Why You Can Understand But Can't Speak Italian (or any language)

[@dovygoodguy1296]

Every video of Tom is something of great value.....a special person.

You're too kind my friend, ti ringrazio!

[@annikadino2793]

Great video. I have been thinking of starting writing a short diary in Italian every day to improve "thinking" in Italian.

[@ginacarpentieri1847]

Love your videos Tom. I like the saying "Il meglio e nemico del bene" (Perfect is the enemy of good) . Don't know where I got this from, but it helps me to remember not to worry about making mistakes.

100% that's the spirit!

[@tinamonteleone834]

Tom, I’m so happy I found you!

[@ErnieV76]

I am really trying not to watch any more videos in English, but this is just too good. 😁 I am going to implement this type of writing into my learning. Great Stuff Tom. Grazie.

Happy to hear it Ernie! Keep up the great work!

[@angelabianca78]

Thanks!

Thank you Angela! :)

[@Lisa-uy4fv]

I am finding I am doing more and more of this each day. I walk around with a little note pad writing everything. It really really does help.

That's great Lisa! Keep it up. The more you do, the better you'll get!

[@seanbirchard9833]

Hey Tom. Great video. This insight on language learning is very helpful. Thank you.

Grazie a te Sean!

[@topotondo828]

Even watching your video on learning a new vocab word helped me learn a new vocab word in Italian! "famiglia allargata" = blended family. Makes sense when you mentioned the Brady Bunch!

YES! That's what its all about! Fantastico

[@lorraineradice7523]

Fantastic video! Thank you!!!!

[@Phd366]

such a good advice for solo learners! I am learning italian and still is really hard for me to speak it. Thanks!

It's been a really helpful study method for me over the years!

[@Mimiismimi100]

Grazie mille Tom! ❤️

[@fathernicholasamato]

Tom, this was a great podcast. I've studied Italian but I need to have an intermediate pen pal. How might I get one? Nicholas

[@minnaliao9465]

Thank you for such a great advice! May I know which online dictionary you use for Italian? Is it google translate or others? Thanks.

Thank you! I use Google Translate and Reverso Context :)

[@minnaliao9465]

@ Grazie!

[@franklinamadeoyanapacuri9078]

Segunda-feira é monday Sexta-feira é friday!! Complimenti per il suo Português. Abraços meu caro você é top. Jajaa

[@adrianbonacci8537]

im convinced this man doesn't age.

[@michaeldausmann6066]

thanks Tom. I will write more

[@cherin6703]

What is the name of that Italian TV show? Is it available to stream anywhere?

It's called "i Cesaroni" :)

[@mrmcconko4985]

Guys can yous help me I understand a good deal of italian when I read and listen though as the video explains you need to write to start speaking so I've been trying to write though every time I just seem to pull out my phone and type a word I don't know in and it hardly seems effective any tips grazie

[@padremiguelarturojimenez9323]

Dear Tom: comer is Spanish and jantar is in Portugues. Blessings.

[@dtmarkp1]

I have precisely the opposite problem. I've studied the language for four years. I understand the grammar. I have a vocabulary large enough to be able to find the words and most conjugations come to mind automatically. People can understand me perfectly. I even live in Italy. And still I can barely understand 30% of the spoken language unless the other person speaks very clearly: not necessarily slowly, but enunciates the sounds properly so the words are spaced apart. But then my listening comprehension with English, my native language, is poor with strong English accents, so perhaps I should have picked a different language to learn :)

I'm like you my friend, I've always been better at speaking than understanding. Eventually it will get easier as you'll understand the sound combinations native speakers use. My trick is I always say things like "ah allora tu dici che...?" that way I keep the conversation going and the other person has no idea I basically just asked them to repeat :D

[@acacioluanstocco3488]

Ótimas dicas! Adorei!

Muito obrigado Acácio!

[@diegolai2142]

Tom, io per l'inglese uso una rubrica (address book) dove scrivo tutti i verbi e le parole nuove :)

Ottima idea!!

[@franklinamadeoyanapacuri9078]

Excus me insegnante cos'è weila?? Non capisco quella parola.

[@evwhite9652]

I find it is hard to write first when I don’t know how to spell the words! Do you check every new word first on the computer - google translate? Thanks for your new video!

For sure! I keep my phone by my side and look up anything I'm not certain of. I like to test myself to see how far I can get without it first. The more you do, the better you'll get at it!

[@fathernicholasamato]

Tom, does "writing" also mean "typing on your MAC?"

[@kasisw-ska875]

I saw it on instagram And uts really great idea. I starter sińce last eeek do the same with utaliano ;)

Fantastico!

[@Emma-pw8rt]

Tom is your family Italian? Did you grow up speaking it? Amazing you can switch between the 2 languages.. Sometimes I feel like I’m too old to learn 😂 x

I always like to say it's just about adjusting your study methods to fit your needs! No matter the age :)

[@RJRmassage]

💜💜💜

[@atomixspeaks]

Grazie mille Tom!

[@katkat_1987]

speaking is my problem !

[@lanathitran98]

Always heple full