Italian Language : How to Learn Basic Italian

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I was thinking I might share a few resources with you in case you would like to join me in my attempt to learn the Italian language.

You can learn a word a day and hear it spoken by a native Italian, at Transparent Language . You also get an example spoken in a sentence.
About.com offers Italian Word a Day. You can also get it delivered in a newsletter. I like browsing the archives there.
Rosetta Stone is touted by companies like NASA, IKEA and the US Army for being the best way to learn a language. Learn on your computer by associating Italian words and phrases with corresponding pictures!
Learn some of the basics, for free. Including some popular phrases..one or two naughty ones too.
Another set of short, basic lessons on the Internet. A good reference, with some quizzes to test your knowledge at the end.
Talk about tech savvy. Why not learn through an Italian podcast? ItalianPod101.com – The Fastest Way to Learn Italian Guaranteed looks pretty cool.
Call your cable company and ask to get the Italian channel as an add on to your package. This way you can practice, translate and hear Italian…anytime you wish!
Do you have a Google page? You can add this gadget to it…another Audio Word a Day.
Ever heard of Mango? Not the fruit, the Mango Language program! It’s just as sweet. And if you have a membership to the New York Publc Library, you can get 100 Italian lessons for free.
Or, you could live the true dream and go to school in Italia!!

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So tell me, what are some of the ways you learn basic Italian? What are your secrets for mastering a new language?

TACE
February 8th, 2008
Bonjour, J’aime votre BLOG. I know the itsy bitsyest amount of French. Very handy, like if I’m in a store and some one suddenly yells “HEY IS THERE ANY ONE HERE WHO KNOWS HOW TO ASK TO GO TO THE WASHROOM IN FRENCH???” Then I am totally covered. Also very handy for when you want to point at random parts of the body and say the names in french instead of English…..*points to eyes* Mes yeux! Or how about this, the very classy “Il ya une oiseau dans la fenetre”. Which may not sound all that fancy but if there ever lands a bird in the window then I am all prepared “There is a bird in the window.”
ahhh, high school french…..
***please note the commenter of this comment is not held responsible for any misspellings of French words…..high school was a long time ago.

Janie
February 8th, 2008
I’m determined to learn Italian and am taking the plunge and heading off in about a month to study in Arezzo-yikes! Come along!

stephanie
February 8th, 2008
I TRY to learn Spanish…I know lots of nouns, finally took a coversational class and it was a lot of fun!
I get the Spanish word a day via email…when we were in Spain, I really tried to speak Spanish, it would take me a LONG time to spit out an entire sentence. My husband speaks Spanish and when one taxi drive looked at me blankly after my attempt at communication and Greg said the EXACT same thing I did and got a response….I threw my hands up!! Greg said he thinks it took me so long to get the sentence out I lost the poor guy!

Maryann
February 8th, 2008
I’m always looking for more Italian language sites. Thanks!

Jeni
February 9th, 2008
Oh my dear, I am sorry I have been away for so long. We’re in the same boat trying to learn Italian. My personal favorite way is with a tutor, as she/he can tailor lessons to your level and what you want to learn.
You have had some great posts lately…brava!

JB
February 9th, 2008
Hello,
I have a blog with nice pictures from all over the world that people take when they are on holiday or just when they want to share the beauty of the place they are kiving in. I saw some nice pictures on your blog, would you be ok to send me a few so I could add them?
My email is Yourbestworldspots@yahoo.com and the blog adress is http://yourbestworldspot.blogspot.com/, don’t hesitate to come and have a look!!

bleeding espresso
February 9th, 2008
Excellent links. Much better doing it your way than what I did, moving over here knowing how to point and grunt

My Melange
February 11th, 2008
Michelle~ Hey, you probably learned faster than I will through, being immersed in Italian and all
Paolo~ Thanks for your links. RAI is the cable channel that we can get here. $10 a month is steep if you don’t know any Italian yet…so we will wait a few months and then add it to our already outrageously high cable bill

Angie
February 11th, 2008
Hey Robin, I also am taking Italian lessons so your post have been cracking me up! I did sign up for one of your word of the day suggestions and love them!!