16 Great Reasons To Learn Italian

Why Learn Italian?

Are you looking for compelling reasons to dive into it? If love with la Bella Lingua isn’t enough to push you over the edge, check out these 16 astonishing benefits of studying Italian in India.

Communicating in another language certainly gives you a great sense of accomplishment.

Learning a foreign language will boost your self-confidence, improve your memory, and open your mind.

To sum up, it can enrich your life beyond your vivid imagination.

Today’s job market is more competitive than ever.

And the demand for foreign language specialists, in particular, has risen sharply in recent years.

Thanks to a growing number of new careers, Knowing a foreign language sets you apart in your employment search and gives you a competitive edge over others.

For many people, the most challenging step in learning a new language is choosing which language to study.

When you have many valuable choices to pick from, why would you choose Italian?

Why not in-demand European languages, or something challenging, i.e., Turkish, Arabic, or Persian, or maybe something with high-demand, low supplying East Asian languages like Chinese, Japanese, or Korean?

So, Why Not so popular languages like Italian?

Suppose you’re contemplating learning Italian and exploring some convincing reasons to pick. In that case, the good news is — I’ll make it easy for you.

Don’t believe me?

Well, Let’s look at these advantages of learning Italian.

But, first….

The History & Overview of the Italian Language

Latin was the erstwhile Roman Empire’s official language until 610.

After the downfall of the Roman empire, Latin slowly and gradually drifted into the Romance languages.

Like French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Catalan, Italian is a Romance language that evolved from Vulgar Latin between the third and eighth centuries.

Italian is a subgroup of the Italic languages of the Romance language within the Indo-European Family of Languages.

Of all the romance languages, Italian most closely resembles Latin.

The Placiti Cassinesi from 960-960AD is one of the four juridical documents acknowledged as the oldest documents ever written in one of the variants of Italy’s vernacular language.

Italy didn’t become one country until the late 1800s. It was divided into several autonomous states, each with its own local language or dialects and maintaining its own unique cultural identity.

It was, indeed, a linguistic mosaic.

Italy was united in 1861, and it was decided to make Tuscany the country’s official language, which we call Italian today.

Why?

Florence was a major European center of trade, commerce, and business.

Thus, Florentine, a variety of Tuscan languages, spread far enough to become the most popular and, ultimately, the modern standard Italian language of a new nation called Italy.

The exemplary work by Florentine writers and poets like Giovanni Boccaccio, Dante Alighieri, and Francesco Petrarca also played an influential part.

Over the years, the languages evolved into what is modern-day Italian.

Italian-speaking population in the world

“Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life.”

– Anna Akhmatova

Italian is an official language in Italy, San Marino, Switzerland, the Vatican City, and the Istria regions of Slovenia and Croatia.

It is also one of the European Union’s 24 official languages.

There is a relatively sizeable number of Italian speakers in Albania, Brazil, Slovenia, Croatia, The United States, Belgium, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, Malta, Australia, Eritrea, Libya, France, and more.

Italian is a popular language that is well-spoken by more than 85 million people worldwide.

According to Ethnologue, roughly 65 million people speak Italian as their first language, and another 3 million converse in Italian as a second tongue.

Italy has hundreds of indigenous languages, and every region has its unique local language, accent, or dialect.

These regional vernacular languages are derived from Latin; calling them “dialects” would be unjust and misleading. The culture of each geographical language area is also starkly demarcated by their tongue.

Italy’s local languages, the most widely spoken are Neapolitan, Milanese, Sicilian, Venetian, and Romanesco.

While approximately 50% speak regional languages, accents, or creoles, roughly 95% are native Italian speakers. Italian is the only official language of Italy.

According to a recent article by Corriere Della Sera, Italian is the fourth most studied language globally (after English, Spanish, and French).

Considering Italy’s relatively small size, it is a remarkable feat, and Italian is not a widespread language.

16 Benefits of Learning the Italian Language in India

What’s the point of learning Italian?

Well, there are so many game-changing reasons why people, irrespective of age, should learn Italian. It will change your life.

That is why many Indians are considering learning Italian.

These 16 great benefits will inspire you to take action once and for all and encourage you on your mesmerizing Italian journey!

“The Creator made Italy by designs from Michelangelo.”

— Mark Twain

1. It Helps to Learn Other Romance Languages

Will learning a second language also pay off when you understand the third language, especially from the same language group?

Knowledge of Italian will help you learn other popular European languages.

With only a 12% divergence between Italian and Latin, it is a closed language to Latin out of all the Romance languages spoken today.

In addition to Latin, you will also gain an incredible amount of knowledge about other Romance and Germanic languages.

Learning Italian will also provide the background for further studies of other popular Romance languages, such as Portuguese, French, or Spanish.

If you are learning or planning to learn any of these languages, adding Italian to the mix can help you learn quicker.

On the other hand, you’ll find it easy to get going with Italian if you already know Portuguese, Spanish, French, or English.

It is because we all share lots of similar grammatical structures and vocabulary.

2. A Rich Cultural Heritage

“A different language is a different vision of life.”

— Federico Fellini.

Italy has a rich cultural past and a gateway to one of the world’s most rich cultures.

Are you fascinated with Italy’s history, literature, archaeology, and culture?

Studying the language and culture together will deepen your understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of Italy’s enthralling culture.

From its unique history, religion, art, and design to the great architect, the Italian language has much to offer.

It is no surprise that most language learners choose Italian for culture and pleasure.

According to UNESCO, Italy contains over 60 percent of the world’s art treasures and most of its famous cultural heritage sites.

For instance, Vatican City is one of only two countries in the world existing within a country.

Rome offers historic architecture and art, while Venice offers travelers a memorable gondola ride across quiet canals.

Florence’s old, glorious, lovely landscapes form a rich cultural heritage that most people love to visit and experience.

Of course, knowing the language offers a broader understanding of such cultural heritage.

3. Learn Italian for Love of Opera & Music

Italy is the birthplace of opera, which remains a popular form of entertainment worldwide.

Italy produces incredible operas throughout the year. Many love opera, but only a few know it originated in Italy.

Italian is regarded as the language of music and is frequently used in musical lingos.

Do you know Mozart wrote more operas in Italian than his native language, German?

Over the centuries, numerous well-known and renowned composers wrote several incredible Italian operas, including Giuseppe Verdi, Niccolò Paganini, Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini, Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni, Vincenzo Bellini, and many more.

Speaking Italian enables you to appreciate better and enjoy classical music.

Most of the world’s famous musicians incorporate the charm of Italian musical soft intonation, vowels, and rhythmical words into their music.

Learn Italian if you love hearing breathtaking music and compelling songs from Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Ramazzotti, and Mozart’s likes.

4. Familiarize With “Made in Italy” Products

With a nominal GDP of $1.93 trillion, Italy is the ninth-largest economy globally and the third-largest in the Eurozone after Germany and France.

Besides, it is also the ninth-largest exporter and the sixth-largest producer of industrial groups worldwide.

Are you aware that Italy is one of the world’s largest consumer goods producers?

Yes! A recent study by KPMG has shown that “Made in Italy” is the third most recognized brand globally after Coca-Cola and Visa.

It is the world’s largest wine producer and the third-largest market for luxury goods.

Learning Italian will allow you to familiarize yourself with Italian products in interior design, graphic design, furniture, robotics, fashion, culinary art, space engineering, shipbuilding, transportation equipment, machinery, construction, and more.

Renowned Italian brands like Ferrari, Armani, Gucci, Prada, Benetton, Ducati, Barilla, Maserati, Fiat, Diesel, Lavazza, Versace, and countless more are famous throughout the world for the exceptional and evocative quality of their products.

5. Enhance Job Opportunity In KPO, BPO & MNC

Globalization has increased the number of outsourcing, ITES, and offshoring jobs to India.

There are tons of processes in an ever-growing KPO and BPO industry.

More job opportunities for language specialists in BPO, KPO, ITES, MNC, and Call centers than any other sector or industry are concerned.

Several Indian companies are growing, and they have excellent expertise in offering a wide range of BPO and KPO services across various vertical industries.

Due to a shortage of Italian-speaking people in India, organizations operating in outsourcing sectors continually advertise for Italian-speaking people.

Learn the language and stand a better chance of getting employment.

India has several Italian MNCs, such as Benetton, Bisazza, Alitalia, Piaggio, Ferrari, Gucci, Banco, Pinnacle, Marconi, Fiat, and Lloyd.

These companies operate successfully in India but always look for people who speak good Italian.

Once you learn Italian, it will open specialist job opportunities for you in India.

6. Help In Actualizing Career Dream

There are numerous career ideas for language learners.

Fluency in Italian sets you apart in your employment search and is hugely beneficial in various career fields and professions.

Despite this demand for employees who can speak Italian, various statistics showed a deficit in the number of Italian speakers.

Few Italian learning centers offer the chance to learn Italian in India.

While you wish to Learn Italian in Delhi, few choices are available in other cities.

The shortage of Italian language experts in India can help you solidify your career choice by learning the language.

You can enjoy a career as an interpreter and translator — becoming the bridge between Italian and Indian business partners.

Many organizations are seeking people who speak both Italian and English.

Italian is an excellent choice for many disciplines, such as Economics, Education, History, International relations, Fashion, Design, Media and Communications, Politics, International Relations, European Studies, and Architecture.

You can also enjoy a career as a language trainer for many Italian or Indian companies looking to improve customer/business partner relationships.

You can tutor privately or find well-paid employment in any educational institution.

You can act as a linguist tour guide, be a content writer (freelancing), a proofreader, and jobs in the Italian embassy. Many career options are open for you on your terms and your own time.

So why not boost your CV with Italian skills that others don’t have?

7. Growing India–Italy bilateral relations

Italy is among India’s top 5 trading partners and export markets in the EU and the 12th largest investor in India.

According to the Italian Embassy in India, there are approximately 600 Italian companies currently operating in India.

The increase in bilateral trade between India and Italy has made tremendous progress in recent years and shows new signs of growth.

Italy has recently identified India as one of the top five priority countries for the internationalization of business.

Indian exports to Italy have been increasing consistently since the late ’90s.

Indian exports to Italy include textiles, leather products, carpets, iron ore, chemicals, agricultural products, gems and jewelry, coffee, and Pharmaceuticals.

Knowing Italian is vital, given the relevance of India-Italy growing bilateral relations.

8. The Openings in the International Business

It always pays to know the client’s language in any business realm.

As more and more companies are “going global” by opening offices worldwide, Proficiency in Italian is an essential asset when applying for jobs.

It will present you with an employment opportunity with a business that exports or imports services or products from Italy to India or India to Italy.

Moreover, you can also engage companies and act as intermediaries or their representatives in India or Italy.

Adding the Italian language to your existing CV could open the doors to careers in the export and Import sectors as an International sales and marketing.

9. For The Love Of Fashion

Are you a fashion enthusiast or an investor in fashion?

If so, you must have heard about Milano and its glamorous world of modern style and design. Italy’s Milan is acknowledged as the world’s fashion capital.

The fashion world is dominated by names like Gucci, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace, Giorgio Armani, and Benetton, to mention but a few.

If you speak Italian, it will allow you to follow your favorite fashion trend better. Moreover, you can even get better deals if you are interested in investing in the sector.

The Italian studies provide an academic boost for those studying fashion and design. You might end up at one of the world-famous Italian fashion houses.

10. The Fantastic Italian Cuisine

Italy has some of the most delicious foods in the world. Thousands of restaurants in India and across the globe have built their success around Italian foods.

Italy has some of the world’s best food names, from risotto to pasta, lasagna to gelato, and latte macchiato and pizza.

Italian cuisine is prevalent worldwide, and the language uses the most words to describe foods. Italy is the world-leading culinary and produces some of the world’s best wines.

Do you like Italian cuisine, or are you taking an arts, wine, or hotel management course? Italian course skills will undoubtedly add a high value to your curriculum vitae.

11. Give You A Competitive Advantage

Language is the essence of communication, without which it cannot survive.

Communicating in a foreign language is like having a precious commodity, and being multilingual will give you a competitive edge over those who have yet to become one.

Suppose you want to close a business deal with an Italian business, bid for a contractor vying for an offshore company representative, relocate to Italy or dine at an Italian restaurant.

You will be exceedingly surprised by how your Italian language expertise comes in handy for you in your everyday activities.

12. Italian Is Perfect For Movie Buffs

Watching a film is one of the best techniques for improving your language.

You will not only enjoy the movie in its original language but also make quick progress with it.

If you are addicted to movies or TV series, why not combine your hobbies by watching Movies to learn Italian?

It is one of the popular language-learning approaches.

Italian movies are like handy supplements that can help you bridge the gap between study materials and how people speak. It is also a fun and effective way to practice and improve Italian.

You no longer need to rely on subtitles when watching Italian-made movies.

Learn Italian to enjoy the classics of Visconte, Tornatore, Pasolini, and the more recent intriguing masterpiece by Benigni and Sorrentino.

The Italian movie industry is regarded as one of the best in the market.

Don’t believe me?

Watch some of the amazing Italian movies such as Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, La Dolce Vita, La vita è bella, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Per qualche dollaro in più, C’eravamo tanto amati, and countless more.

13. Italian is an easy language to learn

While no language is straightforward to learn, learning any language requires much effort and dedication. Italian is not a complicated tongue compared to other European languages.

According to the famous FSI research, Italian falls into category one and a few other tongues.

Type one consists of the easiest languages!

Arguably, Italian is one of the most natural romance languages — what you hear is what you write.

In vocabulary, it is much closer to French than Spanish in phonology.

The Italian pronunciation is straightforward, and the accent is more manageable for English speakers than German or French.

Italian is an excellent complement to Spanish, French, or even English due to its lexical similarity in tenses, vocabulary, and grammar rules.

For example, there are plenty of cognates between Italian and English, like Felicità — Felicity, Qualità – Quality, Università – University, Possibile – Possible, Naturalmente – Naturally, Traffico – Traffic, Romanticism – Romanticism, and many more.

You will also find many Italian words related to music, art, fashion, cooking, and science in different languages.

And if you’re considering any other romance language, like French, Spanish, or Latin, you’ll be ahead of the pack!

How long does it take to learn Italian?

Armed with the correct technique, one can achieve an upper intermediate level in language proficiency Tests like CILS or CELI exam in 2 years!

14. Italian sounds amazingly beautiful

“It has a staccato, it’s got Bella figura, and it’s got a natural flow like no other language. It’s like a sunbaked, elegantly worn-down version of Latin with sprinkles on top. It’s got the warmth of Portuguese, the clarity of Spanish, and the sophistication of French. If there is a heaven, they surely speak Italian over there.”

— Unknown

I genuinely love Italian. Learning a language you like is the best way to remain motivated.

I plan to learn Italian in the future. I’m interested in the language’s poetic and harmonic sound.

Most people choose to learn Italian because they are fascinated by its melodic, harmonious, and musicality.

It is what made you think of Italian in the first place, right?

Italian is considered the most romantic and beautiful spoken language of all the romance languages on the planet.

Thanks to most words ending in a vowel and the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds, it is pretty phonetic, unique, and easy to understand.

It is a euphonic language whose pronunciation and accents contribute to this euphony.

It is one of the few tongues aesthetically pleasing to the ear. Soon, you will discover how delightful and rewarding it is to learn.

But why take my word for it?

Try to listen to some popular Italian songs.

15. Work or Travel to Italy

“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”

— Giuseppe Verdi

Italy is immensely popular as a holiday destination. In 2018, approximately 63 million visitors worldwide made visits, and more and more are encouraged to explore and experience Italy.

Does a gondola ride along a quiet canal in Venice not evoke you enough?

You may wish to see historic art and architecture scattered throughout the ancient city of Rome, get swept away by the old-world charm of Florence, haggle in one of Milan’s street markets, or visit the gorgeous islands of Sicily.

You’ll never run out of places to visit and things to see in Italy.

Italian fluency is not a prerequisite.

Suppose you have some Italian language skills under your belt before setting off. In that case, it will enrich your holiday experience and save you a few euros.

It’s always nice to communicate with the locals in their language. It opens doors and makes native speakers warm to you.

16. Why Study in Italy?

Italy is a famous destination for international students with its rich history and educational legacy.

Through many Universities and Educational institutions, the country offers various study programs in any discipline you can imagine.

From Performing Arts to Fashion to Computer Science to MBA in Finance, many of which are English-taught.

Italy has several top-ranked colleges and universities.

Three Italian Universities – Politecnico and Bocconi in Milan and La Sapienza in Rome – stand out in the world’s top 10 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Although the tuition cost will vary at each institution, the quality of education in Italy is more affordable tuition fees than in other neighboring countries like France or the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, getting a part-time job is a great way to help fund your studies in Italy, making it an attractive option for overseas students.

If you’ve ever dreamed of working in Italy, learning Italian is necessary to feel integrated and experience how Italians live.

There’s no better way to learn Italian than by studying or living in Italy and acquiring a language through an immersion program.

You’ll be able to enjoy using it while you’re out there.

You’ll make friends, explore new places, experience authentic Italy, and impress your potential employer with your acquired Italian skills.

The possibilities are endless!

Conclusion — Should You Learn Italian?

More and more people worldwide are choosing Italian as a second language.

Whatever your inspiration or spur may be, Italian is an advantageous language to learn. The odds are always favorable for a beautiful language like Italian.

Learning Italian is what you will enjoy doing, and we are here to help you with it if you have any questions or suggestions.