This article was written by Cinzia, a colleague and a friend of mine from Genoa. She is a teacher of Italian as a foreign language, as well as the author of several Italian books. You can check out her work on her website and blog Instantly Italian.
If you are a foreign language student and love reading, there comes a time when you want to try reading a book in the language you are learning. After all, being able to read a book in its original version is a great achievement: it makes you feel accomplished, gives you a boost of energy and satisfaction, and helps you practice and improve your language skills. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience!
However, finding the right book—a book that fits your interests and your language level—is not always an easy task and might even lead to frustration and disappointment. As a matter of fact, if reading the right book can be a very satisfying learning experience, choosing the wrong one might make you feel like your skills are not strong enough or even that you’ll never be able to read a “real” book in the foreign language you are so passionately studying.
As an Italian teacher and avid reader, I want to help you avoid that discouraging feeling. That is why, with this post, I’d like to give you some tips and directions to help you select a good title for your Italian reading and learning experience.
When it comes to graded readers—books specifically created for learners of foreign languages—things are easy because they clearly indicate the language level they are designed for (A1, A2, B1, and so on). With “real” books, choosing a suitable one can be trickier. However, my experience as an Italian teacher and writer of Italian practice books, an English student, and a passionate reader of English books has helped me develop a few practical steps to make the process smoother. Here they are.
Ask for Advice
The easiest thing to do is ask a fellow Italian student who loves reading. If you do not know anyone personally, Facebook can be a great resource. There are many Facebook groups for language learners, full of students who are eager to interact if you ask a question. Asking them for advice could be a great way to get recommendations on good books for your language level.
Search Online
Try using search phrases like “Italian books suitable for learners,” “Italian literature for foreign students,” “easy Italian novels,” or “best novels to start reading in Italian,” for example. You’ll find many blog posts, articles, or videos listing suitable titles by genre and language level.
Follow Italian Teachers on Instagram
Many Italian teachers share book recommendations on their Instagram profiles or stories. If you follow them and get a sense of their interests, you might discover good Italian titles. Also, teachers are usually happy to answer questions about learning resources, so you can always ask them directly for suggestions.
Let Your Personal Interests and Tastes Guide You
If you have a favourite reading genre, stick to it when looking for Italian books. Being familiar with certain themes, structures, or narrative patterns makes it easier to follow the story and understand the vocabulary. Also, reading about topics you enjoy is simply more engaging and less tiring.
Go to a Bookstore or a Library
If you are fortunate enough to have access to Italian books locally, browse the shelves in person. Look for books that have short chapters, a good balance between dialogue and descriptions, and modern, accessible language—and, of course, an engaging plot or topic! After reading a variety of Italian books with my students, I can safely say that these elements make the reading experience easier and more fulfilling.
Check the Excerpts Before Reading
If you cannot go to a bookstore or a library, you can look for book excerpts online. If a title has caught your attention, reading a few pages can help you determine whether the language feels accessible or not. You can find previews on Amazon or, sometimes, directly on the publisher’s website. For the classics, you may find them on Google Books.
As an English student and avid reader myself, these steps have helped me find good English books. What has helped me the most, though, is my passion and never-ending curiosity about books and literature. If your passion fuels your journey to become a fluent reader of Italian books, there will be less disappointment and more positive steps towards growth and improvement.
Also, don’t give up if you have a disappointing experience: it’s not you, it’s probably just the wrong book. Keep searching for good Italian books, keep reading them, keep practicing the language, and most importantly, have fun doing it.
Finally, if you want to try reading in Italian but don’t feel confident enough yet to read an Italian novel, you can check the books I wrote to help my students practice Italian through reading. Each of them tells a fun story set in Italy, with sections about Italy and Italian culture, as well as grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing exercises.
