Languages > Italian > Italian I-II
Italian I-II
Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs
This Edition: CD
Lessons: 60
ISBN: 9780743557689
Your Price: $495.00
Availability: Usually ships within 1 business day
Also available in: MP3
Free Audio Lesson
Pimsleur covers the world of languages. You can choose from over 50 languages, many with multiple levels, ranging from the most popular to the exotic. Become a Pimsleur learner and travel the world!
Description
Includes 60 lessons and reading instruction on 32 CDs, plus 2 reading booklets
Surprise your friends! Astonish your family! With Pimsleur, you’ll be speaking and understanding like a native in no time. 30 minutes a day is all it takes. This Italian course includes all of Levels I and II – 30 hours of spoken language practice and two hours of Reading Lessons providing background on the Italian language and culture. With this product you start from zero, learning first survival phrases and vocabulary, and eventually progressing to a mid-intermediate level of speaking, understanding and reading Italian.
Every lesson contains an introductory conversation, and isolated vocabulary and structures, as well as full practice for all vocabulary introduced. Emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension. At the completion of this course, you’ll speak confidently using your wide-ranging vocabulary, and experience the language and culture with a deepening insight into a new world.
Reading Lessons are included to provide you with an introduction to reading Italian. These lessons, which total about one hour for each Level, are designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent. A Reading Booklet to be used with the audio lessons is also included in PDF format.
About the Italian Language Italian is the official language of Italy and San Marino, and an official language of Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovenia. It is spoken by about 58 million in Italy, 24,000 in San Marino, 840,000 in Switzerland, another million in other European countries, and 5 million in North and South America.REVIEWS SUMMARY
by PowerReviews(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fun (3)
- It works (3)
- Portable (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Business person (3)
Reviewed by 3 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-3
Pros
- Easy to use
- Feels Natural
- Fun
- Good For Busy People
- It Works
- Perfects Accent
- Portable
Cons
- No writing component
- Usage Not Always Clear
Best Uses
- Family background/Heritage
- Self-improvement
- Travel
Comments about Italian Phases 1-2:
I use Pimsleur Italian I-II primarily on my approximately 30-minute commute to work, which lines up nicely with the average length of the lessons. The lessons feel natural and are mostly understandable, even if I have to sometimes separately research phrases or the spellings of words that are not intuitive or obvious. Since the lessons build upon one another, there is a good blend of practice and new material during each lesson. Best of all, since I listen to my lessons during my commute to work, there is little to stand in the way of my progress, even though I have a busy job and busy home life with four children 12 and under. I plan to travel to Italy for the first time later next year to visit my grandfather's hometown and do some family history research, and feel like I will have a good head start in navigating my way about the country.
Kudos to Pimsleur for offering a less-expensive MP3 file option as an alternative to the standard CDs.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Fun
- It Works
- Perfects Accent
- Portable
Cons
Best Uses
- Family background/Heritage
- Just for fun
- Self-improvement
Comments about Italian Phases 1-2:
Pimsleur's Italian Phases 1-2 have made learning Italian, at my own pace, a wonderful experience!
The program explains to me the science behind the way they teach and how the brain learns languages. I found this invaluable and it helped me to stay on target.
Molto Bene!
Pros
- Fun
- It Works
- Portable
Cons
Best Uses
- Business/Work
- Travel
Comments about Italian Phases 1-2:
I tried out many modalities, but this class I took while at the gym. Often, the speakers give a 'heads up' about an irregular form or convention. Thise kept me from glossing over a part that I thought I knew. That saved time and confusion.
The written materials are great, but I really could have used class transcriptions.
I speak French, Spanish, and English, so when the class used pronouns, I really studied up. To unlearn it later was difficult.
Additionally, the pronunciation of certain consonants was confusing. I looked up 'now'. When I learned that 'avesso' was a word that I had invented, I had my hearing checked. Well, it's not me - it's you. I was able to improve the class by having google translate on my screen to investigate further discrepancies.
Having said that, I intend to order from Pimsleur again. I am very satisfied with the course. The actual conversations had some humor in them, which was delightful.
The pace itself was great - you are asked to review then easier material after learning a sequence.
Displaying reviews 1-3