Well I’ve always wanted to learn Italian. Now a friend of mine is about to start a course at the university. I can’t afford the $$ to take it with her, but would love to follow along while she does, so we can learn it together. With that in mind, does anyone know what the best books/cds/etc are for Italian? What do you recommend?
I figure it shouldn’t be too hard since I know a little latin, a little spanish, and a lot of english. 
HUGO ITALIAN IN THREE MONTHS
then learn the subjunctive
then the past historic
Italian I figure is no pushover. The irregular verbs are a bitch. I just learned it for 3 months and have done nothing since, so I know all the grammar VERY basic vocabulary and some irregular verbs. I think you’ll do well if unlike me you have a use for it, some one with whom you can talk in italian. Good luck (I swear the 3 months book do not lie like)
with a reference grammar (Italian verbs and essentials of grammar I think it’s called)
boosh you’re done
I thought I remembered you mentioning that one before. I will check it out.
E una lingua bellissima e non troppo faticosa
Io non sono affatto d’accordo sopratutto perchè l’italiano puo succhiare piu vescovi che un piccolo cantore nella chiesa. La sua difficolta potrebbe attendere a quella di latino io credo…
it’s not very nice to write in italian in my thread when i haven’t learned it yet.
(translations please!)
I taught myself italian, all you need to know is the words, verb conjugation, grammar, pronunciation, etc. It is easy, especially if you know latin, you really see the roots. Basically, as opposed to latin grammar (subject + direct object + verb) it uses romantic (subject + verb + direct object). Yeah, that’d be the hardest part…
I am not familiar with the Hugo courses, though I have always wanted to try one of them. From my own experience, the Pimsleur courses work well, but all three levels would cost over a grand. Pimsleur is also short on the written language, so a book would be a must. My copy of ‘Teach Yourself Italian’ waits patiently for the day when I will actually use it, before it grows old and dies, or I do. 
You can try the online material provided by the BBC. I cant remember the address, but just type ‘BBC language’ in the search bar and you should be able to find it. It may not be more than just really basic stuff but it’s free. Their German course even has some streaming videos, but I don’t remember if their Italian course has them or not.
Hugo books cost a fiver. My library had the rare swedish one. Obviously it’s in my house now.
very good idea, thanks! I will hunt it down.
Episcopus, did the Swedish edition come with the librarian, too. 
~PeterD
p.s. If anyone visits klewlis’s site, they will see that she is a very pretty girl indeed.
haha PeterD, did you wonder why I would choose Swedish in particular? Sorry 2004