Instant Italian
This
dynamic course will teach you how to express yourself comfortably in Italian.
You'll learn practical, everyday words and phrases that will make your stay in
Italy more enjoyable. You'll read, hear, and practice dialogues based on typical
situations that you're likely to encounter while staying in Italy. The dialogues
and follow-up exercises of each lesson will teach you to communicate in Italian
in a wide variety of settings. You'll be surprised by how quickly and easily you
can learn many useful expressions in Italian!
This course also makes it simple to master your pronunciation of Italian.
Essential words and phrases are written phonetically by using sounds that are
familiar to you from English words. The course audio feature lets you hear the
words and phrases spoken aloud with just a click of your mouse. Short exercises
are included with each lesson to help you reinforce what you've learned and
gauge your progress, making it easy to pinpoint areas that you still need to
review. The exercises also give you immediate feedback—you'll know whether you
answered correctly as soon as you finish.
By the end of the second lesson, you'll have learned about the Italian
language's impact on the world, the Italian alphabet, phonetics, and
pronunciation, proper forms of address, expressions of courtesy, and how to make
introductions. When you reach your final lesson, you'll know how to ask for
help, ask directions, navigate Italian shops, book a hotel room, order a meal,
and much more! Cultural notes are included throughout the course to help you
better understand Italians and their way of life. You'll also learn what various
gestures mean to Italians, which ones to use, and those you should avoid.
This course will convince you that learning a language is both fun and
rewarding. You'll be pleased at how quickly this course helps you build your
skills, and prepares you for your next adventure in Italia.
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
The Windows Media Player (which comes included with most versions of Windows) or RealPlayer FREE, Internet access, e-mail, and the Netscape or Firefox or Internet Explorer Web browser.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do
not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each
lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space
the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
| In this first lesson, you'll discover that, despite
the Italian peninsula's long and rich history, Italy is actually a
relatively young nation—much younger than the United States, for
example. You'll also learn that many Italian words have been adopted
into English, including many that you might say or hear on a regular
basis—and not just spaghetti, pizza, and biscotti. You'll also be
pleased to learn that there are many cognates in Italian. Cognates are
words that share the same origin with English words, which makes them
very easy for you to recognize and master. By the time you finish this
lesson, you'll also know how to greet others properly and introduce
yourself in Italian. |
| Friday - Lesson 02 |
| In our second lesson, we'll explore the Italian
alphabet and phonetics. You'll learn all 21 letters of the Italian
alphabet, along with the various sounds they make, whether alone or in
combination with one or more other letters. In addition, you'll learn
five letters that Italian borrows for writing and speaking words that
originated in other languages. With the tools you'll gain in this lesson
(and some practice), you'll be able to read and correctly pronounce
virtually all words and phrases in Italian. |
| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
| Today, we'll discuss why, unlike in English, the
names of places and things have gender in Italian. That's right, all
nouns—even inanimate objects—are either masculine or feminine. You'll
also learn that to pluralize nouns in Italian, you don't add "s" or "es"
at the end of the word. Instead, you'll simply change the final vowel.
For example, "one spaghetti noodle" is "spaghetti-o," while "spaghetti
noodles" is "spaghetti-i." You'll also discover eight ways to say the
word "the" in Italian. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a good
grasp on some fundamental parts of speech, making it that much easier to
put them together and use them. |
| Friday - Lesson 04 |
| In this lesson, you'll continue exploring some basic
elements of the Italian language. |
| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
| While visiting Italy's many spectacular sites, you'll
want to be able to ask for assistance. In this lesson, you'll learn to
ask and give directions to places, making it easier for you to navigate
the country's many historic cities and towns. By the time you reach the
end of this lesson, you'll know how to say "to the right," "to the
left," and "straight ahead." You will also know how to ask whether a
location is nearby or far away. In addition to all the practical
navigating skills you'll gain in this lesson, you'll also increase your
understanding of Italian culture by learning several ways Italians greet
one another. |
| Friday - Lesson 06 |
| Numbers are handy in many daily situations, and in
this lesson, you'll learn the numbers 1 through 100. You'll explore ways
you can put these numbers to practical use by asking and stating phone
numbers, addresses, and bill totals. You'll even visit an Italian bar or
caffè and learn to order breakfast. At the end of this lesson, you'll be
able to discuss telephone numbers and addresses, ask and say how much
things cost at the bar, and how and where to pay for them. |
| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
| In this lesson, you'll explore the calendar, learning
to ask about and express days and dates. You'll learn some helpful
techniques that make remembering the days of the week and the months of
the year much easier. We'll also go over two key verbs—"avere" and
"fare." Both verbs are especially helpful when discussing the weather.
By the end of Lesson 7, you'll be able to talk about days and dates, and
to ask about and describe the weather. |
| Friday - Lesson 08 |
| Today, you'll apply the numbers knowledge you gained
in Lesson 6 and 7 to the clock and schedules. You'll learn to ask and
tell the time, and to ask and express key time-relate terms, such as
"when," "early," and "late." You'll continue learning about Italian
culture, and find out how important labor strikes are in Italy. Because
strikes often impact travel, you'll learn how to ask when they'll begin
and when they'll end. All of these things should help put you more at
ease while traveling. By the end of the lesson, you'll know how to tell
time and read business schedules in Italian. |
| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
| Do you plan to make some purchases while in Italy, or
take a train, boat, or bus? We'll go over how to handle these situations
in today's lesson. You'll learn the vocabulary and phrases you need to
discuss items such as transportation tickets and their prices. You'll
learn to use the always-handy expression "vorrei"¬¬—which means "I would
like..."—to request information or items. By the end of this lesson,
you'll know how ask about and purchase train, boat, or bus tickets, ask
about prices and make purchases, and even rent a vehicle while in Italy. |
| Friday - Lesson 10 |
| Even before you arrive in Italy, you'll probably need
to discuss and book your accommodations, and we'll explore how to do
just that in today's lesson. You'll learn to describe the kind of room
you're looking for, and ask about availability. By combining new
vocabulary with elements you've learned in previous lessons, you'll be
able to ask very specific questions about your lodging. You'll know how
to confirm whether your room has air conditioning and Internet service,
and if the price includes breakfast. You'll practice making a phone call
to a hotel to ensure you can book your accommodations long before you
arrive at your destination. |
| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
| In this lesson, we'll go over something really
important: How to ask for help—"aiuto" [ah-YOO-toh]—in any situation.
More specifically, you'll learn to describe health and medical concerns
to a pharmacist or doctor. You'll practice an authentic dialogue with
each to help put you at ease while you're in Italy. You'll also learn to
ask others to help you by calling the police or an ambulance. By the
time you finish this lesson, you'll be able to handle virtually any
emergency situation in Italian. |
| Friday - Lesson 12 |
| Italy's world-renowned cuisine is as important as its
many historical monuments (some might say it's even more important!). In
our final lesson, you'll become well-versed in the various types of
eateries in Italy, the types of meals you can expect to find in them,
and how meals are typically served. You'll practice using all the
vocabulary you'll need to order food, whether it's a snack in un bar or
an entire four-course meal in una trattoria. You'll learn how to ask
about typical regional or local specialties, and how to say that you'd
like to try a particular wine or dish. When you reach the end of this
lesson, you'll be fully prepared to order a meal at any Italian eatery. |
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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