Italian - Beginner

Excellent lessons; I have really enjoyed the lessons, films, meals and meeting and making new friends.

"This is my third Italian "Language for fun” course with Maria. I have thoroughly enjoyed them and feel I have made good progress with the help of Maria. The class size is excellent and the pace of the lessons suits me and pushes me to improve. We often explore Italian culture compared to our own, use of situational Italian language and discuss current affairs. The lessons run in conjunction with an on-line course which acts as a back-up, reinforcing topics covered in the lessons. I am lucky to be in an enthusiastic and talented group with a great sense of humour. I would advise that you brush up on your English grammar so that you understand what a noun, verb, preposition, direct and indirect article is. Previous experience with languages is always a help (French, Spanish and Latin). Maria has a greater command of grammar than most language teachers I know! Learning a language requires you to constantly engage with it, so the time between lessons is important to put the hours in. It’s also important to occasionally make mistakes to learn. You don’t have to be afraid of this in Maria’s class. If you wish to learn a language, learning from a native of the country is the way to go!”

I enjoy the course very much, I particularly like the fact that it is conducted using Zoom, this makes it easier for me to attend as even when work commitments or holidays get in the way I can still attend the lesson, as you can join the meeting from anywhere. Travelling to a class would have probably resulted in me missing many lessons. The course is well structured and goes at a reasonable pace. The lessons are friendly and relaxed which means should I not understand or am finding something difficult I am always given an alternative explanation and don’t feel intimidated or frightened to ask. We are not just learning the language but are also given insights into the culture, and this is particularly interesting when we learn about festa, and the foods and customs associated with them. During the two years I have been attending the L.F.F. lessons I have been fortunate enough to have visited Italy on 3 occasions and each time I have felt that little bit more confident with the language and have even been complimented on my use of Italian!

I am very happy with the course and particularly enjoy the interaction with my fellow students. The structure of the course is well planned and the course material provided is excellent. One of the main benefits of this type of course is the pace of instruction and learning. This is one of the main differences between on-line learning and a face-to-face class, albeit currently on zoom. The instructor is excellent and will take the time and the patience to go over any aspects students may have particularly difficulty with. In summary, it is an excellent course which I am thoroughly enjoying.

My Italian language journey started on a mobile phone app and although I felt like I had made progress I realised that what I really needed was to learn and be challenged in a "real life" environment. The language for fun classes that Maria runs are a perfect way to learn, understand and communicate in another language. You are taught to understand why, how and when to say things (and when not to!) and not just repeat sentences without an explanation. Maria constantly tests our ability and recall over the lessons and builds our confidence in listening, translating and speaking the language. Language for fun is a great way to learn and a great place to meet new people with a shared interest.

I decided to start learning Italian because I love visiting Italy, but the language was a complete mystery to me. I started Beginners Italian with Maria and in a group of 7 students. I’m now in my 3rd year. Every week is a fun event. We do some language learning and then try to put it into practice by having conversation with other group members. The best thing is meeting up with fellow students who have become friends. We have all improved our Italian to different degrees and I look forward to putting it into practice before too long. Maria is a very friendly and patient teacher, who is readily available should we have queries out of class time. If you are sitting on the fence about learning a new language, or refreshing your Italian brain cells I thoroughly recommend Language for Fun courses.

Firstly I have really enjoyed the group learning, rather than 1to1, it has such a friendly sociable atmosphere. Although learning a new language can be very challenging especially aged 60+, the course really helps you to make a gradual progression, and as we can all learn at a different pace, Maria encourages us all to engage wherever we are comfortable, plus provides both verbal and written exercises to push the learning process. I was very nervous about attempting to learning Italian, but Maria’s patience over the past 2 years has been amazing. I would certainly recommend trying Language for Fun.

I have been studying Italian with Maria from Languages For Fun for just under three years and thoroughly enjoy it. I particularly like meeting new people through the classes and have made some good friends. The subject matter is varied with topics lasting around two weeks each and relevant material is provided either in hard copy or emailed. Everyone is encouraged to participate in class and we all learn from each other's mistakes. I like the fact that there is no pressure to study for exams. Maria also organises meals at a local Italian restaurant, quizzes and various social events which all add to the experience.

Maria is an excellent teacher, who is very empathetic and an excellent teacher of the curriculum. Maria also keeps it fun - although my brain knows it’s had a workout at the end of each lesson. I enjoy the camaraderie within the group and I really enjoy it when we meet up for a lunch, outside of the lessons - the social aspect of it is very beneficial and makes it easier when we’re in our break-out Zoom ‘rooms' to practice the dialogue etc. For anyone considering joining, I would say Nike: just do it! It is a fun and cost-effective way of learning. I can also say that now, when I’m in Abruzzo, I can both understand and be understood in my halting Italian. I’m sure it’s a life-long learning journey but it is very reassuring to be able to communicate.

I have been very happy with both our course and our lovely teacher. I was a complete beginner and have found the course interesting and engaging. Learning Italian in a group means you make many friends as well as learn a language. This course is also fun as our teacher, Maria has arranged Italian holidays and meals locally, as well as films to watch and lots of information on Italian culture and traditions. The best thing is that you feel you can always ask if you don’t know something and that’s the best way to learn.

I have been learning Italian with the lovely Maria for over four years and still love it! I am very lucky to be part of an enthusiastic, friendly and supportive group and, what began as a desire to learn a few basics, has become an enjoyable, social part of my week. Certainly good for stretching the brain, but more importantly, great fun! Maria ensures everyone has the the help they need and adds to the fun by (Covid permitting) organising meals out and Italian film nights. I would recommend ‘Language for Fun’ as the structure allows for a good variety of speaking, listening reading and writing

Forget all about learning languages in the way you did in school. Our Italian classes couldn't be more different. I would never have guessed that learning Italian with our wonderfully supportive and empathetic teacher, Maria, could be so enjoyable. The classes are relaxed and sociable and there is no pressure. We make progress almost without realising it and it doesn't matter if we make mistakes. It's all part of the learning process. Our two- hour classes fly by. However, Maria's classes are not just about learning her beautiful language. Just as importantly, we also find out about Italian culture and customs, as well as the way of life in Italy. I have never regretted joining the class!

I would recommend Languages for Fun for anyone wishing to learn a new language or improve on one they may have studied at school, and whether your goals are to be able to hold conversations when abroad or simply reading books and watching films , you can reach any level you wish. The teachers are friendly and enthusiastic, the course content is interesting and not only teaches you the language but also the culture and history of the country. There is also the added bonus of making new friends, adding events to your social calendar and even potential holidays and trips! In Staffordshire I would recommend Maria for your Italian Languages for Fun classes, she has seen our group through from beginners to advanced learners and we are still going strong!

I first tried learning Italian from a website, but didn’t make much progress. I heard about the Languages for Fun classes and signed up to one led by Maria. I recommend the course. It is well-structured and has a good quality supporting website with exercises. I’m now on my sixth term. Our classes have always been on Zoom but we have occasional social events with our classmates. Each weekly class includes new vocabulary, verbs and tenses, and translation into Italian. There is also an Italian dialogue between two people, which we translate and practice saying in pairs. We have homework which we can choose to do or not, which might be writing about our experiences or drafting our own answers to the dialogue. It is easy to ask Maria questions during the lesson. She occasionally adds extra materials to help us understand more. I’m so pleased that I joined the course. I’ve learned a lot and made some good friends.

I find the course often a step-by-step learning programme which covers basic grammar, vocabulary and conversation. It helps massively to have Maria to improve our pronunciation and pass to us local sayings you won’t find in a phrase book.

Our tutor is friendly, approachable and very patient, the learning environment is non threatening; students are never made to feel pressured or intimidated. Although classes are mostly aimed at group learning, our tutor ensures, where necessary, individual needs are also met. The cost of the course includes easy to use paper resources. Each week the tutor explains the study materials and sets simple tasks for homework which help reinforce learning. Students also have access to an online learning platform which contains electronic copies of all paper resources along with an interactive learning facility. The online platform offers quizzes, drag and drop exercises, fill in the gap exercises, language videos etc and this ensures there is something to suit all learning styles. Zoom classes make for relaxed learning, especially for students who work, however, it is always good fun when we meet face to face.

I am learning italian with Language for Fun and I'm so glad that I found this course. The lessons are well-structured, with lesson notes and conversation, but they are also relaxed and fun with no pressure to be perfect and no exams or tests. We meet in a group in a relaxed social setting which makes learning and speaking italian much easier. There is also an online platform available to practise everything you have been learning. We have an excellent and very patient teacher, Maria. The lessons are always great because she is so enthusiastic and positive which gives us confidence to learn more. I would recommend Language for Fun to anyone thinking about learning italian because the lessons are fun and easy to understand. It is also a great way to make new friends and perfect for anyone wanting to improve their language skills ready for a trip to Italy.

'We have been taking part in Maria's classes for three years now and we have found them to be a most enjoyable and stimulating experience. Classes continued via Zoom during Covid and so we were able to keep to our schedule in spite of lockdowns. Maria is a very stimulating teacher. Nothing seems to be too much trouble for her and she welcomes our questions on Italian customs and festivals. Class sizes vary of course but seem to range from 6-8. Maria encourages our attempts at spoken Italian and so we have no fear of 'having a go'. The Italian for Fun course is well-constructed and provides all that is needed to learn a new and beautiful language. We would recommend Maria to you as a teacher wholeheartedly. Come and join us! (Vieni e unisciti a noi!)