How to learn some Italian in 5 weeks
Jul 24th, 2007, 04:50 PM
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How to learn some Italian in 5 weeks
Hello,
I am traveling to Italy. It will be our first time and I would like to learn some Italian, the more the better.
Does anyone have suggestions on easy, inexpensive ways to do this?
Anyone use cds that worked well?
Thank you!
I am traveling to Italy. It will be our first time and I would like to learn some Italian, the more the better.
Does anyone have suggestions on easy, inexpensive ways to do this?
Anyone use cds that worked well?
Thank you!
Jul 24th, 2007, 05:26 PM
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I used the Michel Thomas CD's for French and I've just ordered the Italian set. (8 CD's - $42 on Amazon).
I had decided I would use tapes from the library for Italian. But I started the Berlitz course a couple of days ago and it doesn't come close to my comfort level with Michel Thomas' method.
You don't say how long you have. If less than 2 months, you may just want to do the beginner course (the first two CD's, which can be purchased separately).
I had decided I would use tapes from the library for Italian. But I started the Berlitz course a couple of days ago and it doesn't come close to my comfort level with Michel Thomas' method.
You don't say how long you have. If less than 2 months, you may just want to do the beginner course (the first two CD's, which can be purchased separately).
Jul 24th, 2007, 05:57 PM
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posh,
Do you commute to work? If it is long enough (30 minutes or so), then a CD in the car or a portable player on the subway or bus is a perfect "time alone" opportunity to learn a little bit of a new language.
This works very well for me and 30 minutes is just the right amount of time each day to absorb a new language. You might be able to do more each day.
A car is best of all becuase there are no other riders giving you weird looks when you repeat back the phrases....
If you don't commute, just find block of time alone any place you can speak aloud comfortably.
Do you commute to work? If it is long enough (30 minutes or so), then a CD in the car or a portable player on the subway or bus is a perfect "time alone" opportunity to learn a little bit of a new language.
This works very well for me and 30 minutes is just the right amount of time each day to absorb a new language. You might be able to do more each day.
A car is best of all becuase there are no other riders giving you weird looks when you repeat back the phrases....
If you don't commute, just find block of time alone any place you can speak aloud comfortably.
Jul 25th, 2007, 12:16 AM
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have a look on craigslist for wherever you live and look for (or post your own) ad to meet up for language exchange eng/italian. you learn a new language a lot quicker when you have to communicate face to face with somebody than repeating from language cds (although michel thomas is great for understanding, the confidence to speak comes from practice). i love italian. enjoy.
Jul 25th, 2007, 02:33 AM
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I found this BBC site wonderfully helpful in picking up basic words and phrases.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/
Jul 25th, 2007, 03:18 AM
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Jul 25th, 2007, 04:41 AM
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While it would be nice to know how much time you have, these general principles will serve you well, regardless of wnat combination you choose of books, audio materials or internet resources.
1. Let us reinforce for you that you are not a nerd to take this serious, and your success and enjoyment will be greatly increased by taking it serious (same can be said for having a flower garden, learning to knit, an exercise program, any kind of personal transformation). If you have less than six weeks, figure out how you can spend six hours a week on this (a college Italian course would typically recommend 8-12; 5 in class and 3-7 outside class). 30 minute sessions may work best; two a day most days, distraction free; with a once a week break to just one or none, and an intense day of 3 or 4 sittings. Let others know that you are determined to make progress on this, and seek their reinforcement ("did you do your Italian today?"
the same way they would with efforts to learn to swim, for example.
2. Reward yourself by setting and checking off milestones; use flash cards for vocabulary. Treat yourself in some way, when you are fairly comptent with 100 cards in your deck; with 250; with 500. Measured progress is far more likely to be real progress,
3. Say it <b><u>out loud</u></b>. No "in your head", no "under your breath", no mumbling. you have to get used to... have to get over how (bad you think) you sound to yourself.
4. Use us as your support group. Report back here on your milestones. Tell us about a movie you rented and watched; a newspaper you bought and browsed, an internet chat you had, or a news story you read online... here's a starter for you:
http://it.notizie.yahoo.com/adnkxml/...v-0fecfd5.html
Auguri,
Rex Bickers
Floyds Knobs, Indiana
1. Let us reinforce for you that you are not a nerd to take this serious, and your success and enjoyment will be greatly increased by taking it serious (same can be said for having a flower garden, learning to knit, an exercise program, any kind of personal transformation). If you have less than six weeks, figure out how you can spend six hours a week on this (a college Italian course would typically recommend 8-12; 5 in class and 3-7 outside class). 30 minute sessions may work best; two a day most days, distraction free; with a once a week break to just one or none, and an intense day of 3 or 4 sittings. Let others know that you are determined to make progress on this, and seek their reinforcement ("did you do your Italian today?"
the same way they would with efforts to learn to swim, for example.2. Reward yourself by setting and checking off milestones; use flash cards for vocabulary. Treat yourself in some way, when you are fairly comptent with 100 cards in your deck; with 250; with 500. Measured progress is far more likely to be real progress,
3. Say it <b><u>out loud</u></b>. No "in your head", no "under your breath", no mumbling. you have to get used to... have to get over how (bad you think) you sound to yourself.
4. Use us as your support group. Report back here on your milestones. Tell us about a movie you rented and watched; a newspaper you bought and browsed, an internet chat you had, or a news story you read online... here's a starter for you:
http://it.notizie.yahoo.com/adnkxml/...v-0fecfd5.html
Auguri,
Rex Bickers
Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Jul 25th, 2007, 04:56 AM
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Before our trip to Italy, I bought the Pimsleur "Learn Italian in 10 Days" CD set which was around $20 I think. It was great because I would listen and repeat (as Rex said-very important) the CDs on the drive to work.
Of course, I think actually learning any language in 10 days is impossible, but I learned enough to get us thru our trip. The first few lessons were easy, but they got progressively much harder to follow. I found that it also helps immensely if you already know another Romance language, like Spanish.
Good luck!
Of course, I think actually learning any language in 10 days is impossible, but I learned enough to get us thru our trip. The first few lessons were easy, but they got progressively much harder to follow. I found that it also helps immensely if you already know another Romance language, like Spanish.
Good luck!
Jul 25th, 2007, 04:57 AM
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Look at the continuing education schedule of your local community college for language classes. My husband and I took a 5 or 6 week course twice and it did a world of good. I also had a Berlitz language tape that I kept in the car and listened to constantly. It really helped with the accent as the speakers were all native Italians.
Jul 25th, 2007, 05:18 AM
#11
I think with this little time, you need to focus on just speaking. No time for reading/writing. Learn the basics like push/pull/exit/toilets, but other than that, focus on speaking the language.
I already know Italian (I took Berlitz private lessons for 6 months a few years ago), but to prepare for my trip in November I've been downloading the My Daily Phrase Italian off iTunes FOR FREE. The lessons are done by Radio LIngua in the UK. These are 4-5 minute lessons, meant to run over 100 days. I think they're really thorough and they cover just about everything you're going to need to travel, both asking, understanding and replying. For the down and dirty, I highly recommend this.
I already know Italian (I took Berlitz private lessons for 6 months a few years ago), but to prepare for my trip in November I've been downloading the My Daily Phrase Italian off iTunes FOR FREE. The lessons are done by Radio LIngua in the UK. These are 4-5 minute lessons, meant to run over 100 days. I think they're really thorough and they cover just about everything you're going to need to travel, both asking, understanding and replying. For the down and dirty, I highly recommend this.
Jul 25th, 2007, 07:14 AM
#14
Because you have so little time I would focus only on necessary & practicall "travel words". Try to learn your greetings, polite phrases, numbers, restaurants words. You don't have enough time to realistically learn sentence structure, grammar, etc.
Remember even if you can manage to ask a question in Italian, you likely won't be able to understand the answer.
I would get a good phrase book and work from that so you are familiar with it... take it on your trip. Also a small dictionary so you can look up individual words (that you need to use, or when you see a word and need to figure out what it means).
The one sentence I always learn and practice so I am comfortable saying it is: "I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian" to be able to say that one phrase in understandable Italian is the most handy imo.
Remember even if you can manage to ask a question in Italian, you likely won't be able to understand the answer.
I would get a good phrase book and work from that so you are familiar with it... take it on your trip. Also a small dictionary so you can look up individual words (that you need to use, or when you see a word and need to figure out what it means).
The one sentence I always learn and practice so I am comfortable saying it is: "I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian" to be able to say that one phrase in understandable Italian is the most handy imo.
