The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Creates an Italian Language App

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) has developed ItaliAmo, an app for English and Chinese speakers interested in learning Italian. ItaliAmo reduces the difficulty of learning Italian by introducing words and concepts in a direct and entertaining way. The app is part of a larger effort by MAECI to increase the popularity of Italian abroad, particularly in the United States.

Created with the assistance of the European Design Institute and Ovesodo, ItaliAmo takes users on a virtual learning tour of famous Italian locales. Guided by Leo and Lisa, the app’s depiction of Renaissance figures Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa, users can learn over 40 lessons covering conversational Italian, common phrases, and culture through the pair’s conversations.

As Leo and Lisa explore cities like Venice, Turin, and Rome, users follow along learning vocabulary and principles of Italian grammar. Over the course of their journey, users can learn enough Italian to read and write at a breakthrough level (CEFRL A1).

–Joe Powers