Learn Italian your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Dalila Bianco—Italian Teacher in Los Angeles

As an Italian native speaker born and raised in Italy, I find my job teaching Italian lessons in Los Angeles so interesting. Los Angeles is a city where very few people speak Italian; nonetheless a lot of people are passionate about my country, language, and culture. I enjoy Los Angeles because it incorporates so many different backgrounds which gives me (and others) the opportunity to learn and understand different cultures and habits.

In my opinion, the hardest thing about learning Italian is pronunciation and the complex grammar. Although many Italian and English words share the same roots, the two languages are completely different in terms of grammar, structure and phonetic. So, one of the keys to better understanding Italian is immersing yourself in the culture and, of course, having conversations with native speakers. Below are a few points of interest and events around Los Angeles that can help you improve your Italian:

Annual Feast of San Gennaro If you want to explore a little deeper into the culture of Italy, I would recommend attending the Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Los Angeles, taking place Sept. 26-28. The festival celebrates Italian culture, food, and entertainment. Attendees are entertained by live music, street performers, and, of course, food. Wine and food tastings are provided by local wineries and restaurants. Guests are invited to learn recipes from original Italian chefs. What a great opportunity to discover Italian traditions, while learning to cook some delicious pasta!

Hollywood and Westside Los Angeles Italian Language Meetup Another way to discover Italian traditions and practice the language is to join the Hollywood and Westside Los Angeles Italian Language Meetup. The Meetup is organized by a group of Italian language speakers who share a love for the Italian language and culture. With more than 1,598 Italian speakers, the group is one of the most popular Italian Language Meetups in the U.S. Upon joining the group, you will start to speak, read, and write in Italian in no time. In fact, the best way to develop your language skills is having conversations, possibly with native speakers. There’s no better opportunity to practice Italian and make some new friends. Italians are very friendly and sociable, so be ready to have fun!

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles Want to learn more about the history of Italy? The Italian American Museum, located just minutes from the civic and financial districts, is an interactive museum in which people can go to learn about the history and contributions of Italian Americans throughout Los Angeles and the U.S. The museum boasts film screenings, language classes, and visual and performing exhibits.

I love giving Italian lessons in Los Angeles, especially because I can teach more than just the language. The pronunciation, the phonetics, and the culture behind the language makes my work amazing!