Want to learn Italian!

[rubyshoes]

So... I've always wanted to learn Italian (don't know why... just love how it sounds!) and I am ready to take the jump. I know a class would be good but I don't have the time or inclination to get up and go and attend classes in person.

Anyone know a good way to learn on my own with cds? I looked up Rosetta Stone on amazon. Wow, those sets are expensive!!! I also looked at coursera.com but they don't seem to have any classes teaching languages.

Any other option?

Off to look for used Rosetta cds on ebay...

 

[fabulousfindk]

Buon giorno!
Rosetta Stone is SO expensive! There are several free Google apps and other smartphone/computer apps that you can download. I have lots of Italian family members and didn't know a word of it, so I took a class at the local community college two years ago. I now have working knowledge of the language, a few key phrases, and it cost about $200. I would also go to used bookstores (around here we have Wonder Book and Video) and look for old textbooks/cds - or try for a used set on Amazon.

It's a beautiful language - extremely similar to Spanish which I took four years of in high school so it was really easy to pick up!

Good luck!

 

[amc80]

Check out your city's recreation department. Ours offers all sorts of adult education classes. One of the classes in a Rosetta Stone subscription. It's something like $50 for the duration of the "course."

 

[Matata]

I used Pimsleur for Italian and Russian. It is easy, efficient, effective. The cost for the near fluency set of CDs is $350.
http://www.pimsleur.com/Learn-Italian

 

[rubyshoes]

Thanks fabulousfindk, amc80 and Matata. Good suggestions! I will see if Half Price Books has a set, and I will also check out my city's rec center. Also my library's audio section. I found decent prices on ebay for Instant Immersion. Anyone familiar with them?

 

[rainwood]

I bought Instant Immersion for Italian at Costco in preparation for a trip there. I loved it. The one I bought focused on learning enough to be able to get by traveling to Italy. I found the format both fun and entertaining, much better than reading a book or just listening to a tape, because the method is so interactive and visual. More importantly, I retained what I learned because a lot of the system is based on coming up with the right words quickly and under pressure - the way you would have to when traveling. And it's ALL in Italian and you just have to figure out what's going on, the same way you do when in Italy.

I'm not sure it's the right program if you really want to learn Italian as a full language. Rosetta Stone or some of the others may be better geared to that. II is great if you just need to know enough to get by. It helped me IMMENSELY and made our trip even more enjoyable. I knew all the food terms!

 

[Sparklelu]

http://livemocha.com/
Free and you can join conversations with native speakers who will correct you, gently. My school actually uses this. My SIL wants to learn German to be able to communicate better with the Germans who winter in our city and frequent his Golf Club. He is using this and is really learning