Welcome to the Greenhouse blog, where all of our thoughts on Education get archived. So whether you are interested in Language learning, Bilingual life, Education in general or are yourself a teacher and looking for solace from people going through the same there is sure to be something for you here. Enjoy!
How Long Does It Really Take to Reach B2 English?
In my experience “How long will it take me to reach B2?” It’s one of the first questions students ask me, and unfortunately it’s one of the hardest to answer. The internet is full of articles that will confidently tell you that B2 takes 500 hours, 600 hours, or some other magic number. The problem…
10 Common Mistakes Italian Speakers Make in English
One of my favourite things about teaching English in Italy is that, after a while, you start to notice patterns.
Not just in grammar, but in the way people think about language.
Over the years, I’ve taught hundreds of Italian students. Teenagers preparing for Cambridge exams, university students, professionals, parents, and even the occasional rugby player who would rather be anywhere else.
And despite all their differences, many of them make exactly the same mistakes.
The good news?
Most of these mistakes are completely normal. In fact, they usually happen because Italian is influencing the way you use English.
Linguists call this language transfer. Teachers often call it interference. I usually call it being human.
So let’s look at ten of the most common mistakes I hear in the classroom.
1. “I Have 30 Years”
This is probably the most famous one.
In Italian:
Ho 30 anni.
In English:
I am 30 years old.
The problem is that English doesn’t use the verb have when talking about age.
If you say:
I have 30 years.
Most English speakers will understand you, but they’ll immediately know you’re translating from Italian.
2. “I Make a Photo”
Italian uses:
Fare una foto.
English uses:
Take a photo.
This one catches students at every level.
The same thing happens with:
- Take a shower
- Take a break
- Take a seat
English loves the verb take in places where Italian often prefers fare.
3. Using the Present Simple Instead of the Present Continuous
Many students will say:
I work now.
When they really mean:
I am working now.
Italian often relies on context to show whether something is happening at the moment.
English tends to be more explicit.
If it’s happening right now, the Present Continuous is often your friend.
4. Forgetting the Subject
Italian allows:
Sono stanco.
English does not.
You need:
I am tired.
Because English verbs don’t change as much as Italian verbs, we usually need the subject.
Without it, the sentence feels incomplete.
5. “I Explain You”
This one appears surprisingly often.
Students say:
I’ll explain you the problem.
Instead:
I’ll explain the problem to you.
English requires the extra to.
It’s a small word, but it’s doing an important job.
6. False Friends
Some words look similar but have very different meanings.
For example:
Actually
Italian learners often use it to mean:
Attualmente.
But in English:
Actually = In reality.
If you want to say attualmente, use:
Currently.
Or:
At the moment.
This mistake causes more confusion than you might think.
7. Using “Since” and “For”
Many students know the rule.
Then forget it when speaking.
A simple reminder:
- Since = starting point
- For = duration
Examples:
I have lived here since 2018.
I have lived here for seven years.
If you’re preparing for a Cambridge exam, you’ll see this distinction again and again.
8. Pronouncing Every Letter
Italian is wonderfully logical.
English is… not.
Students often want to pronounce every letter they see.
Unfortunately, English has other ideas.
Consider:
- Island
- Knife
- Through
- Daughter
The spelling and pronunciation don’t always agree.
One reason many learners struggle with listening is that English doesn’t sound the way it looks on the page.
9. Being Afraid to Make Mistakes
This isn’t really a grammar mistake.
It’s a learning mistake.
I’ve met students who know far more English than they think they do.
But they’re afraid of getting something wrong.
So they stay silent.
Ironically, the students who improve fastest are usually the ones who are willing to make mistakes, receive feedback, and keep talking.
Communication first.
Perfection later.
10. Translating Everything
This is perhaps the biggest mistake of all.
When we’re learning a language, it’s natural to use our first language as a bridge.
But eventually, that bridge becomes a barrier.
Students often ask me:
“How do I translate this?”
A better question is often:
“How would an English speaker say this?”
Languages aren’t codes that can be converted word-for-word.
They are different ways of seeing the world.
The sooner you stop translating every sentence, the sooner English starts to feel natural.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve recognised yourself in some of these mistakes, don’t worry.
That’s exactly why they’re on this list.
Making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re bad at English.
It usually means you’re learning.
Every mistake is simply evidence that you’re trying to communicate, experiment, and push your language a little further than before.
And that’s something worth celebrating.
After all, nobody learned a language by getting everything right the first time.