Customer Reviews

Eyewitness Travel Guides: 15-Minute Italian (DK 15-Minute Language Guides)

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The book consists of a series of short lessons organized into 12 weeks. The idea is to do one 15 minute lesson a day for 12 weeks. The book's strength is that it includes photographs for almost every word, phrase, and conversation. This helps the learner to have a visual to associate with what is being said. The vocabulary and the sentences are organized in a logical way so that each deals with a specific topic. There is a review lesson at the end of each week.

The CDs include native speakers reading all of the Italian words and phrases introduced in each lesson. This is especially helpful since while the book does include a phonetic pronunciation guide for the Italian words, the accent (stressed syllable) is not indicated. The CD also helps to keep the learner focused and moving along. The learner has the opportunity to repeat each word and phrase, as well as to role-play in short conversations.

The problem with the CD is that there is not enough opportunity for repetition. You are allowed enough time to say the word/phrase once, and the native speaker does not repeat after you have said it. This is not sufficient practice, and this program on its own is not enough to allow the learner to really learn and internalize the words and sentences. For this sort of intensive repetition, use a program like one of the Pimsleur sets. Since Pimsleur doesn't include any reading material at all, this book and CD set could serve as a useful supplement. For the price, it's a good deal.

Students who are comfortable with their ability to pronounce Italian accurately could purchase the book without the CDs (it's sold separately) and save some money.

The layout of the book is confusing. Too much space is wasted on pictures, and when words are superimposed on pictures, it is sometimes hard to decipher the words. Additionally, the pictures are not all that helpful. For example, the word "restrooms" points to the roof of a building.(p.63)

The CD wastes time repeating the same instructions ("Listen to the words and repeat in the pauses.."). It would have been more helpful to eliminate the instructions--or only have instructions for the first two or three lessons, and use that time to repeat the word or phrase after the pause. They also feel it necessary to include sound effects, like a phone's busy signal and restaurant background noise--another waste of time and space.

The only positive is the book is small and there is a limited dictionary in the back, so you can take it with you when you travel.