Italian Classes Near Me

Near Me NYC Los Angeles Chicago Online Boston Nashville Houston Washington, D.C. San Diego San Francisco Seattle Atlanta Denver San Jose Charlotte New Jersey Brooklyn

Discover the Best Italian Classes Near Me

Learning to speak Italian invites you into a rich world of culture, history, and beauty. Whether you're drawn to the melodious sounds of Italian opera, the mouthwatering cuisine of Italy, or the timeless art and architecture of Rome and Florence, immersing yourself in Italian connects you with this delightful heritage.

Italian is a Romance language descended from Latin, and is known for its musicality, elegance, and expressive nature. Around 70 million people worldwide speak Italian, primarily in Italy but also in Switzerland. With around 700,000 speakers, Swiss Italian is one of Switzerland's official languages, and its third most-spoken after Swiss German and Swiss French.

The Italian literary tradition traces to renowned poets like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, and its influence is seen in opera, fashion, and food. Mastering Italian gives you access to the heart of Italian culture where you can forge connections with its warm-hearted people and gain a passport to a world of art, history, and culinary delights.

Why You Should Learn Italian

Speaking Italian opens doors to new friendships, cultural experiences, and opportunities for travel, work, and study abroad. More companies than ever are doing business globally, and speaking Italian gives you a competitive edge in international business, diplomacy, tourism, and other industries.

Learning a second language also gives your brain a boost. When you study Italian, it improves your memory, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. It enhances your creativity and may even delay age-related cognitive decline. Plus, you’ll become a better language learner. As you study Italian, you’ll overcome your stumbling blocks and learn more easily and quickly. 

Classes are a fun way to meet people who share your interest in Italian language and culture. You may find companions for dinner at the trattoria and a flick at il cinema. You’ll feel a sense of mastery when you utter your first full sentence in Italian, and fill your time with a challenging and rewarding new hobby. 

Many communities have an Italian American club which is open to anyone and organizes events, meals, and even trips to Italy. Over 700,000 people speak Italian at home in the U.S. Meetup lists 347 Italian groups hosting over 350,000 events around the United States. Organizations like Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Unico, and National Italian American Foundation advocate for Italian American people and culture. The Italian Language Foundation is dedicated to promoting and sustaining Italian language education in the U.S..

5 Ways to Learn Italian

Learning Italian, or any new language, is often challenging. You are mastering not just another vocabulary, but unique pronunciation and a new set of rules for sentence structure and grammar. Here are five ways for you to learn to speak Italian.

1. Take an in-person language class with an Italian instructor. You’ll hear them speak the language and practice conversing with them in Italian. 
2. Enroll in a live online Italian class. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a live instructor, but attend your classes from anywhere.
3. Follow a self-paced, on-demand class using online videos or tutorials. These may be free or paid, and provide greater flexibility than a live class since you can learn Italian at the time of day that suits you.
4. Language apps on your web device or smartphone provide a game-like platform for learning Italian. Many apps offer a limited free plan or a more robust paid version.
5. Italian language groups meet to practice conversation. It’s a great way to improve your language skills if you already have a start on speaking Italian.

In-Person Italian Classes

Beginners can get a solid start to learning Italian in the eight-week Italian - Total Beginner at ABC Languages in NYC. This class is designed for students with little to no background in Italian. You’ll learn basic vocabulary and simple conversation, practice pronunciation, and form sentences in the present tense. An engaging, professional teacher will be there to guide you every step of the way. This class meets once a week for 90 minutes, in small classes with four to nine students. 

If you are looking for one-on-one lessons or want to form a group with friends and family, Private Italian Lessons at ABC Languages in NYC offers a customized program to build your Italian skills. A professional Italian instructor who will craft a curriculum for your learning needs and goals, and meet with you at your home or office in Manhattan. ABC Languages offers group language classes for adults and private instruction for students of all ages. Their goal is to create a program that best meets every student’s learning needs. Whether you want a quick course to prepare for a trip or intensive preparation for a move abroad, ABC Languages designs a program to meet your goals.

Beginner Italian by Sara Z. in Los Angeles, California is a four-session course where you will learn how to greet in Italian, directions, and how to introduce yourself through a series of exercises and role-playing. Intermediate/Advanced Italian focuses on conversation. The class discusses different topics based on the student's needs, like describing your favorite trips, films, books, and articles. Sara Z. is a native Italian from the Emilia Romagna region. She believes that every student is unique, and she adjusts your Italian language adventure to your life experience and personality. You’ll learn grammar through conversation in order to speak freely and with confidence. 

Italian Language - Beginner at Discover Center in Chicago, Illinois explores the language and culture that produced Dante, Michelangelo, and Fellini. You’ll learn basic conversational skills and grammar structure as you become familiar with Italian. This class is geared toward both potential travelers and those with an interest in the language. This intensive, full immersion course gives students a foundation to build on for conversational Italian. Discovery Center is Chicago's lifelong learning center. Chicago's largest and longest-running independent adult education program presents fun, stimulating classes by qualified independent instructors who enjoy introducing others to their subjects. You’ll learn among friends for your own enjoyment and growth, with no exams, grades, or degrees.

Italian: Introductory II at RoLa Languages in Cambridge, Massachusetts builds on the beginner level with regular present tense, direct and indirect object pronouns, regular past tense (Passato Prossimo), preposition and article contractions, and more conversation practice and question building. Italian: Introductory III covers simple future and present conditional, as well as a refresher on the near past, prepositions, pronouns, and the if clause of realty. RoLa Languages offers group classes and individual tutoring to create a program that's right for you. Teachers are trained in the RoLa Method and are also students of other languages. RoLa teachers have a passionate knowledge of cultures, countries, and languages, and they are fluent speakers who communicate a great passion for using language in varied settings. 

Italian Beginning I at Journey Language Center in Boulder, Colorado introduces you to vowels and consonant pronunciation exercises, as well as useful phrases. You’ll learn ten vocabulary sets and the basic grammatical structure of the language, including the proper use of articles, nouns, and adjectives in accordance with their gender and number, as well as the use of the verb “to be” in the present tense. Classes incorporate songs, videos, fun games, and basic conversational exercises to help you learn Italian. Journey Language Center classes provide a balance between conversation and interactive exercises. This means less chalkboard memorization and more listening, interacting, and speaking so learning is an immersive and engaging experience. 

Virtual Italian Classes 

Online Italian classes are a great option when you don’t have any classes in your community, or even if you do. You can attend from any place, and you save the time and stress of commuting. Plus, you have a whole world of classes to choose from. You may need to order your own materials for a virtual class, and you’ll need to have a web-enabled device or smartphone with a microphone. Make sure you have a quiet place to attend class in your home, where you won’t be interrupted while you are learning to speak Italian.

Italian - Level 1 from Fluent City is perfect for you if you're completely new to the language and you want to get the basics down to start speaking conversational Italian. With a small group of six to ten students, you'll have an opportunity to engage in conversational Italian with real-time feedback from the instructor. You'll learn how to talk about your friends and hobbies and describe your likes and dislikes, and you'll begin to read and write Italian and learn number and gender agreement. By the end of the level one course, you’ll be able to introduce yourself, order a meal, go shopping, and talk about your family and what you do in your free time.

In Italian 1 Fundamentals from Hyperfluent you’ll learn to introduce yourself in Italian, including greetings, describe your friends and family, hobbies, directions, and time. You will be able to read, write, and pronounce in Italian, and talk about your likes and dislikes of food.

Italian Crash Course from Fluent City is an interactive two-day workshop where you’ll learn essentials like how to introduce yourself, order in a restaurant, and request directions. Weekend Workshops are small, social, and interactive, averaging around ten students per session. This setting allows for ample speaking time and instructor attention so you’ll be speaking Italian quickly. Discussion topics focus on the authentic terms and phrases that will be most valuable to you in real-world conversation settings.

Italian Language - Beginner (Online) from Discovery Center explores the language and culture of Italy as you learn basic conversational skills and grammar structure of the Italian language. This class is geared toward both travelers and language learners with an intensive, full-immersion experience. You’ll finish with a good foundation to build on for conversational Italian.

Intro to Italian Crash Course from ABC Languages is the perfect way to get a taste of the Italian language and kickstart your learning. This 90-minute class covers basic vocabulary and phrases to help you get a feel for the language. In addition to learning basic greetings and Italian travel phrases, instructors will walk you through pronunciation, key challenge points in the language, and cultural topics. Italian Crash Course is a great way to brush up before traveling or decide if Italian is the right language for you. 

Let ABC Languages guide you through your Italian language skills as you advance. From basic Italian conversation skills, vocabulary, and grammar in Italian - Total Beginner to mastering conversation and vocabulary in Italian Intermediate 3, this rolling schedule of group classes will have you carrying on lively conversations in your new language.

Private Group Italian Classes

Do you want to schedule a team-building event for your business or organization? Maybe you are planning a trip to Italy with family or friends, and you want to get up to speed on your language skills together. Perhaps you want to explore the culture and cuisine of Italy as you learn the language. Coursehorse has live online group classes that they can deliver directly to you.

Wine and cheese are at the heart of Italian dining. Set the stage for your culinary experience with a group Virtual Wine & Cheese Workshop from Coursehorse. You’ll explore two wines and two kinds of cheese in this fun event, and learn about tasting with these delectable pairings. An expert instructor will help your team have more elevated conversations about what they're tasting, and talk about the unique methods by which each wine and cheese is created. There will be time for you to ask questions and get feedback on your own pairing ideas. 

It wouldn’t be Italy without pasta, and in Virtual Pasta Making you’ll learn to make this Italian classic from scratch. Your group will mix and knead a classic pasta dough, hand-shape pappardelle pasta, and create a marinara and pesto sauce from scratch. At the end of the class, your group will enjoy delicious handmade pasta. All ingredients shipped to each participant, including olive oil, flour, garlic, pine nuts, crushed tomatoes, and a gift card for you to purchase your preferred perishable ingredients like butter, cheese, and herbs. You’ll need to have a rolling pin or pasta machine, baking sheet, large pot for cooking pasta, colander or spider strainer, knife, fork, wooden spoon, cutting board, and saucepan.

Pizza is an Italian classic that appeals to everyone, and in the Virtual Pizza from Scratch Workshop learn how to make fresh pizza from scratch from a professional chef. Your group will get personalized instruction and a chance to blow off some steam and learn together as you knead the dough and enjoy the fruits (or slices) of your labor. The tools you’ll need for this class include a bowl and wooden spoon or stand mixer with hook attachment; a blender, hand blender, or food processor (or chef’s knife and cutting board); a pizza stone or cookie sheet; a chef’s knife and cutting board; a metal spatula and tongs or pizza peel; and a small saucepan.

You’ll need to provide your own materials, including bread flour, all-purpose flour, semolina flour, active dry yeast, olive oil, canned San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, salt, cheese of your choice, and toppings of your choice. If you’d like to have all materials shipped to participants, select the all-inclusive Virtual Pizza from Scratch. 

Italy produces more wine than any other country, and enjoying the variety of wines is one of the pleasures of Italian cuisine. In Virtual Wine Tasting Workshop you’ll learn wine basics like varietals, tasting techniques, region/history, and everyday wine appreciation tips. You don’t need any experience or familiarity with wine. 

You’ll need to be prepared with wine to taste, including Prosecco from Italy, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Rosé from Spain, and Pinot Noir from California. If you’d like to have these wines shipped to participants, select the all-inclusive Virtual Wine Workshop. 

You may picture long strands of dough when you think of pasta but don’t forget the soft, fat, and chewy Italian dumplings called gnocchi. Virtual Gnocchi Making will teach you how to make delicious potato gnocchi from scratch. Instead of the store-bought, dense grocery-store version of the Italian classic, learn how to make a much fluffier, light version of gnocchi with your own hands.

Ingredients shipped to each participant include organic russet potatoes, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, and Caputo Italian Flour. Class members need to provide their own 2 tablespoons of olive oil + 1 egg, baking sheet, large pot for cooking pasta, colander or spider strainer, chef’s knife, cutting board, saucepan, and a wooden spoon.

You’ve eaten mozzarella shredded on your pizza, but have you tried fresh mozzarella? In Virtual Mozzarella Making you will make fresh, silky mozzarella at home. You’ll learn about selecting the right curd, the proper water temperature, the amount of salt to use, and how to pull/fold to make your own mouth-watering ball of this Italian staple. You’ll see how coagulation turns milk from fluid to firm curds, watch a demonstration of how mozzarella is made, and try your own hand at turning curds into beautiful balls of fresh mozzarella. 

For this class you’ll need: rennet, citric acid, organic whole milk, a burner or heat source for cooking, a sauce pot with a well-fitting lid, a colander or mesh strainer, a liquid thermometer, a large mixing bowl, a sauce pot or an electric kettle, a knife, a slotted spoon, rubber gloves, and ice. Alternatively, have all ingredients shipped to your recipients for an additional $55 per person.

If you don’t see the Italian class you’re looking for, Coursehorse can create a class just for you. 

Booking a private course with CourseHorse is simple. If you don’t know your exact group size when you book, it’s not a problem. Book with your best guess and you can add or subtract people up until a week before the event. There are no booking fees, and you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your reservation. 

For a $150 fee, you can customize your course by adding a game, using specific questions or a themed game, or adding a second event with all materials included. The minimum group size for this two-hour course is ten people. CourseHorse recommends using the Zoom platform for your class, but they can accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx. Many courses can even come to your office or home space if you’d like.

What Will I Need to Learn Italian?

When you begin to learn Italian, you’ll probably want a basic textbook that introduces vocabulary and grammar. You can also use an online language platform or mobile apps that aid in translation. Explore Italian language websites which combine language aids with cultural insights, and read Italian books starting with graded readers or children’s books.

To improve your fluency, listen to Italian-language podcasts, movies, TV shows, and music. Find a language exchange partner, either in person or online, who is a native Italian speaker and interested in learning your native language. Attend Italian clubs or meet-ups to practice your language skills with skilled speakers.

Choose materials that fit your learning style and goals, and aim for a well-rounded learning experience that incorporates listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. If you enroll in a class, Italian language materials may be provided for you.

Is it Difficult to Learn Italian?

Italian is considered a moderately difficult language to learn. Its similarity to other Romance languages, fairly straightforward pronunciation, and some familiar vocabulary can speed up your learning. Italian grammar, including verb conjugations and noun gender, can be challenging for many people. With consistent practice, exposure to the language, and a positive mindset, you can soon be conversing in Italian.