Before going to Italy, my decision to learn Italian was straightforward. I thought it was a beautiful language, and I assumed it would be relatively easy to learn. I was drawn to how it sounded and the culture connected to it, but at the time, I did not fully understand how much of it would mean to me. Throughout my experience in college, I had taken classes in Italian and practiced the basics, but I knew that being able to communicate in real-life situations would be a different challenge. At first, I struggled to understand spoken Italian in fast-paced conversations, and speaking often felt slow and awkward. Over time however, with practice and immersion, I became more confident. Immersion forced me to adapt quickly which accelerated how much I learned. Learning Italian was not just about vocabulary and grammar, it was about developing the patience and focus to navigate conversations in a new cultural and social context. Studying Italian gave me opportunities I had never imagined. It gave me the ability to study abroad in Bologna, where I could actually use the language in my everyday life. Being immersed in Italy pushed me to move beyond the classroom and apply what I had learned in real situations.
One of the most impactful outcomes of learning Italian however, was being able to engage in deeper conversations. While abroad, I had the opportunity to speak with Italian students about the current political climate of Italy and how it affects young people. The entire conversation was in Italian, which made it both harder and more meaningful. It is one thing to have basic conversations in another language, but talking about politics and how policies are directly affecting Italians is completely different. I was paying attention not just to the words, but to the tone and what they were really trying to express. We started talking about whether young people in Italy feel like they should be involved in engaging civically. What stood out to me was that it was not a simple yes or no. They were aware of what was going on and they cared, but there was also a lot of frustration. They felt like getting involved would not actually lead to change. The most impactful part of the conversation however was, how many of them brought up the idea of leaving Italy. They talked about moving to other countries, not just to travel, but to try to build a better future for themselves. These conversations profoundly shaped how I understood my experience abroad. They told me about real concerns they felt about the future, civic engagement, and the possibility of leaving Italy in search of better opportunities. Being able to have those discussions in Italian not only allowed me to practice my Italian but also gave me the means to connect with the Italians in a way I did not think I could.
