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Consider the practice phrase “Vorrei una cappuccino”, intended to mean “I would like a cappuccino”. The request is clear, but the small word before the drink needs correcting. Cappuccino is masculine, so the phrase takes un: “Vorrei un cappuccino.” Learn the noun and its article together. The English word “a” does not tell you the Italian noun’s gender.

Now change the order to “Vorrei una brioche”: “I would like a brioche”. Brioche is feminine, so una is right for this word. This is a useful first contrast, rather than a rule that covers every Italian noun. The Open University’s OpenLearn materials explain these forms and provide café dialogues.

For a follow-up, listen to the model, then cover the Italian and use the two English orders as prompts. Can you choose the right article and say the whole request without reading it? That gives you something specific to work on: a word you recognise becomes a phrase you can produce. A tutor can use your attempt to focus the next correction.

If a speaking prompt asks what you think of sport and why, “Mi piace” (“I like it”) only answers the first part. Adding “perché è divertente” (“because it is fun”) gives a reason. The complete sentence is “Mi piace perché è divertente.” Here perché joins the opinion to its explanation. AQA uses this short example in its June 2023 GCSE Italian Foundation speaking guidance.

The useful habit is to check every part of the question before stopping. For practice, separate an opinion-and-reason prompt into two boxes and check that your response fills both. Then use a reason that expresses your own view, with its meaning checked before you practise it aloud.

As the work develops, grammar needs to serve the message too. AQA GCSE Italian includes reference to past, present and future events: a response about what happened yesterday needs an appropriate past form, not just a time word attached to a present-tense sentence. This short example shows one improvement; it is not a complete exam answer or a promise of marks.

For the named qualifications below in England, send the board, course code, exam year and current school materials. Include the tier for GCSE and the chosen works for A-level. Another course needs its own specification.

AQA’s Italian vocabulary update applies to exams from 2028, following first teaching in September 2026. Check that the vocabulary list fits the student’s exam year.

Latimer offers a free introductory meeting to discuss goals, teaching approach and arrangements. Use it to agree what the first paid lesson should tackle. For beginners, ask how the tutor introduces pronunciation and explains a correction; for conversation, ask how they balance speaking time with feedback; for exams, confirm experience with the named course.

Explain any practical learning needs in concrete terms: more time to answer, written instructions, a transcript beside audio, or help keeping practice short. For a child, agree how the parent will receive feedback. If specialist experience matters, ask about it before booking.

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