Learning Italian with TV Shows

Learning a new language can sometimes feel daunting. But this doesn’t have to be the case for you. Imagine you are learning your favorite language while watching some of your favorite TV shows. Yes, learning through TV shows is possible and promises to be a fun endeavor because it is a great balance between entertainment and education. You stand to get immersive learning which is the best way to learn a language, visual and auditory learning which helps reduce the monotony when learning, engaging content because what is not more fun than watching TV shows? You also get repetition because, with a TV show, you can restart and rewind as many times as you wish.

Now let’s narrow our focus to Italian. With its musicality and beautiful intonation, Italian lends itself easily to being learned through Netflix TV shows. Whether you are captivated by intense drama intrigued by historical events or want to get a laugh with an Italian sitcom, there is a TV show that will cater to your entertainment needs while helping you learn the language.

In this article, we will explore how you can take your learning to a new level using TV shows. We will also show you how you can leverage Jolii App to pair with TV shows to maximize your learning experience.

So, grab your remote and prepare to turn your favorite bingeing into an effective Italian lesson.

Why Tv Shows Are Effective for Language Learning

We think that TV shows are just for entertainment. But they can be more than this. Learning a language through TV shows can provide advantages not found in regular old-fashioned learning methods. Here’s why TV shows can be effective for you:

Immersive Experience

Even if you have learned most of the language using other methods, you will still need to immerse yourself in the language to gain skills and confidence to use it. When you watch TV shows, you are exposed to natural language usage including colloquialisms, slang, and human nuances often missing from textbooks. Exposing yourself to these concepts will help you not only learn the words but also how they are used. This gives you a deeper understanding of the language. By immersing yourself in the language, intonation, rhythm, and flow of the conversation become familiar to you.

Visual And Auditory Learning

TV shows combine visual context and language, giving you an all-rounded way of learning. When you see characters speaking on the screen, visual cues will help you understand what is being said even if you don’t catch every word spoken. This dual input method helps to improve the retention of new words and phrases. For example, watching someone order a meal in a restaurant not only teaches you the vocabulary needed to do so but also teaches you physical gestures and cues used in a similar situation.

Engagement

TV shows will offer one thing not always found in books – engaging content. It is fun to watch a TV show which is not the case for traditional learning methods that can be dry and unimaginative. The compelling storylines, complex characters, and emotional arcs all work to make shows very interesting. This is how you can binge several seasons of a fun drama. Now imagine you also are learning from the show. The engaging content will keep you motivated to keep learning.

Repetitive Content

TV shows offer you repetitive content which enhances your learning. Watching episodes several times or following the show will allow you to hear repetitive words and phrases several times, enhancing retention. Additionally, the contextual framework of the show will allow you to understand and remember the meaning of the words used. For example, if you are watching a crime drama, you are going to hear words associated with crime and the legal system.

Top Italian Shows for Language Learners

Knowing the benefits of learning Italian through TV shows is not all. You must know where you are starting. And we can help with that. Here is a list of popular Italian shows you can watch to improve your Italian:

Gomorra

This is an Italian crime drama that initially aired in 2014 and the last episode in 2021. It follows a criminal boss, Don Pietro, and his right-hand man, Ciro di Marzio. Ciro has been looking at taking leadership of the crime business and he gets his opportunity to rule when Don Pietro gets arrested. It is fast-paced and involves complex conversations which will test your language skills and improve them.

L’amica Geniale

This is an Italian coming-of-age drama series that initially aired in 2018. It follows a middle-aged woman who leads a peaceful life with her books. However, things change when her best friend disappears under mysterious circumstances.

The show is perfect for intermediate learners. It features a mix of formal and informal language, offering learners a broad spectrum of vocabulary and expressions. The emotional depth of the characters and their relationships will allow you to stay invested in the show.

Il Commissario Montalbano

This long-running TV show follows Salvo Montalbano who solves crime in the fictional town of Vigata, Sicily. The show is known for its charming protagonist and picturesque setting. This show is great for beginner and intermediate learners mostly because it has clear and articulate dialogue. The recurring characters and plotlines make it easy to follow and stay engaged.

 Suburra

This is a crime thriller set in Rome, exploring the intersections of crime, politics, and the church. The show is inspired by real events and offers an intriguing look at the dark side of the eternal city.

This show is excellent for intermediate to advanced learners. Suburra presents a mix of Roman dialects and standard Italian. The fast-paced dialogues and intricate events will encourage active listening and comprehension. The show’s portrayal of contemporary issues will ensure the show is relevant to your learning experience.

Suggestions For Selecting TV Shows Based on Proficiency Level And Interests

Yes, you can dive right in and start watching these shows. However, if you have noticed anything about our suggestions, it is that each show will need you to be at some level of proficiency if you are to learn effectively from it. So, here’s how you avoid the confusion:

• Beginners- look for shows with a clear and slow dialogue set like Il Commissario Montalbano which offers an easier entry point into Italian. Subtitles may also be beneficial at this stage.
• Intermediate- choose shows like L’amica Geniale which offers a mix of formal and informal language which helps build a broader vocabulary.
• Advanced- Dive into shows like Gomorra and Suburra to challenge your comprehension skills and expose yourself to regional dialects and slang.
• Personal Interests- pick shows that align with your interests. Be it criminal thrillers, dramas, or comedies. This way you remain motivated and can continue learning.

Leveraging Jolii App to Pair with Netflix

Finding TV shows on your own is entirely possible. But how about you get recommendations catered to your learning level and interests? With Jolii App, a cutting-edge AI-powered app built to identify and curate learning videos for its users. The best part is that you get recommendations from Italian YouTubers, internet videos, and TV shows from Netflix. Here is a look at what you get from the app:

Unique learning paths– learning a language online may take various forms and be done at various times which may be unique to you. Based on how well you are progressing, Jolii will plan out your learning to reflect that.

Voice recognition– a key part of learning language is proper pronunciation. With Jolii app, the AI chatbot will help you achieve excellent proficiency.

Gamified features– learning can be tedious and sometimes boring. The Jolii app has ways to keep you motivated, from the fun and simple interface, reward points, and leaderboards, these are bound to bring out your competitiveness.

Instant translations– when watching a video, Jolii will accompany it with translations and subtitles which will help you pick up words, meanings, and even contexts.

Jolii is not just any language learning app, it is created to supplement regular learning using engaging but effective ways. It is also not just a flashcard app; you will also learn from native speakers. It is on tool that can guarantee fluency. An additional benefit is that the Jolii app is favorably priced at $12.99 per month or $ 99.99 per year. You can also use the free version which has the essential language lessons.

Final Words

If you had any doubt about learning Italian from TV shows, you now could see how that is possible. But first, you must understand how TV shows can benefit you with an immersive experience, visual and auditory learning, repetitive lessons, and contextual experience.

What’s more, you also need to define your proficiency level and personal interests. Then you can now select shows to binge on. Or better yet, have the Jolii App select and present you with TV shows deemed good for your level. You will laugh, you will cry along with the TV show characters, but most importantly, you will pick up the Italian language. Happy bingeing!