ItalianFilter: So I'm studying Italian via Rosetta Stone, and I'm noticing a huge emphasis on stare + a gerund (like andando, tirando, spingendo, etc). How common is this in written or spoken Italian, and what is the difference between it and plain present tense? Also, I've never seen Rosetta use 'ed' in place of 'e' when it precedes a word starting with a vowel ("Un bambino e una bambina" vs "Un bambino ed una bambina"). Are there rules for "ed"? Is it basically optional, but something people use in speech?
posted by sirion on Aug 1, 2006 - 16 answers

Learning Italian in the Boston Area [more inside]
posted by ThePants on Jun 26, 2006 - 7 answers

Are there any websites that will help me make picture-based flashcards for language learning? [more inside]
posted by anonymoose on Jun 5, 2006 - 6 answers

Are there Italian language learning videos like Fokus Deutsch or French in Action? If not, are there any really easy to understand videos in Italian anyone could recommend? [more inside]
posted by sirion on May 26, 2006 - 1 answer

DictionaryFilter: Looking for a good Italian-Italian style/usage dictionary, ideally just like the Duden #3 Stilwoerterbuch for German (Italian examples, simple words, covers questions of usage more than definitions) [more inside]
posted by sdis on May 1, 2006 - 6 answers

I'm embarking on an intense italian vocabulary learning routine, and I need some advice on how to maximize my effort using lexicons and flashcard software. [più dentro] [more inside]
posted by Oneirokritikos on Dec 29, 2005 - 2 answers

Should I take a course in Italian, or in French? [more inside]
posted by tepidmonkey on Apr 21, 2005 - 43 answers

Instructional materials for Italian My new favorite bits of culture -- Calvino, Antonioni, and Fellini -- are making me want to learn Italian. Now, I've studied French for a while, I've had a year of Portuguese, and I'm a linguistics major, so I don't need (much) hand-holding. I.e., I'm looking for (a) textbook(s) with the usual exercises, gradual introduction of vocab, and short readings, all without trying to make the explainations "easier" and therefore less straightforward and complete.
posted by Utilitaritron on Feb 21, 2005 - 6 answers

After recently getting the opera and pop-era bug and finding that I can sound half-decent singing it, I really want to learn Italian so I don't have to phonetically remember the lyrcis of the likes of "O sole mio". Any resources to help me do this cheap (on the Web preferably)? $100 or less?
posted by madman on Nov 9, 2004 - 9 answers