Why Learn Italian? A Journey from Classrooms to Colosseums

• Italian may not be the most commonly chosen foreign language in India, but it offers a unique blend of accessibility, cultural richness, and targeted career opportunities. Whether through globally recognized certifications like CILS and CELI, or through its role in design, cuisine, fashion, and music, Italian opens up niche yet valuable avenues for students and professionals alike. For young learners especially, its phonetic nature, melodic rhythm, and shared Latin roots with English and Hindi make it an engaging and relatively easy language to master.

  
  

  

  Why Learn Italian? A Journey from Classrooms to Colosseums

  
  

• Certification and Levels: Italian proficiency certifications include CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) offered by the University of Siena, CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana) by the University of Perugia, and PLIDA by the Dante Alighieri Society. These exams correspond to CEFR levels A1 through C2, similar to DELF/DALF. For example, CILS B2 certifies upper-intermediate Italian ability and is recognized for admission into Italian universities (many Italian universities require B2 for Italian-taught courses). The Italian Cultural Institutes in India (Istituto Italiano di Cultura) typically administer these exams. There are also youth-oriented tests and AP Italian for school students internationally, though in India the common route is via CILS/CELI for older teens and adults. Achieving B2 in Italian demonstrates the ability to live, study, or work in an Italian-speaking environment independently.

  
  

  

  CELI DILS

  
  

• Time and Effort to Reach B2: Italian, like its Romance-language cousins, is relatively quick to learn for English or Hindi speakers. It’s classified alongside French and Spanish in the easiest category. Estimates for reaching B2https://www.thinkinitalian.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-italian-and-reach-level-b2 are around 600 hours of study, or roughly 2 years of consistent learning . Some sources suggest even 320–400 hours might suffice for B2 with efficient learning , though 600 hours is a safer estimate to include practice time. In concrete terms, an Indian child taking Italian classes 2–3 times a week (and practicing via homework or apps) might reach B2 in about 3 years. https://www.clozemaster.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-italian/If starting at age 8, they could be at B2 well before finishing high school. Italian pronunciation is very phonetic (almost every letter is pronounced clearly), which means listening and speaking can be acquired faster than languages with tricky spelling rules. Grammar-wise, Italian has gendered nouns and multiple verb tenses but follows consistent patterns, especially after having learned a bit of French/Spanish (if applicable). For someone who already speaks another Romance language, the learning curve is even shorter due to 70%+ lexical similarity with Spanish and Frenchhttps://www.languagenext.com/blog/which-foreign-language-to-learn/? srsltid=AfmBOorksZ5UurtFkwFnC6jo8L_PnYxAirMpY4IhJPKe8rPxTMnNK30U

Italian is not just a language—it’s a passport to design, fashion, opera, and a lifestyle celebrated around the world.

• Education & Career Opportunities: Italy offers niche but rewarding opportunities. For higher education, Italy is home to world-renowned institutions in design, fashion, art restoration, architecture, culinary arts, and engineering (e.g., Politecnico di Milano, Università di Bologna). Many programs are available in English, but knowing Italian (B2 or above) allows deeper integration and access to scholarships.https://www.languagenext.com/blog/which-foreign-language-to-learn/? srsltid=AfmBOorksZ5UurtFkwFnC6jo8L_PnYxAirMpY4IhJPKe8rPxTMnNK30U The Italian government’s Invest Your Talent in Italy program, for example, has provided scholarships to Indian students in fields like management and technology, and often includes Italian language training. Professionally, Italian may not be as widely demanded as French or German, but it has its pockets of high demand. Italy is the world’s 8th largest economy, and “Made in Italy” is the third most recognized brand globally – signifying Italy’s strength in luxury goods, automotive (Ferrari, Lamborghini, FIAT), highend manufacturing, and cuisine. In India, https://www.languagenext.com/blog/which-foreign-language-to-learn/? srsltid=AfmBOorksZ5UurtFkwFnC6jo8L_PnYxAirMpY4IhJPKe8rPxTMnNK30UItalian companies such as Fiat (automobiles), Ferrero (Nutella), Giorgio Armani, Benetton, and Gucci operate actively. These companies seek Italian speakers for roles in liaison, marketing, customer relations, and translation. Additionally, sectors like tourism and hospitality value Italian language skills, since Italy is a top destination and Indians working in travel agencies or hotels with Italian clientele have an edge if they speak the language. For those inclined towards the arts, history, or archaeology, Italian is incredibly useful – it is a key language for classical music (opera), art history, and Roman history. Being proficient can also unlock jobs as an interpreter/translator given the relatively smaller pool of Italian speakers in India, meaning less competition compared to say French or Spanish. While Italian is a less common choice, its specialized value is significant for certain careers and academic paths.

• Growth Potential in Global Job Market: Italian’s global influence is tied to Italy’s industries and cultural leadership. The fashion industry, for instance, heavily features Italian (Milan being a fashion capital). Automotive design and luxury car engineering often involve collaboration with Italian firms. As India’s trade with Italy grows (Italy has been among India’s top 5 trading partners in the EU), the need for bilingual professionals could rise modestly. However, in sheer numbers, Italian is spoken by ~85 million people worldwide (including second language speakers) – mainly in Italy, parts of Switzerland, and immigrant communities – so its global spread is limited compared to Spanish or French. That said, Italy’s economy is robust, and knowing Italian can set one apart in fields where Italy excels (culinary arts, interior design, luxury branding). There is also a trend of Indian students pursuing medical degrees in Italy (with programs in English but requiring basic Italian for clinical interactions). Future growth in language demand might not be explosive, but Italian will remain valuable in niche sectors. With increasing India-Europe cooperation and Italy’s efforts to attract foreign talent, Italian could quietly offer strong ROI for those passionate about the domains it opens up.

  
  

  

  Leaning Tower of Pisa

  
  

• Availability of Learning Resources in India: Being a less commonly learned language, Italian has a smaller but dedicated learning ecosystem in India. The Italian Cultural Institute in New Delhi and its branch in Mumbai are primary centers offering Italian courses, cultural events, and CILS/CELI exams. Some universities (Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Mumbai) have Italian language courses or even degrees in Italian. Additionally, the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce has been known to facilitate Italian language training (including PLIDA exams) for professionals. In recent years, private language schools in cities like Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai also started Italian classes due to growing interest. While not as ubiquitous as French or German classes, one can find Italian tutors and online courses (e.g., on platforms like italki, Duolingo, or specialized sites) fairly easily. For children, resources such as Italian cartoons, simple readers, and apps make independent learning possible. However, exam centers for official certification are fewer – typically one in North India (Delhi) and one in West/ South (Mumbai or Bangalore when organized). Students often travel to these main centers for CILS or CELI exam dates. Despite the limited network, the existing Italian institutions in India are very supportive: classes are often small-group, giving kids more speaking practice. Overall, resource availability is adequate but not widespread, so pursuing Italian may require a bit more initiative from parents (e.g. enrolling in online classes if local options are not available).

• Ease of Learning for Children: Italian is often dubbed one of the easiest languages for English and Hindi speakers to learn. It is phonetic – “what you see is what you say”, so kids can quickly learn to read and pronounce words (e.g., panini is pronounced exactly as written). The melody of Italian also appeals to children, and they pick up the intonation through songs and rhymes. Grammar is comparable to Spanish: there are verb conjugations and noun genders, but notably no complex case system like German’s. Sentence structure is subject-verb-object, familiar to English speakers, though adjectives follow nouns (e.g., ragazza bella means “pretty girl”). For Indian children, one advantage is exposure to many Italian loanwords in English (pizza, cello, volcano) and even in Indian languages (musical terms, cuisine, etc.). Additionally, if the child knows some French or Spanish from school, Italian will seem very transparent – words like informazione (information) or università (university) are easily understood. The main challenge might be fewer learning peers (since Italian is not as commonly taught in schools), so motivation is key. But given the short learning curve, children often find they can start speaking basic phrases in a matter of months. The similarity of Italian to other languages also means learning it builds a foundation to later learn French or Spanish more easily. In summary, Italian is friendly for young learners, and the joy of learning it often comes from its cultural richness (kids might be excited by Italian food, Ferrari cars, or opera music, which can be fun elements in learning).

  
  

  

  PLIDA

  
  

• Conclusion: While Italian might not match the global reach of French or Spanish, its specialized appeal in luxury industries, classical arts, culinary fields, and academia makes it a hidden gem for Indian learners. With steady India-Italy collaboration and the increasing internationalization of Italian universities and industries, knowing Italian can be a strategic asset. It’s not just a language—it’s an entryway into a world of opera, architecture, Ferrari, and fine cuisine. For motivated learners, particularly children, Italian is both a joyful and rewarding journey.