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#1: Re: To learn the English Author: ElevenLocation: New York PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:21 pm
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I agree with chanchisfea. Both my parents spoke Italian. My dad spoke fluent spanish and some french, too. I know some italian...I guess you would say, a mixture of the napolitano dialect and sicilian. My mother..whose family was napolitano..mixed in some sicilian with her italian, because she was picking it up from my father.

They spoke english in the home..unless we went to my grandmothers or they didnt want us to know what they were talking about.

I know phrases and words..but not enough to converse in or understand everything.

I have tried many times, to increase my italian vocabulary. I have books and a computer program. The thing is..if you dont use it..you lose it. The italian that I know..is that from my childhood. What I tried to learn from the books and computer..doesnt stick.

Most of the italian speaking people that I knew..died...so if I learned..I wouldnt have anyone to talk to..lol

Ya know..they came here to be americans..but they did their children a great injustice by not teaching us the italian language.

#2: Re: To learn the English Author: ElevenLocation: New York PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:24 pm
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Hmm..I edited my post..and it popped up up to the top. How did that happen?

#3: To learn the English Author: AlessandraLocation: Naples - Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:29 am
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I have decided! I will learn the English!
Even if will be difficult, I have to learn your language! I want to understand what you write here!
Do you have some suggestions to give to me?
Tonight I will look at a fiction with the subtitles in English and me I will buy a book of grammar.
Riccardo as you have done to learn the English??

#4: Re: To learn the English Author: nucciaLocation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:37 am
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Good for you Alessandra! kiss

We'll all help you.

#5: Re: To learn the English Author: AlessandraLocation: Naples - Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:39 am
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Thanks Nuccia!
I wonder if there are a lot of differences between the English and the American.

#6: Re: To learn the English Author: wldspiritLocation: Usa PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:44 am
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Wonderful..... Very Happy

It is sad....myself, my cousins....we do not speak Italian...only to know some words........but our parents do......I think by the time we were born,
it did not matter anymore.......but I want to learn Italian very much.

All of us here will help you always!!!!!

Lee

#7: Re: To learn the English Author: AlessandraLocation: Naples - Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:00 am
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Thanks Lee! Also I would like to help you to learn Italian.
I understand that it is very difficult to learn a completely different foreign language.
I don't have problems with the Spanish language because she is a neo-Latin language as Italian!

#8: Re: To learn the English Author: gogangaLocation: North Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:08 am
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Hi Alessandra. Perhaps these links could be useful.
Ciao Ale, forse questi link possono esserti utili.

nspeak.com (qualche nozione di grammatica)
verbix.com (per coniugare i verbi: molto utile!!! fidati!)
Quiz (per fare un po' di pratica)

Wink

In bocca al lupo!

#9: Re: To learn the English Author: AlessandraLocation: Naples - Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:11 am
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Grazie per i link!! Sar

#10: Re: To learn the English Author: chanchisfea PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:13 am
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Hi Alessandra,

From my experience, I can say that you need surround yourself with people who speak the language you want to learn. Having people available to translate for you does not help you in your learning process.


I came to the United States without a word of English, I lived with one of my aunts here and it took me about 9 months to "understand" what people were saying, but it took me about 12 months to gather the courage to actually say one word, mostly because I feared people would laugh at me Shocked

My aunt did something very smart from the get go though...about three months after I had arrived at her place, she told me that if I needed anything (food, basic need items, etc.) that I would have to start asking for those things in English. She wasn't going to translate for me from that point forward...I was scared, to say the least hide But she had the right idea because it "made" try harder. I did watch a lot of television to get used to the sounds and how words were pronounced, that was a HUGE help for me!!

Since I liked listening to music, I would sing along a song with the written words in front of me, so I could repeat them over and over again.

Also, writing down everyday phrases, sayings & sentences was a very useful thing.


I don't know how much of what I just wrote will help you get started, but I think the fact that you are trying and WANT TO LEARN is a huge plus.

Good luck!


Liz Cool

#11: Re: To learn the English Author: gogangaLocation: North Italy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:14 am
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Sono certa che ce la farai!
Se hai bisogno di una mano (nei limiti della mia scarsa conoscenza dell'Inglese Confused ) chiedi pure, ok?
Ciao!

#12: Re: To learn the English Author: wldspiritLocation: Usa PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:28 am
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Listening to music has been a big help to me, I have also the language
Cd's.....but they are sooooo boring........and there is no one to practice with. My mother is always correcting me......even after I have just finished a Cd...so I know my pronunciation is correct......I think because she speaks a dialect as Nonni did....... Confused

I would like to try and write some things in Italian.....but scaird to make a mistake........ Embarassed
Lee

#13: Re: To learn the English Author: Cathy PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:35 am
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Alessandra,
Good luck learning english. I'm glad you are learning because it will make it so much easier for you when you travel here! Very Happy

#14: Re: To learn the English Author: mler PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:13 am
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Alessandra wrote:
Thanks Nuccia!
I wonder if there are a lot of differences between the English and the American.
Yes, Alessandra, the American is MUCH better (especially the New York version). Mr. Green

#15: Re: To learn the English Author: Poipu04Location: Connecticut PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:05 am
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Do they have Berlitz CDs and books in Italy for Alessandra to use? I used several of theses CDs and books to learn conversational Italian. It helps to hear the words spoken by native speakers. Then, I took a course for the grammar at a school to learn.



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