Just got back from 3 weeks throughout Northern Italy. I finished Fluenz Italian 1-5 prior to going and what a difference it made! I was able to hold conversations, ask for anything I needed, get directions and so much more. The Italians embraced me on my trip so much more warmly when they saw what an effort I had made to learn the language, not to mention when they found out my family had immigrated from Sicily. I was able to communicate all of this because of Fluenz. Mostly, the Italians were impressed with my accent and pronunciation, and I was asked often "dove hai studiato Italiano? All'universita?" or "il suo Italiano e molto buono!" and they were surprised I had learned on my own with a computer program. Thanks Fluenz team, you put together a great foundation for learning. (Just some advice to others, you need to be reading and listening to Italian daily! I joined pages on social media so I could read and write, and I listened to many YouTube podcasts. This will help you really get a feel for conversational Italian.) Now that I am home, I have started Fluenz Spanish (Latin American) to refresh the 2 years of Spanish I had in high school 30 yrs ago, just ahead of my next trip to Costa Rica! Buona fortuna a Tutti!
 | Just got back from 3 weeks throughout Northern Italy. I finished Fluenz Italian 1-5 prior to going and what a difference it made! I was able to hold conversations, ask for anything I needed, get directions and so much more. The Italians embraced me on my trip so much more warmly when they saw what an effort I had made to learn the language, not to mention when they found out my family had immigrated from Sicily. I was able to communicate all of this because of Fluenz. Mostly, the Italians were impressed with my accent and pronunciation, and I was asked often "dove hai studiato Italiano? All'universita?" or "il suo Italiano e molto buono!" and they were surprised I had learned on my own with a computer program. Thanks Fluenz team, you put together a great foundation for learning. (Just some advice to others, you need to be reading and listening to Italian daily! I joined pages on social media so I could read and write, and I listened to many YouTube podcasts. This will help you really get a feel for conversational Italian.) Now that I am home, I have started Fluenz Spanish (Latin American) to refresh the 2 years of Spanish I had in high school 30 yrs ago, just ahead of my next trip to Costa Rica! Buona fortuna a Tutti! 2 comments 1 person finds this helpful This question is unsolved |
 | For anyone in NY City this weekend there is HD Opera shown nightly at 8PM in Lincoln Center plaza. I'm especially looking forward to Monday when Madame Butterfly will be shown. Of the 5 or so arias I've attempted to memorize "Un bel di, vedremo" is in the top 2 for ease of learning to the point of hearing it without the need for translation. https://www.metopera.org/season/summer-2018/summer-hd-festival/ For anyone in NY City this weekend there is HD Opera shown nightly at 8PM in Lincoln Center plaza. I'm especially looking forward to Monday when Madame Butterfly will be shown. Of the 5 or so arias I've attempted to memorize "Un bel di, vedremo" is in the top 2 for ease of learning to the point of hearing it without the need for translation. https://www.metopera.org/season/summer-2018/summer-hd-festival/ |
| Ciao, I am looking for suggestions on Language schools in Italy. I love the Fluenz program but I need more conversation and practice! Grazie, Francene Ciao, I am looking for suggestions on Language schools in Italy. I love the Fluenz program but I need more conversation and practice! Grazie, Francene 8 comments This question is unsolved |
 | I just read this article on the BBC web site. Thought my brother and sister students of Italian might like to read it as well.
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170621-how-italian-became-the-language... I just read this article on the BBC web site. Thought my brother and sister students of Italian might like to read it as well. http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170621-how-italian-became-the-language... 4 comments 1 person finds this helpful |
| My partner and I recently spent 13 days on a guided tour around Italy (Lake Como, Milan, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome). In preparation for the trip, I purchased the Fluenz Italian program and although I was only able to make it through Level 3 before it was time to head for Italy, the program gave me the confidence to ask politely for the menu, drinks, food, the bill, and of course the location of the bathroom whenever we had free time to enjoy a city on our own. Although most everyone speaks English, I was thrilled to be able to say a few things in Italian to show respect for the Italians, their language, and their culture. Although our trip is done, I plan to complete levels 4 and 5 of Fluenz Italian. I'll continue to use the audio files and flashcards as well. I enjoy the Fluenz approach to language learning and find it both effective and engaging. Italian is my second language with Fluenz, Spanish having been the first. A big "Thank you!" to the Fluenz team for creating such a great product. Keep up the good work! My partner and I recently spent 13 days on a guided tour around Italy (Lake Como, Milan, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome). In preparation for the trip, I purchased the Fluenz Italian program and although I was only able to make it through Level 3 before it was time to head for Italy, the program gave me the confidence to ask politely for the menu, drinks, food, the bill, and of course the location of the bathroom whenever we had free time to enjoy a city on our own. Although most everyone speaks English, I was thrilled to be able to say a few things in Italian to show respect for the Italians, their language, and their culture. Although our trip is done, I plan to complete levels 4 and 5 of Fluenz Italian. I'll continue to use the audio files and flashcards as well. I enjoy the Fluenz approach to language learning and find it both effective and engaging. Italian is my second language with Fluenz, Spanish having been the first. A big "Thank you!" to the Fluenz team for creating such a great product. Keep up the good work! 1 comment 2 people find this helpful |
 | Here is a video I put together of a demonstration in Locorotondo, Italia (southern Italy) on how fresh mozzarella is made. There is Italian being spoken along with a translation into English. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/zG_Nb2xXSlU Here is a video I put together of a demonstration in Locorotondo, Italia (southern Italy) on how fresh mozzarella is made. There is Italian being spoken along with a translation into English. Enjoy! 1 comment |
| Years ago I saw "The Big Night," a film about two brothers who had immigrated from Italy and were running an Italian restaurant on the Jersey shore, and it stuck with me. The two brothers at the heart of the story were named Primo and Secundo. Now that I've studied a little bit of Italian, I understand that means they were named First and Second. Is it common to name children in Italy for numbers? Years ago I saw "The Big Night," a film about two brothers who had immigrated from Italy and were running an Italian restaurant on the Jersey shore, and it stuck with me. The two brothers at the heart of the story were named Primo and Secundo. Now that I've studied a little bit of Italian, I understand that means they were named First and Second. Is it common to name children in Italy for numbers? 5 comments This question has been solved |
 | Anyone want to weigh in with some restaurant recommendations for Rome and Florence areas? Thanks. And they can be "for God's sake don't eat here" as well ;-) Anyone want to weigh in with some restaurant recommendations for Rome and Florence areas? Thanks. And they can be "for God's sake don't eat here" as well ;-) 8 comments This question is unsolved |
 | This has nothing to do with language - but rather with money. Italian 5, Session 12, has "Quando abbiamo versato i soldi, la commissione era 2 euro". When we deposited money, the fee was 2 euro. The entire lesson is about banking, so the implication is that we are putting the money into a bank account. The question: do the banks in Italy really charge a fee to make a cash deposit? This has nothing to do with language - but rather with money. Italian 5, Session 12, has "Quando abbiamo versato i soldi, la commissione era 2 euro". When we deposited money, the fee was 2 euro. The entire lesson is about banking, so the implication is that we are putting the money into a bank account. The question: do the banks in Italy really charge a fee to make a cash deposit? This question is unsolved |
| Last year I did all 150 lessons of Fluenz French. This year I am doing Fluenz Italian. Does anybody have any tips on how to keep up (maintain) both languages. I'm finding it very difficult and confusing, so I end up just focusing on the Italian for now
Brian Last year I did all 150 lessons of Fluenz French. This year I am doing Fluenz Italian. Does anybody have any tips on how to keep up (maintain) both languages. I'm finding it very difficult and confusing, so I end up just focusing on the Italian for now Brian 4 comments 1 person finds this helpful This question is unsolved |