Thinking in Italian

In Italian class, we are taught how to say things like "I like" (Mi piace) or "I am" (Io sono), but we don't spend a lot of time learning the future or past tenses. Maybe this is because our time in Italy and Italian class is extremely limited, but I like to think it's because our teachers want us to learn how to be in the moment, no matter what we are doing. Instead of saying what we used to like or where we will be going, we have a chance to talk about what we are doing at that certain moment. Usually, I am frustrated when I don't know how to communicate exactly what I am thinking but I like this limitation.