Easy Italian Audio Course for Beginners, Vol. 2

Over some 6 or 7 years, and collecting over two bankers' boxes full of Italian language study materials, I've formed a fondness for this series for which I have all of the beginner, intermediate, and advanced sets through to date. If I could add a 6th star to the rating, I would. Anyone who wants to learn Italian on a self-study basis and thinks there is that one single magic bullet that will give it all to you is very mistaken. It takes a complement of written materials and audio materials. This series is one that belongs in your collection. Indeed, due to unfortunate personal circumstances, I had to set aside my love affair with the Italian language for almost a year. Where to begin again? Where to get that booster shot to remind me of so much that I'd forgotten? Let's Learn Italian! That's where I started again in August, 2014 for that great reintroduction to and refamiliarization with Italian. While there are many fine attributes to this series, no one, and I mean NO ONE, does a better job of setting forward quickly in the series the use of object pronouns (direct and indirect) than Chantal's series. I cannot thank Chantal enough for this wonderful series and I wish she would do some more! Waiting!

I am continuing with Italian as an absolute beginner, using only the "Let's Learn Italian" Easy Italian course, and have found volume 2 to be an even greater pleasure than volume 1. Many tracks, similar to volume 1 begin and end with a little bit of healthy motivation - I especially enjoy Nonna's words of encouragement (more, please?!). The beauty of Italian really shines through in Chantal Fidanza's lessons, full of warmth and much love for the language and appreciation for the efforts of her students from a distance, that makes each lesson feel like a personal tutoring session. I would suggest to other students, be sure to get the transcripts of these lessons to best incorporate any contractions, exceptions and idiosyncrasies of Italian to improve your reading. However, it still seems amazing to me that one can listen (albeit repeatedly) to two CD's and manage to land so much Italian as to speak and truly understand the mechanics of basic grammar and sentence structure, word order, without even opening a book. Will definitely be going further with this series. Highly recommended; I would say this is a pleasure for beginners of all levels.

If you need help with Italian pronouns (who doesn't?), this is an excellent resource. Chantal has a way of making learning Italian easy and entertaining. I especially like when Nonna makes an appearance and adds in her two cents.