If you’ve followed us for a while, you know my ongoing love–hate relationship with learning Italian. I’ve started, stopped, restarted, and still can’t claim the kind of progress I’d hoped for. Between writing guidebooks, updating the blog, and chasing down every hidden trattoria in Italy, the language often takes a back seat. I fully admit—I’m my own worst student. But my desire (like most people) is sincere.
This post contains affiliate links that help keep this website running. By purchasing through our links, we make a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for your support!
The Struggle of Learning Italia
But I know many of you ask about learning Italian and share the same struggle, so when I came across Margherita, I knew she’d be the perfect person to feature. She’s warm, relatable, and makes learning feel less like a chore and more like joining a conversation with a friend. I’ve followed her on social media for quite a while and love her approach, so I invited her to share her story and teaching style with all of us.
So now, I’ll hand things over to Margherita. She’ll share how she fell in love with teaching Italian and what makes her approach so different—and so inviting. Enjoy getting to know her, and maybe, like me, you’ll find a little spark to keep learning, one word at a time.
Ciao a tutti! I’m Margherita Berti, a PhD-level Italian teacher and creator of the online language school Italian Matters. I was born and raised in Bergamo, a beautiful city in northern Italy. In 2015, I moved to the United States, and living outside of Italy helped me appreciate my own language in a much deeper way. It also showed me how powerful it can be to share Italian with others.
For me, teaching Italian is about connection. It is a way to bring people closer to Italy and to its culture, no matter where they live. My goal has always been simple: to help people communicate in Italian and feel good while doing it.
How It Began
I began teaching at the university level while completing my master’s degree in the United States. I still remember the joy on my students’ faces when they could finally understand a few lines from an Italian song. Those moments made teaching incredibly rewarding. At the same time, I saw how many learners struggled. They had been studying for years but still felt stuck at the beginner level. That is when I decided to rethink how Italian could be taught in a way that works for busy adults.
I officially created Italian Matters in 2022 and what I now call the Better Italian Method, which focuses on clarity, repetition, and visible progress week after week. You do not need to study for hours every day to make progress. You just need a simple plan that helps you review effectively, focus on all language skills, and keep going even when life gets busy.
Learning Italian is also about accepting imperfection. Italians talk with their hands, invent words when they need to, and often interrupt themselves mid-sentence. That is part of the charm. You do not have to sound perfect to connect. You only need to be curious and willing to try. Inside my courses, I have seen students who could barely introduce themselves start chatting with locals during their trips to Italy, and those moments always remind me why I love this work so much.
In my courses and membership, I help students think in Italian instead of translating word by word. That shift happens through practice, consistency, and exposure. I encourage my learners to speak out loud while cooking, describe what they see around them, or write a few sentences about their day. These small daily habits are what truly build fluency.
Grammar still plays an important role, but I see it as a tool rather than a goal. Understanding why we say “sono andata” instead of “ho andato” matters, but what counts even more is being able to use it naturally in conversation. That is when the language starts to feel real and alive.
Your Learning Italian Journey
If you are just beginning your Italian journey or thinking of starting again, here are a few things I always tell my students:
- Practice every day, even if it is only for ten minutes.
- Listen more than you read.
- Watch Italian videos or podcasts and let the sounds sink in.
- Use what you learn right away, write it, say it, and repeat it in different situations.
- Be kind to yourself when you make mistakes. Italians love to help, and every conversation is practice.
- Surround yourself with Italian life.
- Cook a recipe, listen to music, or follow Italian creators online.
Learning Italian is not about memorizing long lists of words. It is about connecting through language. When you say “andiamo” before heading out with friends or greet your local barista with a cheerful “buongiorno,” you are already living the language.
As an online Italian teacher, the best part of my job is watching people believe in themselves again. So many learners tell me they are too old or not good at languages. Then one day they send me a message saying they just held a conversation or understood a movie scene without subtitles. That joy never gets old for me. Teaching Italian has shown me that confidence grows slowly, but once it begins, it becomes unstoppable.
Learning Italian in the Future
In Conclusion…
I am so grateful to Ilene and Gary for inviting me to share my story here on Our Italian Journey. I have followed their work and love how they capture the heart of Italy in their content. To everyone reading this, I hope you remember that it is never too late to start learning Italian.
Begin with one word, one sentence, one lesson. Bit by bit, the language will become part of your daily rhythm, and you will see yourself growing into a confident Italian speaker.
Grazie di cuore,
Margherita
I am making a promise to myself and being accountable right here – right now. I will make every attempt possible to make 2026 my year to learn and speak Italian!
Signed: Ilene the procrastinator
Very good. I have been following her for several years also. Miss you on Saturdays.
Thanks Jeff – I miss class too but day/times just never worked for me living in Italy. She is awesome – happy you think so too! Be well!!
Love Margherita! I’ve also been following her for quite a while but never truly committed to getting serious about learning Italian. Maybe 2026 is our year too!!
Let’s do it, Patricia! I’ve committed… let’s get it done together.