Learning how to speak Italian can be difficult and boring, a real chore. Or, with a little creativity, you can turn it into a fun and enjoyable experience. This article is going to give you three fun and effective ways to get this romantic language rolling off your tongue.

How to Speak Italian: Using The Barter System

You've got something very valuable, something that you take for granted every day of your life, something that you've spent your whole life perfecting-your native language. And, assuming that you're a native English speaker, your skills are very much in demand. How can this help you learn Italian? It helps you learn Italian because there are lots of native Italian speakers who want to perfect their English speaking skills. This is what you do.

If you live in a big city, you can find a native Italian speaker and meet with him or her a few times a week in a coffee shop. You can meet this person online or by contacting the various local Italian groups in your city. Once you get a partner, you do a language exchange. For example, you meet at a coffee shop and grab a cup of caffeine. Then you chat in English for 30 minutes. After that you switch over to speaking Italian. As a native speaker, you partner will show you how to speak Italian with a perfect accent. It's easy. It's fun, and it's free.

If you can't find a partner where you live, or if you just don't want to meet someone in person, don't worry. Just do an Internet language exchange. All you have to do is go to an Italian language learning forum and find a partner--there are lots available. Then use Skype or MSN to have conversations. You can sit in Iowa and learn how to speak Italian with a partner who is at home in Rome!

How to Speak Italian: Join a "Meet-Up" Group

Have you ever browsed a "Meet Up" group online? If not, it's time to get started. What are these groups? They are themed groups that arrange outings or, as they say, "meet ups." There are groups of like-minded individuals meeting for everything you can imagine, including groups that focus on all things Italian.

Some groups focus specifically on learning how to speak Italian. Others focus on Italian culture, and, of course, there are many that meet up to enjoy and discuss Italian food. All you do to join a group is go online and RSVP to an outing that you think you'll enjoy. Then just show up. There are no fees or admission charges to join these groups.

How to Learn Italian: Going Solo

Of course, the best way to learn how to speak Italian is to have conversations in Italian with other people. Sometimes, though, for whatever reason, that's just not possible. Don't worry. You've still got options. The best option, by far, is to get some Italian learning software. These programs aren't what they used to be--just books in digital form.

Today's Italian learning programs provide users with great speaking practice. They do this by using pre-recorded dialogues. Using them, you can learn the exact pronunciations of words, phrases, and full sentences, and you get to have fully interactive conversations with the software. It gets better. Some of these programs have voice recognition software that analyzes your pronunciation and speech patters and gives you feedback, which you can then use to improve your Italian speaking abilities.

Summary

The best way to learn how to speak Italian is to sit down with an Italian native speaker. A great way to do this for free is to engage in a language exchange. If you want something more social and casual, you can join a "meet up" group and practice speaking Italian with your new friends. If you prefer to study alone, all you have to do is grab some Italian learning software. Of course, if you like to mix things up, you can do all three. Whatever you do, just make sure that you are getting Italian words, phrases and sentences coming out of your mouth; there is no other way to learn how to speak Italian.

Compare the top 5 Italian learning software programs. View them now: http://www.speakoutitalian.com/italian-learning-software-2

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Ryan Wiley has been living and working overseas for over a decade. He makes a living as a language learning textbook writer. He has published 12 books to date.