Why am I not improving in Italian? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by learners who self-study.
Learning a new language can be an exciting but frustrating journey. Many learners reach a point where they feel stuck, despite their best efforts. If you’re putting in hours of study but not seeing progress, you’re not alone. Research in language acquisition has identified several common reasons why learners struggle to improve. Let’s explore these reasons and how you can overcome them.
1. Passive Learning vs. Active Learning
Many learners focus too much on passive learning, such as watching TV shows, listening to podcasts, or using apps without actively engaging with the language. While exposure is important, research shows that active learning—where you produce and manipulate the language yourself—is essential for progressing in Italian (Nation, 2013).
Example: You listen to Italian music for hours, but you never sing along, write down lyrics, or try to understand the meaning. This limits your ability to internalize vocabulary and grammar.
✅ Solution: Engage actively by summarizing what you heard, or shadowing (repeating immediately after the speaker).
2. Fear of Making Mistakes
Many learners avoid speaking or writing in their target language due to the fear of making mistakes. However, mistakes are a natural and necessary part of language acquisition (Dörnyei, 2005).
Example: You know many words in Italian, but when speaking, you hesitate or remain silent, fearing you’ll say something wrong.
✅ Solution: Reframe mistakes as learning opportunities. Keep a “mistake journal” to track errors and correct them later. Speak with supportive partners who encourage growth rather than perfection.
3. Not Enough Repetition and Spaced Repetition
Forgetting is natural, and studies on the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve (1885) show that learners forget most of what they learn if they don’t review it regularly. This can be why you’re not improving in Italian.
Example: You learn a list of 20 new Italian words but never review them, so you forget them within a week.
✅ Solution: Use spaced repetition techniques with apps like Anki or Quizlet, which help reinforce vocabulary at optimal intervals.
4. Focusing Too Much on Grammar
While grammar is important, over-focusing on rules without real-life practice can slow down progress. Krashen’s Input Hypothesis (1982) suggests that meaningful exposure to comprehensible input is more effective than memorizing grammar rules. This is why in my Italian lessons I focus on a specific grammatical topic, and I encourage written and spoken practice right away!
Example: You spend hours learning Italian grammar structures but struggle to understand or use them in conversation.
✅ Solution: Balance grammar study with real-life exposure, such as reading books, listening to native speakers, and practicing with dialogues.
5. Lack of Motivation or Clear Goals
Research by Dörnyei (2001) highlights that motivation is a key factor in language learning. Without a clear goal, it’s easy to lose interest and not improving in Italian..
Example: You study Italian but don’t have a specific goal, so your learning feels directionless and uninspiring.
✅ Solution: Set clear, meaningful goals like “I want to hold a 10-minute conversation in Italian within 3 months.” Track your progress and celebrate small wins.
6. Sticking to the Same Study Methods
If you always use the same learning methods, your progress may plateau. The brain thrives on variety (Schmitt, 2010).
Example: You always use the same textbook but never try new methods like watching YouTube videos, chatting with native speakers, or playing language games.
✅ Solution: Diversify your learning by mixing different activities: listening, speaking, reading, and writing in various formats.
7. Not Immersing Yourself Enough
Real-life immersion accelerates language acquisition. The more you interact with the language in daily life, the faster you improve (Lightbown & Spada, 2013).
Example: You study Italian for one hour a day but switch to your native language the rest of the time, limiting exposure.
✅ Solution: Change your phone’s language, think in your target language, and try “Italian language challenges”.
8. Neglecting Pronunciation and Listening Skills
Many learners focus on reading and writing but neglect pronunciation and listening comprehension, making it harder to understand and be understood. This can be why you’re not improving in Italian.
Example: You listen to podcasts but you struggle to understand what’s being said even if you know every word.
✅ Solution: Practice pronunciation with phonetic training apps, mimic native speakers, use dictation exercises, try to reduce the speed of any audio files and focus on every word.
9. Not Personalizing Your Learning
Generic methods don’t work for everyone. Personalization is key (Ushioda, 2011).
Example: You follow a one-size-fits-all course but feel unmotivated because the topics don’t interest you.
✅ Solution: Tailor learning to your interests. If you love sports, watch games in your target language. If you enjoy music, translate lyrics.
Final Thoughts
If you feel you’re not improving in Italian, take a step back and evaluate your methods. Are you actively engaging with the language? Are you pushing yourself to speak and make mistakes? Are you varying your study techniques and immersing yourself in real-life situations? Small adjustments can lead to big improvements. Language learning is not about perfection but persistence. Keep going, and progress will follow!
Credits
original image by Copilot
Let’s learn some formal Italian expressions
