Whether we're in Melbourne or Sydney, Perth or Canberra, we probably all remember taking lessons in a foreign language subject at high school.
You might have studied French, Spanish, Japanese, or maybe even Italian.
It's easy to believe that if you weren't able to get the grammar and vocabulary of a foreign language as a teenager, then you certainly won't be able to do it now as an adult.
Well, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of people out there who have been able to come back to language learning as adults and aced it.
In fact, according to Adult Learning Australia, around 1.1 million Australians took personal enrichment courses between 2016-2017, and of them, a large percentage were language classes.
There are a variety of ways that you can start your learning experience, like group classes at a school, following a book syllabus or using free online resources.
Get some ideas about free Italian resources with our guide!
But one of the main ways that English speakers decide to improve their skills in languages, whether French, Spanish or Italian, is through private tutoring classes.
By taking lessons from a private tutor, students are able to learn exactly what they're interested in and what they need.
For example, if you studied Italian for years at school and just want a quick refresher, then your tutor can help with those subjects. Or if you need to translate fiction books, you can start with the help of your teacher.
One of the only difficult parts about finding a private tutor is the sheer number of teachers that are available in Australia, especially in cities with lots of Italian people, like Melbourne or Sydney.
How on earth is a student supposed to distinguish an OK teacher from a great teacher? What tools do you need to find the teacher that will help you reach your goals?
Read on to get some free ideas about how to whittle down that long list of possible Italian teachers into a shortlist of three or four names. Once you have this down, you can trial all of them to choose the best option.
Important Criteria for a Private Italian Teacher
At first, you might think that one teacher is the same as the other, as long as they are native speakers. Unfortunately, there are a few other criteria we need to consider before making a choice.
Lessons with a bad teacher aren't just a waste of time and money, but they can also make you lose your confidence and desire to improve your language skills.
Like everyone, we want you to get the best out of your private tutoring.
So what do good tutors have that make them stand out from the crowd...
Experience
Tutors who have been teaching students from a range of backgrounds for years bring a lot more knowledge to the table, and not just knowledge of Italian grammar and vocabulary.
With each lesson they have taught over the years, they've learned which pieces of grammar are most important to teach and how to teach them in a way they can easily understand.
They will also be well-prepared for every lesson, as they have a store of worksheets, books, and knowledge for all subjects related to the Italian language.
Specialisations
This is important for students who are looking for something specific from their lessons. For example, if you're trying to learn Italian for a short trip to Italy, you probably don't need a tutor who specialises in Italian for business.
There are lots of reasons why a student in Australia might want Italian tutoring, like preparing for university entrance exams or trying to read books in the language of Dante.
Some specialist lessons can include:
- Business Italian
- Italian for Travel
- Academic Italian for University
- Exam Preparation (check out our guide to Italian exams)
Either way, you need to make sure that the tutor you choose has knowledge of the field you're interested in so that you can get the most from every lesson.
Check out Italian lessons Melbourne here on Superprof.
Native speaker or not?
For some people, this criteria is non-negotiable. They only want to learn Italian from a person who was born and raised in Italy. But is that actually the best way to think?
If you think about it, there are many people in cities like Melbourne or Sydney that were not born in Australia, but still, speak an incredible level of English.
These people have put a huge amount of time and effort into their language skills, and know exactly how it feels to learn it from scratch.
This means they'll be more likely to understand where you might get confused or make a mistake because they understand the English-speaker lens through which you're seeing the grammar and vocabulary.
On the other hand, native speakers often don't know the ins and outs of their own language. Think about it, do you know what a preposition is in English? Or the past perfect?
We never have to study these concepts, because we use them correctly naturally when we speak. But if we don't know what they are, how can we explain them to someone else?
Basically, a non-native speaker with plenty of teaching experience is likely to do a better lesson than a native speaker with no experience.
Logistical Matters
Not all tutors deliver lessons in the same way, which can really affect the student experience. Some students prefer to study in person, in a quiet place, while others are happy online or in a cafe.
One of the key things to consider when you're looking for the perfect tutor is where, when and how they give lessons. On websites like Superprof or Preply, tutors give all of this info.
You can read their profiles and reviews to see what their preferred methods are and if they match yours.
You may ask... what's the difference between an online or in-person lesson, and which should I do? Well, both styles of study have their advantages and disadvantages, and it really depends from student to student which will work better.
In-person lessons are good for those who need to feel more in contact with their tutor. Having a person in front of you can make your learning feel more real and in context.
You can also find a space that is conducive to your studies, and maybe even fun. For example, some people like to study outside in a garden or in a cafe with other people.
However, you do have to spend time going to and from each lesson, taking your books and other materials with you each time.
On the other hand, lessons via webcam are more convenient. You simply connect at the start time and disconnect at the end.
All of your books and resources are probably already on the computer or in your house, so you'll never forget them.
Already being on the computer means the teacher can use a great range of technology to make lessons more interesting and fun.
Finally, teaching online means you're able to find tutors not just from your city, but anywhere in Australia. If you live in Sydney but your ideal tutor is in Melbourne, then it's all good!
The downside of this type of lesson is that you lose a little of your contact with the language and with your tutor.
Find great Italian lessons Sydney here on Superprof.
Of course, all of the above criteria will affect how much each lesson will cost. A teacher with lots of great reviews and experience will charge more than someone just starting out.
Where You Can Look For an Italian Tutor
There are plenty of sites where you can find ads for tutors like Preply and Superprof, or even just doing a quick Google search e.g. 'Private Italian Classes Sydney'.
One of the great things about Superprof is that our tutor profiles are really detailed including information like teaching experience, location and price information and reviews from past students.
This makes it nice and easy to filter so you're only looking at teachers who match your criteria. That way, you won't get overwhelmed or confused with the vast number of tutors available in Australia.
If you're taking lessons online, don't forget that you can open up your search. For example, if you're in Melbourne, you can look for tutors in Vic, Sydney and really all over Australia.
Once you've made your shortlist (three to five max), you can contact each tutor and organise a trial (which is usually free).
Trials are important because they allow you to understand if there is a good amount of chemistry between you and your teacher.
If you're still not sure whether you want to begin lessons, just remember that studying languages has some amazing effects on the brain from avoiding cognitive decline to improving empathy.
Also, they're just plain fun!
Read about teachers giving Italian lessons here.
In bocca al lupo!
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