eteo

Hi, any recommendations for the above or are the phrases at the end of the usual guidebooks adequate. I am a beginner with no previous knowledge.

Thanks

rex

It's all about your goals and intentions, of course. I am WAAAYY biased that you can never learn enough of the language of a country you're visiting.

Here are some of the most common tips from this forum - - some my own (number 2), and some consensus.

1. Visit the largest public or academic library near you, and see what they have to offer - - try before you buy anything.

2. Whatever audio aids you use. make yourself SAY IT OUT LOUD. You have to get used to (and get over) how (bad you think) you sound. Don't mumble; don't say it "in your head". Say it out loud.

3. Use multiple methods and media.

4. Search "Pimsleur and Italian" here on this forum for many more good suggestions here.

Best wishes,

Rex
[email protected]

StCirq

Do you have enough time to enroll in a community college or local area beginner's course before you go? There is NO substitute for practising the language out loud. Tapes are ok, and books wil help with basic understanding, but the minute you hit Italian soil you will be astounded at how fast the people speak and how no matter how well you are able to ask a simple question, the answer will come back too fast and too complicated. The best way to prepare yourself is to enroll in a class where you can practice speaking and listening- and at a minimum learn to ask people to speak more slowly. Auguri!

maitaitom

I just bought a CD-ROM called "Transparent Language" (perfect for me because no matter what country I travel in, I am a Transparent American). Anyway, I will see if this works better than all the other methods (which I am sure it won't). In all the European countries I've traveled, if you give it a good, college try, people respond in a friendly way. I try to speak the language when I am in a diffferent country, but let's face it, if you're not a linguist (hell, I can't even spell it), you're not going to understand everything said to you. In Italy, I use my hands a lot (of course, I do that in the U.S. as well) and, when possible, use the best greatest word in the language of the world... "Prego" . You cannot be in a bad mood when saying "Prego.". Say it with conviction. Say it as drawn out as you can do with your arms flapping in the breeze. It just brings a smile to everyone. Prego. Tom

JN

Barrons has a nice little series with a relatively comprehensive travel phrase book, plus a tape and mini phrase booklet that follows a condensed version the larger publication. I drive a lot and find it to be an enjoyable way to learn the basics.

Alice_Twain

Also, most Italians under the age of 50 speak at least a little bit of a foreign language (60% English, 30% French, 10% eiher German, Spanish or Russian). If you are travelling to highly touristic areas such as Florence, RTome or Venice, you can epect most people to be able to understand and speak English. In this case, learning a few courtesies (greeting, saying thank you and so on) is welcome and much appreciated, but you will hardly need to learn anything that goes beyond a polite "Grazie mille".
On the other hand, if you aim at having a chat in Italian with someone, than you will need much more than what you might learn in a few monts studying on books and cassettes.

Carolanne

Rick Steves has a funny, useful and cheap phrasebook, but if you want to ask questions(beyond where is or how much) AND understand the answers, or have a conversation, I am finding "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Italian", by Gabrielle Euvino, very easy to use, with an approach to grammar, etc., that is way less daunting and dry than most language tomes I've seen - especially at the library! I bought the second edition for about $10, another selling point over some language programs. It doesn't force you to practice out loud - so amaze your friends and family, and your accent will improve. Also, a pocket translator is proving very useful and easier to use than my dictionary - and my kids finally got interested because they love to play with it! Have fun!

Dali

We have a group of 8 friends renting a villa in Tuscany this summer. We contacted a local university, found an Italian professor, and inquired about private lessons. She led us to a friend of hers that is now giving us lessons at our house. The cost is not prohibitive because we are splitting it 8 ways. And the best part is that our instructor is catering the lessons to meet our specific needs (i.e. shopping, eating, driving). It is great fun because the group now gets together once a week and it makes the trip seem so much closer! Half the group has been to Italy before and half the group has never been to Italy and therefore doesn't speak a word. But we are attempting to at least make an effort to speak the language, even if it isn't perfect. I get very angry at people who go to a different country and assume that people should speak English. Make an attempt, you will find that it is greatly appreciated.

bluecheesegirl

I went the "Italian on tape" method in my car. Gave myself three months and now over year later found that I still have a decent command of what I learned.

I initally tried the community college course route but Italian wasn't offered when I needed it to be. It was ridiculous to talk wot myself in my car, but apprently it worked out well.

Weadles

Hi,

I've been taking Italian for a few years privately, which I recommend if you can do it, but also wanted to recommend a very good website called CYBERITALIAN.com. It offers free trial lessons, then instruction in three different levels, all of which come with an audio portion so that you can hear how the Italian should be pronounced.
Also, the BBC online offers some free Italian lessons for the traveller.

Bookwise, along with The Complete Idiot's Guide to Italian, which is a really great source, I highly recommend (only hope it's still in print) ITALIAN IS FUN- Lively Lessons for Beginners, By Concetta Guilano, published by AMSCO School Publications in NYC. I hope that you can find this through Amazon or another bookseller online. It is an invaluable resource, easy to use, and entertaining.
Good luck!

shirjazz

I really reccomend a little book, pocket size to take along with you. "Italian At A Glance" by Barrons...about 6.95 and worth the price. It is both a phrase book and a small dictionary. Is divided into sections with appropriate phrases for different situations, e.g., Driving a car, At the Hotel, At a restaurant,etc. It's excelent...

susjc

I have been reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Italian", by Gabrielle Euvino online through netLibrary (netlibrary.com). I joined through my local public library. It is entertaining and I can remember things better because it is not boring! The only down side is you have to read it from your computer which can be straining on the eyes.

Barb_in_Ga

I second the "Italian at a Glance" It's a great travel resource, and a big help with menus. I bought a Lingo pocket translator with 6 languages, but to be honest, it tended to feel awkward.
I took a beginning Italian class sponsored by a local college, held at a high school near me. That was a great way to really get a grasp on the pronunciation basics, and I built from there by using tapes in the car.

Like Rex, I really am a proponent of learning a few words in every travel situation, and I found that most Italians were pleased to have you speak in their language. Even if we ended up in English, it felt really good to have made the effort!
I am currently using the Pimsleur series to learn a little more French for my May trip. The full set is expensive, but I was able to get it from the library. I borrowed the $50 Pimsleur set in Italian from a friend, and liked it, but wanted even more. If you don't see the Pimsleur at your library, ask about it--they may be able to get it from another town. Here in Georgia, most libraries will loan materials to other libraries, which gives you greater resources. Give it a try! One of my memorable moments was buying tickets in the Florence train station, using only Italian. My husband was impressed, and the ticket agent(who probably spoke English) was very patient. One little hint--take a pocket notebook and if you don't understand, give it to the person and ask them to write it down, especially directions. Sometimes that makes all the difference. Just go for it!

Alajan

I like the website Transparent.com for
learning a few phrases. It is interactive - select a phrase and it will be spoken back to you. You can use this site for other languages too.
As others have mentioned, most young
people and those in service industries
will speak English. However, your attempts to speak a few words of Italian
will be appreciated.

eteo

Thanks for all the advice.

Regards.

eteo

Art

So far I've used Pimsleur for Spanish, Polish, Romanian and am now learning Russian. I've been told in each country that my pronunciation was right on. I met two Russian ladies at Trader Joes yesterday and spoke a few words and they both said that my pronunciation was right on and they could understand me perfectly. I’ve tried many others and they just don’t do it as far as pronunciation. Now if I could just learn to spell and type.

Alice_Twain

There is a short and free spoken Italian course at http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/languages/italian/. Yo may start out with "Quick Fix", a small phrasebook, than coninue with the "Talk Italian" course, whose first lesson is about ordering drinks at a bar.