In the second semester of the academic year 2011/2012, an action research was initiated at the University of Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina), within the Master in «Didactics of Italian as a foreign language (ITALS) - advanced level» of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The aim of the action research was to enhance students’ motivation to learn Italian by stimulating their interest and encouraging their participation. Questionnaires administered to students, journals kept by both teachers and students, observation records filled up by observers were the survey instruments. As the research showed, a greater involvement can be achieved by introducing youth topics in the classes, by letting students interact, by using playful language learning.