Understand spoken Italian - Listening Immersion Tips

Understand spoken Italian. It's the goal of anyone learning Italian.
In this video you are going to pick up some useful tips to improve your comprehension of spoken Italian by doing "listening immersion".

#learnitalian #spokenitalian #italiantips

Let's be honest. Understanding spoken Italian is difficult. With all the dialects and regional accents, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
But there is a cure! it takes time and hard work, but students who have mastered the Italian language to fluency, all have done this!

You will learn the secret to developing a natural instinct for spoken Italian and a number of listening exercises you can do.
I will also point you in the direction of an awesome free resources of endless content in Italian!

About Italy Made Easy and Manu Venditti:

Italy Made Easy is the channel and brand that helps English speakers learn, practice, improve and master the Italian language. Learn Italian, master Italian pronunciation, practice Italian listening and comprehension and learn more about the Italian culture.

Manu Venditti, 100% born and bred Italian, polyglot is a real Italian teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching Italian to English speakers. With students from all parts of the world, Manu has developed a method to learn Italian that works and that is not focused on Italian grammar and exercise, but rather on communication. With videos in slow Italian with subtitles and Italian lessons in English, you are guaranteed to “get it”. Learning Italian has never been easier!

Grazie mille,
A presto,
Manu
@italymadeeasy

DISCLAIMER
Some of the above links might be affiliate links. If you do purchase an item after visiting these links, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. So a big GRAZIE if you do, as it helps to support the Italy Made Easy channel so we can continue to create the Italian Language Learning and Italian Culture content that you love! Grazie mille!

[usama]

Amazing teacher with Amazing style of teaching

[easilystartled]

The QVC Italia suggestion! BRILLIANT!!!

[BunzOfCinnamon]

I started watching QVC Italia about 1.5 years ago because of your suggestion, Manu. And I still watch it practically every day! It has helped me SO MUCH with comprehension and new vocabulary.
One “game” I do is kinda like your third suggestion: if I hear a particular word more than 2-3 times, then I will look it up. The fact that I am recognizing the word tells me that I’m ready to add it to my vocabulary. And I love that fact that you can rewind it when watching it on YouTube! (I also listen a lot to Italian DJs talking on the radio but unfortunately I cannot rewind the radio on my app!).
I also do the same thing with expressions that I hear on QVC. I’ve learned many phrases like “vale la pena”, “a portata di mano”, etc etc just from watching that channel.
Oh and I try to avoid looking at the side of the screen where they have the price(s) and item code numbers. I wait to hear them say it so I can get some practice listening to numbers and prices (it’s still hard for me to understand 100% when I hear numbers spoken quickly in Italian). So I’ll wait for them to say it and then look at the screen and see if I had the right price/code number. 😸
And another cool thing is that i also learn what English words are used in everyday spoken Italian! I’ve heard “sold out”, “one day only”, “stock”, sneaker”, “countdown”, etc. I know that doesn’t exactly help with learning Italian, but I find it kinda useful and consider it a “freebie” when I discover that I can use an English word for something!

Sometimes I’ll repeat some things they’re saying just to have some pronunciation practice too. I usually put it on while cooking dinner, I’d say I usually do the “semi passive” listening that Manu talked about.
When I first started watching it I could hardly understand anything. If anybody else feels that way right now, don’t give up! Now I’m at a point where I can understand maybe 70-80%! Manu is totally right, that channel is so helpful.
Haha we probably sound like we work for QVC! 😹 I swear I don’t.
Manu might, though. 😘😘😘😹

[shinobiBUNK]

I've actually been getting a little depressed at how incapable I am after a year and a half of study. This was very helpful, and you're so casual about the long timeframes of learning, that I don't feel I'm as far behind as others

[saraviola]

Listening to Italian music in the car has been so beneficial for me!

[shinramox]

Thank you manu, studying by myself is proving difficult, the studying is fairly easy but the actual speaking and listening is the hard part!

[rbenroper]

I have just started my journey with this beautiful language (two weeks ago). One exercise that I have given myself is to watch Italian Cinema on YouTube with Italian subtitles. That way I can see the language as it is being spoken. As you suggested, I have QVC Italia on in the morning when I get ready to go to work, and I listen to Radio DeeJay on my morning drive. Any other spare time, I listen to Italian music, and watch Italian content without subtitles. I've been working my way through your beginners course on this channel. I love it. I am about to turn sixty-years-old and have always wanted to learn a new language. It all seemed so difficult. Then I discovered your channel. Thank you for what you do.

[patz]

Brilliant. Thank you so much! You described my learning journey with Italian—2 years I’ve studied. Duolingo, Memrise, Rosetta Stone, children’s stories, Forever Fluent, “Baby” on Netflix....so many. I listened to RAI radio too (that’s fun—lots of sports). I really want to speak Italian, and have done just about everything but move there. This helps so much. You inspire me and give me...the positive attitude to not be hard on myself for not getting it exactly right. I will just listen. This is a valuable reminder. Thank you.

[blackship]

Sir, I'm always happy listing to your teachings

[abeersworthofbanter]

I was starting to feel like I wasn't learning at the pace I would have liked to, especially after spending so much time on lessons. Started listening to QVC and understood way more than I thought I would and it really made me feel good! Been doing it for about a week now and blown away at how much it has helped me progress. Cheers, Manu!

[p.c.]

Mi fai un Mondo di piacere a sentirti parlare. Mille Grazie Carissimo.
Bacioni Tutti per te!♥

[ErnieV]

The QVC tip is genius!!! 😁 I usually try to watch grammar videos while cleaning, washing dishes etc and I miss so much. This works perfect! 😁👍

[DEPALMARULES]

What a great suggestion QVC thank you!

[Jakethejakee]

I've been in italy a week now, have been using your speak italian from day 1 course, which has helped a ton.

But I noticed exactly what you're describing. Full of confidence, I would go to the market or a restaurant and use my fancy new italian and then just have a blank look on my face as the person responded. I really love the QVC idea, I'm going to start that now.

Thanks for everything Manu :)

[riccardocarbo]

A tip for semi-passive learning: pick 5-10 words related to the product (colors, sizes, uses, occasions, descriptives, etc) and translate them. Pick 3 predictable and three less predictable words. Say them aloud a few times then listen for those words to pop up in dialogue. It adds a purpose and increases your attention, which adds a feeling of “ah ha” when your word is used. What you didn’t hear, was still reinforced by getting on the list and listening for it.

[JamesKing-bumd]

Thx, Manu . . . I will give it a try . . . seems like a funny thing to do BUT you know MUCH MORE about this than I do. Grazie - you’re the best!

[GoldenBirdBrain]

You are an amazing teacher! Every recommendation makes so much sense. I cannot thank you enough. Grazie mille!

[marion]

I used to learn english while listening to commercials. That was some 30 years ago, which means I had to listen on tv. Nowadays it's so much easier, and qvc is a great tip. Mille grazie, Manu👍

[moiragoldsmith]

I have not used QVC... but I do listen to songs, YouTube recipes and favourite films in Italian and you are correct, the more we engage and immerse ourselves in a subject the more we program neural pathways. Thank you, you marvellous fellow. 🤗

[fssrk]

Fantastic idea with the guessing game for OVC italia. Love the passive listening into an exercise to see what you know, challenge yourself to pickup new words, and learn the rhythm or melody of the Italian speakers.