Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

A good beginners guide, 20 Jan 2002
Being a beginner in Italian I have bought other books which are difficult to get in to. However this book is excellent and the cassettes which accompany them are fantastic. They give you the chance to repeat what is said in dialogues and are very good.

A Perfect Tape to Acompany Buongiorno Italia Book, 19 Oct 2001
I would strongly recommend that you purchase this tape if you are learning Italian. I have been studying at night school and it seems that most tutors work from this book. With the tape you can listen and practice at home following the conversations from the book.

An excellent beginners guide for learing Italian, 19 May 2001
The book is divided into twenty chapters which gradually build your knowledge up from nil to a reasonable level of competence. Each chapter covers a 'situation' (such as in a cafe, booking a room etc) and includes conversation pieces (to go with the cassettes and TV programmes), vocab, references to simple grammar and exercises. The structure is such that it is fine as a self study aid on its own or in conjenction with other material.

Brilliant for home study, 03 Apr 2001
I found this book a great help for studying at home. I go to evening classes once a week where we use 'Italianissimo' the BBC course. I find this a much better book to get along with. Being an adult in fulltime work its hard to find time to study.This is easy and practical, it gives me confidence.I find that it teaches me in such a way that I can retain the information.Ideal for conversational Italian and getting by on hloiday.

An excellent easy to use guide for beginners to intermediate, 06 Jun 2000
I have successfully taught using this book for several years. It covers useful topics in a clear and interesting way. It has a wealth of exercises to practice your new-found knowledge. Grammar is introduced gently but thoroughly. It is a traditional style book and lacks the coloured pictures which newer books have but it is easy to follow and well presented. My only criticism is that the prices given as examples in the book are out of date making everything too cheap so don't be shocked when you go to Italy! The tapes are very useful and offer further practice. The book is user friendly and my students and I highly recommend it.

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

A good beginners guide, 20 Jan 2002
Being a beginner in Italian I have bought other books which are difficult to get in to. However this book is excellent and the cassettes which accompany them are fantastic. They give you the chance to repeat what is said in dialogues and are very good.

A Perfect Tape to Acompany Buongiorno Italia Book, 19 Oct 2001
I would strongly recommend that you purchase this tape if you are learning Italian. I have been studying at night school and it seems that most tutors work from this book. With the tape you can listen and practice at home following the conversations from the book.

An excellent beginners guide for learing Italian, 19 May 2001
The book is divided into twenty chapters which gradually build your knowledge up from nil to a reasonable level of competence. Each chapter covers a 'situation' (such as in a cafe, booking a room etc) and includes conversation pieces (to go with the cassettes and TV programmes), vocab, references to simple grammar and exercises. The structure is such that it is fine as a self study aid on its own or in conjenction with other material.

Brilliant for home study, 03 Apr 2001
I found this book a great help for studying at home. I go to evening classes once a week where we use 'Italianissimo' the BBC course. I find this a much better book to get along with. Being an adult in fulltime work its hard to find time to study.This is easy and practical, it gives me confidence.I find that it teaches me in such a way that I can retain the information.Ideal for conversational Italian and getting by on hloiday.

An excellent easy to use guide for beginners to intermediate, 06 Jun 2000
I have successfully taught using this book for several years. It covers useful topics in a clear and interesting way. It has a wealth of exercises to practice your new-found knowledge. Grammar is introduced gently but thoroughly. It is a traditional style book and lacks the coloured pictures which newer books have but it is easy to follow and well presented. My only criticism is that the prices given as examples in the book are out of date making everything too cheap so don't be shocked when you go to Italy! The tapes are very useful and offer further practice. The book is user friendly and my students and I highly recommend it.

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

A good beginners guide, 20 Jan 2002
Being a beginner in Italian I have bought other books which are difficult to get in to. However this book is excellent and the cassettes which accompany them are fantastic. They give you the chance to repeat what is said in dialogues and are very good.

A Perfect Tape to Acompany Buongiorno Italia Book, 19 Oct 2001
I would strongly recommend that you purchase this tape if you are learning Italian. I have been studying at night school and it seems that most tutors work from this book. With the tape you can listen and practice at home following the conversations from the book.

An excellent beginners guide for learing Italian, 19 May 2001
The book is divided into twenty chapters which gradually build your knowledge up from nil to a reasonable level of competence. Each chapter covers a 'situation' (such as in a cafe, booking a room etc) and includes conversation pieces (to go with the cassettes and TV programmes), vocab, references to simple grammar and exercises. The structure is such that it is fine as a self study aid on its own or in conjenction with other material.

Brilliant for home study, 03 Apr 2001
I found this book a great help for studying at home. I go to evening classes once a week where we use 'Italianissimo' the BBC course. I find this a much better book to get along with. Being an adult in fulltime work its hard to find time to study.This is easy and practical, it gives me confidence.I find that it teaches me in such a way that I can retain the information.Ideal for conversational Italian and getting by on hloiday.

An excellent easy to use guide for beginners to intermediate, 06 Jun 2000
I have successfully taught using this book for several years. It covers useful topics in a clear and interesting way. It has a wealth of exercises to practice your new-found knowledge. Grammar is introduced gently but thoroughly. It is a traditional style book and lacks the coloured pictures which newer books have but it is easy to follow and well presented. My only criticism is that the prices given as examples in the book are out of date making everything too cheap so don't be shocked when you go to Italy! The tapes are very useful and offer further practice. The book is user friendly and my students and I highly recommend it.

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Even shorter than it looks, 21 Oct 2008
Upon reading the title of my review you might think that I have unrealistically high expectations of the product. After all, it consists of 3 CDs and sells for less than £10. This isn't the case - my problem isn't that Collins Easy Learning Italian (or CELI) is short, but that it has limited coverage of the topics that people will buy it for.

Let's be realistic - this isn't the sort of thing that will teach you fluent Italian. Nor is it even a product which will give you basic conversation. It is instead intended as one of those pre-holiday "crash courses" to enable you to find your way from the airport, to the hotel, and back again without having to resort to pointing at maps. The difficulty is that a fifth of it consists of "di nuovo" units, going back over material already covered. Since the CDs are indexed at couple-of-minute intervals, the only reason I can find for this is to inflate the advertisable length. After all, if you want to go back over material you can just play the track again!

Where real credit must be given is in the liberal copyright restrictions on the product. There isn't any DRM, and even more unusually the box actually states that you are allowed to 'rip' it onto an mp3 player (a process which is, normally, technically illegal in the UK). Hats off to Collins, and long may it continue.

Language course for the language-phobic!, 14 Oct 2008
As someone who is appalling at learning foreign languages I always approach language courses with a sense of foreboding. I didn't need to worry though as this course is clearly aimed at complete beginners. Disc one starts with some advice and information before we launch into the course. You are eased very gently into the course. Each phrase is fully explained and repeated several times so you don't need to keep pressing pause or rewind. The diction and pronunciation is very clear and easy to understand. I found this really important as I have had trouble understanding Michel Thomas' thick accent. This course is very basic and you certainly won't be speaking fluent Italian by the end of it. The teaching/learning techniques are also not that original or exciting. But if you just want a basic introduction to Italian so that you don't make a complete fool of yourself on holiday this language course if for you!

My only criticism is that I wish the booklet was longer and more informative.

Learning Italian for Chocolate Lovers, 14 Aug 2008
I always fancied learning Italian; I speak French, and bad Spanish, and picked up a bit along the way, but I'd like to be able to start a conversation with my Italian friends (who all speak English).

Reading the book when the package arrived, I thought it was going to a bit simple for me. (It's called "easy learning"; what was I expecting, really?) I'd decided that I ought to be concentrating on something a bit harder. I loaded the CDs on to my iPod, forgot about them then got a real surprise when they turned up on "Shuffle". However, once I started listening (and repeating when I'm not on the train surrounded by other people) I realised that this is just what I need - something that I don't find at all difficult, that helps me to learn without actually having to try very hard.

Everything else I do in life is some kind of intellectual challenge. This was a secret indulgence, like eating a bar of Green & Black's cherry chocolate - slowly. So now I listen while I eat chocolate. Speaking simple phrases that aren't difficult to learn has turned into a pleasure, not a chore.

Maybe, when I've picked up everything these three discs have to offer me, I'll move on to something more tricky - when I'm really ready.
Sometimes life doesn't have to be that hard.


Back to Michel Thomas for me, 14 Aug 2008
I have been learning Italian for a while now, and to date, it has focused on the Michel Thomas series of courses, in addition to reading Italian news websites over lunch. I have tried a couple of these "repeat" learn course before - with not much enjoyment - but I thought I would give this one a bash.

The course is broken down into several different units as described on the product outline - and I am afraid for me - its pretty much same as I expected. This type of course is ten-a-penny, and if it works for you, then great. Not for me though...

Easy way to learn the essentials, 14 Aug 2008
If you're completely new to Italian or just starting to learn the basics, you won't go wrong with this gentle introduction. Broken down into neat sections, you are eased in with basic greetings and essential words before moving onto more complicated sentences. The audio encourages you to repeat words out loud and listen to conversations to see how much you understand before they break it down for you. You're also told how to pronounce the words correctly in the proper Italian way!

The approach is light-hearted and encouraging, keeping you motivated throughout the course. While this course won't make you fluent in Italian or teach you the finer points of Italian grammar, it will help you feel confident enough to interact in Italian when on holiday.

Overall, a quality product. 4 stars!

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

A good beginners guide, 20 Jan 2002
Being a beginner in Italian I have bought other books which are difficult to get in to. However this book is excellent and the cassettes which accompany them are fantastic. They give you the chance to repeat what is said in dialogues and are very good.

A Perfect Tape to Acompany Buongiorno Italia Book, 19 Oct 2001
I would strongly recommend that you purchase this tape if you are learning Italian. I have been studying at night school and it seems that most tutors work from this book. With the tape you can listen and practice at home following the conversations from the book.

An excellent beginners guide for learing Italian, 19 May 2001
The book is divided into twenty chapters which gradually build your knowledge up from nil to a reasonable level of competence. Each chapter covers a 'situation' (such as in a cafe, booking a room etc) and includes conversation pieces (to go with the cassettes and TV programmes), vocab, references to simple grammar and exercises. The structure is such that it is fine as a self study aid on its own or in conjenction with other material.

Brilliant for home study, 03 Apr 2001
I found this book a great help for studying at home. I go to evening classes once a week where we use 'Italianissimo' the BBC course. I find this a much better book to get along with. Being an adult in fulltime work its hard to find time to study.This is easy and practical, it gives me confidence.I find that it teaches me in such a way that I can retain the information.Ideal for conversational Italian and getting by on hloiday.

An excellent easy to use guide for beginners to intermediate, 06 Jun 2000
I have successfully taught using this book for several years. It covers useful topics in a clear and interesting way. It has a wealth of exercises to practice your new-found knowledge. Grammar is introduced gently but thoroughly. It is a traditional style book and lacks the coloured pictures which newer books have but it is easy to follow and well presented. My only criticism is that the prices given as examples in the book are out of date making everything too cheap so don't be shocked when you go to Italy! The tapes are very useful and offer further practice. The book is user friendly and my students and I highly recommend it.

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Even shorter than it looks, 21 Oct 2008
Upon reading the title of my review you might think that I have unrealistically high expectations of the product. After all, it consists of 3 CDs and sells for less than £10. This isn't the case - my problem isn't that Collins Easy Learning Italian (or CELI) is short, but that it has limited coverage of the topics that people will buy it for.

Let's be realistic - this isn't the sort of thing that will teach you fluent Italian. Nor is it even a product which will give you basic conversation. It is instead intended as one of those pre-holiday "crash courses" to enable you to find your way from the airport, to the hotel, and back again without having to resort to pointing at maps. The difficulty is that a fifth of it consists of "di nuovo" units, going back over material already covered. Since the CDs are indexed at couple-of-minute intervals, the only reason I can find for this is to inflate the advertisable length. After all, if you want to go back over material you can just play the track again!

Where real credit must be given is in the liberal copyright restrictions on the product. There isn't any DRM, and even more unusually the box actually states that you are allowed to 'rip' it onto an mp3 player (a process which is, normally, technically illegal in the UK). Hats off to Collins, and long may it continue.

Language course for the language-phobic!, 14 Oct 2008
As someone who is appalling at learning foreign languages I always approach language courses with a sense of foreboding. I didn't need to worry though as this course is clearly aimed at complete beginners. Disc one starts with some advice and information before we launch into the course. You are eased very gently into the course. Each phrase is fully explained and repeated several times so you don't need to keep pressing pause or rewind. The diction and pronunciation is very clear and easy to understand. I found this really important as I have had trouble understanding Michel Thomas' thick accent. This course is very basic and you certainly won't be speaking fluent Italian by the end of it. The teaching/learning techniques are also not that original or exciting. But if you just want a basic introduction to Italian so that you don't make a complete fool of yourself on holiday this language course if for you!

My only criticism is that I wish the booklet was longer and more informative.

Learning Italian for Chocolate Lovers, 14 Aug 2008
I always fancied learning Italian; I speak French, and bad Spanish, and picked up a bit along the way, but I'd like to be able to start a conversation with my Italian friends (who all speak English).

Reading the book when the package arrived, I thought it was going to a bit simple for me. (It's called "easy learning"; what was I expecting, really?) I'd decided that I ought to be concentrating on something a bit harder. I loaded the CDs on to my iPod, forgot about them then got a real surprise when they turned up on "Shuffle". However, once I started listening (and repeating when I'm not on the train surrounded by other people) I realised that this is just what I need - something that I don't find at all difficult, that helps me to learn without actually having to try very hard.

Everything else I do in life is some kind of intellectual challenge. This was a secret indulgence, like eating a bar of Green & Black's cherry chocolate - slowly. So now I listen while I eat chocolate. Speaking simple phrases that aren't difficult to learn has turned into a pleasure, not a chore.

Maybe, when I've picked up everything these three discs have to offer me, I'll move on to something more tricky - when I'm really ready.
Sometimes life doesn't have to be that hard.


Back to Michel Thomas for me, 14 Aug 2008
I have been learning Italian for a while now, and to date, it has focused on the Michel Thomas series of courses, in addition to reading Italian news websites over lunch. I have tried a couple of these "repeat" learn course before - with not much enjoyment - but I thought I would give this one a bash.

The course is broken down into several different units as described on the product outline - and I am afraid for me - its pretty much same as I expected. This type of course is ten-a-penny, and if it works for you, then great. Not for me though...

Easy way to learn the essentials, 14 Aug 2008
If you're completely new to Italian or just starting to learn the basics, you won't go wrong with this gentle introduction. Broken down into neat sections, you are eased in with basic greetings and essential words before moving onto more complicated sentences. The audio encourages you to repeat words out loud and listen to conversations to see how much you understand before they break it down for you. You're also told how to pronounce the words correctly in the proper Italian way!

The approach is light-hearted and encouraging, keeping you motivated throughout the course. While this course won't make you fluent in Italian or teach you the finer points of Italian grammar, it will help you feel confident enough to interact in Italian when on holiday.

Overall, a quality product. 4 stars!


Good, but a bitdull., 07 Nov 2007
With a holiday to Italy coming up, preceded by several long car journeys, I bought three language CDs to listen to in the car: Earworms, Learn in Your Car Complete Language Course and BBC Quickstart and I'd rate them them in that order, Earworms being easily the best and getting 5 stars. I found all of them easy to use in the car, although in the end I felt they were better suited to short journeys rather than doing a lot in one go.

Unlike the other two, which are aimed at the holiday goer, Learn in Your Car is a complete language course, just as it says on the cover, and is good value for money. However, I can't review it thoroughly, because I never got past the first disc. It's basically a little dull, just lists of vocab. The lessons follow themes eg travelling but they don't appear to be interlinked so the first list to learn is: I, you, he, she, we etc but then it never turns up again - well, not on Disc 1 anyway. Having said that, the speakers had pleasant voices (although the English is American English) and I liked the way they switched between a man and a woman speaking. It's certainly easy to use in the car, if a bit relentless. One person says the word in English, there's a gap in case you can remember the translation, then the Italian speaker says it in Italian, another gap for you, then again in Italian, then a third gap. They say you should be able to remember all of the words before moving on to the next lesson, but as they weren't interlinked, in fact you could listen to the whole CD without needing to remember anything. if you stuck it out, I'm sure it would give a more complete grounding in Italian than Earworms, but for a holiday, Earworms is the one to go for.

Dull and not all that useful really!, 14 Feb 2006
I bought these CDs second hand thinking they would help to supplement other learning materials as I am studying for the Italian GCSE, but in comparison to other audio courses I found this very dull and not a good way of learning at all. It is just words and phrases which you are given a very short time to repeat and that's the last you hear of them!! As mentioned before, you are given no chance to repeat again so nothing goes in (I found!). It's not fun at all and could send me to sleep which is never a good thing when you are driving!! I am working my way through 'Pimsleur speak and read essential Italian I, II and II' and they are simply awesome. You wouldn't use them in the car because you do need to concentrate and use the pause button but I have learnt so much from them in just a few weeks. I can also recommend the Michel Thomas language course and Linguaphone All-Talk (this latter is perfect for the car). I'm sorry to be negative but language learning needs to be stimulating and fun and this really wasn't.

Very good audio training, 11 Dec 2005
When I started learning Italian I bought many books and software
programs before I got this, so I consider myself qualified to
give a comparative review. Books are good but you need several to
cover everything.. PC learning software is useful in it's
multi-media approach, but most of them have no concise guidance.

With this audio set, you just turn it on, listen and repeat.
The nine discs progress through, gradually introducing new
words, verbs, pronouns, nouns, etc incorporating the grammar
rules as you go. It is certainly the most satisfying and fun
way to learn that I have tried. I found it interesting to use
the things was already familiar with, but you could use it
without knowing anything and pick up a good working knowledge
of Italian.

In the set there are included 3 extra discs by the author about how
to approach learning any new language: very useful, although
the audio quality is somewhat " home-made ".

Like the name say's, it's for learning in your car. As explained
in another review, there's English in one ear and Italian in the other.
I found that O.K. I did find that the gaps left for
speaking are pretty short: you really need to think quick.This
may be deliberate, but sometimes I like to pause the player and
think about the answer. I transferred all my discs onto one
to avoid having to change them over.

One serious point: learning in your car can be distracting and
there are some safety implications to this: I’ll say no more.
In summary then, a very good buy for use on its own
or as a supplement to other material.

Creates time to learn, 06 Sep 2005
I would endorse all the comments made by Graham Phillips, who has made a good factual description of the product.

I spent a good deal of time going through all nine CD's and I have now just returned from Italy, having had the first chance to try my skills out. My impressions were as follows:

1. I can think of no other way of learning so much of the language without taking time out to do lessons or study books at home. Those 30-40 minutes a day in the car, every day, would be difficult to find otherwise.
2. You are learning to speak by listening and speaking out-loud, not by reading. This gives extra confidence in speaking. The repetition of listening to a native speaker over and over again gives you a good feel for the sounds of the language.
3. The continual repetition of set sentences forces you to think quickly and clearly, which is good in conversation.
4. Because it is based on repetition, it does not so much equip you for spontaneous expression and conversation. But neither does any other kind of book or CD-Rom.
5. Encourages clear, accurate pronunciation, and accurate grammar.
6. In no way helps writing or spelling. I have still never written a word in Italian. Even though the product comes with booklets, it's far from being a full grammar guide and I must say I barely used the booklets. I did however refer to another book when I was unsure of grammar points - I used Italian in Three Months for this purpose. It covers about the same amount of grammar and vocab.

When I went to Italy and spoke for the first time, everyone could understand clearly straightaway, and was happy to speak back in Italian. I could handle most general situations without difficulty. These CD's allowed to me to get to this level without any study time set aside. All I had to do was to use the CD's to and from work, rather than listening to radio or music.

A few clarifications, 23 Apr 2005
Here are a few extra comments to help avoid misunderstanding.
Grammar. The course does cover Italian grammar. Each lesson (there are over a hundred in all) illustrates one or a few grammatical points. These are (quite sensibly) explained in the accompanying booklets rather than on the CDs. The course does not go into great detail, and you may want to get another grammar book as well.
Vocabulary. Certainly this course emphasises vocabulary. Some other courses cover far fewer words, with the consequence that you can find yourself in Italy confident of your imperfect subjunctives but unable to ask where the bathroom is. Learning vocab is a necessary part of learning a language, and this course makes the process less painful than most.
Context. As the booklet explains, no sentence introduces more than one new word. There are some lessons that just have a list of words, but these are soon built up into meaningful sentences. The first lesson starts with the word "I"; lesson 2 starts with "I want"; lesson 6 has "I would like to make a reservation" and by lesson 30 you have sentences like "he wants a ticket for the train that leaves for Naples at ten o'clock in the morning".
Themes. Each lesson has a title and a theme. Sometimes these are real-life themes, like hotels, shopping or transport, and sometimes they are grammatical themes like prepositional pronouns or the verb "Essere", imperfect tense. Some lessons have "ragbag" themes like "Some important concepts" or "Common expressions".
Repetition. Each word or phrase or sentence is spoken first in English then (after a pause) in Italian and then (after another pause) in Italian again. You have three opportunities to say the Italian. The instructions suggest that you work through the first lesson repeatedly until you know it pretty well, then add the second lesson similarly, then the third, etc, frequently going back to revise earlier lessons. Obviously you can't learn the language simply by playing through the CDs once (if only!).

Eccellente, 25 May 2008
This is an amazing item, I have tried many diferent techniques to learn Italian and this is by far the best. I really do encourage you to buy this you won't regret it. The voices used are really good as well, they saying everything clearly allowing you to understand quicker. The music is also an added bonus it allows the words to stick in your brain faster, and makes the experience alot more enjoyable. With this product its not a matter of having to use it, but you want to use it. Fantastic.

Not for me., 22 May 2008
The principle of learning a language by listening to music appealed to me but unfortunately I have to say that this doesn't really float my boat. It's not what I would consider music, rather it is just a re-work of the idea of repetition with some tunes in the background and some odd mixing.

Since buying this I haven't even been able to make it all the way through without becoming frustrated, or amused at the music... either of which aren't conducive to my learning some Italian.

I think I'll look for something else.

Excellent and Fun, 30 Apr 2008
Have just bought this for a family trip to Italy in a few weeks.

This CD is great, very attractive to listen to - rather than a chore (my wife enjoyed listening to it compared to other ones shw would ask me to turn off!)

Production is great, background music is very good and really adds to the experience, but the way it gives and then breaks down phrases that you are very likely to use gets you using words and phrases straightaway. I would consider using EarWorm again (e.g. for French)

Brilliant, 02 Apr 2008
This cd is absolutely brilliant, I had been struggling with remembering phrases and words before but now I listen to this on the tube on my way to work and before I know it I'm blurting out words in italian. It really does work, I had been letting the next module play whilst concentrating on the previous one but realised that without knowing it I had picked up words from the next section. Will definately be buying Volume 2.

It Really Works !, 14 Nov 2007
By far the easiest method I have come across so far. I use it mainly in my car driving to and from work - it doesn't require a lot of concentration like others I have tried because it repeats each phrase several times (in a non-boring way) so it does not distract from driving.

I could really do with part 2 now and I hope they make one soon!

Bene, Bene!!, 23 Oct 2008
As someone who has wanted to learn Italian for ages, and who is also busy, when I saw this item, I was excited and it gave me the impetus to actually do something about my desire to speak Italian.

I'm at a slight advantage, having taken an A Level in Latin, that it was easy for me to pick up.

As for the product itself, while it won't get you a GCSE, it'll more than cover you in holding a conversation and going on holiday without being a typical bumbling Brit abroad.

You get 2 CDs and a book, and can work with the 2 together, so listening and reading, or you can take a CD with you on the move. As an audio-visual person, I found it easier with the book, I must admit. It is not at all taxing and you pick things up very quickly.

I'd certainly recommend it for a beginner, and if the Spanish and French sets are the same as this, I'd recommend them too.

Well put together but not revolutionary!, 14 Apr 2008
As explained in the other reviews you get a two CD set and an A5 booklet with this pack.

It's all been nicely put together for the beginner (this is definitely aimed at the phrase book/ tourist market) and the stand alone CD is a good idea.
However the main problem with this is the inclusion of Tony Buzan's mind maps - I just can't see that they are helpful in learning a language.

It's also quite annoying that he lays claim to teaching techniques that really wouldn't surprise Plato or Socrates! If you can get past Buzan's self advertising this is a very well put together set and will put you well on the way to learning enough to get you by on a business trip or holiday.

Great for holidays and basic language learning, 28 Mar 2008
The market in language learning products has always been an anathema to me. As soon as I have approached the shelves laden with endless confusing packages - some for beginners, intermediates or advanced - even `advanced advanced' (!?), those that claim that they take you from beginner to fluent in 2 nanoseconds (provided of course, you follow the exercises in each of the 85 disc set), those that use books, those that say that books are useless etc, the idea of language learning suddenly becomes an unwanted chore instead of the fun opportunity that it started out as. So is this product any different from the other thousands of available book/disc sets out there? In some way yes and in others no.

Having used this product now for a few weeks I think that it is primarily useful for two things:
one: you want to holiday in Italy and need to be able to get around - i.e. you need basic phrases for buying things, describing things, giving and receiving directions and all the other things you might be asking for on holiday or
two: you want to start learning Italian perhaps as a Uni course or evening school but you want to make sure that it's really for you before you commit to something more expensive and intense.

This book/disc combo is bright, informative and enables you to get to grips with the basics easily and quickly. It includes a relevant amount of information about each topic teaching you exactly what you need to know and omitting onerous, complicated and difficult details. If you are someone that wants to know the ins and outs of a language, this is definitely not for you. If you want something quick and easy and couldn't less about grammatical explanations etc then this is definitely up your street. The book was much thicker than I expected and relies on extended use of mind maps accompanied by lots of bright colours. Some might say that the presentation has a childish feel to it but others would argue that it makes for a more interesting and engaging experience. There is method behind the colour usage - it is supposed to help you remember things more easily.

One of the immediately noticeable things about this disc set is that the recordings are very clear - you would be surprised how many language packages have discs with recordings that sound like the speaker is sitting 500 miles away from the nearest microphone or where it seems that the speaker has the microphone in their mouth. The intro disc is a little too long for my liking - others here have said the same but stick through it. I would agree with a previous reviewer about the length of pauses allowing the learner to practise the phrases, my cd player did not like being paused so often.

Overall, I think this package is great depending on what you want to get out of it. If you are thinking of learning Italian properly with a view to being able to speak proficiently, forget it, this definitely will not help you beyond the extreme basics. If you want to go on holidays, it's almost perfect - the accompanying book would double as a comprehensive phrase book and it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details. The chapters are clearly set out and the colours make it an easy reference tool. It's also more reasonably priced than some other beginner's courses so it's great for one off holidays or basic learning.


Accessible guide for those who find languages difficult, 21 Mar 2008
I've learnt a few languages before, and am quite prepared to go through what many see as 'boring' books learning tables and so on. However, this book is nothing like this. It's colourful and friendly and interesting to use - although I don't feel that it would give you a massively solid grounding in Italian. It's ideal for someone who is going on holiday in a few months' time and wants to be able to learn the basics in a fun way, but it's probably not for the really serious langauge student.

Pretty good, in it's market - Another attempt at this review!, 09 Mar 2008
If you want to learn a language, there are two ways to do it. Up sticks and immerse yourself in the culture and language or go to lessons with a good teacher. You can't learn to speak a language from CDs or Tapes.

You can, however, gain an understanding and ability to communicate at a basic level and in this respect Tony Buzan's mindmaps are an admirable way of going beyond phrasebook muddle and confusion. The two disc approach, with one "structured" disc to be used with the A5 book provided and the other to play anywhere for a simple way of immersing yourself in the vocab you have learned.

The course is structured around real life events, at the bar, in the restaurant etc, and gives a good view of the basics of Italian.

Mind maps offer a way to structure thoughts and fit learning languages well. 1 Star deducted for the old fashioned and wasteful package that the book and discs came in!

A good beginners guide, 20 Jan 2002
Being a beginner in Italian I have bought other books which are difficult to get in to. However this book is excellent and the cassettes which accompany them are fantastic. They give you the chance to repeat what is said in dialogues and are very good.

A Perfect Tape to Acompany Buongiorno Italia Book, 19 Oct 2001
I would strongly recommend that you purchase this tape if you are learning Italian. I have been studying at night school and it seems that most tutors work from this book. With the tape you can listen and practice at home following the conversations from the book.

An excellent beginners guide for learing Italian, 19 May 2001
The book is divided into twenty chapters which gradually build your knowledge up from nil to a reasonable level of competence. Each chapter covers a 'situation' (such as in a cafe, booking a room etc) and includes conversation pieces (to go with the cassettes and TV programmes), vocab, references to simple grammar and exercises. The structure is such that it is fine as a self study aid on its own or in conjenction with other material.

Brilliant for home study, 03 Apr 2001
I found this book a great help for studying at home. I go to evening classes once a week where we use 'Italianissimo' the BBC course. I find this a much better book to get along with. Being an adult in fulltime work its hard to find time to study.This is easy and practical, it gives me confidence.I find that it teaches me in such a way that I can retain the information.Ideal for conversational Italian and getting by on hloiday.

An excellent easy to use guide for beginners to intermediate, 06 Jun 2000
I have successfully taught using this book for several years. It covers useful topics in a clear and interesting way. It has a wealth of exercises to practice your new-found knowledge. Grammar is introduced gently but thoroughly. It is a traditional style book and lacks the coloured pictures which newer books have but it is easy to follow and well presented. My only criticism is that the prices given as examples in the book are out of date making everything too cheap so don't be shocked when you go to It