I spent two years completing an Italian language course. My lessons, which took place twice a week, were the highlight of my week over that period. The great thing about a language course is that the schedule helps keep you consistent. The material is kept fresh in your mind. This is especially true for reading and writing.
When it comes to speaking, a few hours a week is definitely a good way to start. However, eventually you reach a point where practicing more often becomes necessary. Speaking regularly is important not just for retention, but for being able to apply what you learn in class in real situations too.
Once I completed level A1.2 I approached my instructor to enquire if there were opportunities available for me to practice speaking. As it happened, she knew of someone in Italy, an acquaintance, who was brushing up on his English and needed some speaking practice of his own. Once we were introduced we decided to meet over a Zoom call and practice conversing.
My language buddy and I ended up meeting one hour a week, on and off, for about a year and a half. We would spend 30 minutes speaking Italian, in which time I would get the opportunity to practice speaking (and listening) and he would correct me where necessary. Thereafter we would switch to English giving him the same opportunity for the second 30 minutes.
Having come out the other side of my Italian course, and having obtained the PLIDA B1 certification, I can confidently say that this experience of speaking practice contributed significantly to my Italian ability. Not just for speaking and listening, but for my confidence with the language as a whole.
I noticed some of the following benefits from practicing with a language buddy:
I can make out words a lot better
When I started, I struggled to distinguish many of the words that my language buddy was saying. I had to ask him to repeat himself quite often, which I’m sure must have been annoying.
The thing about learning from a teacher is that, while having someone to listen to is useful, a teacher is trained to speak clearly and intelligibly. Their pronunciation is explicit and the pace at which they speak is deliberate. However, this isn’t always the case with a native speaker in the real world.
Crossing the threshold from understanding a teacher to deciphering the words of a native speaker is a common challenge for us as language learners.
The more I practiced the easier it became to make out what I was hearing, even if I didn’t understand everything yet. After a few weeks I no longer had the need to ask him to repeat himself. I could focus more on the content of his speech and work on understanding the grammar.
I became proficient in grammar
During lessons, there were multiple occasions when I felt that I had grasped a certain grammar rule. Yet when the time came to practice it out loud I would struggle. This was particularly true of rules whose concepts were unfamiliar.
A good example of this is the Italian subjunctive mood (il congiuntivo). Since the subjunctive isn’t prominent in English, it took me a bit of effort to wrap my head around it. When I did understand how it worked, using it in class was still a bit of a challenge.
I decided to try to use this rule in particular when practicing with my language buddy. Since the subjunctive is used to express an opinion, an informal conversation is the ideal place to use it. Even so, I still made many mistakes. But the fact that I had the opportunity to practice meant I was able to improve. My language buddy corrected me many times on this – it’s exactly because of that that I improved.
I maintained, and even grew, my vocabulary
Vocabulary is often the first casualty of a lack of practice. This is something you realise when you attempt to speak a language you haven’t used for a while. Likewise, the converse is also true. Regular practice will ensure you remember vocabulary that you’ve learned.
In my case, practicing for half an hour at a time even allowed my vocabulary to grow. I was exposed to nuances in meaning for certain terms, but also to completely new words and even idioms and figures of speech.
Since we spoke to each other over quite a long period, we would often approach each session with a particular topic in mind. These were not fixed topics, but more just for the sake of conversation. Things like our jobs, our countries, food and even the FIFA World Cup.
I got to meet someone new and learn about his culture
One of the more virtuous aspects of learning another language is that it grants you the privilege to learn about other people and their ways of life. This was one of the first occasions that I got to meet an Italian person, and the first time I met someone from Sicily.
From explaining the array of delicacies native to the south of Italy, to mentioning how the city of Catania is located beside an active volcano (Mt. Etna), he was only too happy to introduce me to his culture, and I was only too happy to listen.
Conclusion
Achieving fluency in a language is a journey and for many speaking is the part that poses the biggest challenge. Having gone through the process of applying grammar into speech with other languages before, I was aware of what I needed to do to develop my speaking ability when I picked up Italian.
Finding a language buddy that you’re comfortable with and with whom you can practice your skills can accelerate your development. If you’re part of a group course at a language school, there’s a good chance they offer dedicated speaking classes.
Alternatively, as was the case with me, your instructor might know of someone with whom you could practice. Another way to find a language buddy especially if you’re learning on your own is using apps like Tandem.
Have you used a language buddy before? Let me know in the comments.