Università degli Studi di Padova

When i first arrived in Italy I was able to make people understand me even if the correct vocabulary wasn't being used but i did have some difficulty with the speed at which people spoke. After spending 10 months there i speak very well and i can understand mostly everything when people speak to me.

My advice is to take a course in the langiage of the the country that you are going to before you go. Don't just try an teach yourself, take a proper course, it will be worth it. I went out speaking about 3 words of Italian with the promise by my home university that it would be ok as I would get lessons. I did get lessons, which I enjoyed, and my language improved so I could handle myself in most situations by the end of my time there but I definitely lost out academically because language was a bit of a barrier, especially at the start and especially with technical descriptions used in my courses.

pretty good, generally the teachers pay attention to the fact that there are Erasmus students attending the course, and try to speak clearly, and they're available to further help if asked.

the language course for Erasmus-students could be better. You should try to talk as much Italian as you can. Possibility to find a tandem-partner with the help pf the Erasmus-organisation

Because it I knew so much Germans I spoke much german. The italians I knew tried sometimes to help me speaking right.

At the beginning, It was difficult because I spoke a real basic italian. But when you don't have other choice, you must adapt and you learn better