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Books : Italian: Beginner's CD Language Course (Hugo in Three Months CD Language Course)
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Rating: 
- Not as good as the other languages in the series
This title passes as 'OK'. It does teach some practical situations that can be missing from the somewhat grammar based 'in three months' courses, but there are several disadvantages to this course:
1) Vocab is given in lists at the end of each chapter rather than 'as you meet it' like in most courses and other 'three months' books.
2) Grammar is introduced in a rather odd way, esp. verb tenses. The conditional, which is often at the end of most beginners' courses, is the third one up after only the present and the perfect etc.
3) There are so many tenses packed into the later chapters that you feel dizzy with them all.
4) Other 'three months' books split the material into 12 or 13 chapters so you can do one per week over the three months. This one is in only 10 so your rhythm is somewhat out.
Having said that, if you are serious about Italian, I would buy the book at least and use it to consolidate the grammar and vocab that you learned from, say 'Teach Yourself Italian', and to learn the further tenses, (pluperfect, future perfect, past conditional and passive), that don't make a showing in many other basic courses. (Most of these aren't in GCSE either, so the 1st reviewer wasn't *quite* correct.)
Rating:
- Well presented traditional course
This is a good but old-fashioned course, firmly based on grammar and vocabulary. Do not be misled by the wording on the box that describes this as a CD-based course. It is not CD-based: it is book-based; the CDs are there to support the book, not vice versa.
The book (which you can get separately) is well written and laid out. It works through Italian grammar in a sensible order, basing each chapter on realistic conversations. There are plenty of exercises, with answers at the back.
This is very different from audio-based courses like Michel Thomas or Learn in your Car. You are clearly expected to devote an hour each day to studying with the book. You need to clear yourself a space and work steadily without interruption. Given that Italian has a much more complex grammar than English, this is probably a good way to learn. However, although the CDs are excellent as far as they go, I personally feel I need a lot more aural/spoken exercises.
Recommended, provided that you are happy with this rather traditional approach.
Rating: - Brilliant, but lack of subjunctive.
If you go along to some home learning website and ask for a qualification, namely GCSE, in Italian you will probably be charged up to £500. There is so much unnecessary material (not knowledge, but physical books, tapes etc.) For less than one hundredth of this price you can achieve more with a convenient self tuition method. If you like me wish to learn Italian for practical purposes and don't care about some grade on a piece of paper, this book is for you. This modern revised edition surpasses the clarity of the previous Italian in three months by far. The abundance of vocabulary, clear grammar explanations, conversations and the admirable "imitated pronunciation system" makes the purchasing of the accompanying CDs somewhat pointless.
Unfortunately, however, due to the modern scholastic influences of examination grades and qualifications, this book follows the GCSE syllabus also. Despite what you may think this is not a positive thing. For the subjunctive is missing in this book. In Italian such a widely used mood is necessary, full-stop. There should be no lack of any subjunctive tense or construction in this book. I am very disappointed at this and must refer to the less appealing, far older, Hugo Italian in three months therefore.
Nevertheless, good book.
Rating:
- Fantastic start to Italian
Hugo is by far the best language learning series. This is how I learnt Dutch and now also Italian. People comment on the accuracy of my written and spoken Italian. I can only attribute that to Hugo. The course is easy-going and essentially points out the most crucial grammatical language rules. By about half way, you start to realise how much you know. Have you come courses that promise immense knowledge in a short space of time, no need to memorise or write things down? Who hasn't! They don't work! What is the point of knowing a word if you don't know how to use it! Hugo does not cut corners and does not make false promises. I have recommended it to all my friends and there has so far been an 100% take-up on trial. I cannot wait to start the advanced Italian! Use tapes and book together and try these websites as an extra resource for your learning and an opportunity to catch up on the news :). Goodluck and definately a great investment!
http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/ - Il Messagero
http://www.gazzettino.it/ - Il Gazettino
- Not as good as the other languages in the seriesThis title passes as 'OK'. It does teach some practical situations that can be missing from the somewhat grammar based 'in three months' courses, but there are several disadvantages to this course:
1) Vocab is given in lists at the end of each chapter rather than 'as you meet it' like in most courses and other 'three months' books.
2) Grammar is introduced in a rather odd way, esp. verb tenses. The conditional, which is often at the end of most beginners' courses, is the third one up after only the present and the perfect etc.
3) There are so many tenses packed into the later chapters that you feel dizzy with them all.
4) Other 'three months' books split the material into 12 or 13 chapters so you can do one per week over the three months. This one is in only 10 so your rhythm is somewhat out.
Having said that, if you are serious about Italian, I would buy the book at least and use it to consolidate the grammar and vocab that you learned from, say 'Teach Yourself Italian', and to learn the further tenses, (pluperfect, future perfect, past conditional and passive), that don't make a showing in many other basic courses. (Most of these aren't in GCSE either, so the 1st reviewer wasn't *quite* correct.)
Rating:
- Well presented traditional courseThis is a good but old-fashioned course, firmly based on grammar and vocabulary. Do not be misled by the wording on the box that describes this as a CD-based course. It is not CD-based: it is book-based; the CDs are there to support the book, not vice versa.
The book (which you can get separately) is well written and laid out. It works through Italian grammar in a sensible order, basing each chapter on realistic conversations. There are plenty of exercises, with answers at the back.
This is very different from audio-based courses like Michel Thomas or Learn in your Car. You are clearly expected to devote an hour each day to studying with the book. You need to clear yourself a space and work steadily without interruption. Given that Italian has a much more complex grammar than English, this is probably a good way to learn. However, although the CDs are excellent as far as they go, I personally feel I need a lot more aural/spoken exercises.
Recommended, provided that you are happy with this rather traditional approach.
Rating:
- Brilliant, but lack of subjunctive.If you go along to some home learning website and ask for a qualification, namely GCSE, in Italian you will probably be charged up to £500. There is so much unnecessary material (not knowledge, but physical books, tapes etc.) For less than one hundredth of this price you can achieve more with a convenient self tuition method. If you like me wish to learn Italian for practical purposes and don't care about some grade on a piece of paper, this book is for you. This modern revised edition surpasses the clarity of the previous Italian in three months by far. The abundance of vocabulary, clear grammar explanations, conversations and the admirable "imitated pronunciation system" makes the purchasing of the accompanying CDs somewhat pointless.
Unfortunately, however, due to the modern scholastic influences of examination grades and qualifications, this book follows the GCSE syllabus also. Despite what you may think this is not a positive thing. For the subjunctive is missing in this book. In Italian such a widely used mood is necessary, full-stop. There should be no lack of any subjunctive tense or construction in this book. I am very disappointed at this and must refer to the less appealing, far older, Hugo Italian in three months therefore.
Nevertheless, good book.
Rating:
- Fantastic start to ItalianHugo is by far the best language learning series. This is how I learnt Dutch and now also Italian. People comment on the accuracy of my written and spoken Italian. I can only attribute that to Hugo. The course is easy-going and essentially points out the most crucial grammatical language rules. By about half way, you start to realise how much you know. Have you come courses that promise immense knowledge in a short space of time, no need to memorise or write things down? Who hasn't! They don't work! What is the point of knowing a word if you don't know how to use it! Hugo does not cut corners and does not make false promises. I have recommended it to all my friends and there has so far been an 100% take-up on trial. I cannot wait to start the advanced Italian! Use tapes and book together and try these websites as an extra resource for your learning and an opportunity to catch up on the news :). Goodluck and definately a great investment!
http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/ - Il Messagero
http://www.gazzettino.it/ - Il Gazettino