Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Italian college textbook?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Italian college textbook?

post #1 of 9
12/17/08 at 2:15am
Thread Starter 
Has anyone taken a university-level Italian language course recently and actually liked your textbook? I'm looking for an integrated package that includes textbook, listening CD, workbook, etc.

I've been looking around on Google/Amazon, but I haven't managed to find anything really good yet. Ideally I'd like to find a series of textbooks that cover about 2 years of university-level study, or in other words from beginner to about being able to read a newspaper.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 9
12/17/08 at 10:13am
Prego isn't bad. It's what I used. It all comes down to how much you study, not the textbook. You can probably get it for free on scribd.com though, don't buy it.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 9
12/17/08 at 11:53am
I just checked - it's not on Scribd. I'd check in a college library before purchasing. Or buy used. Textbooks can obviously be unnecessarily expensive.

Also, pick up "Pimsleur" for it's Italian course. It's just about getting fluent (orally) in conversational Italian as opposed to advanced grammar or composition.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 9
12/17/08 at 12:18pm
For reasonably priced, effective language textbooks check out Amsco. Here's the link to their material for Italian:

http://amsco.extendsales.com/AMSCOPU...30&catCode=AIT

I've used their "Spanish Three Years" and "French Three Years" in private study situations. These are aimed at advanced high school courses but the coverage of grammar is really thorough and there are plenty of good exercises.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 9
12/17/08 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I had looked at Prego, but the problem is that it is only 2 semesters' worth of material. Amsco seems like it might be decent, but unfortunately I don't own a cassette player. Pimsluer is a waste of time IMO, even if you go through all 3 levels it is still less than a single semester's worth of material at a decent University. My Italian used to be pretty good since I've lived there, but I haven't used it since I was about 12 years old. And I've learned a couple of other languages since then. So I should be able to plow through the material pretty quickly. The problem I'm finding is that most self-study materials only go through about 1st year at a community college. So I'm trying to find something a little more advanced and academic-oriented.... hope that makes sense.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 9
12/17/08 at 5:53pm
if it's a book you can find only in italy, i can look for it.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 9
12/18/08 at 12:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dtmt View Post
Yeah, I had looked at Prego, but the problem is that it is only 2 semesters' worth of material.

Amsco seems like it might be decent, but unfortunately I don't own a cassette player.

Pimsluer is a waste of time IMO, even if you go through all 3 levels it is still less than a single semester's worth of material at a decent University.

My Italian used to be pretty good since I've lived there, but I haven't used it since I was about 12 years old. And I've learned a couple of other languages since then. So I should be able to plow through the material pretty quickly. The problem I'm finding is that most self-study materials only go through about 1st year at a community college. So I'm trying to find something a little more advanced and academic-oriented.... hope that makes sense.

Oh, I didn't realize you already spoke. I like Pimsleur for people who have never encountered the language before as a way to pick up the basics.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 9
7/6/11 at 9:17am
Hi...,

I had idea about textbooks but, I don't have any idea about Cd's. Even I am also searching for the same information....
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 9
8/5/11 at 9:18pm
Had "Parliamo Italiano" for the first two years and thought it did a damn fine job. "Easy Italian Reader" is nice for simple reading comp.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: General Chat
Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Italian college textbook?