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Assimil Italian | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| 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 1 of 12 07 October 2013 at 9:08am | IP Logged | ||
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I know this has been discussed before, and I have read all the related threads I could find. I would still like to ask this question:
I have started with the 1950s assimil Italian without toil, because I have heared that the older versions offer more knowledge. However, after seeing the 1980s and 2005 versions, I think I should switch now, while I am still reading the first chapters. Considering that I also have perfectionnement italien from the 1980s that I will use afterwards, which of the three methods should I use? The 1950's, the 1980's or the 2005 one? Goal: I have three months to be able to use only Italian and no English, for a trip. To be able to really speak with people. For example, the first word you hear in Italy is: Salve! That's in the 2005 version of assimil, first lesson and everything. But the reviews say that it's the least rich generation, especially compared to the 1950s one. Which, in its turn, teaches you to speak only very formally etc. I'm totally lost here. Any advice, prego, before I go on further with the lessons? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Lykeio Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4243 days ago 120 posts - 357 votes | Message 2 of 12 07 October 2013 at 11:13am | IP Logged | ||
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I've actually flicked through both the old 1950's one and le nouvel Italian sans peine,
though I don't recall the latter starting with salve...I think it was a phone conversation? So it might have been, sorry. Anyway I just wanted to weigh in, admittedly as someone who doesn't value Assimil highly, that you probably ought not to worry. The difference in quality isn't as much as people say. I prefer the content of the earlier one...I like how it mixes up grammatical categories, it appears me natural, whereas the modern one takes everything very slow and seems a bit stilted. However the newer ones DO have better audio. But I doubt it matters if you supplement whichever book you choose. I was in a similar situation, I had to pick up Italian for academic purposes VERY quickly. I did so, falling back on my Latin a lot but rapidly getting to the point where I could read academic articles. I basically kept on reading articles and books etc but then suddenly found myself about to go to Italy in a few weeks. I did use Assimil (1950's) a bit but by large I just made sure my grammar and syntaxis were fine and listened to podcasts over and over again and I was absolutely fine when I got there. Basically just make sure you do some everyday, revise the same material often (this is my trick when having to speak/read a language quickly) and supplement it with "fun" stuff and you'll be fine. The older version seems to give you more bang for your buck, but let your preference guide you. 2 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 3 of 12 07 October 2013 at 11:24am | IP Logged | ||
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Thank you for very your helpful comments.
I have been spending the last hour looking through all three books, but I am still not sure. I have to make a decision today, otherwise this will keep bothering me. Maybe I should just stick with the one I started. I listen to a lot of RAI, and watch films online. That's my fun stuff. Oh, many songs a s well. No books or newspapers yet. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Andy E Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 7102 days ago 1651 posts - 1939 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French | Message 4 of 12 07 October 2013 at 12:01pm | IP Logged | ||
"Salve" is from "Benvenuto in Italia" in the "L'Italien" version rather than from "Al telefono" in the "sans peine" series. If I'm understanding you correctly - you have all three? If so, then my advice would be to do a few lessons of both old and new and see how you go - maybe up to the first revision point (i.e. Lesson 7). The earlier lessons are simple enough to allow that. 2 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 5 of 12 07 October 2013 at 12:03pm | IP Logged | ||
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That's a really good idea.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| sillygoose1 Tetraglot Senior Member United States Joined 4635 days ago 566 posts - 814 votes Speaks: English*, Italian, Spanish, French Studies: German, Latin | Message 6 of 12 07 October 2013 at 4:16pm | IP Logged | ||
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I wouldn't use the newest one. It was my first choice, but compared to Le nouvel/Toil, it's way too light on vocab.
I'd say go with Le nouvel + Perfectionnement. Since you only have 3 months, Toil would be too different from the modern language. You won't have as much time to learn differences. Edited by sillygoose1 on 07 October 2013 at 4:17pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Juаn Senior Member Colombia Joined 5344 days ago 727 posts - 1830 votes Speaks: Spanish* | Message 7 of 12 07 October 2013 at 5:54pm | IP Logged | ||
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All of them! You really don't have to choose. Do the first lesson from the third generation, then the first lesson from the second generation, and then the first one from the first generation. Move on then to the second lesson from each generation and continue in this fashion until you have finished all three books. I'm not completely certain as I don't own both books yet, but I believe the new Perfectionnement is different from the original one. If so, go through them in the same way as well.
A quick structural overview of the mechanics of the language would enable you to get the most out of Assimil from the very first lesson. For this purpose I really like the Berlitz Self-Teacher: Italian. Of all the materials and approaches to learning a language not far removed from those you know already, in my opinion at least there is none better and more effective than this. I first studied French in this manner, and by the end of French without Toil I could already make out most out of a newspaper article. And it is true, working through these courses as I describe, you realize how much more substantial the old generations of Assimil were compared to the new ones. 2 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 8 of 12 07 October 2013 at 6:40pm | IP Logged | ||
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You have all helped me go for the Le nouvel + Perfectionnement.
I wish I could study all three, but I don't think I have time! Although it is a very tempting idea. :) 1 person has voted this message useful |
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