Rosetta Stone for Italiano

[Epigonos]

OK Romann, as a former foreign language teacher, here is my two cents worth. As far as a good software program goes Rosetta Stone is as good as any and better than most. I would agree with the guys who recommend a private tutor BUT for most of us, especially you with your travel schedule, that simply isn’t practical. I also agree with RockHard that learning a foreign language requires both discipline and practice. I would also ADD that it requires time. Gar1eth also mentioned becoming bored after a period of time. Learning a foreign language, for most people, is NOT fun it is hard boring work. In order to be successful you will have to be tenacious, Tenacious, and more TENACIOUS.

[Romann]

Right!

 

Romann, count me in as well! I'm very fluent in Pig Latin and would be glad to discuss a possible "exchange" with you!

 

HAHA! Pig Latin, eh? Now I needed that laugh after walking through all the snow here in Boston today! I'll show you an exchange when I... all on your... then it's your turn! PLOW THE FIELDS MY FRIEND!

 

Ah, the power of MYSTERY!

[Romann]

A nice duo!

 

Me, too! Hey Romann, if you want to barter learning Suthern spoken as only a true Alabamian, I'm available!

 

Count me in!

 

At this rate, I'm going to know all sorts of languages and should become an interpreter for the Federal Government.

[Romann]

MUCH THANKS - Part II

 

I am continually impressed with all the very helpful suggestions from everyone and I'm truly touched that so many are offering up some great information. You're good men, Charlie Brown's of the forum!

 

I have such a smile on my face today!

[ChiTown]

HAHA! Pig Latin, eh? Now I needed that laugh after walking through all the snow here in Boston today! I'll show you an exchange when I... all on your... then it's your turn! PLOW THE FIELDS MY FRIEND!

 

Ah, the power of MYSTERY!

 

Oh yea, baby. You're making me hard!

[NYTomcat]

Jeez for a predominantly gay site. We certainly do have alot of cunning linguists.

[ChiTown]

Jeez for a predominantly gay site. We certainly do have alot of cunning linguists.

 

A bit of a "groaner", but funny nonetheless!

[Romann]

Bingo!

 

Oh yea, baby. You're making me hard!

 

Then you must know what time it is, right? If not, allow me to pull it out and tell you. IT'S DICK THIRTY baby!

[Romann]

Shame on me!

 

A bit of a "groaner", but funny nonetheless!

 

Personally, I'm a moaner at first and then I become verbal. Oh wait... you were talking about something else.

[ChiTown]

Then you must know what time it is, right? If not, allow me to pull it out and tell you. IT'S DICK THIRTY baby!

 

I think it's time for me to send you a PM...can't wait!

[whipped guy]

Translate this...

 

Jeez for a predominantly gay site. We certainly do have alot of cunning linguists.

 

Yes, suddenly we budding linguistics students are coming out of the woodwork... Still I wonder if Rosetta tone can translate this...

 

Che talento! Il bellissimo Signor Romanno nel cuoio negro ha la conoscenza per usare una frusta.

 

(What a talent! The beautiful Mr. Romann in black leather has the knowledge to use a whip.)

 

Somehow everything always sounds better in Italian... always!!!!!!

[leigh.bess.toad]

Too bad you don't want to learn French. Because I happen to know that one of our members has his Ph.D. in French and French literature.

[ChiTown]

Too bad you don't want to learn French. Because I happen to know that one of our members has his Ph.D. in French and French literature.

 

Lee, I can attest to that fact that Romann is already excellent at French!

[Romann]

French this!

 

Too bad you don't want to learn French. Because I happen to know that one of our members has his Ph.D. in French and French literature.

 

While I don't know French (yet) I do know how to go all Frenchy with you using my tongue - that much you can count on!

[whipped guy]

Lee, I can attest to that fact that Romann is already excellent at French!

Imagine that! He is multi lingual!

[Romann]

The best sounds are the ones that go CRACK and WHIP!

 

Yes, suddenly we budding linguistics students are coming out of the woodwork... Still I wonder if Rosetta tone can translate this...

 

Che talento! Il bellissimo Signor Romanno nel cuoio negro ha la conoscenza per usare una frusta.

 

(What a talent! The beautiful Mr. Romann in black leather has the knowledge to use a whip.)

 

Somehow everything always sounds better in Italian... always!!!!!!

 

I've learned from the best, my friend! I'm your humble servant/sub/dom and then some. Your Patawan awaits my Jedi Master!

[leigh.bess.toad]

While I don't know French (yet) I do know how to go all Frenchy with you using my tongue - that much you can count on!

 

Been there, done that.

 

And can't wait to be there and do it again.

[Guest greatness]

ChgoBoy, I hope you are ok. Everybody gets depressed and goes through hard times. I'm worried that you have not been back after you said this. Please don't kill yourself. I hope you are ok. Hugs

 

no kiding abut what u said. I;m erady it kill myself.

 

how can i be so stupid and so stupid all together/?

 

i am what i enver should have eve been, i;m not like all of you so i kill myself necasue becausee this si what i need to do.

[instudiocity]

Too bad you don't want to learn French. Because I happen to know that one of our members has his Ph.D. in French and French literature.

 

Wait! My high school French teacher is in this site? He always said he wanted to get his master's in library science and sit in the fifth floor of the Denver library cataloging pornography.

[+ Italiano]

 

If you can spare a month off, I would think of a month-long program in Florence (where the BEST Italiano is spoken).

 

Well this is a little bit a no longer valid myth.

They speak beautifully, nevertheless they aspirate some "C" consonants and have some peculiar grammar construction so specific to them which makes it too "fiorentino"!

Italy is a very rich language and it's interesting how from region to region (often from city to city) there is sometime a dialect which is not comprehensible at all. If a Milanese and a Sicilian try to have a conversation in

their own dialect, they will not understand a single word of each other!

 

Anyway, becoming fluent in a language depends mostly by the teacher and by spending sometime in the Country.

 

It's true that there are some good language schools both in Florence and in Perugia (BTW two GORGEOUS cities!), but Milano has yet the reputation of best language schools.

And in downtown Milan you will see the most elegant and hot men, all dressed like Armani models even if they are employees of a bank!

[whipped guy]

Italy is a very rich language and it's interesting how from region to region (often from city to city) there is sometime a dialect which is not comprehensible at all. If a Milanese and a Sicilian try to have a conversation in

their own dialect, they will not understand a single word of each other!

I always remember my paternal grandfather making fun of the way they spoke in the town from where my maternal grandparents hailed. He say that they always sounded as if they were crying when they spoke. Example, "doi" in place of "due"... etc.. Now the towns are not that far apart... one is at the top of the cliff above Amalfi... the other one town south of Amalfi.

 

Plus it is interesting how many of the southern dialects have something in common with Spanish. Also I do recall a Neapolitan complaining when he was conversing with two girls from northern Italy as periodically they would start speaking in their own dialect and he was unable to understand them.

[ChiTown]

I am continually impressed with all the very helpful suggestions from everyone and I'm truly touched that so many are offering up some great information. You're good men, Charlie Brown's of the forum!

 

I have such a smile on my face today!

 

Buon giorno, Signore Romanno!

 

Come stai? You certainly have received the most generous offers for assistance with your language studies, bello amico mio. I look forward to your return to Chicago so that we can "study" together once again. Maybe we can translate some dirty words into Italian? I apologize for my feeble attempts at Italinglish, but promise that I'll be an excellent student under your very capable tutelage.

 

I hope that all is going well with your travels.

 

Con amore e affetto

[+ ArVaGuy]

I am continually impressed with all the very helpful suggestions from everyone and I'm truly touched that so many are offering up some great information. You're good men, Charlie Brown's of the forum!

 

I have such a smile on my face today!

 

How did you know they called me Charlie Brown in grade school? :o

 

When you start researching private instruction I suggest you contact the Italian Consulate in Chicago. It's located on North Michigan Avenue. They will be more than pleased to assist with recommendations as well as have resources available.

[Poolboy21409]

Romann-

 

Just came in from running errands and Rosetta Stone is offering a free sample disc/dvd. Was an offer on the radio - DC101.1 in Wash DC. There was a toll free number but unfortunately I couldn't jot it down as I was driving. Try there website.

[raulgmanzo]

... it's interesting how from region to region (often from city to city) there is sometime a dialect which is not comprehensible at all...

...in downtown Milan you will see the most elegant and hot men, all dressed like Armani models even if they are employees of a bank!

 

Yes, truly incredible. I could understand and communicate passably with one Italian but not at all with the next. Sometimes the ONLY thing I could understand was him yelling at me, in italian, to stop speaking portuguese. Ha, I don't even know portuguese. So anyway I would turn to another Italian for help, and he would say in italian, "just speak the way you are speaking now, I understand you, whats the problem?"

 

Ha fun times, but even when I couldn't communicate the people were friendly and I never lacked for a tasty meal or snack.

 

And oh ma donna! tutti gli uomini a milano sono belle