Fall in Love with Learning
How to Build a Joyful, Immersive Language Learning Routine (Using Italian as an Example)
Language learning isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary or perfecting grammar. The real secret? Falling in love with the process. Whether you're learning Italian, Spanish, German, or any other language, the key is to bring that language into your everyday life in ways that feel joyful, motivating, and sustainable.
Richard Simcott (organizer of the Polyglot gathering) emphasizes the power of creating a linguistic bubble - 'una bolla linguistica', for daily immersion.
In this article, we’ll use Italian as an example - but these immersion principles apply to any language you're learning.
Listen to Music
Music is a low-effort, high-reward way to absorb the rhythm and emotion of a culture. For Italian, check out the annual Sanremo Music Festival - a national obsession and a great way to discover contemporary artists.
💡 Tip: For any language, find the Spotify Top 50 or search for popular local playlists.
Read for Pleasure
Italy has one of the richest literary scenes in the world. Greats and contemporary figures like Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Natalia Ginzburg, Alba De Céspedes and Elena Ferrante are worth their weight in gold. Their books will be too advanced for beginners, but they serve as long-term inspiration. In the meantime, try:
Graded readers (simplified books for learners)
Translations of familiar novels (Harry Potter is a classic starter)
Podcast transcripts or bilingual reading apps
💡 This applies to all languages: read slightly above your level, and choose content you enjoy.
Listen, A Lot!
Comprehension is key - especially early on. As linguist Stephen Krashen points out, we learn best from
“messages that are slightly above our current level - but still understandable.”
In other words, don’t worry about catching every word. Focus on getting the main gist of what is going on, the brain is great at recognizing patterns and will adapt over time. Try:
Italian language podcasts, like 'La Bottega di Babbel' (linked below)
Audio from YouTube, audiobooks, or radio
Listening while doing everyday tasks - cooking, commuting or working out
💡 The more of the language you hear, the faster your brain will adapt.
Observe How Speakers Really Speak
Grammar is important - but so is sounding natural. Italians often use idiomatic expressions, regional dialects, and abbreviations that you won’t find in most textbooks. That’s why it’s helpful to hear how Italians actually speak to one another.
A great resource is Easy Italian, which features interviews with real people and includes subtitles to help with understanding. not what is 'grammatically' correct but rather how they speak to each other daily with expressions, abbreviations, slang, nuances in regional dialects and other interesting tidbits of the language itself.
💡 Look for street interviews or follow content from your favourite youtuber in your target language.
Watch Series and Films
TV shows and movies offer authentic accents, body language, and cultural context. For Italian learners, Netflix is a goldmine. Some beginner-friendly and addictive series include:
Il Processo (The Trial)
Baby
Generazione 56K
Try using tools like Language Reactor, a browser extension that shows subtitles in both your native language and your target language simultaneously.
For something more cinematic, check out C’è ancora domani - a beautifully made film that was a hit in both Italy and abroad. Note: the characters speak in dialect, so subtitles will help!
💡 Most major languages have binge-worthy shows available with subtitles. Don’t feel guilty about watching TV - it’s legit learning!
Plan a trip
Having a real-world goal - like traveling to Italy 🇮🇹, can be an incredibly powerful motivator. It gives purpose to your studies and makes the language feel more alive. Whether your trip is in six months or six years, having that dream in your mind can help fuel long-term commitment.
💡 Apply this to any language: imagine yourself ordering food, chatting with locals, or navigating a city abroad.
Final Thoughts
No matter which language you're learning, the approach is the same: build a lifestyle around it. Use structured lessons to guide your progress, but fill your days with joyful, real-world exposure.
Italian is just one beautiful example - but the same ideas work for French, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, or any language you’re passionate about.
Start where you are. Do what you can. And most importantly - make it fun.
Buon viaggio! Bon voyage! Gute Reise!
Try our tools
We offer personalized audio lessons that can be paired with real online teachers to help you build structure, accountability, and joy in your learning journey. Whether you're starting from scratch or working toward fluency, we’ve got tools to support you at every level.