Learning any second language is an excellent idea especially if you choose wisely. One of the things to consider when embarking on adding a second language to your CV is the language that is best suited to your particular career path.
There are many options when it comes to learning foreign languages to boost your career, but if you are working up the ladder of the designer clothing industry, then, at the very least, you may want to consider conversational Italian.
Besides its many alluring aspects, Italian is a beautiful language, known for its melodic and romantic sound.
So how does conversational Italian benefit the fashionistas of the world?
Luxury Italian Brands
The fashion industry is characterised by two main countries: Italy and France.
Regarding Italy’s fashion industry, their success comes from the many different clothing brands as well as the innate style of the country’s citizens.
It’s no secret that fashion designers from all over the world take inspiration from the fashion brands of Italy while they add their own unique touches along the way.
Alongside Italian clothing brands, France’s haute couture houses also provide unique inspiration for the rest of the world. Notable names include:
- Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Givenchy and many others for France
- Gucci, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Fendi, Versace, Giorgio Armani for Italy
For many in the clothing industry, working with the fashion brands of Italy would be a dream come true.
In global terms, Italy’s fashion industry is a powerhouse that starts trends and consistently produces huge annual profits.
For instance, in 2014, Italian clothing brands produced a turnover of around 52 billion euros.
It is interesting that in a world where the gap between the elite and the poor is ever widening that the luxurious fashion brands of Italy continue to be a highly lucrative industry.
If fashion is of serious interest to you, why not learn Italian phrases, or take on conversational Italian lessons and see where they lead? For anyone wanting to combine a career in fashion and take an Italian language course, there are excellent options available along the way.
Milan Fashion Week: A Symbol of Italy’s Fashion Power
The four major emblems of global fashion include the Fashion Weeks that take place in Milan, Paris, New York and London.
Occurring over seven days and dedicated to only the biggest fashion houses, these shows featuring top models, show off the latest world-class designer creations.
Amongst these four extraordinary events, Milan, featuring only the most prestigious fashion brands of Italy, is the most highly anticipated.
Year on year, Milan Fashion Week grows in its number of events, parades and showroom presentations. A whopping 40% of the visitors that make it to this illustrious week on the global fashion calendar are from abroad – and you, if you are serious about your career, could be one of them!
If a career like this is one of your aims, make sure you find a job that enables you to travel. Another thing that will help you is second language proficiency. And if the fashion brands of Italy are where you have set your gaze, you will need to learn Italian phrases, or conversational Italian, at the very least.
If you intend to climb any corporate ladders, why not invest in a private Italian tutor, like those found on the Superprof website, as part of your education?
Whether you decided to take Italian as a tertiary education subject or work with a private tutor, you will need to reach a level of proficiency, beyond conversational Italian, to be able to use it in your career. Once you can conjugate verbs and write fluently with the correct use of Italian articles, you will be well on your way to writing emails in Italian for business.
Working in Italy
However, you decide to go about acquiring your language skills, taking one-on-one tutoring lessons in Italian is a rewarding decision that can impact the rest of your life.
In terms of personal confidence, this can increase from the moment you learn Italian phrases. This is bound to increase as you progress in the language especially when you see those career doors opening for you.
If you intend to work with the fashion brands of Italy and are still wondering if language lessons are necessary or not, consider that there are around 50 000 companies working in Italy’s fashion industry, boasting about the same number of employees.
Obviously, if you are able to add Italian as a first language to your CV it will increase your employability with companies who manufacture Italian clothing brands but not having this need not thwart your career journey either.
Ways to Learn Italian
So, what does it take to learn a new language in the most effective way possible?
Progressing in any language requires good grounding, Therefore, choosing from the plethora of opportunities available can be challenging, it is, therefore, wise to make sure that you make the right decisions. Here are a few of the paths you could consider following:
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Learn Italian at School and University
Some schools in South Africa have Italian clubs or offer Italian as a foreign language. This means that if you’re a school, or tertiary education student, you have the opportunity to acquire a formal qualification in the Italian language.
Like any language, if you have always dreamt of learning to speak perfect Italian, remember that the earlier in life you are able to start, the better.
If this is your dream, check out if there are any schools in your city where you can take Italian as a second language to matric level. Also, most South African universities offer Italian Studies from conversational Italian to more advanced courses.
So with the help of professionals to teach you, it will not take you long to learn Italian phrases. As your vocabulary increases, you will be able to conjugate verbs and learn how to use nouns and pronouns correctly. Once you are on the road to progressing in Italian and you see that fluency is within your reach it will not take long to say ‘ciao’ to your phrasebook.
Learning Italian through educational institutions usually also means you will receive an introduction to the rich culture and history of the country too. Who knows, you may even get the opportunity as a class to visit Italia.
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One-on-One Italian Lessons
There is no doubt that one-on-one tuition of any kind is the most preferable way to fast-track progress in any subject, but especially languages.
Finding a private tutor on a platform like Superprof for example can help you to tailor your unique language goals. You could even ask your teacher to include clothing industry language and jargon into your lessons.
Furthermore, you could learn at a pace and time that suits you. Also, these days with the advent of digital technology, you have the choice between in-person tutoring with someone near to you or finding a private tutor who can give you lessons via webcam. All you need is good internet connectivity.
There are several advantages of using Superprof tutors who come with varying qualifications and experience. Amongst these, is that in many cases you receive your first lesson free. This means that you can be sure that you are pairing with someone who is suited to your unique ability, ultimate goal and budget.
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Language Exchange in Italy
To speed up your study of any language, immersing yourself in the environment where it is the main method of communication is extremely beneficial.
One of the best ways to speak Italian more naturally and with more fluency is to simply surround yourself with native speakers. One way to do this is to participate in a language exchange programme where you can take lessons in Italy for instance. This is one way of ensuring that every day, and every outing, becomes a classroom to you. What’s more, you could even make a holiday out of it.
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Visit Italy
If you have the time and budget, visiting Italy for as long as you possibly can will bring your classroom learning to life in unimaginable ways. If you are able to visit Italy, you will discover its rich history and culture with your own eyes, you will hear correct pronunciation and it will give you constant opportunities to keep improving.
It’s true that everyone learns differently, but language immersion has proven over and over to be the most effective way to adopt a foreign language. This doesn’t mean that you should ditch your Italian grammar lessons and comprehension tests, but consider how powerful the combination of immersion and theory can be.
If you decide to add language immersion by visiting Italy into your education equation, you will find that Italians, who are extremely warm and hospitable, will be delighted to make small talk with you about any topic under the sun!
And if you’re looking for something to talk about consider their passion for music or Italian cuisine as worthwhile subject matter!
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