulary learning job a whole lot easier.
While cognates could become a real friend for you, you will need to look out for false friends.
False friends, when studying languages are words that look the same, sound the same, but have different meanings.
Some cognates that exist between Italian and English are:
- Calendario/Calendar
- Banca/ Bank
- Famoso/ Famous
- Studiare/ Study
- Birra/ Beer
Study the irregular verbs
For beginners that are native English speakers that are trying to learn a Latin based language such as French, Spanish, or Italian, irregular verbs can quickly become really bothersome.
Unfortunately for many of you soon to be Italian learners will soon find out that the most common verbs in Italian are irregular. To be, to have, can, etc., all of these verbs are irregular and conjugate differently than many other verbs in Italian.
The good news is there is a way to understand these irregular verbs. Practice, like with other parts of the language.
Practice makes perfect, and that certainly is the case when it comes to irregular verbs, if you can master the more common ones you'll do just fine.
Practice your pronunciation
Since we are native English speakers we feel at times that English is a really easy language to learn. Maybe we don't understand that it can be really difficult to learn English, at least when it comes to pronouncing words.
One English word with a certain spelling can sound completely different than a word with another spelling, for example laughter and daughter.
For someone that is a native speaker of another language this can be frustrating.
Luckily learning Italian you won't have this problem.
All letters have a specific pronunciation. When you learn how to pronounce all the letters you will have a really easy time pronouncing the words.
Learn the different grammar rules
As mentioned a bit earlier, Italian has a lot of different grammar structures than English does. Apart from the irregular verbs you'll need to practice where to place adjectives and verbs.
There are also grammar points that don't feature much in English and it can get confusing.
The best way is practice.
Practice, practice, practice
The best way to learn any language as quickly as possible is to practice often and have no fear. Sometimes we may not want to speak out loud in another language because we worry we will make mistakes and sound silly.
Speaking more and more will help, especially if you can practice with experienced teachers, professors, and native speakers. Sometimes when we run into native speakers, they also would like to practice English, make sure you are still able to practice Italian as much if not more than they practice their English. Sometimes conversations can quickly become one sided.
If this happens set up a time period where you both speak Italian and another where you both speak English.
Where to find an Italian Class in Hamilton
If you are looking for Italian lessons in Hamilton you will be at a slight disadvantage compared to the larger cities in New Zealand.
While other cities have universities such as in Auckland that offer an undergraduate study in Italian, Hamilton doesn't. While it isn't the only city in New Zealand that lacks a university with an Italian degree it won't stop you from being able to learn the language in the city as well as prepare you for life in Italy.
Study Linguistics at University of Waikato
So studying this won't exactly give you Italian lessons, it can be a great idea to study if you see yourself working with languages in the future.
Studying linguistics means you will be studying languages, and the University of Waikato does offer this course, so you can be prepared to study Italian in the future as well as have a degree that will help you get a job in languages.
Studying linguistics can help get you a job in:
- translation
- transcribing
- tourism
Studying at a language institute
Studying at a language school is always a good idea if you are really keen to learn a language. Not only because it is in the name but it is a place that really offers genuine help to those looking to learn a second language for whatever reason, whether it be for pleasure, travel, studies, or work.
Many businesses would like employees to learn different languages and students would like some extra help to stay ahead of their coursework, so language institutes often have clients and that means you can learn on your own or in a group.
In Hamilton you can find such a language school and one that is specifically for giving Italian lessons.
The Italian Institute is found in Hamilton and it of courses focuses on teaching Italian. The institute offers intensive Italian classes, as well as group and private lessons. They even have one time classes for those of you who just want a review a bit or learn some basic phrases before you head off to Italy for the first time.
Learning with a group could be a great idea as you will have other people to practice with, speaking as much as possible as mentioned earlier, is probably the best way to learn.
Studying Italian with a private tutor in Hamilton
One of the best ways of learning Italian as well as finding some extra help while you are studying in uni or at an institute is to work with a private tutor.
Private tutors can be really useful when learning a language, they can teach you, have conversation practice with you, and focus on and correct your mistakes.
Superprof is an excellent platform for finding a private tutor. There are many private Italian tutors you can find in Hamilton as well as online, and they even will most likely offer you a free trial class.
Read here about classes for Wellington and Christchurch.
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