Customer Reviews

Berlitz Italian Premier (Win/Mac)

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

 

 

My wife and I decided to try this product to help us learn Italian. We already had some language study books, and were meeting with a weekly study group. We were somewhat skeptical that a package of learning tools this inexpensive could be all that good, but decided that it was priced low enough that it was worth a try.

We have been delighted! It is so helpful to have the flash card section that correctly pronounces the words, and the Theater section allows you to hear the language spoken both at normal speed, and at a slower, more understandable speed. The Reading section lets you analyze the Theater scenarios word by word for more complete understanding. Even the word games section has been a great learning tool for us. Last, but certainly not least, the program lets you speak the words and sentences being learned while it rates and analyzes your pronunciation, just like the much more expensive Rosetta Stone software does.

In my opinion, this is a great product, at a great price.

I purchased this product for my husband. I'm fluent in Italian and found the CDs to be intermediate level and a bit difficult to learn for someone without any previous knowledge of Italian. A follow-along booklet or any written material would have been helpful, but was not included with this package. Overall, good repetition and speakers but a bit advanced for a true beginner. Includes a 60 day guarantee.

Great product for the money! I especially appreciate the interactive part of the program. It works wonder to guide me into a new language.

My boyfriend and I are working through the first lessons still. I took a year of Italian in college, and otherwise have a couple of years of instruction in French and Spanish, and my boyfriend did Spanish in high school. We had to figure out a way to work through the lessons ourselves. There's no real guidance.

The worst part that I found, however, is that the first lesson itself has a bunch of colloquial language usage (conversational)... Which is great if you already know what reflexive verbs are and can logically accept that something is a nonstandard usage.

I think we also identified a few translation errors to English or typos in the Italian itself. Again, if you can wrap your head around this and move on, that's great.

I'm giving this three stars because the two of us combined have managed to make this worthwhile. However, I think if the two of us weren't working together, we both would have given up already.

While this is definitely a cheaper alternative than Rosetta Stone, the software isn't engaging or motivating enough to get me to learn anything other than basic phrases. I am a pretty quick learner and I found the structure of the program very confusing. I wasn't sure what to click on, there wasn't a defined learning path that made any sense, and I just eventually gave up. The one feature I did enjoy were the flashcards. I ended up printing these vocabulary lists and trying to memorize key words on the flight to Rome in order to impress my in-laws. I don't know how much better Rosetta Stone would have been, but if you are like me and not willing to spend that kind of money, I'd suggest doing further research before buying this product.

While this product cannot replace an instructor in a classroom situation for feedback, it is certainly a great product and well worth the cost. By utilizing these CDs and software on a regular basis, one can gain an adequate knowledge of Italian. I have not yet had the time to complete all of the material, but, I feel that once I have done so, I would feel comfortable in traveling to Italy and attempting to carry on a conversation on basic topics.

I bought this product when it came with a cassette. I was learning Italian quickly until the tape broke. It wasn't the product's fault, I had just had my stereo fixed to stop it from eating tapes. Apparently not!

The workbook that accompanies the program is excellent. The tape and workbook covered lots of territory.

I'm back to buy it again with a CD. I hope the rebate is not a mail-in. If you buy this program, check the rebate -- it might dissuade you from the purchase if you're on a budget.

It is a great way to learn and enhance your italian! I'm a Mac user and works just fine.

I have many of these courses and love them all. Easy and fun way to learn. Unfortunately, their REBATES are handled by a NOVA CORPORATION: I'm waiting for more information to determine if it's a FRAUD

This software was bought for a Christmas present so that relatives could learn Italian. They have told us that they have worked with it and that it gives them a realistic Italian experience.