Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 How Not To Learn Another Language February 5, 2006
Little One (Boston, The Dark Side)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is the worst book I have ever used for learning Italian. Unfortunately, it is the core book for my uni course. The grammar explanations are awful and at times incomplete. The dialogues would be better off as a soap opera on T.V. The only slight advantage is that it has covered the passato remoto, la cordanza dei tempi (the more difficult stuff) by chapter 10. But what is the point in racing ahead with the grammar when listening, speaking and reading skills are being ignored.
I have been forced to use this book for almost 2 years, and I can barely say a sentence in the present tense even though we are in unit 12 grammar wise.
When I finish my semester at uni, before I go to Italy in October, I will be spending 5 months solid with a book from the BBC.
horrible for a beginner September 26, 2004
studentessa (Detroit, MI USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Confusing approach; improper sequence to develop concepts & vocabulary. I had experience with conversational Italian and another college text but I am finding this book a nightmare. If you are unfortunate enough to have it as a class text; buy supplemental books (dictionary, grammar, verbs...even another text)and maybe some Pimsleur tapes since conversation skills are shortchanged in this tedious text.
 This is a GREAT book to learn Italian. February 17, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I teach Italian at the undergraduate level and this book is excellent. Having used other textbooks in the past, I have seen the difference in how much and how quickly students learn from "Parliamo italiano". If you are using this book on your own, I would recommend that you work with a tutor. It is not impossible to work with it on your own but you have to plan the material very carefully beforehand and stick to your plan.
Just Plain Bad December 21, 2002
R. L. Alesiani (Newark)
6 out of 13 found this review helpful
Honestly, this was one of the worst aproaches to a language I have ever seen. The book is written completely out of order. It will not teach you how to speak Italian. At the most, you might learn how to write it... Poorly.
 Good for conversation, weak on grammar February 13, 2002
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The focus is the spoken language, and it is effective. However, some of the instructions for the exercises (in Italian) are not very clear, and the grammar explanations (in English) are not adequate. (I purchased a concise grammar text to supplement this book.)I like their casual approach to introducing new material (grammar & vocabulary) - new usages just pop into the dialogues and exercises occasionally in situations where the context helps clarify the usage. Soon after, the formal explanations are provided to help generalize. The approach helps prepare for real-life use of the language, in which a lot of new vocabulary and usage crops up.
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