What is the quickest way to learn italian?

Question

Im going to rome in October, and want to be able to communicate on a basic level, do any of you have any reccommendations on courses, books, websites ( free) , CDs/tapes or anything else.

Answer 1

Hi maddie,,, if you happen to have had spanish in high school,, you will find that Italian is very easy to pick up.... if not,,, go to a book store and pick up a language tape in the language section...that will help you pre learn how to pronounce the words.. along with learning them.....
You may not know everything,, but you can pick up on the things you might want to ask about when you are there.....

Also,, when in Rome ,,,, beware of the pickpockets !!!! They are very Good at their trade.......
Check out the Vatican,, and the Sistine Chapel,,, wear comfortable shoes.. and dress nice, no shorts or mid shirts....
Get there early in the AM ,, it is only open certain days and the lines are Very Long......
Go to the colleseum and Foyer and Spanish Steps... and check out the Hard Rock also.... they have good food there also.....

Have fun and take lots of pictures....

Good luck

Answer 2

I suggest a two-pronged approach. Order an "Italian for Children" workbook off of Amazon, and find an Italian tutor. The children's textbooks are great when you're just starting out and don't have many opportunities for speaking practice. Don't buy the Berlitz book. Often university students who are studying Italian are willing to tutor students for about $10-$15 per hour. You can photocopy the table of contents from your textbook and give it to your tutor, who can plan lessons around what you're learning.

That being said, I MOVED to Italy with five days notice and not a word of Italian under my belt. I didn't know how to say please or thank you, and I ended up doing just fine. Speaking some Italian will enhance your stay, but it's definitely not necessary (even in small towns).

Answer 3

Try the Pimsleur courses,The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program developed. it should give you quick command of Italian structure without tedious drills.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only these pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

Check out Amazon they sell the Cd's. I tried the 'learn Cantonese course', which I guess is bit more difficult to learn then Italian! but I can still remember 99% of what I was taught and that was a year ago.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-5766327-3310255?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=learn+italian+pimsleur&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Answer 4

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Answer 5

The cheapest way is probably to set your DVD/VHS recorder to record the BBC's Learning Zone next time they have an 'Italian night'. They seem to concentrate on one language each week, in the early hours of Tuesday morning on BBC2, I think it is.

They show programmes on the country as well as language programmes, and although it won't make you fluent, it will give you a basic grounding.

Answer 6

Well, I've learned it very easy (it is similar with my language anyway) as I had a friend in my town, italian, and he was tired of speaking english with me, so one day he said: from now on only italian. And believe me, this is the best way to learn a new language, to speak it and exercise it with a native.
Another way to try learn it is Rosetta Stone's way of learning a language, I am trying now with german, and it's getting pretty well. You have there many languages, with interractive exercises, nothing memorisation or dictionary, it's really easy.

http://www.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/languages

Answer 7

apart from the sources stated above one that will help the most is a private tutor who speaks italian and teaches you in an interactive mode, you hang out with this person for say 3hrs and have a realtime learning it may be more expensive but if you know anyone that speaks italian fluently thats your best option

Answer 8

I would hire someone to give you one on one lessons. Make sure its someone that spaeks native Italian and schedule 1-2 lessons for 1 hour each per week. You will learns loads of the vocab and verbs and also local slang.

Answer 9

well ive just been looking on the net for flash cards cos someone i know is learning portugese and shes doing really well. i wanted to learn italian too so i found some using google.they are a free download if you type in italian flash cards.

Answer 10

spend as much time as you possibly can with italians, and ask them not to speak to you in anything other than italian.
Eat out at Italian restaurants, and do the same thing.

Its better to learn REAL italian as spoken, than that in text books or school italian..
good luck and enjoy!!!!!!!