Italian is known for being one of the most expressive of the Romance languages and likewise the Italian people are known for their enthusiasm and hand gestures. Learning Italian allows you to travel through Italy, communicate with Italian people and decipher other romance languages easier, plus the added benefit of the self-confidence that comes with speaking another language. If you are on a limited budget or don’t want to pay for traditional classes, you can learn Italian from a CD-ROM or audio CD. However, because you won’t have the traditional structure of a class learning Italian on a CD, you have to be motivated and committed to completing the lessons.
1. Choose a CD course that has an accompanying workbook or computer exercises
Having a visual related to the language you are hearing will help you remember and retain Italian better. Doing exercises for grammar and comprehension will also help you advance faster by testing what you’ve learned. CD-ROMS tend to come with full lesson plans that include audio, text and even quizzes. Audio CDs have the benefit of being able to work on your Italian anywhere and many have workbooks that relate to the material you listen to.
2. Make class appointments with yourself and keep them
If you really want to advance in learning Italian with your CD, you need to be serious about it. Don’t allow friends or outside distractions take you away from the lesson time you schedule for yourself. Schedule time every day or several times a week; intensified learning helps you progress faster. Do the full material. CD-ROMS and audio CDs are intended to be done from start to finish. Progress in the intended order and finish what you start.
3. Repeat aloud to work on your pronunciation
You will never speak Italian if you only listen. If you feel silly repeating in front of others, listen to your Italian CDs in a quiet area where you can be alone and undisturbed. Repeat the word or phrase over and over until you pronounce it as close to the audio as possible.
4. Supplement with Italian movies
Begin by using English subtitles and work your way up to Italian subtitles by the end of your course. Watching Italian movies will not only help you learn more about Italian culture, but will also help you improve your conversational and modern Italian.
5. Keep a notebook for vocabulary, important phrases and difficult grammar points
Each time you learn a new word, write it down and include it’s translation, whether it’s masculine or feminine and your own sample sentence in Italian.
Sources:
- Rice University: Language Learning Center
Sophie Southern - Sophie Southern is an American freelance writer and English teacher who lives in Paris, France.
