Reading is an excellent way to learn Italian in a relaxed environment, while still learning Italian by immersing yourself in their culture. It is one of the best ways to learn a new language! Reading books presents you everyday life situations, experiences and conversations. Books also enrich your vocabulary, improve your grammar, help you become fluent and develop your comprehension skills. Learning Italian by reading books and stories is great way to learn without it being too abstract. Here are some Italian novels we recommend, according to your level of proficiency in Italian. You will find novels for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. We also sprinkled some practical Italian textbooks in order to enrich your Italian studies. What books should you read to improve your Italian? What are the best books for beginner, intermediate and advanced students in the United States? Here we go! Let's get to reading!

The next questions is - How can I improve my Italian listening to an advanced level? There are many strategies that can help you improve your listening skills. Some examples are listening to Italian movies, music, news and podcasts! Italy does not lack in all four! Italy has great movies and fantastic music. News are daily everywhere in the world and podcasts are in right now. Which one will you listen to first?
What Are the Best Italian Books to Help You Improve Your Proficiency?
Let's start with which books are the best for beginners. Not many novels are written for beginners, if we exclude educational text books. The best option for beginners in Italian are short stories, fairytales and children's books. Despite being the only option, children's books are great for students beginning in Italian because they use basic vocabulary and grammar. This will facilitate your comprehension and help you improve your Italian language proficiency!
Another way to practice with a novel is to read a novel you've already read in another language. For example, a well known Italian children's story is Pinnochio. Since you've already ready the book in your native language, you will be able to compare both versions. Another children's book we recommend is Adriano, il Cane di Pompei. This story is written with simple grammar and the book even provides the reader an English transition for every page. Two short stories who are also worth reading for beginners are Io Non Ho Paura, by Niccolò Ammaniti and Il Barone Rampante, by Italo Calvino.
A great idea is to pair up your books with audio! Audiobooks! Listening to someone reading you the story will help your improve your listening and pronunciation proficiencies! After listening to your audiobooks, make sure you also take the time to read your books out loud in order to practice speaking in Italian. Find all the tips on how to reach the highest level of language proficiency in Italian!

If you're an intermediate level student in Italian, you can try reading comic books! This can make your learning even more fun! Simple short sentences paired with pictures make it easier for students to learn. A fantastic historical book to read as an intermediate student is Cristo si e fermato a Eboli, written by Carlo Levi. This Italian author wrote an autobiography focused on his politcal exile under the fascist political regime led by Benito Mussolini. Another great novel to read is La solitudine dei numeri primi, written by Paolo Giordano. This novel won an Italian prize in 2008 named the Strega Prize. The novel is the story of the daily lives of two young individuals, how they face obstacles as much as how they strive, whether it's in love, family or friendship.
If you're an advanced student in Italian, there are many books you can read! Did you know the reading is a great way to become fluent in any language? Enriching your vocabulary is key in being fluent! Some great Italian novels for advanced readers are Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore and Marcovaldo, both written by Italo Calvino, Novecento, written by Alessandro Baricco and L'amica geniale, written by Elena Ferante. Now, what can I do to improve my Italian writing to an advanced level?
How to Choose a Book to Learn Italian recommended by an Italian Tutor?
It is important to take in consideration multiple factors when choosing a book to help you improve in Italian. Firstly, the Italian book you choose has to match your current skills in Italian. What is your level of proficiency? Choosing something too simple won't be enough of a challenge, as well as choosing something too complicated could bring frustrations during your studies.

Secondly, it is important to choose a book genre that you appreciate reading. As challenging as reading in Italian already is, let's at least make it fun! However, make sure the subject and the book itself stay short and simple. Reading on abstract and complicated subjects will be too challenging.
Once you have chosen your novel, do not hesitate on writing down some notes in the margins. For example, you can create a list of words you didn't know, you liked, found useful or interesting. You can also write down different grammar structures you learned, as well as underline parts you didn't fully comprehend. After finishing your Italian novel, you may also challenge yourself by summarizing the novel. Bonus points - try using the vocabulary and grammar structures you've learned while reading said novel!
Italian tutors will also recommend reading educational books, as well as novels. Some great textbooks in Italian are available today in order to help you reach your language proficiency goals. For beginners, you can try Collins Easy Learning Italian Audio Course and Complete Italian All-in-One. For intermediates, you can try Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Italian Grammar or Soluzioni! A Practical Guide to Italian Grammar. For advanced students, you can try Advanced Italian Step-by-Step or Practice Makes Perfect Advanced Italian Grammar. If you're learning to speak Italian at an advanced level, here are a few key steps!
How to Find Personalized Italian Classes Near Me With an Italian Tutor?
Reading is the easiest way to learn a new language. What can make it even easier is to hire an Italian tutor. Superprof is an educative platform that offers tutoring to thousands of students in the United States and all over the world! Just like the Italian book you're reading, you can take Superprof anywhere! Superprof offers individual online classes, or if you prefer, in person, with a qualified tutor. Online classes give students the liberty of taking their classes where ever they'd like. If it's easier for them to stay after school, go to the library or stay at home, they can do as they please! This makes learning way more accessible. Online classes also allow students to choose from a wider range of tutors. They can choose Italian tutors who live in Italy as much as they can opt for an Italian tutor in the United States! What kind of tutoring classes does Superprof offer?
You can find various courses with Superprof. For example, you can sign up for a math class, and science class, an art class, an engineering class, an athletic class or a language class. Superprof tutors many languages, such as English, French, Spanish, German, Polish, Romanian, Portuguese and Italian. You can also learn Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or Chinese! In order to find an Italian tutor on Superprof, you need to type Italian in Superprof's search bar tool. You will then find all the Italian tutors available. You can then specify your area, your budget and your level. All the tutors who match your criteria will be presented to you by a profile in which you'll find a profile picture, information on their past experience, their diplomas and studies, their price in USD per hour as well as their reviews. Students have the option to leave reviews after taking a tutoring class with a tutor. You can read what they have to say!
Once you choose your tutor, Superprof usually offers your first course for free! Yay! Having your first tutoring course for free will allow you to share with your new tutor what your objectives are, as well as get to know one another. All tutors offer tailored and individual tutoring to their students. Italian classes with Superprof are, on average, about 29 USD per hour. You can however find lower rates. It all depends on your budget. So, are you convinced? Are you ready to learn Italian with a Superprof Italian tutor? Try it today and let us help you reach your language proficiency goals with a reliable Superprof Italian tutor.









