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Mr Chinnery’s Italian Journey! | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| mr_chinnery Senior Member England Joined 5568 days ago 202 posts - 297 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 1 of 4 20 December 2010 at 7:11pm | IP Logged | ||
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I started learning Italian about two weeks ago, with the aim of reaching a good
conversational level. I'm not trying to break any records, just learn nice and steadily. My aim is to be able to get by on holiday in Italy next year with my girlfriend. We went to Greece last year, and as the people were so nice and accomodating, I felt guilty I couldn't communicate properly. So I don't want the same to happen in Italy. After lurking in the forum for a bit I took the plunge and sourced some resources. I started out with Michel Thomas, then downloaded Pimsleur. I'm sticking with Pimsleur for the time being, as I find the repetition really helps me retain the information. Michel Thomas was perhaps a little quick, and from what I've read the Pimsleur pronunciation is a lot better. So I'm planning on one or two Pimsleur lessons a day, and perhaps in a week or two I'll start MT for a different perspective. I've been translating http://www.dueparole.it/sommario_.asp. I don't like the idea of just learning to speak Italian, as I love reading. I've found google translate useful, but I'm aware these translation gadgets need to be taken with a pinch of salt. So far I love it! My experience of language learning at school was horrible. Excellent teachers who, looking back struggled with a really poor syllabus. My intention is to start regularly updating this log, mainly as a motivation aid. Unfortunately it's probably going to be pretty boring for everyone else. I also use www.dontbreakthechain.com, which is a REALLY powerful tool to help you keep at it. I want to be able to write Italian as well, so when I reach that level I'm going to start posting here in Italian. I'm going to start MT/Pimsleur French at some point soon, as my girlfriend's dad has a house in France, and some lovely neighbours who I can only just about say 'hello' to. I hate feeling like an ignorant English tourist abroad! 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Oasis88 Senior Member Australia Joined 5516 days ago 160 posts - 187 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Italian | Message 2 of 4 21 December 2010 at 3:56pm | IP Logged | ||
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It makes me glad to finally see someone else on this forum with an Italian log. I was
beginning to fear that there were no other people focusing on this beautiful language. Michael Thomas Italian is a fantastic programme. Pimsleur is rather slow and I gave up on it after discovering MT. However, if Italian is your first romance language then I would recommend doing both of them at the same time (perhaps staggering MT a week or two behind Pimsleur, as you have already suggested). Best of luck with your studies. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| mr_chinnery Senior Member England Joined 5568 days ago 202 posts - 297 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 3 of 4 21 December 2010 at 5:08pm | IP Logged | ||
I was surprised by the lack of interest as well, but hey, at least there's two of us :D I've just finished lesson seven of unit 1 of Pimsleur, and I think I've just caught up with where I was with MT. For example, how dropping the 'Lei' off 'Lei vorrebbe mangiare adesso?' doesn't change the meaning. There does eem to be a bit of snobbery in the forum: there seems to be alot more kudos attached to mandarin and Korean than boring old Italian, but I love it so I'm not bothered. There's alot of hate towards Pimsleur as well, but it seems to come from the more seasoned linguists here.I can imagine it's too slow for those with tried and tested methods, but for a novice like me, it's just about perfect, and I would recommend it to anyone starting learning their first foreign language. I found another useful resource last night on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/uChefpuntoit. I'm a chef myself, so it'd great fun picking through these videos for any vocab I recognise, and learning new stuff I don't by putting it in google translate until I get the spelling right. Still having major trouble getting the rolling R not sounding forced, but I'm sure it will come with practice. But after seven lessons of Pimsleur, I'd be confident asking a young Italian woman if she'd like to drink beer or wine, at her place or mine, so that's a milestone. Not sure what my girlfriend would think though. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Oasis88 Senior Member Australia Joined 5516 days ago 160 posts - 187 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Italian | Message 4 of 4 21 December 2010 at 5:32pm | IP Logged | ||
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It makes complete sense that you're learning Italian as a chef.
And I completely agree with you on both counts. It seems as though Italian does not demand respect from a widely English speaking demographic who consequently consider it an "easy" language. You're also right about Pimsleur. I used it when learning Spanish and it was indispensable. As a first language you can't possibly go wrong with it. P.S. The link looks good. But honestly, I'm that terrible in the kitchen that even if I were to translate it all into English I'd be none the wiser. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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