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Pimsleur Comprehensive Italian
Pimsleur Italian Level 1 CD: Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs [Lessons 1-30]
The Easiest and Fastest Way to Learn Italian
Whether you want to travel, communicate with friends or colleagues, reconnect with family, or just understand more of what’s going on in the world around you, learning Italian will expand your horizons and immeasurably enrich your life.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be difficult or take years to master. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes, and we get you speaking right from the first day. Pimsleur courses use a scientifically-proven method that puts you in control of your learning. If you’ve tried other language learning methods but found they simply didn’t stick, then you owe it to yourself to give Pimsleur a try.
Why Pimsleur?
- Quick + Easy – Only 30 minutes a day.
- Portable + Flexible – Core lessons can be done anytime, anywhere, and easily fit into your busy life.
- Proven Method – Works when other methods fail.
- Self-Paced – Go fast or go slow – it’s up to you.
- Based in Science – Developed using proven research on memory and learning.
- Cost-effective – Less expensive than classes or immersion, and features all native speakers.
- Genius – Triggers your brain’s natural aptitude to learn.
- Works for everyone – Recommended for ages 13 and above.
What’s Included?
- 30, 30-minute audio lessons
- 60 minutes of reading instruction to provide you with an introduction to reading Italian designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent
- in total, 16 hours of audio, all featuring native speakers
- a Reading Booklet and a User’s Guide
What You’ll Learn
In the first 10 lessons, you’ll cover the saying hello, asking for or giving information, scheduling a meal or a meeting, asking for or giving basic directions, and much more. You’ll be able to handle minimum courtesy requirements, understand much of what you hear, and be understood at a beginning level, but with near-native pronunciation skills.
In the next 10 lessons, you’ll build on what you’ve learned. Expand your menu, increase your scheduling abilities from general to specific, start to deal with currency and exchanging money, refine your conversations and add over a hundred new vocabulary items. You’ll understand more of what you hear, and be able to participate with speech that is smoother and more confident.
In the final 10 lessons, you’ll be speaking and understanding at an intermediate level. In this phase, more directions are given in the target language, which moves your learning to a whole new plane. Lessons include shopping, visiting friends, going to a restaurant, plans for the evening, car trips, and talking about family. You’ll be able to speak comfortably about things that happened in the past and make plans for the future.
Reading Lessons begin in Lesson 9 to provide you with an introduction to reading Italian. In addition, the combined Reading Lessons are included after Lesson 30. These Reading Lessons, which total about one hour, are designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent.
The Pimsleur Method
We make no secret of what makes this powerful method work so well. Paul Pimsleur spent his career researching and perfecting the precise elements anyone can use to learn a language quickly and easily. Here are a few of his “secrets”:
The Principle of Anticipation
In the nanosecond between a cue and your response, your brain has to work to come up with the right word. Having to do this boosts retention, and cements the word in your mind.
Core Vocabulary
Words, phrases, and sentences are selected for their usefulness in everyday conversation. We don’t overwhelm you with too much, but steadily increase your ability with every lesson.
Graduated Interval Recall
Reminders of new words and structures come up at the exact interval for maximum retention and storage into your long-term memory.
Organic Learning
You work on multiple aspects of the language simultaneously. We integrate grammar, vocabulary, rhythm, melody, and intonation into every lesson, which allows you to experience the language as a living, expressive form of human culture.
Learning in Context
Research has shown that learning new words in context dramatically accelerates your ability to remember. Every scene in every Pimsleur lesson is set inside a conversation between two people. There are no drills, and no memorization necessary for success.
Active Participation
The Pimsleur Method + active learner participation = success. This method works with every language and every learner who follows it. You gain the power to recall and use what you know, and to add new words easily, exactly as you do in English.
The Italian Language
Italian is the official language of Italy and San Marino, and one of the official languages of Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovenia. Italian is spoken by about 58 million people in Italy, 24,000 in San Marino, 840,000 in Switzerland, another million in other European countries, and approximately 5 million in North and South Ameri...
Whether you want to travel, communicate with friends or colleagues, reconnect with family, or just understand more of what’s going on in the world around you, learning Italian will expand your horizons and immeasurably enrich your life.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be difficult or take years to master. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes, and we get you speaking right from the first day. Pimsleur courses use a scientifically-proven method that puts you in control of your learning. If you’ve tried other language learning methods but found they simply didn’t stick, then you owe it to yourself to give Pimsleur a try.
Why Pimsleur?
- Quick + Easy – Only 30 minutes a day.
- Portable + Flexible – Core lessons can be done anytime, anywhere, and easily fit into your busy life.
- Proven Method – Works when other methods fail.
- Self-Paced – Go fast or go slow – it’s up to you.
- Based in Science – Developed using proven research on memory and learning.
- Cost-effective – Less expensive than classes or immersion, and features all native speakers.
- Genius – Triggers your brain’s natural aptitude to learn.
- Works for everyone – Recommended for ages 13 and above.
What’s Included?
- 30, 30-minute audio lessons
- 60 minutes of reading instruction to provide you with an introduction to reading Italian designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent
- in total, 16 hours of audio, all featuring native speakers
- a Reading Booklet and a User’s Guide
What You’ll Learn
In the first 10 lessons, you’ll cover the saying hello, asking for or giving information, scheduling a meal or a meeting, asking for or giving basic directions, and much more. You’ll be able to handle minimum courtesy requirements, understand much of what you hear, and be understood at a beginning level, but with near-native pronunciation skills.
In the next 10 lessons, you’ll build on what you’ve learned. Expand your menu, increase your scheduling abilities from general to specific, start to deal with currency and exchanging money, refine your conversations and add over a hundred new vocabulary items. You’ll understand more of what you hear, and be able to participate with speech that is smoother and more confident.
In the final 10 lessons, you’ll be speaking and understanding at an intermediate level. In this phase, more directions are given in the target language, which moves your learning to a whole new plane. Lessons include shopping, visiting friends, going to a restaurant, plans for the evening, car trips, and talking about family. You’ll be able to speak comfortably about things that happened in the past and make plans for the future.
Reading Lessons begin in Lesson 9 to provide you with an introduction to reading Italian. In addition, the combined Reading Lessons are included after Lesson 30. These Reading Lessons, which total about one hour, are designed to teach you to sound out words with correct pronunciation and accent.
The Pimsleur Method
We make no secret of what makes this powerful method work so well. Paul Pimsleur spent his career researching and perfecting the precise elements anyone can use to learn a language quickly and easily. Here are a few of his “secrets”:
The Principle of Anticipation
In the nanosecond between a cue and your response, your brain has to work to come up with the right word. Having to do this boosts retention, and cements the word in your mind.
Core Vocabulary
Words, phrases, and sentences are selected for their usefulness in everyday conversation. We don’t overwhelm you with too much, but steadily increase your ability with every lesson.
Graduated Interval Recall
Reminders of new words and structures come up at the exact interval for maximum retention and storage into your long-term memory.
Organic Learning
You work on multiple aspects of the language simultaneously. We integrate grammar, vocabulary, rhythm, melody, and intonation into every lesson, which allows you to experience the language as a living, expressive form of human culture.
Learning in Context
Research has shown that learning new words in context dramatically accelerates your ability to remember. Every scene in every Pimsleur lesson is set inside a conversation between two people. There are no drills, and no memorization necessary for success.
Active Participation
The Pimsleur Method + active learner participation = success. This method works with every language and every learner who follows it. You gain the power to recall and use what you know, and to add new words easily, exactly as you do in English.
The Italian Language
Italian is the official language of Italy and San Marino, and one of the official languages of Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovenia. Italian is spoken by about 58 million people in Italy, 24,000 in San Marino, 840,000 in Switzerland, another million in other European countries, and approximately 5 million in North and South Ameri...
16 pages, Audio CD
First published March 1, 1995
22 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 24, 2024
I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to learn a language! I started learning Italian in 2019 because I want to travel there a lot in my life and be able to chat with people. I was doing private lessons until COVID hit then I switched to Duolingo. I used Duolingo for quite a while on and off until they completely redid their app and I hate it now 🤷♀️ Duolingo was great for learning new words but it was terrible for what my goal actually was. To be able to speak italian. Pimsleur is 30 minute lessons for 30 days for each level, with 5 levels to complete. I feel like my listening and speaking abilities have made a lot of progress and the course really focuses on the most useful words and phrases to know to be able to communicate. I’m excited to continue onto the next level!
Pro tip: you can buy the courses or pay for a subscription with their app ($$) but I found all the levels available through my library cards.
Pro tip: you can buy the courses or pay for a subscription with their app ($$) but I found all the levels available through my library cards.
June 8, 2010
Io capisco un po l'italiano e'd io parlo un po. :)
March 23, 2008
I actually really liked these Italian programs. As embarrassing as it is they actually helped keep me awake on long drives by regurgitating and trying my best to match pronunciation (at 3:30 am every morning). Great language program.
July 12, 2024
I understand why they don’t want you to read while going through the course but seeing the transcripts would help me to understand if I am hearing the correct information.
I like Paul Noble much better. He also provides a bit more explanation of grammar. And his stuff is not as expensive.
I like Paul Noble much better. He also provides a bit more explanation of grammar. And his stuff is not as expensive.
August 19, 2019
If you want to learn Italian Pimsleur is the best place to start. Do the lessons every day.
April 6, 2021
The best language course I've ever taken. The method is superior to anything else I've tried.
February 6, 2013
I did this series twice--once last summer right before a trip to Italy and just now for review in preparation for more serious study. My snobbery makes me want to look down on this course as too simple and slow, but I have to confess it is effective. Each lesson is 30 minutes for a total of 15 hours. You can listen to one per day and rarely does a lesson need to be repeated because repetition is already built into the content. I do it while getting ready in the morning.
Frankly, the phrases that it teaches are largely geared toward getting American businessmen laid. I suppose that could be a plus or a minus depending on your needs... I'll be continuing on to series II and III while working through a grammar book at the same time.
Frankly, the phrases that it teaches are largely geared toward getting American businessmen laid. I suppose that could be a plus or a minus depending on your needs... I'll be continuing on to series II and III while working through a grammar book at the same time.
October 7, 2016
This first lesson of Italian is fantastic. I went through it twice in preparing for an upcoming trip to Italy and it really helped to have a little Italian once I arrived. I feel that the lessons, the repetition and the topics covered are excellent and I'm thinking about continuing with the rest of the lessons! Highly recommended!
December 7, 2013
Simple and effective for a visitor to Italy. It has short lessons so one doesn't get overwhelmed. I am looking forward to the next series, but need to do some outside study to get more vocabulary rather than that which surrounds traveling, shopping and food. :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews