This software/book combo is a whole new way to learn Italian See and hear the words as you practice with the interactive Labels, Flash Cards and special activities. Now, learning Italian is faster and easier than ever Soon you'll be able to ask for directions to the Trevi Fountain, shop for souvenirs near the Ponte Vecchio, and chat with the locals as you sit down to dinner in the Piazza San Marco. And with the cut-out menu guides, ordering a meal, or "un pasto," and that perfect glass of wine is an enjoyable and easy experience. "ITALIAN in 10 minutes a day" is a complete, and fun, hands-on language learning program--it will spark your passion for Italian and teach you everything you need for your adventures in Italy The "10 minutes a day" Program: The "10 minutes a day" proven methodology guarantees success--all you have to do is set aside 10 minutes and you'll be on your way. Why 10 minutes a day? Because 10 minutes is doable, it fits easily into your life and it's not overwhelming. The program is created so that you can work at your own pace. You set the pace and you decide when you're ready to move to the next Step. The book is purposely designed to look like a child's workbook--it's not intimidating or overwhelming. Instead, it's approachable and engaging for everyone at any age. The book covers material equivalent to more than a year of high school Italian or the 1st quarter of Italian at university. The vocabulary hones in on key essential words that you'll actually use when traveling. You'll learn Key Question Words so you can ask for what you need; money and numbers so you can shop and pay bills; directions so you can get to your destination smoothly, and so much more that will make your experience abroad enjoyable. Study aids and fun activities such as word games, puzzles and interactive modules are academically designed and strategically interwoven into the program to help you succeed. Contents include: The 132-page illustrated workbook: Use the book to guide you, step-by-step, through learning and speaking Italian. Full color throughout: Visually engages you and is conducive to learning quickly. download of "10 minutes a day" language learning software: Use the interactive modules to hear the words, practice and play, track your score and have fun (PC and Mac friendly) 150 Labels (both in the book and for your computer): Place the Special Labels around the house and office to learn new words without any extra time or effort. Use the Label module on your computer to hear the words, review, keep track of your score and improve. Ready-made Flash Cards (both in the book and for your computer): Take the ready-made flash cards with you and review your vocabulary on the go. Use the Flash Card module on your computer to hear the words, practice and test yourself. Cut-out Menu Guide: Practice at your local restaurant and take it on your trip. Pronunciation Guide: With the Guide and simple phonetics above each Italian word, it's easy for native English speakers to begin speaking Italian with the correct pronunciation. Over 300 "Free Words: " Sounding similar to their English counterparts, these Italian words take no extra effort to add to your vocabulary. Glossary of over 2,000 new words, definitions, and pronunciation: So you can quickly look up an Italian word, its pronunciation and definition.
This is excellent for the tourist. Not for someone studying for university credit. But you must do as the title suggests and study for at least 10 minutes a day, and be consistant!
Great Fun and Good Learning Tool
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I used this book in preparation for a trip to Italy last Spring and I found it very helpful. At first I wasn't expecting much from a work book, but they do a very good job at helping you understand the relationships between words, places, and things. I found it a good compliment to also listening to audio learning guides such as Pimsleur or Michel Thomas (you can borrow these from your local library!). I definitely used this book for more than 10 minutes at a time!
High School Student Preparing for a Vacation
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Last April I spent 10 days in Italy with my family. I am a language fanatic so I used the trip as an opportunity to try out a new language similar to two that I had already studied (French and Spanish). This book really helped me learn the basics of conversational Italian, without being bogged down by intense grammar sessions and cumbersome textbooks. It is arranged like a children's language book with pictures and workbook pages that really help you become interactive with your learning. Despite some reviewers, I enjoyed the fact that there were no tapes or CDs attached to this book. Listening to tapes for long stretches of time is, frankly, boring, and I know that I can just as easily fall asleep listening to tapes than actually learn the language. This book is fabulous for learning some Italian for a trip, but probably not for a long term study of the language. It is only an introduction and I know that I said I like the minimum amount of grammar in the book but a serious student would be stunted by those missing lessons. One more comment that I would like to add is that I did not have the recommended amount of time to study with this book before my trip. Nonetheless, I learned Italian that helped me be polite, but maybe not a stellar conversationalist. The people there (and I would guess just about anywhere) appreciate visitors attempts at the native language. It shows common courtesy and acknowledges that you are visiting them, and not vice versa. There is too much Anglophone superiority in our country and, no matter which book you choose, learning some Italian is really appreciated.
Fun and easy to use.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
The "10 minutes a day" books are a simple introduction in learning the basics of a foreign language. The layouts are in a workbook format that include puzzles, cut-out flash cards and sticky labels that you can place around your house to help you build your vocabulary. Easy to read, easy to follow and enjoyable. You'll build a vocabulary foundation that includes numbers, colors, how to tell time, the question words (who, what, when, where, how)and more. The simplicity of the books makes learning fun and you'll find your are spending more than 10 minutes. As a beginner in learning Italian myself, I paired this book with the Pimsleur Italian CD's. Reading vocabulary is one thing, but Pimsleur is really idea for comprehending how the language is spoken by native speakers.
Great first Italian book.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I really enjoyed Italian in 10 minutes a day. It is well laid out, and fun to study. A perfect introduction to learning Italian. After this book I can recommend Italian Made Simple, which will then take you through most of the Italian grammar.
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