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Italian language teacher Lucrezia Oddone, who runs the popular YouTube channel “Learn Italian with Lucrezia,” said there is no single “right time” to begin learning Italian. According to Oddone, the best moment depends on an individual’s personal circumstances and goals.
Oddone, a DITALS‑certified teacher and author, told The Local that the timing of learning Italian should align with when a person plans to move to or stay in Italy long‑term. “The right time is the right time for you – depending on your needs,” she explained.
She noted that while many people start learning Italian as a New Year’s resolution, the month or year is irrelevant. Instead, the decision should be based on the stage of one’s relocation plans. “As soon as you know that you’re going to be relocating, that’s the right time to start,” Oddone said.
Oddone cautioned against the common belief that immersion alone will provide sufficient language skills. “People who come to Italy and start learning Italian from scratch there often do not study the language formally; they just go with the flow,” she said. “That is dangerous, linguistically speaking. It can lead to fossilized mistakes that are hard to correct later.”
She emphasized that it is never too late to begin learning Italian. For those already living in Italy who struggle with the language, Oddone recommends revisiting foundational elements such as grammar. “I would actually go back to basics and start from scratch,” she said. “Not necessarily in the conversational aspect of learning language, but just the structural aspect – so grammar, for example.”
Oddone also suggested expanding interactions with native speakers to improve proficiency. “It’s very beneficial to find yourself in settings that you wouldn’t on a daily basis, like a book club in Italian,” she advised.
A full interview with Oddone will be available soon on The Local. Her YouTube channel offers videos on grammar, conversation, and everyday life in Italy.
Article and image source: thelocal.it
