Pimsleur Italian Level 1 Lessons 1-5

Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs

By: Pimsleur

Narrated by: Pimsleur

Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

The Pimsleur® Method: the easiest, fastest way to learn a new language. Completely portable, easily downloadable, and lots of fun. You’ll be speaking and understanding in no time flat! Each lesson of Italian Level 1 Lessons 1-5provides 30 minutes of spoken language practice, with an introductory conversation and new vocabulary and structures. Detailed instructions enable you to understand and participate in the conversation. Each lesson contains practice for vocabulary introduced in previous lessons. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension and on learning to speak Italian.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2002 Simon & Schuster (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Pimsleur programs provide plenty of positive reinforcement that will keep learners on track, and we found that Pimsleur gave us more proficiency and confidence in speaking the new language than any of the other language programs we reviewed." ( AudioFile magazine)

correct but not vernacular

Would you listen to Italian Level 1 Lessons 1-5 again? Why?

i would, to reinforce what i learned

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

What about Pimsleur’s performance did you like?

I used Pimsleur for my trip to Israel and now for Italy. it's good for vocabulary and pronunciation. However, Pimsleur uses Io and Lei. Italians tell me that they don't use Io and Lei (I and you) in conversation, and that was my experience too when i was last there . This book should be mindful of that. My old tape for learning Italian, now lost forever and no way to play it anymore anyway, was aware of that and did not teach Io and Lei.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

N/A

Any additional comments?

Still a very useful and fun intro to speaking Italian. I enjoyed it.

motto benne

very easy to pick up the conversation the lesson is teaching in each unit. by breaking things down and phonetically being able to hear how things are pronounced by a native Italian.

loved it.

it's worth the money but do it daily. it works! io capisco l' Italiano bene

So simple it's brilliant

Makes learning a new language so easy and enjoyable! I will have my basic Italian skills down pat by my trip in a few months.

Highly Recommended

The Pimsleur method of language learning is amazing and you will retain information faster and more efficiently than any other learning method. I am very impressed and am on to the next level.
for those complaining of the price you get FIVE 30-min classes for 1 credit. the info you will learn is worth it. I took 4 years a French in high school and am a better Italian speaker after 1 pimsleur audiobook!!

Finally --A Method thay Works!

After trying at least four other methods (which didn't work for me) and spending lots of money, I found THIS!!! This is THE ONE!!

A serious spoken approach to language learning

I've tried to learn several languages off and on with some progress in French so I have tried a number of language courses. Most of them are terrible and are really just designed to say a few words on vacation. Until now I thought that the Assimal courses were the only ones with an education theory behind them. They are a mix of recorded and written and require the constant use of a booklet along with the recorded part.
I recently tried Babel and liked the way they are based on the phone but I was troubled by the use of writing (e.g.spell "ciao") which didn't seem like a good idea in early language learning.
Pimsleur is audio only. This is a real challenge and I am sure it is slower at first than a mixture of aural and written. But they are trying to develop the sounds of the language without the overlay of an English pronunciation to written Italian. It is based on 30 minute lessons which is a big chunk to devote to it.
If you really want to learn I think this may be the best approach I've seen.

it's working for me.

I found the approach of only listening and speaking the words aloud worked for me. It's naturally how we learn languages and force me to make up spellings to get the pronunciation right.

Great Refresher

I'm using this to bone up ahead of an upcoming trip. The lessons have been very helpful and I can already feel a lot of my lost Italian coming back to me. Looking forward to the rest!

Easy! Clear! Fun!

Just did 1st unit and I've never enjoyed learning a new language so thoroughly. The guide to pronunciation and the focus on real conversation are perfect.