by Fiona Faccilonga, ICCR Communications Interns
It was hard to think long-term on the first day of Italian class. Sure, learning a second language sounded cool, but would I ever use it in the real world? To answer my younger self: yes, you will. And I did. After studying abroad and living in Florence for four months, my eight years of Italian paid off in more ways than one. I impressed my friends, made connections with locals, and was able to travel to less touristy areas with confidence because I had the language under my belt. Without knowing Italian, I would have found myself in some sticky situations.
It might come as a surprise to hear, but I wasn’t immediately eager to use the language. I felt anxiety speaking Italian, especially when I traveled with American groups who only knew English. We were the most stereotypical tourists you could imagine. Not only did I feel uncomfortable “showing up” my friends by speaking Italian when they couldn’t, but I felt
awkward using it when the waiters addressed us in English anyway. Sure, it was good practice, but I couldn’t help worrying about what everyone else thought of me. I wasn’t proud of knowing
Italian—if anything, I was almost ashamed. However, there were plenty of situations where I needed Italian because no one around spoke English. It pushed me to come out of my comfort zone, making the language a necessity. Even if I stumbled over a few words or missed a few syllables, I didn’t feel the pressure of being perfect because there wasn’t an option to revert to English. I had to hold the conversation and I was given the time and space to do so.
As I gradually started to use the language more and more, I found that locals appreciated when I used the language over reverting to English. My first big revelation was at H&M and I helped my friend return her boots. I figured their policy would be strict and they’d be more inclined to help if I spoke in Italian, so I gave it a shot and we were rewarded. Being immersed
within the language helped me see a whole other side of the language I wasn’t acquainted with before. There are so many aspects of the language you can’t learn in the classroom, so the environment taught me instead. I quickly started to pick up on the small things, like that there are two different words for grocery bag and purse or that the Italians don’t say good morning, but good day.
Of course, there were bumps along the way, times when I misinterpreted directions and led the group in the completely wrong direction. Yet, I failed confidently and it made me more
determined to practice the language. Even when I ventured to Spain, I would accidentally use a combination of Spanish and Italian at cafes. Yet, the locals seemed to prefer my jumble of Romance languages over English. At least I was trying. That tended to be the theme. The
smallest hello and goodbye and thank you could mean the difference between making a connection and or being shunned by a local. Even if you are an American tourist, it’s possible to
win them over through language.
At the International Center of the Capital Region, “we believe in the power of personal experiences in fostering cultural understanding and engagement in international affairs”. Taking a risk and journeying abroad was the best decision I ever could have made and I encourage
others to take the same leap of faith.