Learn Italian with Paul Noble Audio CD – CD, September 1, 2012

This is similar to the Michel Thomas series, both of which cover some of the introductory level grammar of Italian as well as some vocabulary. Another product in the introductory language category is Pimsleur, but Pimsleur focuses more on learning phrases and doesn't have much explanation of grammar. Thomas and Noble, by contrast, focus on giving you the verbs, the backbone of beginning to speak a language and building a framework in your mind. I find Pimsleur and Noble complementary and have used both.One advantage of Noble over Thomas is that Noble uses a native speaker to say the Italian so you are hearing it pronounced correctly. Thomas has a thick German accent and the students are just learning (in the Thomas scenario you are the third learner is a class Thomas is teaching). Noble must think people have a fear of grammar. While he explains verb conjugations, turning singular into plural, etc. he almost never actually mentions the grammar by name.One thing I didn't like so much about the Noble course is that he over-prompts for an answer. Learning theory says that it is the attempt to recall something that leads to strengthening the memory; even if you try and fail, then get the answer, you become more likely to remember it in the future. Unfortunately at times Noble will ask a question but give so many hints you practically have the answer so you don't fully engage the effort to recall.

The best language course for me. I have learned more with this course then I could have imagined. I spent many months researching how an adult learns languages. I have read comprehensible input works. I have studied many of the easy learning course. I have been to blogs. Nothing worked for me until I discovered the master language teacher, Paul Noble. I am working through Italian now. I love Italian. Such a beautiful lilting expressive artist language. This course is not about memorization, conjugation, blah blah. It’s about learning a language as a way of communication, which is all a language is for my purposes. He has also masterfully decoded the language into Pareto principle patterns to make remembering easier. I think this is the best language learning system. Mind you, to learn a language you need more elements then just a course. You need a language parent. Comprehensible input. Etc. Good luck!

Almost new & almost satisfactory : disc two is missing. Any chance it could be sent to me? Your optimistic customer, EAV

Rosetta Stone, Living Language, Michel Thomas, Onlingo and now Paul Noble, Learn Italian...I have been at it for a long time. I am not language literate, having said that in the hour that I listened to Paul Noble's CD in my car I can already comprehend the difference in his approach to teaching and I was able to speak more freely and more confidently that I have with the other courses that I have listened to repeatedly for hours. I can't wait to continue Learning Italian with his CDs. Of all the self-teaching courses I have invested in I would rank Paul Noble as #1, Onlingo #2, Living Language #3, Rosetta Stone #4 and Michel Thomas #5.

I’m so glad I found this. Trying to get the entire family into Italian. This is an awesome -mostly book free - way to learn. He has a pleasant voice and explains why things are spoken in the way they are to help you become a natural speaker of a non-native language. We are thrilled with our purchase!

It was a bit slow for me and I could not figure out how to spread audio up. Plus, the accent, perhaps British, was not comfortable for me learning Italian. I love the accent but not in this case.

I like the Paul Noble unique approach to a foreign language. I have done French and now Italian and both allowed me to be conversational in the language pretty quickly.

The best program! I'm on my 8th disk now and enjoying learning so much.