Help! I can read Italian at A2-B1 but go completely blank when Italians actually speak. How do I fix this?
So I'm currently living in Italy on a working holiday visa and just attended a trial language course here. The class is taught entirely in Italian, which is great in theory, but the problem is… I can barely understand a word the teacher says, even though the content is A1 level.
Here's the frustrating thing: I'm not a complete beginner. I have a solid grasp of grammar and can read Italian at around an A2-B1 level. I can work through texts, understand written dialogue, and follow along on paper. But the moment a real Italian opens their mouth, it's like my brain just shuts off. The speed, the rhythm, the way words blur together. It all goes over my head.
I really want to stick with this course (it's a great opportunity being here in Italy), but I need to close this gap fast.
Has anyone else been through this? How did you go from understanding written Italian to actually *hearing* it? I'd love specific resources, habits, or techniques that helped you train your ear. Podcasts, YouTube channels, shadowing exercises, anything, I'm all ears (no pun intended) 😅
Grazie mille in advance!