Foreign Language Software
May 19, 2000 | 5:21 pm
#1
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Foreign Language Software
I'm planning a trip to Italy and would like to learn some of the language. Can anyone help me out with some names of software I could use to learn? Your help is appreciated.
Dingo
Dingo
May 19, 2000 | 10:19 pm
#3
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For other possibilities (many of which are free), check out the Foreign Languages for Travelers web site.
May 20, 2000 | 4:39 pm
#4
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I am now learning Italian in preparation for a trip to Sicily this summer.
After much research I bought Pimsleur. They have a course with 6 CDs and another with 15 that includes the 6. I'd go and buy the more complete set.
I highly recommend Pimsleur because it emphasizes Italian spoken and can be used in the car. It is almost effortless, a lot of fun. I had tried other self study language approaches (I know I sound like a commercial) and they don't compare, at least for me. I found them frustrating. Not Pimsleur.
I also picked up a few books to teach grammar and written Italian, including a Berlitz phrase book, Berlitz practice book, dictionary, etc. You will want to supplement Pimsleur with these. I am so interested in these that I am almost finished with Italian 1 and will be buying Italian 2. I also plan on studying Japanese for a trip sometime in the future. I really like the Pimsleur approach and I will study Japanese using the same approach and Pimsleur.
I haven't tried out software because the only time I have is in the car but I doubt it is as effective, at least for me.
review at Amazon (although I bought mine at buy.com for $206, quite a saving over Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...247014-2529615
After much research I bought Pimsleur. They have a course with 6 CDs and another with 15 that includes the 6. I'd go and buy the more complete set.
I highly recommend Pimsleur because it emphasizes Italian spoken and can be used in the car. It is almost effortless, a lot of fun. I had tried other self study language approaches (I know I sound like a commercial) and they don't compare, at least for me. I found them frustrating. Not Pimsleur.
I also picked up a few books to teach grammar and written Italian, including a Berlitz phrase book, Berlitz practice book, dictionary, etc. You will want to supplement Pimsleur with these. I am so interested in these that I am almost finished with Italian 1 and will be buying Italian 2. I also plan on studying Japanese for a trip sometime in the future. I really like the Pimsleur approach and I will study Japanese using the same approach and Pimsleur.
I haven't tried out software because the only time I have is in the car but I doubt it is as effective, at least for me.
review at Amazon (although I bought mine at buy.com for $206, quite a saving over Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...247014-2529615
May 21, 2000 | 6:44 pm
#5
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Babelfish is pretty good. Especially for translating documents. Try http://babelfish.altavista.com/cgi-bin/translate?
May 22, 2000 | 7:30 am
#6
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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000742.html
For Spanish, French or English but no Italian yet!
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 05-22-2000).]
For Spanish, French or English but no Italian yet!
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 05-22-2000).]
May 22, 2000 | 10:37 am
#7
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That's the free version. Follow the links to the paid version and there might be Italian. They said they would get to more languages last year, but I haven't follow it to see what they've done.
May 23, 2000 | 10:30 am
#8
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I've been fluent in Russian, but I'm sort of rusty. I bought the Transparent Language Russian program to brush up. I'm really impressed. It's helped me, but I think it would also be ideal for someone just starting to learn the language. I'm sure their courses in other languages would be good, as well. You do need two-way sound on your computer.
BTW: I think this is probably more for the serious student of the language than for the one who just wants to be able to say, "Wo ist der (den?) Banhoff?" or "Where do I get a taxi?" It'll teach you those things, but they're sort of secondary to really learning to converse.
[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 05-23-2000).]
[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 05-23-2000).]
BTW: I think this is probably more for the serious student of the language than for the one who just wants to be able to say, "Wo ist der (den?) Banhoff?" or "Where do I get a taxi?" It'll teach you those things, but they're sort of secondary to really learning to converse.
[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 05-23-2000).]
[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 05-23-2000).]