You can go so far with free material found on the Internet, but one day you reach the point when you’ve done all the good stuff.
Which means it’s time to SPEND SOME MONEY!!
So yesterday I hit my local book store and splurged on graded readers, simplified books which will help me improve both my reading and listening skills in French (and can help you improve your Italian!)
Improve your listening with simplified books
First buy, borrow or steal some graded readers, the ones which come with audio CDs of the story.
I blew around €30 yesterday on three volumes from the Cideb Black Cat series. Mine were for learning French, obviously, but here’s the link for their Italian catalog so you can see what I’m talking about.
Other publishers do these too, so shop around. If you live in a big city (as I do) you should be able to find a book store with a good selection, or there’s the Internet.
As my current level in French is A2, I decided to buy myself an A1 (nice easy start, to gain confidence), an A2 (to work on next) and a B1 (my eventual target).
The books have simplified grammar/vocabulary appropriate to the student’s level. As it’s been decades since I studied formally, I figure doing the A1 and A2 will also be useful revision, as well as building me up gradually towards my target level.
Insider tips on getting the most from graded readers
This is the advice I usually give my students (and intend to follow myself). It’s a bit contra-logical, but tried and tested, so bear with me.
The objective is to build confidence reading and listening, NOT to understand every word. In fact, the opposite. To read and listen effectively, it’s necessary to develop strategies to deal with the inevitable words you won’t know. Get used to guessing, or just ignoring them (really!)
That said, the more you read and listen, the more your vocabulary and grammar will improve naturally, and the easier you’ll find these skills.
But you do have to put in the practice. For this reason, I normally advise ignoring the exercises and supplementary activities. They’re useful, even fun, but inevitably distract from following the story and so can’t help but slow down the whole process.
Which means reducing the impact on your reading/listening skills.
Which means that, in the long term, you’ll learn less, not more.
But it’s up to you…
Anyway, here’s what you do:
1. Read the story and listen to the CD at the same time. DON’T stop to check new words. Do a chapter at a time if you must, but ideally do the whole book in one sitting. An hour should do it… Don’t worry if you don’t understand much. The objective is simply to get to the end of the story.
2. The next day, or whenever you have more time, re-read the story, this time without the audio. Again, no dictionary. The objective is simply to read the whole thing. But no rush. Without the audio, you’ll be able to take time to ponder the bits that puzzle you.
3. On the third day, or in the third study session, listen again but this time WITHOUT the text to support you. The objective is to listen to the whole story. Don’t worry if you miss whole sections. Just get to the end.
That’s it. You’ll probably be bored stiff with the story by now, so time to move on!
If you find your chosen level challenging, go get another book at the same level (or even a lower level).
You’d be wise not to move up to the next level until you can do the three stages outlined above without feeling too fazed.
But that day will come!
Other ideas
You can always come back to readers you’ve already done and listen to them again… The texts are long and complex, so it’s likely you’ll get something new each time you listen.
If you’re on a tight budget, try swapping readers with other students, or reselling them on E-Bay to get back part of what you paid.
On the other hand, if you’re awash with cash, why not buy the whole series? You can always give them away as you finish each level. Other students, or local libraries will be happy to take them off your hands!
P.S. There are still plenty of places for the more advanced conversation group on Friday (it’s free!)
If you have a level of B1 or above, click here to see details and to register.
(Sorry, tomorrow’s lower level group is full…)
Go here to leave a comment on this post.
John Thomson says
Sono un discepolo fedele di Daniel.
Daniel sta studiando francese al’ livello A1 / A2
Nel frattempo io sto studiando italiano al’livello A1/A2
Daniel ha comprato due libri francese, livello A1/A2
Ho ordinato un libro italiano di Amazon, è arriva domani
Questo libro si chiama “Easy Italian reader W/CDROM”
ISBN -10 0071603344 – il prezzo £8.23
Ci sono tre parti con livello A1, A2 e possibilmente B1
Cio che mi piace è il fatto che si è graduato
Potrebbe valere la pena di indagarlo
A proposito, ho avuto bisogna di usare il dizionario per scrivere questo post !
Ma sono deciso a scrivere di piu in italiano
Cordiale saluti a tutti
John
Daniel says
Bravo, John. Ti ho visto fare un progresso incredibile con l’italiano!!
In bocca al lupo con il tuo reader (non ho ancora letto i miei, comunque.)
Un dizionario quando scrivi va benissimo. (Ma non quando leggi…)
Karen Drage says
scusa, ho voluto dire, “parlare sul il telefono è specialmente difficile per me”
Karen Drage says
Buon giorno Daniel
Grazie mille per gli articoli che mi piacciono molto. Abito in Inghilterra a Nottingham e andiamo per tutte le nostre vacanze a Sperlonga, Lazio. Come al solito, non ascolto abbastanza, così quando sento la conversazione è tanta veloce. Purtroppo invece, uso email e SMS perché più facile (specialmente difficile ed il telefono). Mi piacciono molto gli esercizi sul sito e anche le lezione Skype sebbene io non sia brava. Provo ascoltare un po’ ogni giorno. Rai TV replay! ecc. Grazie da te ieri ho sentito una parte del libro sul sito Black Cat e ho ordinato alcuni libri con CD a livello A2. Nel frattempo continuo la grammatica e spero che venga a Bologna presto
Grazie mille per il tuo lavoro, un sito fantastico
Karen
Daniel says
E grazie per il tuo feedback, Karen!
Sembra che, come studente della lingua italiana, sei ben organizzata. Fai tutte le cose giuste!
A presto,
Daniel
July Rice says
Anche io ho ordinato da Black Cat “Giallo al Grand Hotel du Lac”, con CD. Costa circa 13 Euros, inclusa consegna via courier. From the sample pages, it seems to be just what I want.
Daniel says
Costa di meno dalla libreria….
July Rice says
Ciao Karen. I am just a beginner in Italian, but the phrase should be *al telefono,* not *sul telefono.* This correction is meant in a friendly way.
Daniel says
Well done to you, July! I think it’s great to help each other out! (Honestly, I wasn’t sure what the correct version should be, even after 15 years here. Prepositions do that to me!)
Daniel
karen drage says
Grazie
John Thomson says
Oh Daniel !
Still having problems here, I can log into the meeting see people and hear people but nobody can see or hear me
I will have another word with my ‘techie’ pals
By the way I cooked the Zampone with lentils last night (this is for Ruth) it was declicious, even Jennifer liked it. I know what to get for next New Year
Cheers
John
Daniel says
Grandchildren are good for that sort of problem, John…
Ruth Stephens says
Bravo, John! Glad to hear the zampone was a success, even if your attempts to participate in the Webinar sessions haven’t been, so far. It must have been frustrating to see and hear but not to have been seen or heard. Hope you’ll be able to have another go and prove to all how well you can speak as well as write in Italian.
Ruth
Daniel says
Oh, we had a great session today! Mancava solo John…
John Thomson says
Ciao Ruth
Grazie per le tue gentili parole, ma penso che il tuo italiano sia migliore della mia.
Davvero, cercero di participare alla prossima riunione Webinar. Guarda questo spazio.
Oggi ho fatto, e mangiato la trippa alla Scozzia. La trippa e cippole bollito in meta aqua e latte, sale e pepe. Molto economico ma anche molto delizioso, veramente cucina povera
Quando ero giovane, mangiavamo spesso
cordiali saluti
John
Ruth Stephens says
Ciao John
Devo la provare. Ne ho sentito da quando ero giovane ma noi non la mai abbiamo mangiato a casa. Chiedero’ al maccheriao se la vende e ti faro’ sapere come va.
Si, guardero’ quello spazio per la settimana prossima. Spero’ che la technologia funzioni bene. Buona fortuna!
Cordiale saluti
Ruth