Italian

Courses and references, side by side

This category mixes two kinds of resource. The courses teach Italian step by step, most with audio. The Idiomary guides are short references for checking one grammar topic at a time. A useful plan is to follow one course and open the guides whenever a question comes up.

How the courses differ

The three Getting Started units from The Open University are short, eight-hour blocks built around situations: café conversations, telling the time, and train timetables. They offer a free statement of participation after registration. The edX course from Wellesley runs over twelve weeks and adds culture, reading, and writing.

Language Transfer takes a different approach: it builds sentences through reasoning and English patterns rather than memorisation, and works well during commutes. Loecsen and The Italian Experiment organise vocabulary and grammar into beginner lessons, while PRONTO! on Alison offers a brief video introduction. The FSI course is the most extensive, with more than 13 hours of dialogues and drills, but its original design was instructor-led, so it is best used in small sections.

Grammar guides for specific questions

The Idiomary guides cover verbs, prepositions, adverbs, core vocabulary, connectors, and conjunctions. The last two suit intermediate learners who are starting to write longer texts and need to know which words trigger the subjunctive.

A realistic first route

Start with one OpenLearn unit or Language Transfer for two or three weeks. When you can introduce yourself and order in a café, add the verbs guide to understand the patterns you have been using. Move on to a longer course, such as Loecsen or edX, once short sessions feel comfortable, and keep the FSI audio for extra listening practice.