[Idyllchat] Learning Italian (was ? for tenured travelers)

[Patricia Edie]

When I retired from my "previous life" 7 years ago, like so many others I 
had the chance to take all those things off the back-burner and begin to do 
all the things I had said I would do when I had time.  One was travel...one 
was explore my family history...one was learn Italian.  How great when all 
three of this dreams merged.  On a first trip to Sicily I found some distant 
cousins still living in one of my ancestral villages and began a 7 year 
relationship via visits and email.  Since they do not speak English, I had 
the perfect incentive to learn the language of my heritage.

I began simply with local adult education classes for travelers where I 
learned the words I could use to ask directions, book a hotel room, find a 
bathroom and order a meal (and tell the gypsies to leave me alone!).  And as 
a traveler, I did discover that I really didn't need the words to get by in 
Italy...but trying them did alter my experience and engage the people who so 
appreciated my attempts.  Over time I have taken many classes and had plenty 
of practice.  I encourage anyone who is so inclined to venture down the path 
of learning a foreign language.  I cannot tell you the sense of satisfaction 
I have as I continue to gain proficiency.

All that said, today as I was browsing the web I discovered that the 
website: http://u.about.com  offers various free online classes.  On is 
Italian for Beginners.  Here is the URL: 
http://italian.about.com/c/ec/1.htm  and here is a description of it:

"Learn the basics of the Italian language with this free email course for 
beginners. The weekly newsletter will teach you basic Italian grammar, 
vocabulary, and pronunciation. Subscribe and start learning Italian today. 
The course lasts for 26 weeks and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Newsletters are sent on a weekly basis and will start on the day you 
initially sign up."

I am not familiar with this particular class but I have participated in 
electronic classes in the past and found that I did learn if I had the 
discipline to make myself do the work.  So it is a workable option.

Ciao tutti!
Patricia Edie