Learning basic Italian

[WhiteKnight]

I'm going to Italy in March and I'd to try to learn a little bit of basic Italian before I go. Nothing fancy, just some traveler's knowledge so that I can at least make an effort when I'm there. Does anyone have any recommendations for books or audio sets? I can speak and write Spanish at a basic level (enough to get by if I were in Spain), if that helps at all.

 

[WhiteKnight]

^

 

[Curly01]

My dad has some tapes, i'll ask him tonight what they are and post back....if i remember.

 

[azazyel]

I have hear that the NOW series are some of the best

 

[ragazzo]

your basic knowledge of spanish will help,but it can also mess you up on some pronunciations 😛

good luck.

 

the ones i got for free at compusa are good
my wife learned italian in 4 months

 

[dr150]

Michel Thomas tapes/cd's are universally regarded as the best, easiest, fastest, most logical way to learn languages.

The tapes are available on Amazon.com, among other places.

 

[geecee]

My wife has been listening to the Pimsleur's French CDs in the car and seems to like them. Perhaps they have Italian as well? BTW, she borrowed them for free from the library.

EDIT: They do have them in Italian. Kind of pricey though.

 

[mrrman]

Berlitz has some good basic books...available in all bookstores

 

[dr150]

Michel Thomas Italian Deluxe Edition ($50.37)

Michel Thomas Italian Basic Edition ($16.47)


I definitely recommend the Deluxe version b/c it's much more meaty. The Basic edition is just basic. But the Deluxe version will get you marekdely conversational.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Thanks for all the suggestions!