Language software

Used Rosetta Stone. Worked well for me. Surprised how much I retained. Can't say that I became fluent, not at all, but it did the job.

The entire process was changed a while ago and went to a more online oriented method. Not sure it is better or worse.

I was able to pick up basic Italian using Mango, which is offered online free via many public libraries. I also found that borrowing older language workbooks from the library was an effective means to review vocabulary. The Rick Steves Italian phrasebook is also a good way to practice and review.

I had tried Babbel a few years ago for basic German, but didn't find it very effective.

And actually, some of the Italian lessons offered on YouTube were helpful, especially for developing your ear for the language. You would have to sample them to find one that would work best for you.

There are also language-teaching podcasts to supplement whatever system you end up using.

I found the Pimsleur audio series very helpful. I used it, however, in conjunction with classes at my local community college. There are many online classes which make it easy to take a beginner class to kick off your efforts.

As I try to refresh my Italian now and then, I am happy with Duolingo, it is pedantic and repetitive but it does indeed help the vocabulary to stick.

I agree with Markcw that listening to some YouTube videos is helpful.

When I’m going to Italy, I learn all of the sentences that I would likely need to say to someone in a hotel, restaurant or for train transportation, directions & museum interactions. I try to speak as much Italian as possible before resorting to charades and finally English. ; ). I’m going to Italy for a month next May with some regions where even less people know English, so I’m seriously studying.

My husband told me to purchase the Duolingo option as a birthday gift instead of trying to do the limited free option. I’m almost at Day 100, and buying the SuperLingo for the last 40 days has skyrocketed the effectiveness of doing it. I’m over a 1000 words now. I spend 45-60 minutes a day studying it in the evening - also concentrating on the “weight-lifting” section to continue to review both speaking & word comprehension of words I know. I’m in my 60’s, so not sure about the younger audience comment. ; )

Let us know which one you decide and later find helpful!

Speaking as one who has learned languages through Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur and others, I can tell you that the best program is the one you like well enough to stick with. For that, I would have to give Duolingo a plug. It's easy and convenient and always there, ready for you. I haven't tried Jean's premium option, although it sounds like it works very well for her.

However, in the long run, if you are REALLY interested in learning a language, it's best to use one where you actually converse with people. I don't know where you are in MN, but there is the Italian Cultural Center in Minneapolis, which offers language lessons in Italian. They are pricier than software but very effective. I first started taking classes at the Germanic-American Institute (GAI) in St. Paul, and learned so much more than I ever did with the online stuff.

Another option is to take classes at the Univ. of Minneapolis. I chose this after I had gained a bit of knowledge through GAI. If you are over 62 in Minnesota, you can take classes at any state university for free (if you audit) or for $10 a credit hour. I believe that at the U, you must take language classes for credit as they want a way to measure your progress if you proceed to the next level. So each semester cost me $40.

Because of Duolingo and the GAI classes, I was able to test out of the entry level German class and start with the next level. I did that for 3 semesters before we moved to Duluth and then at the Univ. of MN at Duluth, I was able to take a class in German literature, where we read and spoke nothing but German in the class. It's a little bit weird being surrounded by 20-somethings, but they were very patient with me, and really nice and dedicated to learning.

That may be more than you want, but it really is a great way to learn and learn well. By the way, most states have a similar program or law that allows this. It's not heavily publicized so a lot of people don't know about it, but it is there. I've looked up other states, and I know that Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin all have similar laws involving senior citizen education, and I'm sure there are many more.

I think Mardee's suggestions are excellent. If you REALLY want to learn a language I would suggest enrolling in classes. All the online apps will get you through enough for travel, but not enough for a real conversation. As said, if you are not conversing, you are just memorizing phrases. In this day and age in Europe, so much English is spoken, I have found going about is easier and easier. There are many foreign language classes at colleges and actually teachers are more than happy to have you in their class if you are a serious student.

My husband and I are 60 and really like Duolingo. I'm not hugely into gamification, but I find it easy to use. My husband, OTOH, loves the gamification features of it and is much further along in learning Italian because he is competing with others. It is a useful tool, regardless of whether you take advantage of the gaming aspects of it.

I haven't tried a lot of language learning software because I get bored easily. One program I tried and effective for me was Memrise.

I'm considering joyoflanguages.com for Italian. It's not cheap but I've been impressed with their YouTube videos, so I'm thinking of giving it a try. Has anyone used it?

I have to chime in although late to this thread. I majored in languages a long time ago and then derailed into a professional career and did not maintain any fluency. In recent years I have tried different free and paid platforms to get basic and / or conversational skills to use as I explore Europe. Keep in mind what are your goals ? Conversational? Survival?

Google translate is great for functional. Basic communication. Write out phrases and questions you likely will ask. it also has the wonderful ability to use the camera and translate what you are reading into English surprisingly well. Think menus and signs

I have used Rocket Languages for three languages, French, Spanish, and Italian. As refreshers and to practice pronunciation using both an iPad and my computer with a headphone or my cell phone, I can practice words and phrases, and speak into the mic and get feedback as to whether my pronunciation is recognizable. Because I have a strong background in French I started with level three, in Italian just level one. You may not remember a lot of vocabulary if you are hoping to use it within a short period of time but one of the advantages is that you hear complete sentences and conversational phrases in an accurate accent, which helps train your ear to recognize words . For French, because I am working on better fluency, I also subscribe to a platform called Language City which provides excellent videos and training for colloquial and practical French. In six months, it made a huge difference for me because my vocabulary is decent, but practical spoken French is different and it made a phenomenal difference in my last two trips. I had lovely conversations with everyone from cab drivers to restaurant owners to people I met, as I wandered. At This stage I don’t worry so much about proper grammar as effective communication. I do believe in language immersion, so listening to podcasts, there are a lot directed to beginners and news platforms in the language you want to learn are I find very helpful. Netflix has many foreign television series and films and you have the option of changing the from English to subtitles in the foreign language, if you are far enough advanced to read it. This is far more input than you likely want or need but languages and communication are one of my passions.

There are many resources out there to improve the language. Honestly, Rick Steves phrase books have very practical spot on sentences and phrases you will need. Think restaurants, restrooms, directions, and transportation.

Another thing I would add, is remember, you’re mostly going to be speaking and hearing and in my view, the written words are the easiest to deal with. It’s the conversation that can trip you up.

I was in Italy in September, after working a bit on Italian, a language in which I have no foundation, and I found that the effort and a practical functional basic vocabulary was all that I needed. I did wish I had learned more, but making the effort generates a lot of goodwill. Buon viaggio!

Add Maryland and Virginia to the list of colleges with free or reduced tuition (in Maryland the tuition is free but you pay the fees). The thing I appreciate about taking classes is that there are deadlines and homework assignments and I've paid for the whole semester so that motivates me to do the work.

After trying Duolingo and other similar apps for the past year, I just started Edx Italian Language Courses from Wellesley College. They have free courses you can take online, one for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. About 3 months each is the suggested schedule. I just started the Beginners this week and it seems pretty comprehensive. Lots of different activities (speaking, listening, writing, games, videos, slide shows, quizzes, etc.) Just google it, its pretty cool.

You could try conversationexchange.com. It’s an on-line center to talk with native speakers. I haven’t tried it yet but will soon.