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Make effort to focus on Italian Verbs?

 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies Post Reply
13 messages over 2 pages: 1 2  Next >>
bobby1413
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 4197 days ago

32 posts - 32 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Italian

 
 Message 1 of 13
10 July 2013 at 10:30pm | IP Logged 
Been learning Italian for about 6 weeks and doing OK. I can read it quite well (in
basic terms), can write some stuff. But speaking is very difficult, and as for
listening, it still sounds like Aliens speaking backwards!

I've come to learn that verbs are REALLY important in Italian. So I was thinking of
maybe making an effort to focus on one verb each session.

For example,

I could do one lesson of Assimil, and then focus on the verb Essere, and go through all
the endings for the present tense?

I'm due to go on holiday to Florence in 2 weeks time, so also focussing on key phrases.
That will then allow me to say those phrases, but also know common sayings and new
words too.

Do you think this is a good idea?
1 person has voted this message useful



Jeffers
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 4908 days ago

2151 posts - 3960 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German

 
 Message 2 of 13
10 July 2013 at 11:57pm | IP Logged 
It sounds like you have a good plan. If you have access to Michel Thomas' Italian course, he does a very good job at explaining verbs in a short time. You could easily work through the course before you go and feel like you have a better handle on verbs. As for listening comprehension, it will take a lot more time and practice I'm afraid. For now, stick with your plan, work on key phrases, and work through MT if you can.
1 person has voted this message useful



bobby1413
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 4197 days ago

32 posts - 32 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Italian

 
 Message 3 of 13
11 July 2013 at 12:20am | IP Logged 
Jeffers wrote:
It sounds like you have a good plan. If you have access to Michel
Thomas' Italian course, he does a very good job at explaining verbs in a short time. You
could easily work through the course before you go and feel like you have a better handle
on verbs. As for listening comprehension, it will take a lot more time and practice I'm
afraid. For now, stick with your plan, work on key phrases, and work through MT if you
can.


I do have access to Michel Thomas - I have the whole lot on my computer. I did use it
before, and will return to it nowt as well.

I listened to some Italian TV earlier. I could understand about 0.01% of it. The rest
was just totally alian. I couldn't distinguish anything!!!!
1 person has voted this message useful



renaissancemedi
Bilingual Triglot
Senior Member
Greece
Joined 4357 days ago

941 posts - 1309 votes 
Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2
Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew

 
 Message 4 of 13
11 July 2013 at 7:04am | IP Logged 
Ah, Firenze! (passionate hand gesture)

Just have the Italian tv on as much as possible and listen to it in the background. You are bound to start understanding more and more. First you'll start making out the words, then the meaning. Just don't give up!

I like MT so much! Yes, stick to that by all means.

When you go to Italy, if all else fails, use body language. They are so nice anyway, you'll have no trouble communicating. They will speak slower to you, when they see you can't follow.


Don't miss the Palazzo Pitti. Pay all the tickets and visit all of it. Gsrdens included. It's worth every euro.
2 persons have voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6596 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 5 of 13
11 July 2013 at 8:43am | IP Logged 
And get a dictionary of Italian gestures.
3 persons have voted this message useful



renaissancemedi
Bilingual Triglot
Senior Member
Greece
Joined 4357 days ago

941 posts - 1309 votes 
Speaks: Greek*, Ancient Greek*, EnglishC2
Studies: French, Russian, Turkish, Modern Hebrew

 
 Message 6 of 13
11 July 2013 at 9:09am | IP Logged 
LOL Serpent!
1 person has voted this message useful



vogue
Triglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 4253 days ago

109 posts - 181 votes 
Speaks: English*, Italian, Spanish
Studies: Ukrainian

 
 Message 7 of 13
11 July 2013 at 9:47am | IP Logged 
I don't even think Serpent is kidding. They have one for everything. I've been known to have short conversations
where I don't even say anything back, just give some hand gestures. Also, last weekend I noticed myself
subconsciously making the appropriate hand gestures as I talked...

As far as verbs. I learned all the regular endings in the tenses, and then began learning the irregulars. Michel
Thomas was a great foundation (beginner and advanced) for all of this. Ultimately though it's practice, because
for awhile I still wanted to mess up some tenses in speech despite knowing better (Letto not leggato) for
example..

For listening I'd listen to music with the lyrics and a dictionary. Now I understand enough Italian TV to enjoy it
without subtitles provided the show isn't complex (MTV and X-Factor style reality shows) and is dubbed native
Italian media is harder. I also, at the beginning, watched a lot of Italian without subtitles.

harder shows (fiction) like Criminal Minds and Gossip Girl I understand with Italian subtitles..
1 person has voted this message useful



Sarnek
Diglot
Senior Member
Italy
Joined 4214 days ago

308 posts - 414 votes 
Speaks: Italian*, English
Studies: German, Swedish

 
 Message 8 of 13
11 July 2013 at 10:49am | IP Logged 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHZwYObN264


1 person has voted this message useful



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