We are going in October...what's your advice on listening to tapes, CDs on Italian language -- any specific recommendations or get what we can from local library/Barnes & Noble? Worth it? I know most speak English, but would like to try my father's native language Thanks. RS phrase book has also been highly recommended. Thanks again.
Something new, if you have Alexa (and probably other assistants) .... you can ask her, for example:
"How do you say [Hello I have a room reservation] in Italian." A native speaker will give the translation. If you also have the phone app, you can see the written version in your "Activity" feed.
cissyboca, I have used the Pimsleur CDs for Italian, French and German in my car, listening and practicing while driving. I think its worthwhile, helping to make certain common phrases recognizable. Not as good as classroom lessons (which I've done as well) but a good way to use that dead time in the car.
If you have never studied languages and want to sincerely speak like your father I would take a class with real live people at community college. CD is useful when you got an idea about the structure of language. That is my experience. I went to France in 2002 first time out. So impressed by the level of bilingualism there. So I took a course at college and gradually got a BA degree in French literature and languages. I am not saying to go that far but that worked for me. People try fast approaches to things but it is not instant all the time like fast food
I think it’s useful to listen to basic phrases and pronunciations. I always try to start my greeting and first question in their language and then move to English. One thing that you can easily do around the house is watch/listen to one of the Introductory language sessions Rick has here on the website. Look in the Classroom Europe section for Italian language.
I still remember taking an adult ed German class back in 2001 before traveling to Germany for the first time, and when I arrived I found out I wasn’t pronouncing “Excuse me” correctly! The teacher spent a lot of time on verb conjugation but not enough on basic phrases a first-time speaker would use!
Try the "For Your Trip" CD series from Berlitz.....as in "Italian For Your Trip". Your neighborhood library may have it. Although not comprehensive, it covers travel basics.
If you are highly motivated, sure, go for it. For most, lets face it, most "programs" are designed to teach conversational Italian (or insert relevant language) which takes time, a deeper understanding of language structure, and really, interaction with a native speaker for feedback. All a time consuming activity.
I would focus on something that works on simple phrases, common questions, and other "survival" phrases. My experience is that having picked up some basic Spanish here in the states, Italian made sense, so I could at least greet people, order food/coffee/drinks, and maybe ask a very basic question. The problem I had though was that asking something in Italian often generated a rapid fire response in Italian that lost me in about a sentence. That then resulted in a back and forth, finally ending in them saying "Oh, English" and them working on their English, rather than me my Italian.
I actually like the "Alexis" idea for hearing basic phrases, maybe couple that with something you can find, but focus on basic, survival phrases, complements, greetings, rather than conversation.
I borrowed a set of Pimsleur CDs from the library, I think it was eight half-hour lessons, and they helped a lot. A phrasebook helped me understand some of the words Pimsleur was teaching me only by sound. It also helped that I'd taken several years of French in school and learned some touristic Spanish on multiple Mexico trips. Italian resembles both languages -- but that can trip you up sometimes as you make assumptions about words that turn out to be wrong.
This RS website has a helpful introductory Italian lesson. I listened to it before tackling Pimsleur. I'm sure Berlitz and others do a good job too, but I was impressed by the "Pimsleur method." I learned how to say "Would you like to drink something with me, at my place, now?" Didn't think I'd ever be saying it, but thought it might help to know it if I ever heard it.
cissy,
I've had good results with the Pimsleur Italian series. After working on them for awhile, I'm not fluent but can get by nicely in terms of buying tickets, ordering a meal or getting simple directions.
Babel seems to be quite popular these days however some of the reviews are a bit "mixed". I believe it's a subscription service so there would be an ongoing cost.
Your best bet would be to check your local library or Barnes & Noble and have a look at what they have available.
A shortcut we find helpful is Google translate using our smartphones... If you've studied any of the Romance languages in school. tho, you'll be amazed at what you already know (but have buried deep in the recesses of your brain)... I've found an attempt to speak the language is met with generous help from those who appreciate the effort.
Thanks so much to all who replied; I will look into the suggestions!
Also try Coffee Beak Italian. It's a good podcast by a guy in Scotland who speaks Italian with an italian woman helping out. It'll give you the basics to be able to ask questions. Whether you can understand what they back, however, is another story.
Try the duo lingo app! It’s fun!
Just as a generic language hint, repetition is the name of the game. Putting a CD into your car player and listening and repeating out loud will greatly increase your vocabulary and really allow you to learn very quickly. Listen. Repeat. Listen. Repeat. Out loud. Have fun!
If you're looking for an interactive app or website, try Duolingo. There are sections that focus on travel vocabulary, which is helpful. By interactive I mean you often you click on the right word choice (on a smartphone or computer), so it's not useful if you're driving a car.