Any English Spoke In Italy?

J

Justina

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Sep 28, 2011
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I know in some european countries the older generation rarely speak English, but the younger generation does. Is this the case in Italy, or no? Should I plan a course for Italian language?
 
I find that most places I travel to in Italy speak English, but yes, the older generation doesn't usually speak much English. Regardless of what country you are traveling to, I think it's best to learn a good deal of the language. It shows that you respect their culture and it's fun!
 
I agree with CeeAnna that even if they do speak English in some parts of Italy, it is always beneficial to learn the language. It shows respect and you will be able to communicate effectively with the people you meet there. It will also allow you to immerse yourself deeper into the culture.
 
AdventureBoots said:
I agree with CeeAnna that even if they do speak English in some parts of Italy, it is always beneficial to learn the language. It shows respect and you will be able to communicate effectively with the people you meet there. It will also allow you to immerse yourself deeper into the culture.
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Will do then! I definitely want to show respect in another's country. Read about a place in a medieval town by the sea (in another thread) that teaches Italian. Oh, how cool that would be!
 
When I am traveling I always feel so fortunate to speak English because it is so widely spoken and understood. I must agree though that it is always respectful to at least attempt to speak the language of the country you are visiting. Where ever I go I learn at least the polite words and phrases.
 
One of the thing I love most about travelling is the opportunity to speak different languages. I spoke German in Germany and Austria and French in France. When I go to Italy I intend to speak Italian.:)
 
Like Aliya said, even if you only learn a small bit of the language I think you will do fine. You can start by learning polite phrases and travel-specific words and sentences. You never know when they will come in handy.
 
I agree with everyone else. I've heard from some people that Americans are considered arrogant when they go to another country and assume everyone else speaks English.
 
Interesting. Where did you find these people who speak English, I'd love to congratulate them :p
I actually have had the opposite experience. I arrived in Italy and did not know anything about their language so I naturally tried to find some English speakers. Of course, with my luck, I found none...
To this day, I sincerely can say I know less than 5 people who speak English and only one of them is really good at it. Weird, right?
 
In the big cities you could probably get by as a tourist by speaking English. For someone who is looking for work, a basic knowledge of Italian is required.

I do not know that many people in Italy who speak good enough English to have a serious conversation. However, some do speak broken English.

Best advice I can give is try to learn a few Italian phrases if visiting as a tourist.
 
Yes, a few Italian phrases are a must.
I think I only knew how to say "hello" and "thank you".
I remember one day I went to buy a bottle of water and forgot to take my change. The cashier yelled at me like crazy to come back but I didn't understand what she wanted from me and why does she yell like a crazy person? It was pretty funny..
 
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