ITALY - PADOVA

In the second blog I will talk about my reflection on language, especially with the Italian and English languages as it was the main language during my stay. Before I went abroad I already spoke a minimum level C1 English and B2 Spanish and French. Even before I went abroad I always tried to approach foreign people from Spain and France in their mother language and with that improve my knowledge by actively using it

Since I knew I was going to Italy and their reputation for their “not perfect” English, I already knew that I would have to study Italian at least as an insurance in case of difficulties by starting months before my departure with Duolingo and taking ltalian courses once I arrived. Here it is important to mention that Italian is a roman language, which means there are a lot of similarities between Italian and languages like Spanish or French which both I already have studied for 5 years in school before. I disliked studying languages in school, so as a first surprise I felt it was easier and faster for me to speak Italian then the other two roman languages. It was also surprising to see that I could easily communicate in English with my Italian colleagues. As time progressed in Italy, I was actually quickly able to speak Italian, which was a surprise itself and also the reaction of almost Italian students who always appreciated, supported and acknowledged me for trying to actually being able to solely communicate in Italian. Other Italian students from other departments were surprised that I could speak Italian, since they got told by my Italian friends and colleagues that I was “Il Tedesco” (the German) which felt encouraging and therefore gave me more motivation to proceed my process studying Italian. The only difficulties I faced were filling out contracts and forms. At the beginning of my journey I had to sign the rent contract and fill out a form to acquire a trimester-tram ticket. That was difficult, because I didn’t have the vocabulary at the time to deal with it. After trying translating it and verifying it by finding words which are similar or the same in Spanish and French I got through it and could sign both.

In order to overcome difficulties I always chose at the beginning to speak English and once I could phrase Italian sentences out of free will, I began trying opening with Italian until I couldn’t in which case I politely asked if it was possible to switch to English. I tried avoiding online translators as much as I could and just dove in because basically nothing to lose. Simultaneously, I kept going studying the native language (Italian) because the more I spoke the easier communication and life in general became. While I spoke Italian I unintentionally began using my hands more and increasing my gesturing, which might have helped me out occasionally. Gesturing especially helped when I tried to describe how I was feeling, describing models to my colleagues and just in general when I forgot or didn’t know a particular word.

I believe those skills and knowledge are going to be useful in my future for sure as an Amen in church. I believe that in my life, doesn’t matter if professionally or privately, I’m going to meet lots of different language backgrounds and I’ll also probably be in a lot of different countries where I’m going to be able to speak the native language. By applying my strategies and my gesturing I hope that I’ll be able to at least communicate at a basic level helps at least a bit, because once you actively try to speak the spoken language from that place people appreciate it and are more likely to help you. This knowledge could allow me to be more variable in deciding where I could work and how I can reduce time to get adapted, making myself more efficient. My self-understanding as a communicator in and speaker of a foreign language barely changed, because I was always aware that in order I had study and adapt because it didn’t just make life easier, it was what I have signed up for by deciding to go to Italy.