Collins Easy Learning Italian ― Easy Learning Italian Conversation

Firstly, the previous reviewer pointed out the lack of s pronunciation key which is odd for a company that publishes dictionaries. However, I began studying two months ago with two free web sites: memrise.com and duolingo.com, as well as viewing many of the bountiful video lessons on YouTube. So, I'd built up some skill with vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar.What I lacked, and still lack, is the ability to construct my own sentences for the sake of conversation.I'd compiled lists of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, etc. to help write model sentences in a "Chinese menu" fashion, which has been a helpful but slow process. This book is almost like a greatly enlarged phrase book {albeit without a pronunciation key) in that it contains numerous sentences that one might need while traveling.However, it has several example sentences for each "sentence starter." For example, "Can you tell me...?" is completed with a couple of options. The book has maybe ten different ways of expressing "I want..." or "I'd like..." I'll do well to feel comfortable speaking perhaps two of them. It also has sentences on what others might say to you which is just as important.At the end of each chapter is a page of "Lifestyle Tips" which explains some cultural norms that can help in navigating unfamiliar ways.Listening to lessons taught by native speakers on YouTube has benn fantastic, especially Manu on Italy made easy and Marta on passione Italiano. "Professor Dave" was born in the US but both parents are Italian. Searching "beginner Italian" will result in these and many other helpful videos. Having a little background from such sources makes using this book much easier.I also did a free trial with RocketLanguages which was helpful. Babal and Rosetta Stone and some others also offer trials. I'm considering Manu's $95 course for travelers.It seems I'm throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks (groan) but I feel that these various sources complement one another and that I'm progressing well enough.I saw just one other book on but don't know how it compares to this one. Thus far I haven't come across any words I did't already know how to pronounce. As I said, my greatest frustration has been my very limited ability to construct my own sentences. I'm using this book to help me write "scripts" in hopes of being better prepared to converse a bit " on the spot" by the time I visit next spring.Watching Italian movies on amazon has been fun. I only pick up occasional words but hearing them in contextBottom line, I'm very glad I purchased this book. It's not unusual for travelers to freeze up when it comes time to actually speak to native speakers of a foreign. I can easily picture myself doing that. I don't aspire to fluency but even a bit of proficiency can make for a richer experience in interacting with native speakers.

This is really a two and a half star book. It does a job for someone going to Italy but it is not a coversation book, it is all from the traveller's viewpoint and there is little conversational development. It does help with some useful phrases but it repeats them over and over in every chapter. Not a book for an intermediate student wishing to progress in the language generally, it is a book for tourists and consumers.

Great book - great service

Did not provide a pronunciation for the words.

Love this book! I have being using it alongside the language app Duolingo, the app is good for improving vocabulary and listening to the language but the book has useful sentences and a nice explanation of the grammatical rules that is really easy to understand even for someone who does not have much experience learning other languages grammar. It also has a great section at the beginning on pronunciation and how to know which parts of words to emphasise. Subheadings/chapters are well separated making it easy to find specific phrases that you might need, and at the end of each chapter there is a 'lifestyle tips' section which contains general advice about things you'll likely want to know about - culture similarities and differences and that kind of thing... Really interesting!

Excellent book for students who are learning the Italian language from the beginning.

As a slow learner in learning a new language, I thought that some of the words mentioned in the audio went a little too fast & the order of the downloadable audios isn't structured the same way as it is in the book. Some of the words that the Italian speaker says in the audio isn't mentioned in the book, so it was a little hard to follow. Although this book's useful (especially the vocabulary list in the back of the book), I think that this is more for those that has learnt Italian, but has completely forgotten the language and wants a revision or for those that are able to pick up new languages at a fast pace. Other than that, I'm having fun learning a new language!

Excellent. And great value for money. One of a range of books I've bought to help me learn Italian. In order to gain a full understanding of the language and how to use it I find I need a number of books - verbs, grammar etc. This compact book has a place in the mix.If you just want to learn some phrases 'parrot fashion' it's fab, if you want a broader, deeper understanding of the language it's a good addition to the mix.

I am using this audio product to prepare for as short holiday. It covers some very useful stuff in the early modules and makes it easy to absorb. Later modules address situations I am less likely to meet but there's no harm in a bit more vocabulary. Comparisons with English words are used to help me remember but, having learned some French at school, I find many Italian words are more like French