x
Toggle Content Register or Login  -  March 29, 2024, 2:13 pm
Toggle Content User Info

Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: LucilleDZ
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 2016

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 300
Total: 300
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: My Account
02: Community Forums
03: My Account
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: My Account
07: Community Forums
08: My Account
09: My Account
10: My Account
11: Community Forums
12: My Account
13: Statistics
14: My Account
15: News
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Stories Archive
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: News
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: My Account
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: My Account
40: My Account
41: My Account
42: Community Forums
43: My Account
44: Community Forums
45: Statistics
46: My Account
47: Statistics
48: My Account
49: My Account
50: Community Forums
51: Photo Gallery
52: My Account
53: Community Forums
54: Home
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: My Account
62: My Account
63: Community Forums
64: Statistics
65: My Account
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: My Account
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Statistics
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: My Account
81: My Account
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: My Account
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: My Account
88: My Account
89: Community Forums
90: My Account
91: News
92: Community Forums
93: My Account
94: Statistics
95: My Account
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: My Account
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: My Account
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: News
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Photo Gallery
110: My Account
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: My Account
114: My Account
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: My Account
121: My Account
122: Photo Gallery
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: My Account
127: My Account
128: My Account
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: My Account
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: My Account
136: News
137: Community Forums
138: Statistics
139: News
140: Surveys
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Photo Gallery
144: My Account
145: Community Forums
146: My Account
147: My Account
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: My Account
152: My Account
153: My Account
154: Community Forums
155: My Account
156: Community Forums
157: My Account
158: My Account
159: My Account
160: Community Forums
161: My Account
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Statistics
168: My Account
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: My Account
174: Home
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: My Account
179: Community Forums
180: Photo Gallery
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: My Account
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: News
189: Community Forums
190: My Account
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Photo Gallery
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: My Account
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: My Account
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: My Account
215: Community Forums
216: Community Forums
217: My Account
218: My Account
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: My Account
227: Photo Gallery
228: Community Forums
229: Statistics
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: My Account
233: My Account
234: Community Forums
235: Photo Gallery
236: My Account
237: Community Forums
238: My Account
239: My Account
240: Surveys
241: Community Forums
242: My Account
243: My Account
244: Photo Gallery
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: My Account
250: Community Forums
251: Home
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: My Account
255: My Account
256: My Account
257: My Account
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Home
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Statistics
264: Community Forums
265: Community Forums
266: Photo Gallery
267: My Account
268: Photo Gallery
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: My Account
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: My Account
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Surveys
280: My Account
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: My Account
284: Community Forums
285: Statistics
286: Community Forums
287: My Account
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: My Account
291: Community Forums
292: Photo Gallery
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: My Account
296: My Account
297: Community Forums
298: My Account
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Toggle Content Main Menu
Toggle Content Last Posts
Last 10 Forum Messages

bocca
Last post by tennino in General Discussion Groups on Jan 16, 2021 at 16:56:41

Towns in Frosinone that were part of former Vatican States a
Last post by Italysearcher in Central Italy on Feb 19, 2019 at 09:15:58

Dual Citizenship
Last post by Curci-Ghio in General Discussion Groups on Nov 18, 2018 at 15:30:54

Please Help Translate Letter
Last post by nuccia in Translations on Oct 20, 2018 at 06:18:43

Family in Cittanova
Last post by russojoseph1 in Translations on Oct 14, 2018 at 12:28:20

DNA Testing
Last post by nuccia in General Discussion Groups on Sep 29, 2018 at 10:39:30

Trento -Atto di Nascita - Frazione di Poia, Comune di Comano
Last post by exevans in Northern Italy on Mar 28, 2018 at 00:45:37

Translating written postcard
Last post by mekanic in Translations on Jan 18, 2018 at 13:58:50

Translating written postcard
Last post by mekanic in Translations on Jan 18, 2018 at 13:53:38

State of the Family Record & Other State Records
Last post by debbiemfit in Northern Italy on Jan 02, 2018 at 23:14:28

Toggle Content Help Support this Site
Please support GentediMareGenealogy
Help us by supporting the future development of this site, or simply to say thank you.
Toggle Content EStore
Community Forums › General › General Discussion Groups › Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone?

     Forum FAQ   Search   Log in to check your private messages   Login  
Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone?
Want to share something new or just have fun? You can do that here.
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Forum Index General Discussion Groups Printer Friendly Page

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Robert
Explorer
Explorer


Joined: Jul 12, 2008
Posts: 55
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:25 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

nuccia wrote:
Italian (or rather the Calabrese dialect) was the first thing I learned to speak at home. My parents came from Italy in 1957 and 1961 respectively and I was born two years later. Mom could barely speak any English and never really thought to talk to us in proper Italian although she can speak it beautifully. Regardless, we continued speaking Italian to our parents until we were in high school, and even after both my parents became fluent in English...it just seemed natural.

While I now understand Italian fairly well (and I guess I can somewhat speak it if I try hard enough and think carefully first, I still feel out of my comfort zone. Ask Simy. She came here expecting to learn English and left talking Calabrese instead! I think I found that the words themselves are not that herd - it's the pronunciation thats the killer. If you don't get that from the get go then you will have a harder time, like me.

As for the post question..I see all the posts and not just the last three. Is the problem fixed for you now?

Nuccia,

I would be curious to know - how different is Calabresi from Italian? I understand that that region had a lot of Greek colonies in ancient times - has this affected the language much?

_________________
Researching: Amato, Vergottini, Zazzaretta
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Carole
Admin
Admin


Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 1662
Location: Valtellina - Near Lake Como

PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:14 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Robert wrote:
nuccia wrote:
Italian (or rather the Calabrese dialect) was the first thing I learned to speak at home. My parents came from Italy in 1957 and 1961 respectively and I was born two years later. Mom could barely speak any English and never really thought to talk to us in proper Italian although she can speak it beautifully. Regardless, we continued speaking Italian to our parents until we were in high school, and even after both my parents became fluent in English...it just seemed natural.

While I now understand Italian fairly well (and I guess I can somewhat speak it if I try hard enough and think carefully first, I still feel out of my comfort zone. Ask Simy. She came here expecting to learn English and left talking Calabrese instead! I think I found that the words themselves are not that herd - it's the pronunciation thats the killer. If you don't get that from the get go then you will have a harder time, like me.

As for the post question..I see all the posts and not just the last three. Is the problem fixed for you now?

Nuccia,

I would be curious to know - how different is Calabresi from Italian? I understand that that region had a lot of Greek colonies in ancient times - has this affected the language much?

I hope this will make you smile. I'm sure it will make Nuccia laugh!

>HERE<

The 'operator' repeats a lot of what is said into 'Italian'!!! Very Happy

_________________

Researching: EDMED, SAVILL, TYSON, NEWCOMBE, STAPLETON, GUNTER, STAPLES
If you think education is expensive -try ignorance!

>Expats in Italy<
Come and join 'Dork and Friends'! >New Blog<
Back to top
View user's profile
nuccia
Admin
Admin


Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Posts: 4375
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:06 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Ok..I couldn't even finish listening to that - I was laughing so hard! That sounds exactly like my 96 year old great aunt! The old lady is definitely from the Cosenza area...I can tell but her accent. And funny enough, I have actually made fun of some of my relatives my imitating the same dialect! (Even my mom laughs).

Ok, so this will give you an idea about how different and complex the dialects are. I met a lady several years ago from Northern Italy who became good friends with my parents. I saw her on the weekend and she heard me have a "real" conversation with my mom in our dialect and was amazed. She said when she first met her husband and told him of her desire to learn English he told her that she must first learn Calabrese and Sicilian and then she would be ready to learn English since they were practically languages of their own. As for the Greek influence..my dad is from Reggio, near the Ionica Sea so he speaks a whole different dialect than my mother (and one I am only just learning to understand). Because of him, I can understand some Sicilian dialects since the words and accent he uses are similar. Mom on the other hand is from the mountains in Cosenza..totally different dialect, totally different mentality, and totally different influences in my opinion.

_________________
nuccia
Italian Surname Database

Calabria Exchange
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
DonnaPellegrin
Mem
Mem


Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Hi Nuccia,
I will send you a private message in regard to the technical problem.

I'm still enjoying the Rosetta Stone very much. Spending about an hour each evening on the program. I will give an updated review of the product after I finish unit 2. Very Happy

Donna
Back to top
View user's profile
nuccia
Admin
Admin


Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Posts: 4375
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Thanks Donna. I did get your PM. Yes, let us know how you are making out. It sounds like alot of fun. Once you're done, I will give you a crash course in Calabrese if you like!

What do you like if we had a section where we were only allowed to write our posts in Italian? Maybe even one from Spanish for our friends from Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Hmm..am really interested in your opinions folks. I think it may help us all with our "International" skills and would level out the playing fields by the poor souls that have to write in English all the time.

_________________
nuccia
Italian Surname Database

Calabria Exchange
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
DonnaPellegrin
Mem
Mem


Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Progress Update:

Well, I have now finished Unit 2 of Rosetta Stone Level I. It was called "Greetings and Introductions" but it also included more numbers, more colors, clothing, a few countries, hunger, thirst, in, on, under, near, far, a few more adjectives, and of course more exposure to the sounds and grammer of the language. It took me much longer to complete unit 2 than unit 1. The program is constantly asking me to review previous material for reinforcement and that is probably a good thing and I have found it helpful.

I am gaining more appreciation for the total immersion method. There is no English spoken at all. No grammer rules are given. Sometimes this is very effective and I try to restrain from translating the words that are spoken into English. The point is to teach yourself to "think" in Italian. Sometimes I can't help myself and I find myself saying, "cintura - belt." The grammer is driving me nuts and a few times I had to look up a few things in a "Living Language" book that I bought in one of my previous attempts to learn Italian. Some aspects of Italian simply amaze me. There really is no direct translation for "his" and "her". Sua and suo are gender specific to the article being possessed, but not to the person who possesses. That really threw me for a while. I'm not sure my brain will be able to think in those terms. How weird.

There are 2 more units to go in Level 1. I have been spending about an hour each day with the program and I am still enjoying it very much. I look forward to it every day. The speakers have very pleasant voices and the photographs are really quite brilliant. So far, it has been worth the money. At this rate, I should be finished with Level 1 by the end of the summer. Smile

Donna


Last edited by DonnaPellegrin on Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
Robert
Explorer
Explorer


Joined: Jul 12, 2008
Posts: 55
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:05 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

nuccia wrote:
Thanks Donna. I did get your PM. Yes, let us know how you are making out. It sounds like alot of fun. Once you're done, I will give you a crash course in Calabrese if you like!

What do you like if we had a section where we were only allowed to write our posts in Italian? Maybe even one from Spanish for our friends from Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Hmm..am really interested in your opinions folks. I think it may help us all with our "International" skills and would level out the playing fields by the poor souls that have to write in English all the time.

I like this suggestion - I desperately need to practice Italian and can also brush up on my Spanish and Portuguese while we are at it...

_________________
Researching: Amato, Vergottini, Zazzaretta
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Robert
Explorer
Explorer


Joined: Jul 12, 2008
Posts: 55
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:11 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

DonnaPellegrin wrote:
Progress Update:

Well, I have now finished Unit 2 of Rosetta Stone Level I. It was called "Greetings and Introductions" but it also included more numbers, more colors, clothing, a few countries, hunger, thirst, in, on, under, near, far, a few more adjectives, and of course more exposure to the sounds and grammer of the language. It took me much longer to complete unit 2 than unit 1. The program is constantly asking me to review previous material for reinforcement and that is probably a good thing and I have found it helpful.

I am gaining more appreciation for the total immersion method. There is no English spoken at all. No grammer rules are given. Sometimes this is very effective and I try to restrain from translating the words that are spoken into English. The point is to teach yourself to "think" in Italian. Sometimes I can't help myself and I find myself saying, "cintura - belt." The grammer is driving me nuts and a few times I had to look up a few things in a "Living Language" book that I bought in one of my previous attempts to learn Italian. Some aspects of Italian simply amaze me. There really is no direct translation for "his" and "her". Sua and suo are gender specific to the article being possessed, but not to the person who possesses. That really threw me for a while. I'm not sure my brain will be able to think in those terms. How weird.

There are 3 more units to go in Level 1. I have been spending about an hour each day with the program and I am still enjoying it very much. I look forward to it every day. The speakers have very pleasant voices and the photographs are really quite brilliant. So far, it has been worth the money. At this rate, I should be finished with Level 1 by the end of the summer. Smile

Donna

It sounds like you are having fun learning with Rosetta Stone. If you are enjoying it you will take in so much more so this is good. I am trying to get into the discipline of listening to a lesson a day as I walk to/from work - the walk is a half hour and the lessons are 27 minutes, so there is no excuse...

_________________
Researching: Amato, Vergottini, Zazzaretta
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
DonnaPellegrin
Mem
Mem


Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:49 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Nuccia, I'm sure it will be a very, very long time before I could participate in Italian. I can now ask people how old they are and what they are doing but I'm not sure they would appreciate that. Wink But I am sure that an Italian forum would open up new opportunities for people to come on board that cannot speak English. So... why not? Seems like a good idea and a very thoughtful suggestion.

Robert, I am curious, what program are you listening to? Quanti anni ha? Lei che cosa fa?

Donna
Back to top
View user's profile
Carole
Admin
Admin


Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 1662
Location: Valtellina - Near Lake Como

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

I have a friend who is trying to 'learn' Italian too. Her and her husband have visited me here twice and are due again next month. They plan, with her mother, to settle here when they have regained their Italian citizenship. Mother and daughter speak and 'americanised' version of Sicilian in their home in New Jersey - a little like Nuccia speaks Canadianised Calabrese Rolling Eyes to her Mom... But speaking "Italian" is something that still has to be learned. Now my friend (bless her) has tried about a zillion language courses but has finally settled on this one: >Fluenz<

She can now practice vocally on this language course - open the demo and you can get an idea. You can always call me on Skype and practice some chat without worrying about mistakes and being able to have a laugh together.


_________________

Researching: EDMED, SAVILL, TYSON, NEWCOMBE, STAPLETON, GUNTER, STAPLES
If you think education is expensive -try ignorance!

>Expats in Italy<
Come and join 'Dork and Friends'! >New Blog<
Back to top
View user's profile
nuccia
Admin
Admin


Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Posts: 4375
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Carole wrote:
Mother and daughter speak and 'americanised' version of Sicilian in their home in New Jersey - a little like Nuccia speaks Canadianised Calabrese Rolling Eyes to her Mom...

Ya think???????

Robert, Donna..

Carole and I will talk about this over the next few days and see what we can do about creating some "International" boards. I think it would be fun. And I will make sure I let Carole know my thoughts in my "Canadianized - Calabrese just for the fun out it! Razz

_________________
nuccia
Italian Surname Database

Calabria Exchange
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
DonnaPellegrin
Mem
Mem


Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Nuccia, thanks, that's great.

And Carole, thanks for the link to Fluenz. I checked it out and went through the free lesson. It was very interesting to see the different approach used and to compare it to Rosetta Stone. I liked the way that Fluenz explains the grammer. I did find it helpful and I wish that Rosetta Stone had explanations along with their technique. Both programs are roughly the same cost. I think that if I had to choose, I would still prefer Rosetta Stone. The photography in Rosetta Stone is really beautiful and it's a really pleasant place to visit every evening. That is helping me to stick to it. I don't think I would look forward to Fluenz in the same way.

I wish the Italian programs would concentrate less on phrases that tourists would use and more on phrases that genealogists would use. Enough already with, "Io voglio un bicchiere di vino." How about," Dove sono vostre morti?"

Donna
Back to top
View user's profile
Eleven
Explorer
Explorer


Joined: Jul 11, 2007
Posts: 959
Location: New York

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:46 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

LOL That was my first thought too. Do all of these things that teach italian only teach a tourists version.

I am glad you took a look at that, I almost was going to post to ask you to check it out, to compare. I didnt do the free lesson, I watched the video there. I wondered which you would find better. I was curious.
Back to top
View user's profile
DonnaPellegrin
Mem
Mem


Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

Yeah, it was fun to do the comparison. I couldn't resist. The two prgrams actually have a lot in common. I like aspects of each of them. And I disliked aspects of each of them. I'm glad I picked Rosetta Stone for myself. I think I may be a more "visual" learner. The images in Rosetta Stone seem to stay with me. I've only been using the program for a short time and the lessons have been very, very basic... yet today when I went to my favorite Italian website, I found that I was comprehending more than I used to. So...its all good so far. I'll give another progress report when I'm done with the first part of Unit 3 of level 1. It's getting more challenging...but its still fun so far.

Donna


Last edited by DonnaPellegrin on Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
Eleven
Explorer
Explorer


Joined: Jul 11, 2007
Posts: 959
Location: New York

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Anyone learning Italian with Rosetta Stone? Reply with quote

I get the feeling I would also do better with visuals. My problem is..I dont know how long I would retain anything new. I have retained almost everything that I learned as a child, but not as much when I learned some new things for genealogy. Occasionally, I have to look things up again. My ideal time to learn, would have been as a teenager, when I was surrounded by italian speaking people. They are all gone now.
Back to top
View user's profile
  Page 2 of 4All times are GMT - 4 Hours

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Forum Index General Discussion Groups Printer Friendly Page

  
 
Jump to:  



You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Hosted By Site5.com
The logos and trademarks used on this site are the property of Gente di Mare Genealogy.
We are not responsible for comments posted by our users, as they are the opinions of the poster.
Interactive software released under GNU GPL, Code Credits, Privacy Policy
TCD_ItalianGene © Gente di Mare Genealogy