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La bella lingua — Italian connects you to art, cuisine, fashion, opera, and 65 million native speakers. Find a specialist teacher for every goal, from A1 to C2.
Which Italian Should You Learn?
Italy's regional accents vary considerably. Here is what you need to know before choosing a teacher.
Standard / Tuscan
Best for BeginnersThe prestige variety taught in schools and used in national media. Florentine Italian is considered the purest pronunciation benchmark. Recommended for all beginners.
Roman
Most Widely HeardSlightly open vowels, 'r' rolled more intensely, some dialect vocabulary. Essential if you live, work, or study in Rome.
Northern (Milan, Turin)
Business HubCrisper pronunciation, strong Germanic and French substrate. The business and fashion language of Italy — key for Milan fashion week and northern industry.
Southern (Naples, Sicily)
Advanced EnrichmentMelodic, expressive, with open vowels and dialect influence. Beautiful and warm — but for serious learners only after a solid standard foundation.
How to Choose the Right Italian Teacher
Exam Board Familiarity
CILS (Siena), CELI (Perugia), and PLIDA (Dante Alighieri) have different formats and marking criteria. Choose a teacher who has prepared students for your specific exam.
Native Italian Speaker
Native speakers provide authentic pronunciation modelling, natural idiom, and cultural nuance that non-native teachers rarely replicate at C1+ level.
Regional Accent Match
If you are relocating to a specific region, seek a teacher from that area. Roman vocabulary and Northern business Italian are distinct enough to warrant specialist coaching.
Business or Academic Focus
Italian for international trade, fashion, architecture, or opera each require specialised vocabulary. Confirm your teacher has experience in your professional domain.
Formal vs Informal Register
Italian uses 'Lei' (formal you) in professional and formal contexts, and 'tu' informally. A good teacher drills this distinction from B1 onwards — it is frequently tested on exams.
Meet Our Italian Teachers
Conversational Italian & CILS Exam Prep
Business Italian & Northern Accent
Standard Italian & PLIDA / CELI Prep
Italian Proficiency Levels: CILS / CELI / PLIDA
| CEFR | Exam Equivalents | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | CELI 1 / CILS A1 | Introduce yourself, ask and answer basic questions about familiar topics. |
| A2 | CELI 2 / CILS A2 | Communicate in simple routine tasks, understand frequently used expressions. |
| B1 | CELI 3 / CILS B1 | Handle most travel situations, express opinions, understand main points of clear standard input. |
| B2 | CELI 4 / CILS B2 / PLIDA B2 | Interact with fluency and spontaneity, understand complex texts on concrete and abstract topics. |
| C1 | CELI 5 / CILS C1 / PLIDA C1 | Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes. |
| C2 | CILS C2 | Near-native mastery. Understand virtually everything heard or read with ease. |
Simple, Transparent Pricing
- ✓50 or 80 min lessons
- ✓Accent or exam focus
- ✓Progress notes after each lesson
- ✓Reschedule up to 12h before
- ✓4+ lessons per week
- ✓Dedicated teacher
- ✓Exam simulation sessions
- ✓Monthly progress review
Frequently Asked Questions
Does speaking Spanish help with learning Italian?
Significantly yes. Spanish and Italian share around 82% of their core vocabulary and very similar grammar structures. Spanish speakers typically progress to conversational Italian 30–40% faster than complete beginners. However, be careful with 'false friends' and different phonological habits — Spanish speakers sometimes develop a fossilised accent if they do not work on authentic Italian pronunciation early.
How important are Italian dialects vs standard Italian?
Standard Italian (italiano standard) is understood everywhere and is the right starting point. Regional dialects — Venetian, Sicilian, Neapolitan — are distinct enough to be considered separate languages historically, not mere accents. For everyday life and travel, standard Italian is all you need. Dialects are enrichment for advanced learners with deep roots in a specific region.
When should I use Lei (formal you) vs tu?
Use 'Lei' with people you have just met in professional or formal settings: doctors, officials, shop assistants in high-end stores, business contacts until invited to use 'tu'. With friends, family, children, and fellow students, use 'tu'. Getting this wrong rarely causes offence but marks you immediately as a non-native — your teacher will drill it from B1 onwards.
How long does it take to become conversational in Italian?
Italian is a Category I language for English speakers (FSI classification) — approximately 600–750 class hours for professional proficiency. Most dedicated learners reach conversational B1 in 150–250 hours, making Italian one of the fastest European languages to learn for English speakers.
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All accents. All levels. All exam boards. Trial from $1.