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Studying Italian in Milan: Anna’s story
Anna is a very nice Russian girl, who arrived in Italy for Love, “Amore” in Italian, the one with a capital “A”, we said. She learned Italian by studying at ELLCI, integrating her knowledge and skills with reading, film, music and lots of practice!
Our chat with Anna
Talk a little about yourself: where do you come from, how old are you and what do you do at the moment?
Hello, I’m Anna, I’m a Russian citizen from Moscow. This November I celebrated my 28th birthday. For the moment I study target marketing as it is considered a profession of the future.
How long have you lived in Milan and how are you?
I moved on October 13 last year so I was able to enjoy Italian life before Covid-19. I live in the province of Milan, in a very quiet city, compared to Moscow maybe a little too much, but Milan is close, so there is no problem.
What were the steps that brought you to Italy?
Like many people, I moved to Milan for love. Two years ago I met a good Italian guy in a Moscow bar, for a year we were separated seeing each other for 3-4 days every month and I finally made the decision to leave my life there and come here. It wasn’t easy, but in the end, everything went well. I write this already in the role of happy wife!
When did you start studying Italian and how?
I started studying Italian already 2 years ago, when I was still living in Moscow. Basically after meeting my future husband. I wanted to speak his language instead of always using English.
What documents are needed to live and study in Italy?
Being Russian, I had to prepare a lot of different documents, including certainly the bank statement, the contract with the school and the lease in Italy.
What was your level of Italian when you arrived? Did you have difficulty initially?
Yes, of course, at first I seemed to understand nothing, but slowly I learned it. Also because at ELLCI the teachers are all native speakers and speak only Italian, so you have the opportunity to also learn the right pronunciation and dialect.
How has your life changed in Milan compared to your country of origin?
It took some time to get used to. At first I was afraid of everything, but then everything returns to normal. Now my life is certainly much quieter, I don’t have to run to work every morning, I use transport less, etc.
Do you have plans for the future? Will you stay in Milan?
Sure, I’ll stay here and probably work online.
One thing you like about living in Italy and one thing you don’t like.
I like food, habits, landscapes, but what really bothers me are the continuous train strikes.
What would you recommend to those who are starting to study Italian and dream of living in Italy?
I would advise these people to start reading books, see Italian films with subtitles and also listen to Italian music.