I am thrilled because I have a guest today!
Her name is Giulia Borelli, and she’s a colleague I admire a lot. She does an amazing job teaching Italian and spreading her love for the Italian language through her podcast, L’italiano con la storia, and the many other resources she shares on her website. In her post today, she writes about a great way to practice Italian: journaling! Thanks, Giulia, for being my guest and for taking the time to write this really inspiring post.
It’s been a long day. You finally make it home — exhausted. Maybe you’ve been working non-stop, traveling, exploring, running errands, or chasing your kids around. Whatever it was, you’re done. All you want is a moment to breathe.
And yet… here it comes: that voice.
“Hey, you should do some Italian today!”Really? Now? Are you kidding?
But deep down, you know it’s right. You want to do something — anything — that feels like you. You just need it to be easy. No stress. No pressure. Just something simple to reconnect with the language you love.
So, you grab your journal, grab your little notebook — paper one, if possible — grab a pen, maybe your favourite pen, and start journaling in Italian.
Think about your day,
your feelings,
what you’re grateful for,
what annoyed you,
what went well today,
what didn’t go well.
Think about what you would like to do tomorrow.
Think about your past, your future, the present moment, and write your thoughts in Italian.
You can’t imagine how powerful it is to write your thoughts in the language you’re learning.
When you sit down and start writing in Italian, you enter another dimension. You are in your own world, surrounded by your thoughts; you’re thinking in Italian and looking for the words you need to share your message with yourself.
You can slow down, you can look up words you don’t know, to say what you really want to say – to find your voice in Italian.
You have the privilege to take a moment for yourself. Do not bother too much about grammar or perfection — just share your thoughts.
You will have given yourself a wonderful, magical moment to be yourself in Italian: a powerful practice that’s extremely valuable, even if it’s not perfect. Maybe just because it’s not perfect.
Not only can journaling in Italian make you feel more connected to the language, but it will also make you speak better. Indeed, the more you are used to thinking in Italian, the easier it will be to find the words in your head when you need them in a conversation.
Moreover, journaling will spark your creativity. Thinking in another language will give you new ideas and a new perspective on the world around you; it will give you joy, it will make you proud, and it will make you feel better.
Do you remember how tired you were before you started? It will all be gone when you finish. Your energy will be back — and the feeling is just amazing.
I know a blank page can be scary, so I’ve created for you a couple of journaling resources that you can use on your own, at your own pace.
The first one is a collection of 5 workbooks called Be Yourself in Italian where you can find podcasts to listen to, articles to read, questions to journal (written both in Italian and in English). The questions can really be adapted to any day, any time, anywhere in the world.
You won’t just learn more about yourself — you’ll also get to know me, Giulia, the voice behind Italian Time Zone. I’ll share a bit of my story, my travels, and even a slice of Italy with you — including a special workbook about Milan.
To enjoy the podcast or read the articles, you’ll need an intermediate level of Italian — but don’t worry! The journaling prompts are for everyone, and there’s an English translation too. So you can use them at any level, in your own way.
The other resource is a Travel Journal — and don’t worry, it’s not just blank pages! It’s a template for you to fill out with your Italian thoughts: every page includes prompts to help you find ideas and use your Italian.
It’s designed as a travel journal you can take with you — whether you’re going to Italy, exploring the world, or just heading next door. Most of all, it gives you a moment just for yourself, to slow down and write in Italian. You can buy it as a PDF, or you can also buy it in a paperback version on Amazon.
Practicing Italian through journaling is a truly wonderful experience. It helps you slow down, think in Italian, and find a special moment just for yourself and the language.
It boosts your creativity and helps you see the world around you in a whole new way.
It’s your chance to find your voice and be yourself — fully — in Italian.
Giulia Borelli is an Italian teacher, a podcaster, and a globetrotter passionate about history and nature. She helps Italian learners around the world to be themselves in Italian through meaningful conversations. Her podcast Italian Time Zone – l’italiano con la storia helps learners better understand Italian history and culture in Italian, and her courses are designed to boost learners’ confidence and fluency when using la lingua italiana.
You can find her on Instagram and YouTube @italiantimezone, and you can explore her courses and blog on the website: www.italiantimezone.com
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