5 comments about Easy Italian Phrase Book: 770 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase Books).

1. This is a great little handbook for travel. Does not instruct or teach you the language, but provides key phrases, words, etc. Great little travel companion.
   
   Sue Dugas, Orlando, FL



2. Each phrase has a "pronunciation" after it. Very confusing and some aren't even correct. The book would come in handy if you visit Italy and already know some Italian...other than that, it's not for someone that doesn't know any Italian at all.



3. Haven't gone to Italy yet but will this summer....this book is easy to understand and has all the right phrases I will need to get by and then some.



4. The title promises 770 basic phrases. Easily three quarters or more of these "phrases" are simply the same phrase repeated, with only a word or two difference. An example from page 34: Phrase #424 is "I should like to have [some cake]." Phrases 425 - 430 then tell you how to say you want pie, cheese, cookies, custard, chocolate ice cream and vanilla ice cream. Hm, couldn't I just have consulted a pocket dictionary? Meanwhile, the section on "Difficulties and Repairs", (i.e. situations where you might really need a phrase book), there are a mere 13 phrases!
   
   I found this book nearly useless for my purposes. There aren't nearly enough phrases to rely on the book as an on-the-spot, pocket communication tool, largely because it substitutes too much vocabulary for phraseology. And yet it doesn't have nearly enough vocabulary to make me feel like I could get away without having a pocket dictionary.



5. Very impressed with this little book, just the right size, very practical, very user friendly, good for beginningers - one of the best phrase books available in the market right now.

5 comments about Italian Now!: A Level One Worktext.

1. I am very pleased with this workbook! I already had an Italian For Dummies book w/ CDs, but it was hard to really remember what I learned because that book doesn't really have practice exercises. Now that I have this book I can internalize what I learn by writing things repeatedly and knowing the different words/phrases/spellings for different situations. In addition to the writing exercises, I also enjoy the crossword puzzles & the little illustrations that help you understand the concepts that you're learning. & I think that answering questions about the dialogues really help you remember how to speak to other people when you have to do it in real life. But the book doesn't only make you answer questions about the dialogues, it helps you remember polite vs. familiar ways of talking to people, vocab, etc. I'm only on Chapter 3 now, but I already really love this workbook. Now I feel that my self-learning of Italian will actually go more smoothly.



2. Don't like the way the topics are presented. It's confusing and it doesn't have structure. Not recommending it for self learning and neither for teachers.



3. Great Workbook if you already have a good base of the language, at least I feel this way.



4. This is an excellent workbook for beginners. The lessons include activities that assist with developing communication skills and pronunciation of new vocabulary. New units include some review of previous lessons and are very helpful in building a foundation for Italian.



5. I bought this book based on some very strong and thorough reviews I had read a week or so ago. I am compelled to add my praises because I feel this is by far the most comprehensive and most practical workbook among those I own. The layout and the use of color green for emphasis in the text are highly effective as not to "smother" the learner with cramped spaces as some other textbooks tend to do, and at the same time to be very pleasing to the eye. The grammar and verb conjugations are introduced on a gradual basis so as not to overwhelm a beginner like myself. In addition to a detailed review at the end of each of the six parts, the exercises in each lesson always cover previously learned skills. One slight drawback, in my opinion, is that some of the crossword puzzles have the clues printed on the flip side of the page, which can be a little frustrating; but it's a minor flaw and can be easily corrected in their next edition. The delightful and often comical illustrations are an added bonus. The pronunciation of each new word is carefully divided in syllables with a capital letter to indicate where the accented syllable is (unlike one book I have where no accent is given). Therefore, even without any audio resources, one should be able to manage the pronunciation fairly accurately. In all, I cannot say enough how happy I am for having obtained this book, thanks to those considerate and knowledgeable reviewers.

5 comments about Italian Survival Guide: The Language and Culture You Need to Travel with Confidence in Italy.

1. Elizabeth Bingham's Italian Survival Guide is clear and concise in its presentation of the most important information a traveler needs to use while traveling in Italy. The guide is organized well; therefore, finding the information one wants is not difficult. The pronunciation guide is invaluable. The book itself is not so big that a person gets lost in it when trying to find a specific piece of information. The cultural notes are short and to the point, so that one can read them quickly and gain important information about interacting with the people of Italy. I would be apt to photocopy the information on the inside front and back covers to carry along on daily excursions. Overall, this guide would be extremely helpful to take on a trip to Italy!



2. I have bought just about every book on Italy and this is one of the best! It has great tips and information! Unlike other books, I find this information to be truthful! I lived in Italy and now take students on exchanges every year. This book has really helped them! I think it's a must! :-)



3. This was a gift for my son and his wife for a recent trip. They said it was very helpful. It has wbsites to the accual places they wanted to go so that was very helpful.



4. This was an excellent preview to Roman culture. It helped to bridge the culture gap so while in Rome, I did not offend unknowingly.



5. Excellent quick resource for Italian language. Provides exactly what you need. I found it very helpful on a recent trip to Italy. Notes on Italian culture/personality sprinkled through the book are very helpful. Well written and easy to read. Good phonetic "sounding out" of Italian words/phrases. Quick guides on front and back inside covers VERY helpful. Economical. Dictionary in back of book could be larger...this book plus a small Italian-English dictionary is all you need when travelling.

5 comments about Italian Verb Drills.

1. This book has been a big help to me as it meshes well with my own particular learning style. Each section has a quick introduction to a particular tense, explains its use, and gives examples. Then it's drill, drill, drill.
   
   No frills. Nothing fancy. It just delivers. It is simplistic and regimentally structured. I would not consider myself fluent by any means but I credit this book with giving me confidence to start to explore reading articles at reppublica.it (the web site for an Italian newspaper) and I've even corresponded with sellers and bought items off of eBay Italia! The sellers have been very complimentary of my Italian and appreciative of my efforts. (Of course, it takes me 10 times as long as normal to read and compose those emails but, hey, it's a start, right?)
   
   Allow me to reiterate, I like this book because this style suits my own personal learning style. If you are one of those who do not gain as much from the drill/repetition/reinforcement style of learning (and there's nothing wrong with that - everybody is different) this may not be the best book for you.
   
   Buona fortuna!



2. "Italian Verb Drills" is a fantastic book if you are looking for exactly what it says in the title - verb drills in Italian and for this purpose I highly recommend it. It features exercise after exercise on all the verb tenses including the important although sometimes overlooked passato remoto. However, if you feel you need more instruction on the verb tenses, this probably is not the best choice. The author's "Italian Verb Tenses" does a much, much better job of teaching the verbs. Another recommended verb 'teaching' book is "Italian Verbs for Dummies". I used both these 'teaching' books and then refined and honed my knowledge through "Italian Verb Drills." I'd recommend really thinking about your personal needs and knowledge of Italian verb forms and then pick up one of the above mentioned books.Practice Makes Perfect: Italian Verb Tenses (Practice Makes Perfect Series), Italian Verbs For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature))



3. this book is EXCELLENT in every way .....it was just what I wanted to strengthen my verb knowledge .........I love the book....RR



4. I'm already on my 3rd and 4th course on Italian at college and I'm finding the explanations of verb tenses a little lacking. Also, I feel the exercises are somewhat limited. They are good practice, but I can practice better with another verb book as reference that explains the tenses better and then just using a notebook to practice each person and their plural renditions (I refer to: io, tu, lui/lei, noi, etc.)
   
   There's a good amount of verbs, but don't expect to master many Italian verbs with this book. In addition to this, I find it especially lacking when explaining the "passato remoto". Very complicated verb tense. Very sparse and limited explanation presented in the book. Another thing that I really dislike is that it does not list the names of the verbs in Italian. If I want to look for the "congiuntivo trapassato", it will be titled under "pluperfect subjuctive" with no reference to how this tense is said in Italian (it mentions "passato remoto" as it does not have an actual English rendition.)
   
   On the upside, it does contain lists of common verbs which is very useful, as well as explanations and a few examples of verbs in all three conjugations (-are, -ere, -ire), which makes it a useful references at times when I'm having trouble remembering some verbs.
   
   I also have Schaum's Outline of Italian Grammar, Third Edition (Schaum's Outline Series)and I think it does a better job at explaining verb tenses.



5. I used this book in my Italian III class in college. It was good for reviewing my verbs which is essential in learning this language. It's pretty good for testing yourself, and you can review your work every now and again for a refresher. Learning any language is all about practice, this is an additional helper.

5 comments about Essential Italian Grammar.

1. Sorry to break the chain, but many important grammar topics are either omitted or covered superficially.



2. Though it doesn't say it in the description, this book is not intended for beginners to the Italian language. It DOES say that once you get the book.
   
   For what it does, and the price, the book is good. But I would suggest you go through the Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone series before going through this, or you might find yourself rather confused. Good luck!



3. I had always wanted to learn to speak Italian and decided to finally start learning with the Rosetta Stone program. While Rosetta Stone itself is wonderful and very easy to understand, I feel that Ms. Ragusa's concise book on Italian grammar complements the program very well. This book has definitely helped me grasp concepts quicker than I would have with Rosetta Stone alone. The book is priced next to nothing, so there is no reason to not pick it up. You'll be glad you did.



4. This book will provide you with a good overview of Italian Grammar, but for the serious student interested in attaining fluency it just isn't detailed enough. Many grammatical topics are entirely omitted, topics of extreme importance if you are interested in using the language for more than traveling. If you are looking to be able to communicate on a trip to Italy, this plus Rosetta Stone or Drive Time Italian should work, but if you are really interested in learning Italian this will not take you far enough.



5. If you just want to get a firm understanding of the language or do not want to get into the more academic intricacies of Italian grammar right away, this book will suit you quite well. It has the advantages of simplicity and good organization, taking you through articles, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, verbs etc. at a nice easy pace with some good vocabulary to learn along the way. The referencing and indexing of the sections of the book make referring back to areas for a reread quite easy. This book will definitely give you a nice start in Italian or enhance any skills you have already in a quick read.

5 comments about Basic Italian: Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur).

1. I'm only in the early stages (about to start lesson 3) but i have to say that it is the best experience i have ever had with learning another language. Very impressed!



2. My hat goes off to anyone who can use these while driving, I think. Dangerous!? It requires too much concentration for me to do that. In fact, I am now on Lesson 8 using earphones which are a great help.
   
   Like another reviewer, I had difficulty with some verbs as the speakers are so fast. Also, I found I could not continue past 4 or 5 lessons with no written materials even though I know one is supposed to just listen and repeat. I tried but wasn't successful enough (my standards) and so caved. A background of some Spanish has been very helpful though.
   
   I purchased this because we are going to Italy for 2 weeks in the fall and want to have some basic communication with the Italians. This fits the bill. IF I gain more confidence, I'll purchase the full beginning Italian by Pimsleur.
   
   This would be perfect for audio learners. I'm a visual learner but have been delighted with what I've been able to understand of the dialogues. Like toddlers, we understand more than we can say at first and that's why the Pimsleur method is a listen, understand, repeat, anticipate method. Those of us who are older with varying past language experiences don't want to learn this way. We resist. Of course, it is more difficult than having your own on-on-one tutor. No matter what your learning style, give this a try; it is work but worth the effort!
   
   Carol



3. This is a wonderful product. However, the shipping of same was
   extremely slow and took the maximun time to arrive.



4. The carefully programed material is repetitive and spoken clearly. It continues from simple conversational structured sentences to more complex. The female and male voices are Italian with authentic accents. Review of previous lessons continues throughout the following lssons. Great program for the price.



5. I have used these to develop my Italian and for review. there is nothing of course like being thrown into a country to learn the language, but this gets you prepped to do so. The only thing is YOU have to commit to it. You can't do one lesson wait a week then move on. The lessons are contingent on learning in levels, So you can't get through lesson 5 if you don't get through 1-4 etc.. My advice, don't move ahead a track until you have all the ones below down first. You can always repeat them to prepare.
   Voice Lessons To Go v.1-4 The Complete Set

5 comments about Rick Steves' French, Italian and German Phrase Book.

1. Any book that tells you how to say "May i give you a back massage" and "I dont have any diseases" in three different languages is definatly worth buying it. Also it has the basics and maybe the more useful phrases like "where is the bathroom" "check please" and the like.



2. Just got this book actually and has never spoken a lick of french. I bought it because I plan on doing an over nighter in Paris and figured it would be great to know at least a few basic words....but guess what I don't think I am getting it...LOL Otherwise it is a great reference guide. Small enough to carry around and not that bulky.



3. This is easy to use, and has proven to be very helpful time and again. It is also very light and compact. It will easily fit into a small handbag or backpack. You will want to keep to keep it handy.



4. I love this phrasebook. It is very small, but it has everything you need to know in it. The only negative thing is that I wish that it also included Spanish phrases, but if all you need are German, Italian, and French then it's perfect.



5. My daughter asked for a french, italian, or german dictionary. I found this and she loves looking up phrases. She said I never thought I'd get all three in one.

5 comments about Webster's New World Italian Dictionary: Italian/English, English/Italian.

1. It is just perfect. Do not hesitate to buy it. After studying it for 3 months i was able to easily read Italian newspapers and understand Italian Tv channels.



2. I have three Italian dictionaries. The magnificent Oxford Paravia hardback sits on a lectern in my writing room. Cassell's is my use-on-the-sofa source. I needed a dictionary for recent trip to Italy and bought this one--the Oxford would need a suitcase to itself, and even the Cassell's is not light (and Kindle, infuriatingly, offers not one single usable Italian dictionary). I bought it with doubts, for I usually dismiss "portable" dictionaries.
   
   It is a magnificent dictionary! Very occasionally I have to go back to the Oxford for an unusual, or old, word, or an unusual meaning. But rarely. For reading modern classic Italian writers, or serious newspapers (Corriere della Sera), or even, usually, Dante this portable comes through almost every time. The typography and the quality of print are excellent; it is easily read even by 66 year old eyes. The "India" paper seems of good quality. The definitions are literate and indicate usage ('colloquial', etc.) Stress is correctly given. There is a good section for irregular verbs (strictly speaking a pure extra in a dictionary). Illustrative phrases, which often reveal the proper preposition or adverb associated with a verb, are frequent. I cannot speak to its "technical" vocabulary, for that is not the kind of Italian I read or speak.
   
   I am highly impressed. This dictionary is cheap and fairly light. I believe that it would suffice on its own for most foreign readers of Italian.



3. This dictionary is the perfect handbook for anyone, at any level, who wants to learn or review Italian. Complete and thorough definitions, pronunciaton guide, a section on verbs and tenses, easy to read. Great price, too. I have studied different languages over the last 40+ years and used many different resources--this ranks with the best.



4. This book is easy to use.
   The font is large and very readable.
   It includes many common expressions and various uses of words.
   Glad we bought it.



5. Having a way to help in communications with Italian relatives is a big asset.
   Thank You

5 comments about Italian for Dummies (With Audio CD).

1. If you are really a dummie, know nothing at all about Italian, and want to learn just a few phrases, well you will like this book. I knew only a little Italian and was disappointed, but learned I was not a dummie! For folks who find other Italian CD's to be hard to understand, you will really like the CD, it is so S L O W it was painful to listen to. But for a dummie, ya it is probably just what you need. So believe them when they say it is for dummies. If you want to learn enough Italian to get by where they don't speak English, I don't think this would be much help. The book did have some helpful hints I had not seen anywhere else.



2. This is an informative 3 disc set, but it's the same male, dole drum,, voice on every disc. No other voices, no female etc.
   After a while you want to fall asleep. It sounds like a tired old man.



3. I've taken a lot of self-study foreign language courses this one is not the best. This is because they offer little in the way of structure so that it would be possible for you to construct a sentence on your own. Instead they have focused on offering you complete sentences to memorize for a number of situations.



4. This book has every thing you need to learn Italian, only with out the audio so be aware of that fact.



5. Very fast shippping by this company. Great product absolutely
   mint condition and helpful text.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary.

1. I'm going to have to break with other reviewers here, and give my less-than-stellar review of this book. We purchased this before we left for our European trip to Paris and 3 cities in Italy. We also purchased the French book by Steve's. Before we left we thought we'd found the perfect book with the perfect phrases, although they were harder to find due to the way he lays out the book. But after much research we settled on these books and were happy....until we had to use them in France and Italy. I quickly discovered that although the book had helped with pronunciation, almost none of the words we needed were in the dictionary in the back, nor could we find simple words or phrases in the proper sections of travel and dining, that we found in real life situations. This was very disappointing, first in France then in Italy. I quickly went to Google translator, put in all the phrases I needed but did not find in the book, and wrote them all down. This helped tremendously. I also searched for words that weren't in the dictionary and wrote them down, as well. Almost every night I did this as we encountered new circumstances that the book didn't have anything helpful for. Also, when you're in the moment and you need something, trying to find first the section which seems haphazardly placed in the book, then the area of the section where the phrases are located, then go down the list for the correct phrase, is time consuming of time you don't have, and frustrating when after all that time you don't find what you need. Meanwhile the person you're trying to speak to is just staring at you. Things worked much better when I whipped out my handwritten phrases and asked my direct question. Just remember that you probably won't understand what their answer is unless it's a simple yes or no.
   
   After this trip my advise is to borrow basic language books from the library, type out what you need and get a good pocket dictionary if you need, something with substance which this dictionary is not. Use Google translator for the most used phrases you think you'll need and go from there. Save your money on this book.



2. Was so well taken care of by tour director that I didnt need to use this book, but enjoyed reading it. Left it with tour director.



3. This will be very helpful on my trip to Italy in April....altho I know Italian, there are some things I don't remember.....



4. I like that this book has phrases that you might not think that you will need. it categorizes phrases by subjects which helps when youre in a rush (food, greetings etc)



5. Haven't been to italy since we bought this but reading it allevietes any fears of "language barriers". Looking forward to using it.