Teach yourself Italian the 18th century way...

[barn_elms]

Having been disappointed with the British Institute classes in Florence, I've been looking for a novel way of learning the language, apart from picking it up through dealings with builders and the like. Haven't tried the free classes offered by the Comune, but by chance came across Veneroni's 'The Complete Italian Master'. This ancient work is surprisingly good and although the English is a bit archaic, the italian appears to be more or less what I hear today. It advocates using the language as the Tuscans do, but with pronunciation as if of Rome. Just to give it a try, I'd be pleased to invite 5 or 6 open-minded beginners to Sulmona for a weekend to see how it works as a 'classroom' textbook. Date is flexible, pm me if interested with available dates and I'll see if there is enough interest and which weekend suits most people. It could be fun!

[Nielo]

Are we talking about learning to say things like 'Alas, my postillion has been struck by lightning'? If so count me in; I could just have used that phrase last week!

[barn_elms]

umm....

pos·til·ion also pos·til·lion
n. One who rides the near horse of the leaders to guide the horses drawing a coach.
[French postillon, from Italian postiglione, from posta, mail, from Old Italian, mail station]

[Mathematician]

Try "Lo Zingarelli", an Italian dictionary/encyclopedia which is a complete grammar education -- it is in Italian, including all descriptions and references, but is lavishly illustrated, and has many sections sorted according to everyday usage, and the ordinary course of your everyday life. BTW, when you CAN find it, it's expensive, but will last a lifetime!

[barn_elms]

Thanks for the suggestion, it looks as if everyone has their own particular way of learning. Having shown myself to be incapable of learning italian in italian, I'll pass on Lo Zingarelli and crack on with Signor Veneroni's little book, which is proving to be a thoroughly logical and well-structured guide, in spite of its age. I shall then be able to astonish/bemuse the locals with my two hundred year old vernacular. Even if they haven't a clue what I'm on about, at least I'll be able to understand the operas of the period...