Learning Italian

[schiehallion]

Evening ABers.
Could anyone reccomend a good learner pack for the Italian language. is Rosetta stone the best?. its for a complete learner. Are the ones you listen to while yr sleeping any good?.
Thanks in advance.
John.

[KARL]

I know nothing about self-teaching packages to pass on but my recommendation would be that, assuming your native language is English, you get good advice on the phonetics of Italian (or any other language you decide to learn). Please do not fall into the trap of the almost universal (probably 99.9%) error English speakers make when pronouncing Italian (and many other languages besides) words with the letter E in them, most especially at the end. The E is never silent and the correct sound to form is the same as in such words as bed, red, etc. - not as bayd, rayd, etc. (my substitution with the letters AY signifying the mistaken sound which would also mispronounce the English words in question). Even some (English speaker) teachers would advise you in that direction and I have seen this sort of error propagated in advice in guide books. Luckily for any learner, Italian phonetics are exceptionally regular (unlike the variation of OUGH in dough, rough, cough).

[bednobs]

surely they don't actually sell stuff you are supposed to "listen" to while you are asleep?
you are asleep for god's sake, how will you learn?

[theshedman]

Hi John, if it's the speaking of the language you are looking for then the Michel Thomas courses are very good or at least I find them good. I did try the Rosetta Stone course in Spanish but found it difficult to follow but the Michel Thomas one I found ok. You can quite often pick up the course in the library and keep it for quite a while. That way it won't cost you anything and if you like it you can always buy it at a later date. I bought mine from e-bay and it wasn't too expensive. He is not a native Italian speaker but his teaching methods are good.

[schiehallion]

Thank you all for your help, Karl good advice i would not have thought of that. Shed man looks like im going with your suggestion. Bedknobs im led to believe its some kind of subliminal message or something that is supposed to be absorbed whilst you sleep i too have my doubts but hey some say it works lol
Cheers again folks

[boxtops]

I have heard people speak well of the Earworms http://www.earwormsle....com/set_earworms.php to get you started, and they are only £14.99 each.

[spudqueen]

I have the Italian Rosetta stone and think it's fantastic. I learnt an awful lot from it. Unfortunately I stopped after my summer holiday, but now a trip to Rome is looming large on the horizon I'm going to restart it. You can take it at your own rate, and revise past lessons whenever you want. I would recommend it.