2 comments about Workbook to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian.

1. I was very dissatisfied with my purchase and I returned it. The number of the edition should be prominently displayed in the information about the book. I had to pay for S & H, and I have not received a refund jet.



2. The workbook sent was not the 6th edition as advertised but rather the 4th edition and therefore I was force to buy another workbook. This was $50 wasted.

5 comments about Italian Verb Workbook.

1. I have been attempting to learn Italian via the Pimsleur Method--a listen and repeat system on tape or CDs. It's quite good as far as it goes. However, to really grasp the written language, build vocabulary and understand verbs in some detail, Pimsleur is not enough.
   
   No doubt a trip to Italy would help as would a class at the local college, but the first was out of my price range at the moment and the second was all booked up. So, I began a search for a book that could help build my skills. I was amazed at how difficult it was to find such guide. Then I stumbled on the Italian Verb Workbook.
   
   It's fantastico! Very clear. Very straightforward. Detailed enough in each section without being overwhelming. Don't expect to whiz through this in a couple of hours, but if you stick with the program, it really will help you master the language.



2. I am finding this work book to go along very well with my Pimsleur language CDs. There are good exercises to reinforce useage. I am a beginner learner and am finding it well written, easy to follow and extremely helpful. I am using it in conjunction with Paola Nanni-Tate's Italian Verb Drills and am finding that they explain things a little differently from each other, so what I don't get from one I get from the other.



3. I use this excellent workbook to enhance my classroom work; in some cases I was able to better learn a concept due to this workbook. It is very well organized, the information is reliable and there are plenty of exercises for the dedicated student; there is a complete answer key in the back of the book.



4. The work book requires a minium skill level of beginner. If you have some basic knowlege of the language, and some vocabulary you will find this book a great tool. I have sharpened my speed and usesage of verbs essential in conversational Italian. I would recommend it.



5. This is a great book! I already own it but this time I purchased it as a gift. Grazie tanto!

5 comments about Italian Stories: A Dual-Language Book.

1. Another excelent book for intermediate Italian Students. A good learning tool that is easy to follow.



2. This book is a good learning tool with the pages being laid out well and translating from english to italian left to right.



3. I give this book a low rating because it is advertised as suitable for students of Italian, but is simply not a good tool for beginning students. I am a beginner student who can speak basic Italian fairly well, but I had much difficulty with this book! It actually worsened my Italian some with confusing, outdated words.
   
   My significant other is from Italy. After speaking with him (a very well educated person who attended liceo classico - Italian high school focusing on grammar, literature, history, and philosophy) and other Italians, I found that the stories in this book are for very advanced students who can already speak Italian.
   
   Many of the words in these old stories are no longer used in speaking today. If you are trying to learn Italian, do not buy this book. If you are fluent in Italian, but your first language is English, and you want to learn about Italian history and culture, this book is good for you.



4. This is not a beginners book. I thought 'what a great idea', but the italian is old classical literature, not modern day italian. So its not so easy. My italian friend said this is not the best for lower level. Its like doing the shalespeare in italian translation. I'm keeping it for later when I get more classes under my belt.



5. It is hard to find dual language books, and they aren't always good when you do find them. This one is worth it. Others describe the contents well. Worth the money, if you have the interest in learning Italian.

5 comments about Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way.

1. Just gotten the book. On page 5 their is a short test. Using the words given on the left their is space on the right to write in the word in English. That is great if I knew Italian, the word valige is no where to be found in the book.



2. Very easy to follow with exercises that are fun and entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn the conversational language.



3. We've used a different CD based system for French & this book/CD set "Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way by Marcel Danesi & Barron's is FAR BETTER. It's simple to follow. I think the CD only systems are too difficult to follow & you need something in print that follows audio. This book is the coursework for a Italian class we're taking by a native of Italy & she said it's 99% correct.



4. This is really a delightful book. It makes the studying of a language quite painless fun. I enjoyed the little puzzles and games sprinkled throughout.



5. This book is really basic and easy to study. I wish I had purchased this before going to Italy vs.the vocabulary books.
   Pronunciation is stressed!

2 comments about Prego! An Invitation to Italian Student Edition with Bind-In Card.

1. This book all though it had the bind in card from the publisher did not have the book key for quia.com which was what my professor uses. I bought online because I thought I was getting everything for less but it ended up being the same amount as if I had bought it in the school bookstore because I also had to purchase the quia key. So the moral of the story is that if you need quia just buy it at the bookstore and then you won't have to wait for your book.



2. The book is interesting and thorough...but it costs way too much. Also, what is a bind-in card? I asked three sellers and even THEY didn't know what that meant. Fortunately the book is usually used for two semesters of Italian, i.e. Italian 101 and 102.

5 comments about Mastering Italian Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach (Mastering Vocabulary Series).

1. This is wonderful book for reviewing vocabulary. You should also know that French, Spanish, and German versions exist as well. The words covered are very helpful, especially for those who like to travel and need to know "easy" words that do not appear frequently in literature but do come up often in offices, stores, etc. Each entry offers a clear example of usage in its proper context. These books are so inexpensive, that it is worth taking one with you on a trip abroad, even if you end up abandoning it at the end to make more room in your suitcase for the books that you want to bring home.



2. This book is WONDERFUL! I have so so so many books to build vocabulary and this one is my all time favorite.

   Have you ever picked up a vocabulary book and all the words are listed in alphabetical order, much like a dictionary? How boring is it to try and learn that way?

   This book uses THEMES and creates SECTIONS with words ASSOCIATED with one another. So, it's never boring.

   But it doesn't just teach you WORDS. It gives you GREAT phrases to put the words to work.

   It's like getting a vocabulary AND phrase book in one.

   If I could give this book 10 stars...I'd do it!




3. The strength of this book is two fold. Having the vocabulary organized by categories such as 'Private Life, Social Relations' and 'Feelings, Thoughts, Behaviour', (to name a couple) is very useful. You can locate in the index the area that covers what you want to express. Secondly, the examples of how something is said, especially the idiomatic examples, are very valuable. Along the way there are helpful hints as to exceptions to the rule, warnings about cognate words, etc. All in all, a very fine resource.



4. Barron's series Mastering Vocabulary is a great tool for language learners! As another reviewer points out, this is not a book for teaching yourself grammar. It is, though, a great way to move on from knowing the basics to being competent in the language.
   
   Using a normal course, such as one in the Colloqial series, you will end up with knowing the grammar relatively well and with a vocabulary of 1500 words. That's a good start, but you need to know more words to get moving. The Mastering Vocabulary series is a great help along the way. By doing one chapter each week, you will know more than 7000 words after half a year. That is enough to live in a language where the language is spoken and use it in all everyday interactions and communication. My only real complaint with the series is that it's not available for more than four languages.



5. This is the "Bible" for improving and expanding your Italian vocabulary. I think, personally, that the first edition was slightly better than the 2nd, but the 2nd edition is expanded and has more words. It has also been updated. I'd like to see a third edition that would keep pace with the internet and technology.
   
   I like how the words are group together and organized, and one of my favorite aspects is that they use the words in sentences so that you can see how they are used -- this is especially helpful with verbs.
   
   Advanced beginners and intermediate students would profit immensely from this book. You can't go wrong with this book, but it does take some effort to learn and remember the words.

5 comments about Italian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. This little book is magic, is clear, easy to understand. It going to help us a lot in our trip.



2. I thought this would be a great way for my 10 year old and me to learn a few phrases before our trip to Italy. This would have been fine if I was 20 years younger and traveling with a bunch of free loving hippies. Using this book, I can use pick up someone up at a bar, ask for a condom, let everyone know I brought my own needle and call people derogatory names. Sure, I can learn to order spaghetti for dinner, but this is definitely not what I was expecting. In the future, I will have to read over a phrase book in person before purchasing.



3. I travelled alone in Italy for one week, and this little book was so helpful...referenced it again and again during my visit. It came in handy for practical situations travelers always encounter...directions, menu verbiage, and basic conversation with locals.
   It also helped in more specific situations...for women traveling, this will help you formulate quick responses to the "ciao bellas" you'll receive. Bene!



4. I purchased this book to help me with my family trip. It was quite helpful when I don't know how to say certain
   things. I was able to learn how to ask for directions during our driving trips to Tuscany town. I was able to purchase fresh grocery, order food.
   
   I also learn some Italian from the CDs I purchased from Amazon.
   
   I highly recommend this book. My children picked up some Italian, too.



5. WHAT CAN I SAY IT'S LONELY PLANET!, GREAT BOOK!, IT'S GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, VERY UP TO DATE.

4 comments about Prego! An Invitation to Italian.

1. PREGO! is an excellent and very popular classroom introductory Italian program, here in its 7th incarnation. Lazzarino and coauthors have created a beautiful, easy-on-the eyes layout with interesting cultural readings, charming illustrations, and cute (topic related) cartoons. It's great to see different ethnicities represented in the illustrations (a trend that many publishers seem to be following -- it's about time!).
   
   I began my studies with an early edition of PREGO! and have a fondness for this 2-semester program. I've looked at many other introductory Italian language textbooks and I believe PREGO! remains a best-seller because it provides a fun and attractive approach to rigorous grammar study. It appears to me to be the most polished and visually stimulating textbook on the market, with updated cultural scenarios (including the increasingly multicultural Italian demographic).
   
   The supplemental DVD follows an "American" journalist in Italy and his Italian friend through chapter-related scenarios. It is a well-produced and entertaining enough and provides an opportunity for listening comprehension (with optional Italian subtitles -- better, I believe, in aiding Italian study than having English subtitles).
   
   Students will likely get the most bang out of these materials in a formal study (classroom or tutor) setting. Those who can easily afford these (relatively expensive) materials might want to purchase them simply for a good workout.
   
   You can visit the mhhe site (i.e. McGraw-Hill Higher Education -- I can't post the link) to see a sample chapter (Capitolo 1) and check out the audio files and exercises, etc. Here are the correct ISBN's (from the mhhe site) should you want to order these supplements: Workbook (0073266760) Workbook to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian; Laboratory Manual (0073266698) Laboratory Manual to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian; Audio CD Program, Part A (Audio CD Program (Part A) to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian (7th ed.)); Audio CD Program, Part B (0073266647) Audio CDs (Part B) to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian (7th ed.); DVD (DVD to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian)
   
   You don't need to purchase the (expensive) audio CDs as the sound files are available at the online learning center for Prego7, though some may choose to as they feel more comfortable with CDs in hand. I believe you have to pay for access to the online workbook and lab manual if you choose not to purchase the print versions.
   
   N.B. the "buy together" links don't always link the correct editions of supplementary materials, so use the advanced book search or advanced DVD search to choose the proper materials (if edition is listed correctly) to load into your shopping cart. I've inserted links to the correct supplements above.
   
   Also available: AVANTI! by Janice Aski, et al, is a more communicative approach, introductory Italian language program from McGraw-Hill. Avanti!'s emphasis is on repetition. There is much of value in both of these programs. Avanti! is also somewhat expensive and should also be used with other students with an instructor and/or tutor. Avanti: Beginning Italian Student Edition with Bind-in passcode
   
   Those who cannot attend a college course might fare better with the purchase of any number of text + audio programs or all-audio programs (Living Language, etc.) and inexpensive grammar workbooks.
   
   One of the most beautiful countries on Earth is waiting for you -- and your experience will be so much richer with Italian language skills. Please don't be turned off by the fact that acquiring advanced language skills is for most a long-term endeavor. I believe those new to the experience will find the "discipline" of language study to be its own reward (see FLOW by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience And note that some of the non-native speakers I know that have gained the richest knowledge of Italian history and culture in their travels speak (they're the first to acknowledge this) very exaggerated English-accented Italian. They laugh at themselves and continue to enjoy their new experiences as they know that a goofy accent DOESN'T MATTER! (It's often charming.) Grammatical errors? Who cares! Stumble out there and don't cheat yourself out of a rich new experience!



2. I ended up returning this item because I had bought one earlier (not through Amazon) that I feared got lost in the mail... but I eventually received the first book I ordered. However, the price on this order was good and the item arrived on time.
   
   *This was a required item for beginning Italian courses. It's really comprehensive and quite thorough in explanations!



3. The book was a wonderful textbook to get for Italian. However the book didn't come with the 2 workbooks that my teacher required us to have. I didn't see that informations before I ordered the book and had to return it.



4. The text was promptly delivered and was in good shape upon arrival. The book is well organized with helpful tips and a sound progression for learning.

5 comments about Italian Verb Drills.

1. Verb forms seemed really scary until I started drilling with this book. Drilling may sound boring but I think it starts setting patterns in my head. Also a great way to just get exposed to more words.



2. I have been working with this book for months now and have found it a great help in conjunction with the Pimselur Italian cd's for this beginner. The Pimselur cd's are great, but you really need to do some written work so you understand what it is you are listening to and get a better ideal of verb usage. I have purchased several of these types of books, and this one seems to be the best (for me).



3. The good points about this book are that it has plenty of verbs in all the conjugations. The verb classes (-are, -ere, -ire)and the irregulars are covered well. The downside of the book, in my opinion, is its poor instructional design. The index is a glaring example. It does not reference page numbers, rendering it almost must useless as a a look up table for various occurences of verb forms and specifically irregular forms in the text. The reader must literally scour the text to find specific verb information as a result. In terms of content, a good book. As an instructional aid, I have reservations about its design.



4. I purchased this book in anticipation of a trip to Italy 6 weeks after purchase. I spent a year in Italy studying Italian 20 years ago and haven't had much occassion to use my Italian since then. I thought the Italian Verb Drills book would be a great help in refreshing all that I have forgotten. I was right. I love the book. The verbs are categorized by ending and irregularities and then the book moves through various tenses. There is ample discussion of when various tenses should be used. Some of the tenses are more important than others to know and this drill books help you determine which tenses are critical.
   
   I remember best by writing something down. This is a drill book, so there is ample opportunity to write answers and then check them in the back. Exercises include translating into Italian from English and translating into English from Italian.
   
   Even though I have a firm foundation in Italian, I would highly recommend this book for any beginner. Drilling is a good way to memorize the verbs and their tenses. If you purchase a grammar book and vocabulary book to accompany the verb drills, you have a complete learning tool set.



5. This workbook allows you to practice regular and irregular verbs in all tenses, which serves as an ideal way to improve my Italian!
   
   Nice and easy way to practice that you will catch on to the conjugation quickly!

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

1. This book is too large to fit in your pocket. It has normal size type but lots of space between the entries. Check out other options and you will find a smaller, more useful reference.



2. This was the cheapest phrase book that I saw offered on Amazon.com and, as trite as it is, you get what you pay for. If you are looking for the most basic of interactions with Italian speakers and are only planning on staying in tourist hotels and shopping in tourist markets, then this might suffice. However, if you are planning to interact with native Italian speakers in a less superficial way, or if you want to be able to express yourself with somewhat more sophistication, I would recommend another phrase book.



3. This book is worthless, even for $2. Very outdated (phrases about telegrams). I returned it. Buy Rick Steve's Italian Phrases instead. It is more compact and current (asks how to send an e-mail, not telegram).



4. This book is great if you are traveling to Italy and don't have time to take a class to learn the language.



5. Finally a small book that cuts-to-the-chase... it categorizes by typical use. Hotel talk, restaurant talk, taxi/train talk - - and this is not conversational junk - - its what one needs to survive if a non-speaking traveller in a strange land. "where is the toilet" & "I would like a glass of wine" are basics...and well thought out. Highly recommended. Timely shipment, perfect condition. Recommended seller.