As a newly arrived Brit in Florence, my Italian vocabulary was restricted to Ciao!, grazie, scusa, gelato, caffé, and a firm no to the pushier stall owners at the San Lorenzo market. Determined to at least make an attempt to learn the language, I immediately signed up for classes, and, after a few lessons and armed with my new vocabulary and vague knowledge of present tense verb declensions, I set off to test my new skills on the shop owners and waiters of Florence. Only to find that everyone in the centre speaks English. My hesitant ‘Vorrei un panino…’ was met with ‘Would you like it warmed up?’; my stumbling ‘Quanto costa?’ with ‘That’s five euro fifty.’
I was facing a problem that presents itself to a great number of foreign students and new arrivals in Florence: How could I practice my Italian when all my friends were English speaking and all the Italians I came across spoke English, too?
The answer I hit upon, albeit after several fruitless weeks of trying and failing to strike up Italian conversation in bars and shops, was a language exchange. Just as I was longing to improve my Italian, there are hundreds of young Italians in the city desperate to practice English, whether for travelling, studying abroad or getting a job. A friend recommended a website, www.conversationexchange.com, and, after dubiously wondering whether I was heading into some kind of Italian online dating, I created a profile. I was immediately bombarded with messages from Italians eager to meet for a language tandem, and my window onto Italian life had opened.
I have since met around 15 people through the site. Some, admittedly, were a little strange, others mind-numbingly boring, and more still simply wanted a drink with a blonde English girl (I have since learned to avoid meeting up with guys), but most have been interesting young students or professionals, keen to expand their horizons and meet new people. After more than two years in the city, many of my current best friends are people I met through the site. They have been invaluable in helping me learn the language and experience Florence beyond the ‘tourist bubble.’
Using the site, and many others that provide the same function, is safe as long as you have a sensible head on your shoulders. Be sure to give your email address or phone number to potential tandem partners only after you have already exchanged messages through the site and it goes without saying that it’s advisable to meet in a public place the first time. For obvious reasons, girls may prefer to meet up only with other girls. Finally, and this is the most important piece of advice, make sure you divide your language exchange time equally into Italian and English. Early on, when my Italian was shaky at best and I was often too embarrassed to attempt to use it, it was tempting to simply enjoy a chat in English. I have since learned to insist on half an hour of Italian, even if my partner’s English is impeccable.
For those who would rather not risk meeting someone online, there are plenty of opportunities for language exchange through organised evenings or aperitivos, which you can go to with friends if you are feeling nervous. Many of the American universities in Florence organise these kinds of language exchanges. If you are here as a student, see if your school holds any (and if not, suggest that it does). There are also excellent exchanges organised by Aegee Firenze, often at the Palazzo Giovane (vicolo di Santa Maria Maggiore 1) and various other locations in Florence.
Join the Facebook group at http://tinyurl.com/bkx5c3w for details of meetings. They also run trips, outings and parties-all great ways to get to know Italians and try out your language skills.
Many students who study in Florence regret that after a whirlwind three or six months they leave barely able to hold a conversation in Italian. You don’t have to be one of them. Make the most of the opportunity that being a student in this great city offers.
Language exchange websites
Aegee Firenze
info@aegeefirenze.it
Tel 320/6154099
