Customer Reviews

Behind the Wheel - Italian 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ciao! We're now learning Italian, well on our way to becoming a four language family. Well, okay, we don't have a full command of French, Spanish and Italian but we now have much more than a nodding acquaintance with each, and we're having a great time improving our skills - all thanks to the Behind The Wheel series.

This language learning program makes becoming familiar with a language not only easy but fun. As I've said before I've not forgotten the angst I felt way back in Latin I when we learned everything by rote. Most of what I'd memorized was soon forgotten, and embarrassment was my usual state as I tried to understand what the teacher was asking and respond in the appropriate way. We'll not enumerate my gaffes.
Thus, an early experience with a tongue foreign did not encourage me to learn another language until it became necessary This system is a breeze! Granted, so far I'll not be asked to participate in any major international negotiations. On the other hand I'll no longer be embarrassed when ordering in an Italian restaurant or being introduced to an Italian speaking person.

There are many pluses for this method of learning, which was introduced by Mark Frobose. One can do it on one's own time (driving car pool, waiting for budding Carnegie Hall performer to finish a piano lesson or even dusting the house - no more reporting for class and no more being embarrassed in front of a teacher or fellow students). Mille grazie for all of that!

Having both an English speaking instructor as well as a native Italian speaking person is great as the English speaker walks the listener through while the Italian speaker gives the correct pronunciation.

I'm well pleased with Behind The Wheel series in French, Spanish, and Italian.

- Gail Cooke

Best Italian language system I have used bar none. If you want to speak "useful Italian" this is for you. Most systems teach you things you will NEVER use on a trip like,"Where is my screw driver?" You can ask directions but more importantly understand what is being said back. Order a meal, ask for the bill, get help in a shop etc. If you want to speak quickly and well but also understand this is for you. I lived in Italy for over 14 years and this is the BEST.

I'm so happy with my new CD's that I have to share this! One of my New Year's resolutions was to learn a new language and there I was in the middle of the year with "no time" to do this. I was so ready to start that spent almost an hour reading all the reviews online for all the programs available and BEHIND THE WHEEL was the right choice for me. Even when the traffic is heavy and I have to drive long distances, I'm relaxed with my CD in a learning mode, not feeling that I'm wasting time. The best part is that in Italian doesn't matter what you are saying because anything sounds good and sexy, so this is really making me feel good!
I was searching for the best choice for the price. First I thought about Rosetta stone but the price did not convince me, what about if I never have the "time" do to this after speeding all this money? And I know once I get in home I have so many better things to do than learn a new language, that's why the Behind the Wheel for US $30 something for me sounds like a deal and the CDs are really good!
I just finished my second CD; there are 8 in the total. I think each CD takes around an hour. I'm listening two times each CD before moving to the next one and its being a pleasure to learn Italian this way! I have to confess that I speak Spanish and Portuguese but I don't enjoy studying languages. I just learn English when I moved to US and I learned Spanish because I live in Miami (it sounds funny but is true). I tried to learn English in school back in home but I always felt that I was bad for languages because I hate grammar and I hate to read about grammar. But I love to learn in the "streets" probably that's why this CDs sounds fun! Even if you speak just one language this one it's really easy. It starts with an American saying the word in English than comes an Italian lady saying the same in Italian and you just have to repeat it. You will start with one word, than two words without even notice you will be saying and memorizing sentences. Even if you don't say it perfect you are alone in your car so you can go back as many times as you want and repeat in loud voice until you master. I loved it!!! Now my 9 years old son took my CD #1 to listen and practice in his room! I guess it is fun for all ages!

This program was perfect for me because it had an English speaker and an Italian speaker. The Italian speaker spoke slowly enough that I could learn the right pronunciation, and the English translations were great because I always knew what I was saying/practicing. When I was trying to learn Italian in school my teachers spoke only in Italian, and personally I found it very stressful--when I knew what I was saying with Behind the Wheel, I felt more comfortable putting phrases and sentences together in Italian as I was learning.

I also like to have a visual aspect to learning, and this program has a booklet that comes with it with transcripts of the audio lessons and some additional practice exercises. The audio program worked great on its own (I ripped it to my computer and put it on my iPod so I could practice while jogging), but if you are someone who also likes to see things when learning then Behind the Wheel has visuals too!

I've wanted to learn Italian for many years and after lusting after Rosetta Stone, and never seeing the price anywhere near my budget, I started searching for alternatives and came upon this CD on Amazon. I've listened for about 5 hrs now and cannot believe how well I am doing - in the pronounciation and understanding of the words. I'm only on the first CD, but am pleasantly surprised at the quality.

The speakers are both professional and approachable, as if they were in your own living room. I admit to being intimidated as to the content of the other CD's in the package, but if they pace it and present it as they do in the first CD, I'll be just fine! Great value! Take a chance and I'll see you in the fast lane! Ciao!

This works for me, because I speak French already, am familiar with Italian sounds. If I were you, I would go slowly and make sure you are familiar with how the vocali (vowels) affect how letters are pronounced. I am auditing an Italian class. This is a good addition for me. I don't like speaking broken Italian, and this CD system gets me speaking rather quickly. I would recommend listening to this over and over. Make sure you look at what you're learning to reinforce your learning. I like seeing and hearing. You have to connect the sounds with the letters.

Posso imparare l'Italiano.

Voglio (Vollio) Caminare=I want to walk. Voglio Viaggare (Vollio Viajarray), I want to travel.

Benissimo! Adesso Devo Lavorare (work as in labor).

I am traveling to Italy for the first time this spring and so I want to get started now on learning the language. I was surprised at how many products there are out there! So many and they are so hard to tell apart. Ultimately, I went with Behind the Wheel because 1)it had been around a while and had good reviews, and now was out with an updated and re-masterd version 2)it de-emphasized grammar (not my strong suit) and 3)it said it included English translations throughout the program. It didn't hurt that the packaging was so bright and inviting; very professional looking without being stuffy, which is not coincidentally, a lot like the program itself -- very profession but not stuffy.

The audio tracks are fun to listen along to. Sometimes they move a little too fast and I have to go back, but most of the times I am right on pace. The Italian speaker is clear and easy to hear. I haven't really cracked the book just yet, but I like having it as reference. There are lessons and practice questions in there too, which I am sure are helpful but I just haven't gotten to yet.

It's a solid program, and I am pretty confident now that I will be able to communicate effectively on my trip.

The method of learning is similar most language CD's. An apparently American host poses questions to a native Italian speaker who has excellent diction. The combination is pleasant and effective. A book is included that has a very nice grammar and vocabulary section. It also includes a transcription of all the dialogues on the CD's, but these are printed in a terribly cramped layout that makes them difficult to follow.

The first two CD's of the 8-CD set were missing. In their place were duplicates of two of the other CD's. A call to the publisher (Macmillan Audio) got no offer of help. Other reviewers have cited similar problems with this product. I have since bought the second series, and one of those CD's was a duplicate of a CD in the first set, improperly labeled. These defects suggest that a buyer should select a different Italian language course.

I believe this series is more for students (of all ages!) hoping to learn the Italian language. Having traveled to Italy six months ago, and having the great fortune to return next month, I have been looking for something that would provide more conversation experience in typical travel situations. I don't really need to know the word for blackboard, though possibly a student traveling to Italy would. Nonetheless, this was a good addition to my various approaches to learning Italian.

What has been most helpful to me is the sentence building. By combining most often used verb conjugations and infinitives, you can quickly learn to construct a number of sentences. In the same vein, it's useful to know when to use "avere" (to have), for English expressions that use the verb "to be." However, for the casual traveler, it would be helpful to have more extensive or different vocabulary. The traveler likely doesn't need to say "I want to work, or I have to write." But by using the sentence building, and a phrase book I purchased, I ended up building my own sentences and creating my own flash cards for things I now know I will want to be able to say.

Another observation: The native speaker is extremely effective at pronouncing each syllable clearly and slowly and twice for each example. That's a great way to learn basic pronunciation. Unfortunately, this is not the way Italians speak -- they fly through sentences!! I think it would help new learners to get some cd's that have natives speaking more quickly. Possibly this could be done in "Behand the Wheel" when material is reviewed that was covered earlier, at least the second time the Italian is provided. So I also use two other methods I purchased (Pimsleur and Global Access), to listen to other native speakers and speak outloud myself at that faster pace. I'll continue to listen to Behind the Wheel for a few more weeks, but a week before the trip, I will switch over totally to the other methods, so I can practice listening and speaking at a faster speed.

I don't think new learners should feel the need to use just one method. You spend a lot of money on airfare, hotels, and meals, so why not invest in a few language learning tools? For me, it was useful to start with Pimsleur, which was very good at basic pronunciation, and constant repetition and review. Then move to something like Global Access which helped with more every day examples for getting a taxi, arriving at the hotel, ordering food, shopping, etc., though some of their vocabulary is outdated ("I would like to borrow a typewriter.") Then I moved to Behind the Wheel, to extend my learning through the sentence building -- along with a phrase book. I used Rick Steves (and you have to realize that he is joking about some of his vocabulary and examples!!) because he adds a lot of practical information, along with the vocabulary a casual traveler will most likely use.

And I *still* have a lot more to learn!

I am leaving for Italy in less than a month and bought these CDs to supplement my other learning materials and to learn good catch phrases handy to the novice Italian speaker. I am very pleased with the CDs so far. They speak slowly and at good learning pace focusing on usefulness and repetition. I listen to them in my car and on my ipod. Maybe I should listen to it in my sleep so it soaks in over night!