My husband and I will be in Italy for 3 weeks in November. Is it absolutely necessary to learn Italian? Any recommendation? Anyone familiar with and recommend "Speak Italian with Michel Thomas?" Is it true what the author said? "No books, no writing. No drills. And nothing to memorize--ever! Converse in Italian in just hours!"

I don't know anything about Michel Thomas, but anyone who says you can learn a language with "no books, no writing. No drills. And nothing to memorize - ever" is a total nutcase. Isn't this self-evident? The words in Italian are different from the words in English. The grammar is different. The pronounciation is different. Explain to me how you can learn Italian without memorizing vocabulary, grammar, and pronounciation. You think it just flies into your brain while you're sleeping? I wish I'd had Michel Thomas, I guess, instead of the 8 long years I spent in memorization mode. <BR>As to your question about learning Italian, no, you don't need to learn a word. It's up to you how valuable a vacation you think you can have speaking only English. My own opinion is that such a vacation is a lark, and often a bumbling one, not an educational experience. If you want to really "see" some of the culture and really have an "experience," if you want to understand where you are and what you're seeing, well, language is the very best way to get there. Rent tapes, check out the internet sites, get a tutor, but forget Michel Thomas.

I am assuming you are talking about his CD and not his $20,000 private lessons-right? I have to agree and politely disagree. Lots of CD's make the same claim as Michel Thomas, so he is not alone in false advertizing. Learning a language is very hard work, and it does require memorization, verb tenses, pronouns etc, etc. etc. So- NO the Michel Thomas method does not open up your head and pour in the knowledge. You have to work at it- Hard. Over and over. <BR>However, along with other CD's, night classes and personal study I found the Michel Thomas method very helpful. It is very different from other language CD's and I have many, but using it alone you will not learn the language. Well I guess if you worked at it 8 hours a day for the next month you would, but you would with any method. What is the harm in buying the CD for $10. It really helped me to "think in italian" and I found it helpful, along with my other methods of study.

Hey Evelyn <BR> <BR>There's tons of great language learning stuff online . . . my fave: <BR> <BR>http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/langu...an/index.shtml <BR> <BR>HTH and have fun! <BR>T

Hi Evelyn, <BR> <BR>I live and work in Rome. I think it's wonderful that you want to try and learn the language before you. Trust me the Italians will love you for it no matter how badly you speak, they are so pleased that you try. <BR> <BR>having said that though, it is not a necessity as many people around the tourist areas speak enough English for you to be able to be understood. <BR> <BR>Have a fantastic time in Rome and enjoy speaking with the locals. <BR> <BR>Safe travels <BR>Marianna

evelyn <BR>those advertisements for speaking Italian that you're wondering sound to me like the weight-loss ads that <BR>promise "eat whatever and whenever you like, and lose weight while you sleep." <BR>I started studying Italian this summer in preparation for my next trip to Italy. It's a beautiful but, to me, difficult language. I find it more difficult than French, and I never would have thought any language would be more difficult than French. <BR>Anyway, if you enjoy picking up a few phrases, buy some inexpensive tapes and practice a few basic phrases like hello, goodbye, please, thank you, do you speak English, that sort of thing. It's more for courtesy than anything else, and to show some respect. You will find, especially in the cities, that most people speak some English, even people that we Americans might think of as working in "low-level" jobs, which as an American I find both admirable and embarrassing. <BR>Even elsewhere on this Fodor's website you can find some basic voiced phrases in many languages, to practice.

Here's a question for those of you who do know Italian. At what time of day is it correct to begin saying bouna sera instead of boun giorno? I said bound giorno to a bellman in the early afternoon and he corrected me. This is the type of thing that you can't seem to learn from language tapes--at least not from the ones that I've listened to.

I picked up "Italian for Travellers" from Fodors (of course) at my University bookstore. I found it to be an excellent self-tutorial. While I certainly haven't mastered the language in the 2 months I have been studying, I am confident that when I arrive in Rome in 11 days I will be able to ask for and understand directions and have a polite chat. I highly reccomend it. The tutorial on the Fodors main site is skimmed off the top of the book.

Ruth, when I was in the Basilicata region this past May I noticed that people were saying "buona sera" VERY early in the day. It seemed odd to hear it when it was still so sunny and warm. I asked around regarding when I should switch to "buona sera," and the consensus seemed to be at around 4 p.m. However, I have trouble keeping track of time, so I know I said "buon giorno" to many people in the street during the bright daylight hours. They seemed happy that I said anything at all and just pleasantly replied "buona sera."

I bought the Michel Thomas CD's before I <BR>went to Italy last June. They were helpful but like any language you need to supplement your study with reading and grammer, and just basic memorization. By the way, if you buy the Michel Thomas course, make sure you buy the Deluxe 8 CD set (retails for about $75). The two CD intro set only contains the first two CDs of the Deluxe course. If you learn all 8 CD's you have a very very basic knowledge of Italian. You can buy some pizza and ask how much something costs, but don't expect to discuss politics or world events. Good Luck.

Once again, wine increases your ability to speak Italian immensely. But beyond that, check out Barnesandnoble.com, Online university. It has a good Italian for Travelers online course (with tapes to purchase)

Ruth, <BR> <BR>Regarding when to use "buona sera", it does vary from region to region, and even among individuals. You will be correct with buon giorno before the shops close at 1 or 1:30. After they reopen at 4 or 4:30, buona sera is used. In between is somewhat flexible. I have never been corrected using buon giorno up until the shops reopen. Hope that helps.

Buongiorno til 1 pm - Buonasera after. <BR> <BR>I absolutely think you should do something; tapes, a class, a friend. Pronunciation is tricky, but once you get it you'll be on your way and can at least say 'il conto, per favore'! Otherwise you'll miss your holiday by waiting for the restaurant bill!