Italian immersion ideas and suggestions, please.

[Hunter's Moon]

What are some good ways to incorporate Italian into my daily life. I will be making flashcards to put up all around my room on the window, door, ceiling, etc., but what are other good ways?

 

No one in my family speaks Italian. My only relative who knew Italian died when I was 8 and he never spoke it to me unless he got excited or I did something wrong.

 

My area is a more Spanish speaking area so not much Italian going on.

 

Any ideas??

 

I was thinking of watching movies I own with either Italian audio or Italian subtitles but I am pretty sure most, if not all, of my movies only offer English/French/Spanish audio and subtitles.

 

Any suggestions on immersion?

 

Thanks. :)

[cathmom]

If you have Netflix, you should be able to get some Italian movies.

[Matryoshka]

If you have Netflix, you should be able to get some Italian movies.

 

:iagree: Sooooo many good Italian movies! You can probably even watch them with subtitles on, and then again with subtitiles off once you know what's going on. The latter is very good to really make you really listen for comprehension.

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

You might want to find podcasts of interest in Italian and transfer them to an iPod (or other device).

Or you can join LiveMocha and practice there.

[In The Great White North]

Aren't you in Massachusetts? How about the North End?

[Hunter's Moon]

Aren't you in Massachusetts? How about the North End?

 

Boston is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours from us.

 

Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

If we ever go that way I'll make sure we check it out.

[Ester Maria]

I would not suggest you to watch movies with subtitles in English - if anything, with subtitles in Italian. Many of the Italian films have the option of "italiano per non udenti" amongst subtitles, choose that if you must, HOWEVER, usually if you focus on the script your active concentration on the film (on trying to GET what they're saying as opposed to read it) will fall. The best option is to simply watch films without any subtitles.

 

Now, I'm a bit unhappy for having to suggest this, but before you hit the classics (especially neorealist films, quite many classics are in this category), you might wish to understand the modern fast Italian speech and get overall more comfortable with the language via more modern productions and - *Ester is in total, total disbelief that she's actually suggesting this to somebody* - television shows. Seriously. All those terrible, waste-of-time series such as L'incantesimo or shows such as Porta a porta are actually great for language learning, even though I would not suggest anyone else to watch them. They use common everyday language, you will learn the important terms about politics, economy, having a lover or arguing with your ex's wife AND get used to the fast everyday speech. If I were you, I would start with those and then build up to what I like and to more artistic content.

That, in combination with reading news (you have most newspapers, Corriere and Repubblica are good for that too, online), should really help with that part.

 

You have Italian literature online here and here, audiobooks here.

 

There are lots of school sites and mildly educational sites, try googling your areas of interest in Italian and you're bound to find something. Say you like Chemistry, so google something like chimica+organica+appunti+liceo or some other combination you are interested in.

[Hunter's Moon]

I would not suggest you to watch movies with subtitles in English - if anything, with subtitles in Italian. Many of the Italian films have the option of "italiano per non udenti" amongst subtitles, choose that if you must, HOWEVER, usually if you focus on the script your active concentration on the film (on trying to GET what they're saying as opposed to read it) will fall. The best option is to simply watch films without any subtitles.

 

Now, I'm a bit unhappy for having to suggest this, but before you hit the classics (especially neorealist films, quite many classics are in this category), you might wish to understand the modern fast Italian speech and get overall more comfortable with the language via more modern productions and - *Ester is in total, total disbelief that she's actually suggesting this to somebody* - television shows. Seriously. All those terrible, waste-of-time series such as L'incantesimo or shows such as Porta a porta are actually great for language learning, even though I would not suggest anyone else to watch them. They use common everyday language, you will learn the important terms about politics, economy, having a lover or arguing with your ex's wife AND get used to the fast everyday speech. If I were you, I would start with those and then build up to what I like and to more artistic content.

That, in combination with reading news (you have most newspapers, Corriere and Repubblica are good for that too, online), should really help with that part.

 

You have Italian literature online here and here, audiobooks here.

 

There are lots of school sites and mildly educational sites, try googling your areas of interest in Italian and you're bound to find something. Say you like Chemistry, so google something like chimica+organica+appunti+liceo or some other combination you are interested in.

 

Thanks. That was very helpful.

 

We should be getting a Netflix subscription soon so I will definitely be using that to the full advantage.

 

Thanks for the links also :)

[Matryoshka]

I would not suggest you to watch movies with subtitles in English - if anything, with subtitles in Italian. Many of the Italian films have the option of "italiano per non udenti" amongst subtitles, choose that if you must, HOWEVER, usually if you focus on the script your active concentration on the film (on trying to GET what they're saying as opposed to read it) will fall. The best option is to simply watch films without any subtitles.

 

I do agree with this - the only reason I suggested English subtitles first was to get the gist of the film/plot - this should be followed by at least one viewing of the film in Italian without subtitiles. If Italian subtitles are available, and she's able to read Italian fairly well, that's a much better option. Although sometimes with Spanish films, especially ones dubbed in Spanish I've noticed that subtitles and what's being said don't line up exactly - this may well not be as big a problem for a film that isn't dubbed (it's hard to find native langauge films appropriate for preteens, that's why I stoop to some dubbed films here. No one here's ready for Pedro Almodovar!)

 

Now, I'm a bit unhappy for having to suggest this, but before you hit the classics (especially neorealist films, quite many classics are in this category), you might wish to understand the modern fast Italian speech and get overall more comfortable with the language via more modern productions

 

My mom and I just went to see an Italian film - something about a dinner in August - and the Italian was spoken so clearly that we could both understand almost everything in the movie, even though neither of us speak Italian (just Spanish). That would be a great one to start with, at least for something with clearly spoken Italian. - Ah, found the title - Mid-August Lunch or Pranzo di Ferragosto.

[Ester Maria]

My mom and I just went to see an Italian film - something about a dinner in August - and the Italian was spoken so clearly that we could both understand almost everything in the movie, even though neither of us speak Italian (just Spanish). That would be a great one to start with, at least for something with clearly spoken Italian. - Ah, found the title - Mid-August Lunch or Pranzo di Ferragosto.

When spoken clearly, Italian is actually very comprehensible. It can be really fast, though. :) But most people, even nowadays, have a rather clear diction when they speak standard Italian as opposed to a dialect (those are usually more "blurry"). That's why films with strong dialectal influences are the hardest to understand.

If you want something challenging, try

:D (warning: the scene gets quite brutal). Most Italians that I know put subtitles for those.

Or check out

... Nothing terribly incomprehensible, but the small dialectal changes usually present some difficulty for foreigners. One gets used to it, though.

 

By the way, if you speak Spanish, you might try out the Venetian language/dialect. It's surprisingly close to Spanish. :) And for something totally incomprehensible - Sicilian. Most Italians understand waaaaay more spoken Spanish than spoken Sicilian, Sicilian is that far from standard Italian.

 

Anyhow, I digress. Yeah, I agree with you.

[shehmeth]

I would not suggest you to watch movies with subtitles in English - if anything, with subtitles in Italian. Many of the Italian films have the option of "italiano per non udenti" amongst subtitles, choose that if you must, HOWEVER, usually if you focus on the script your active concentration on the film (on trying to GET what they're saying as opposed to read it) will fall. The best option is to simply watch films without any subtitles.

 

I Agree with Ester... when we watch foreign films at home we watch them without any subtitles.... mainly because: the mind will focus so much on what's written that will tune out the spoken word - the goal is to expose the ear to the sounds of the language - so even having Italian subtitles can be an disruption...

 

I do agree with this - the only reason I suggested English subtitles first was to get the gist of the film/plot - this should be followed by at least one viewing of the film in Italian without subtitiles.

 

Now, sometimes the plot can be understood by most of the action of the movie - sure there might be some things and nuances that are missed - that's what makes watching the move a few weeks/months later so interesting.... If knowing the plot is really important - then watching a familiar movie (Say "The Little Mermaid" in Italian or French) or an Italian version of a play o book that one has read - should take care of this... and the focus then is on training the ear...

 

 

Best,

 

Kate

[Hunter's Moon]

When spoken clearly, Italian is actually very comprehensible. It can be really fast, though. :) But most people, even nowadays, have a rather clear diction when they speak standard Italian as opposed to a dialect (those are usually more "blurry"). That's why films with strong dialectal influences are the hardest to understand.

If you want something challenging, try

:D (warning: the scene gets quite brutal). Most Italians that I know put subtitles for those.

Or check out

... Nothing terribly incomprehensible, but the small dialectal changes usually present some difficulty for foreigners. One gets used to it, though.

 

By the way, if you speak Spanish, you might try out the Venetian language/dialect. It's surprisingly close to Spanish. :) And for something totally incomprehensible - Sicilian. Most Italians understand waaaaay more spoken Spanish than spoken Sicilian, Sicilian is that far from standard Italian.

 

Anyhow, I digress. Yeah, I agree with you.

 

Ha, we watched Gomorra in Italian class. That was how he taught us Italian, watching inappropriate movies with English subtitles on a TV screen to small to see :D FWIW, it was a pretty good movie though. We also watched a movie about a guy who was a special needs bus driver and his best friend had special needs (Down Syndrome) I believe. It was really funny. I loved it. We watched one about a mailman as well who became friends with a movie star who moved into his town.

[Matryoshka]

Now, sometimes the plot can be understood by most of the action of the movie - sure there might be some things and nuances that are missed - that's what makes watching the move a few weeks/months later so interesting.... If knowing the plot is really important - then watching a familiar movie (Say "The Little Mermaid" in Italian or French) or an Italian version of a play o book that one has read - should take care of this... and the focus then is on training the ear...

 

:iagree: with this too. This is easier, though, with a movie one already knows the plot of or a kids' movie which are often more action-driven. I was thinking more of some of the movies a teenager/adult might be interested in, which can be dialog-driven, when really having no clue what is going on can be annoying (in the movie about the August lunch... really, nothing happened! Though I enjoyed it anwyay...:)) - if one can avoid subtitles altogether I agree it is the best option.

 

For my younger kids, I also think it's beneficial to watch things over and over - each time they catch a bit more. I think this can be even more useful for ear training than watching something new each time.

[Ester Maria]

Ha, we watched Gomorra in Italian class. That was how he taught us Italian, watching inappropriate movies with English subtitles on a TV screen to small to see :D FWIW, it was a pretty good movie though. We also watched a movie about a guy who was a special needs bus driver and his best friend had special needs (Down Syndrome) I believe. It was really funny. I loved it. We watched one about a mailman as well who became friends with a movie star who moved into his town.

But why did he do that, Gomorra is not even in proper Italian... :lol: That was my point: most Italians will put subtitles to get it, since huge parts of the film are spoken in the dialect. I don't

 

Il postino which you mention (though it's not a friendship with a movie star, it's with a poet - if we're talking about the same film) is the same, the main character's speech is quite "blurred" and dialectal, my kids asked me a few times what did he say.

 

I think that watching movies is a great supplement to one's study. :) If you like Disney, they have beautifully dubbed cartoons, especially the old ones. Generally, if you want clear "proper" Italian, watch foreign films dubbed in Italian ("thankfully", on our TV they dub EVERYTHING - I mean EVERYTHING - so it shouldn't be very difficult to find something), they're usually more "correct", language-wise. Same with documentaries that are dubbed, etc.

 

Would you be interested in something like this? One may find many university lectures online and similar content on google videos - depending on your interests or schoolwork, you can look for videos in Italian about that. That's a great way to kill two birds with one stone - use Italian as means to learn something else, while at the same time learning Italian. :)

[Hunter's Moon]

But why did he do that, Gomorra is not even in proper Italian... :lol: That was my point: most Italians will put subtitles to get it, since huge parts of the film are spoken in the dialect. I don't

 

Il postino which you mention (though it's not a friendship with a movie star, it's with a poet - if we're talking about the same film) is the same, the main character's speech is quite "blurred" and dialectal, my kids asked me a few times what did he say.

 

I think that watching movies is a great supplement to one's study. :) If you like Disney, they have beautifully dubbed cartoons, especially the old ones. Generally, if you want clear "proper" Italian, watch foreign films dubbed in Italian ("thankfully", on our TV they dub EVERYTHING - I mean EVERYTHING - so it shouldn't be very difficult to find something), they're usually more "correct", language-wise. Same with documentaries that are dubbed, etc.

 

Would you be interested in something like this? One may find many university lectures online and similar content on google videos - depending on your interests or schoolwork, you can look for videos in Italian about that. That's a great way to kill two birds with one stone - use Italian as means to learn something else, while at the same time learning Italian. :)

 

Thanks.

 

And yeah, the movie was about a poet, not a movie star.

 

Our teacher wanted to get us used to the different cultures, but honestly, he was just lazy.

[MaryCatherine]

This may seem silly, but could you work in an Italian restaurant? I'd imagine that most are owned/run by Italians and they probably only speak it unless to customers. If you were going to look for a job anyway.....might as well enjoy the food, I mean, the environment.

[Hunter's Moon]

This may seem silly, but could you work in an Italian restaurant? I'd imagine that most are owned/run by Italians and they probably only speak it unless to customers. If you were going to look for a job anyway.....might as well enjoy the food, I mean, the environment.

 

The only Italian restaurant around here that *might* have hired a 16 year old with no experience whatsoever I called. They were looking for 18 and above. The only others are Olive Garden and Carabba's and they would definitely not hire a 16 year old. Plus, they aren't family owned so I doubt much italian speaking goes on there.

Edited July 25, 2010 by BeatleMania

[radiobrain]

This may seem silly, but could you work in an Italian restaurant? I'd imagine that most are owned/run by Italians and they probably only speak it unless to customers. If you were going to look for a job anyway.....might as well enjoy the food, I mean, the environment.

 

Even if this were possible, the Italian spoken at the restaurant will likely be a dialect and/or a conglomeration of Italian and American English. Also, it will likely be the familiar form.

 

I do like a lot of these ideas though.

[awtl]

There is a free language learning site called Livemocha. It has free language lessons, and you can help people with learning English in exchange for them helping you learn Italian (or a host of other languages). They give you short essays to write and you are graded on them by other users. I think it's really neat.

Here is the link: http://www.livemocha.com/

For some reason the site hasn't been working on my computer, but I really loved using it. Just a note, though, it is considered a social networking site by our internet filter, and was blocked. I wanted to give you a heads up since some people don't believe in using anything that could be considered social networking.

 

You've probably heard of this. I like the French version very much: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/

[Guest beanmama]

I realize this is an older thread, but we just found http://www.junior.rai.it and it looks fun!

[Jamee]

this thread has been very helpful. Are there any ideas/suggestions for children? I'm looking for easy readers for my son who is going to be taking his Italian studies a little more seriously this year.

[MBM]

It might be worth a shot to see if your area has an Italian-speaking group via Meetup. Here is the link to the Chicago area group:

 

[radiobrain]

this thread has been very helpful. Are there any ideas/suggestions for children? I'm looking for easy readers for my son who is going to be taking his Italian studies a little more seriously this year.

 

I have been toying with buying some Italian school books, but $$ is quite tight right now.

 

How about Topolino comics? We have a million of them in our house.

[lauracolumbus]

Muzzy has an Italian series that I've been eying for my youngest.

 

The RAI site is wonderful.

 

Opera????