Rating: 
Summary: Amazingly effective for the beginner
Review: This is the program to buy. If I were to start over again on learing Italian, I would purchase Ultimate Italian for the understanding of the language and Pimsleur for the verbal skills. I spent 9 months in lessons and was unable to engage in conversations. It wasn't until the I went through the Pimsleur programs (I'm currently on the III level), that I felt comfortable enough to go to the local conversation group in town. Level I gets you started by going very slowly and methodically. The first few tape take you syllable by syllable. As I progressed I felt confident that I had gained a solid foundation before advancing. This program can be used on it's own, but the benefits increase dramatically when supplemented by more traditional materials (such as Ultimate Italian). The book learning helps to better understand the conjugations in Pimsleur, while Pimsleur makes the it possible to speak in logical sentences.
Rating:
Summary: This will get you talking!
Review: This is the program to buy. If I were to start over again on learing Italian, I would purchase Ultimate Italian for the understanding of the language and Pimsleur for the verbal skills. I spent 9 months in lessons and was unable to engage in conversations. It wasn't until the I went through the Pimsleur programs (I'm currently on the III level), that I felt comfortable enough to go to the local conversation group in town. Level I gets you started by going very slowly and methodically. The first few tape take you syllable by syllable. As I progressed I felt confident that I had gained a solid foundation before advancing. This program can be used on it's own, but the benefits increase dramatically when supplemented by more traditional materials (such as Ultimate Italian). The book learning helps to better understand the conjugations in Pimsleur, while Pimsleur makes the it possible to speak in logical sentences.
| 
