Hello - as I've mentioned in another thread I'm planning two trips to Italy. One for next Spring Break and one in July of next year. Last year I traveled to Paris solo. I enjoyed it tremendously but I noticed when questioned about plans for another trip I invariable answered from the heart (before my head could intercede) "When I know the language!" I tried tapes on my own before I went but found myself exhausted after 5 days of immersion.

Long story longer I would like to learn some Italian before I go. Really I would like to learn as much Italian as possible before I go. I am considering taking lessons thru Berlitz or enrolling in the local college for a semester. Neither is inexpensive. Any opinions? I appreciate any insight!

It's going to depend on two major points:
1) How good is either program? The college and its teacher no doubt have some reputation. I know Berlitz is a standardized program, so maybe it's more consistent, but I imagine the teacher has some influence on how good it is.

2) How much are you willing to study and practice in your spare time? This is the main point. Can you find anyone to practice with you? Would you consider live online tutorials?

Good luck with this. I'm currently working on Spanish and I know how challenging it is to learn a language as an adult, even with some exposure from childhood. But I have to admit the main obstacle is spending enough time on learning.

I should say - if you want to go to Italy, don't wait until you are fluent. There's no need for that at all, as Italians are quite friendly to non-Italian speakers. Italy is very much worth seeing, and you'll pick up some Italian while you're there.

I definately second Willtravel.

Actually spending time in Italy & actually hearing/speaking the language is much better than any language course (IMHO).

Just don't be afraid to speak in Italian and speak it at every opportunity.

You can also try BYKI. (Before You Know IT).

http://tinyurl.com/388kgz

I'd do the language class and back it up with my own studies as well. I don't know where you are, but in the UK most libraries have language courses on CD, that are only a pound or so a week to borrow.

Here's some advice from an English teacher who teaches adult students in Switzerland.

General advice:

- Absolute beginner language classes in your own country are much better than learning the language abroad. The key words here are "absolute beginner." It is very hard to learn a new language abroad if you don't have the slightest notion what the basic rules and words are. Your teacher at home can explain the basics in Italian and English.

- For learners with some knowledge, going to a language school abroad has far greater advantages than learning at home. You'll hear the language on a daily basis and will have to answer accordingly. You'll pick up the vocabulary, grammar and confidence in the language more quickly. In addition, you'll have the time and dedication to do your assigned homework.

Specific advice for oh2be:

I would definitely do a language course. Compare:

- amount of lessons
- class size
- teacher's experience
- a trial period (our student's can attend class twice before making up their minds)
- books (A good book can make learning much easier)
- amount of homework
- language levels: students attending the course should be at the same level (this can be determined through pre-testing at the school or by taking an on-line placement test)
- price

If you're dedicated to learning Italian quickly, choose the school with the most lessons and best reputation.

To help you with your learning, don't hesitate to use the library for additional resources. Read and listen to easy books. Borrow a language course with cds included. And google for "learn Italian" to find websites offering free on-line tutorial and grammar exercises.

Good luck!

I've taken Berlitz private lessons both to learn Italian and to brush up on my Spanish. The learning method is very similar to how you learned English, there's no rote conjugation or translation from English to Italian or back, ever. I found it more natural and if I had to learn another language, I would definitely go Berlitz. I had 40 hours of private instruction and I got around fine in Italy on numerous trips (granted I did know Spanish, which helps to a point)

The Berlitz lessons (even if you do their group lesson) are going to be smaller and more intense. You are "on" more and actively participating than in a college class.

If you can afford them and want to do it intensively and fast (set your own schedule -- I did 2 1/2 hours twice a week for 8 weeks), I really recommend the Berlitz.

It's really hard to say as so much depends on the teacher, and we can't tell. Also, what kind of class is the college one -- regular beginning Italian or some special course for travelers or something. My community college has two sets of languages classes, for example -- one more traditional and another more focused on speaking, not really learning grammar as much, etc. That would really be more what some people might like for travel (not me, I don't like those kind of classes, but some people do).

I'm very surprised your community college classes are expensive, as where I live, they are the cheapest you can do. Berlitz is much more expensive. Hard to say, but I took a Berlitz class once in French and thought it was pretty terrible and didn't care for the entire Berlitz approach or attitude. Maybe yours would be better, who knows. Where I live, they rotate teachers around a lot, you may never even have the same teacher from week to week (they do that because it is easier for them). They force you to buy their own books which are not very good and are expensive. I know any class has a textbook, but I was more advanced and already had tons of good French grammars, dictionaries and reference books, but they made me buy their book which was not very good.

People are not put into classes correctly in terms of level, they do what is most expedient for them economically. Colleges don't do that. Berlitz moves people around to make classes bigger, for example, because they don't want to pay as many teachers. I was an advanced student who had over two years of standard university classes, plus another year of conversation and some classes in France, and they put me in a conversation class with some people who didn't even know simple past tenses, so I wasn't allowed to speak in the past tense!!! Needless to say, I went to the director (who had put me in there, claiming their Berlitz-trained students were at the same level as me just because they'd had a couple casual Berlitz classes -- which they weren't) and insisted they give me my money back or transfer me to a different class. They did, but I realized the director of the school didn't even really know much about languages, he was just an administrator basically.

On top of that, the conversations and textbook were oriented to business people, as that is where the Berlitz method developed. So the conversation and lessons in the book focused on things like business meetings and vocabulary.

IN short, I hated Berlitz, as I think you can tell, and would never recommend them to anyone. Their teaching method may have seemed revolutionary at one time (like 50 years ago), but is nothing special now. I see someone above liked them with private lessons, so maybe that would be better. Of course, as I said, a lot of this is probably entirely dependent on your local Berlitz outlet, directors and teachers,

The classes definitely were not smaller and more intense than in any of the college classes I took, though, I definitely do not agree with that one.

I'm in the middle of re-learning German using the Pimsleur CDs.

So far, it's been excellent and much better than my high school and college German classes.

The CDs aren't that cheap, but you learn very quickly because it's all listening, repeating and practicing. There are a few reading lessons, but the emphasis is on repetition and building on the previous lessons.

Do a search here on Pimsleur. Lots of Fodorites had good things to say about it and that's what prompted me to try it.

Another, less expensive alternative is to take an adult education class. If you apply yourself and do your homework you'll have a grasp of basic grammar and a useful vocabulary after ten or twelve weeks. It will also give you a chance to gauge your aptitude and commitment.

Thank you for all of the input!

I live in Charleston, SC. I have checked our local community colleges and adult education centers and they do not offer Italian. It is going to require a class at the College of Charleston which does have an excellent reputation.

I contacted Berlitz this morning and after reading all your comments requested 2 sample classes. I will have time to take those before deadline to register at College of Charleston.

It is also nice to hear encouraging world about the receptiveness of Italians. I'm not going to postpone but feel strongly that I want to be able to communicate and more fully experience Italy. I can't wait!!!