What Are the Benefits of Knowing French Before You Learn Italian?
First, let’s look at the benefits of knowing French before you learn Italian.
Essentially, you’re starting with a leg up when it comes to language learning.
If you already know other foreign languages or if you are a native French speaker, you’ll already be familiar with many of the most common French and Italian words.
You’ll also have a good grounding in grammar and sentence structure.
This will help you learn Italian faster and more efficiently because you’re already familiar with many of the rules and structures that other languages use.
It might seem like a small detail, but it will make a big difference in your ability to learn Italian and reach basic fluency.
If you’ve only ever spoken French before, you might have certain expectations about what a romance language looks like.
Learning French first will help you avoid the pitfalls of transferring too much from your native language to Italian.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Italian if You Know French?
Now let’s take a look at how long it takes to learn Italian for a French speaker.
The consensus among language experts is that it will take you about three months to reach a B2 level of fluency in Italian.
This means that you’re able to understand most spoken languages and can speak with a low level of proficiency.
If you have experience with learning languages, it may take you a bit less time. If you’re a complete beginner, it might take you a bit longer.
Regardless, it will take you between three and six months to reach a conversational level of fluency in Italian. It will take you a bit longer to reach intermediate levels of fluency in written Italian.
How to Learn Italian Quickly if You Already Know French
As you’ve seen, if you already have another romantic language knowledge, it will make it easier for you to learn Italian.
But how do you go about learning Italian? What do you need to know?
The first thing you’ll want to do is determine your proficiency level in French (absolute beginner or advanced level). What level do you want to be at?
This will help you know what you need to do to get from one level to another.
Once you’ve determined your proficiency level, you’ll want to find an Italian language course that fits your needs.
You can simply search online and find a course that works best for you. You may want to consider online platforms that have lots of languages available.
You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to practice and speak Italian. Consider joining an Italian language school or finding a tutor who speaks both French and Italian.
You can also try to find a language exchange partner to help you with your journey. Or join a community forum for practice with other students, ask questions, and solve doubts.
Conclusion
Learning Italian once you know another romantic language can be easier than expected.
It can take you about three months to reach a B2 level of proficiency in Italian if you begin with a low level of proficiency in French.
Make sure you’re choosing the right course and studying consistently.
Make sure you have plenty of opportunities to speak Italian, and if you have strong motivation, you’ll be on your way to mastering this beautiful language in no time!
Find out here how long it takes to learn Italian if you speak English. And here, how long does it take if you speak Spanish?
