Italian, Instant

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1
In this first lesson, you'll discover that, despite the Italian peninsula's long and rich history, Italy is actually a relatively young nation?much younger than the United States, for example. You'll also learn that many Italian words have been adopted into English, including many that you might say or hear on a regular basis?and not just spaghetti, pizza, and biscotti. You'll also be pleased to learn that there are many cognates in Italian. Cognates are words that share the same origin with English words, which makes them very easy for you to recognize and master. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll also know how to greet others properly and introduce yourself in Italian.

Lesson 2
In our second lesson, we'll explore the Italian alphabet and phonetics. You'll learn all 21 letters of the Italian alphabet, along with the various sounds they make, whether alone or in combination with one or more other letters. In addition, you'll learn five letters that Italian borrows for writing and speaking words that originated in other languages. With the tools you'll gain in this lesson (and some practice), you'll be able to read and correctly pronounce virtually all words and phrases in Italian.

Lesson 3
Today, we'll discuss why, unlike in English, the names of places and things have gender in Italian. That's right, all nouns?even inanimate objects?are either masculine or feminine. You'll also learn that to pluralize nouns in Italian, you don't add "s" or "es" at the end of the word. Instead, you'll simply change the final vowel. For example, "one spaghetti noodle" is "spaghetti-o," while "spaghetti noodles" is "spaghetti-i." You'll also discover eight ways to say the word "the" in Italian. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a good grasp on some fundamental parts of speech, making it that much easier to put them together and use them.

Lesson 4
In this lesson, you'll continue exploring some basic elements of the Italian language.

Lesson 5
While visiting Italy's many spectacular sites, you'll want to be able to ask for assistance. In this lesson, you'll learn to ask and give directions to places, making it easier for you to navigate the country's many historic cities and towns. By the time you reach the end of this lesson, you'll know how to say "to the right," "to the left," and "straight ahead." You will also know how to ask whether a location is nearby or far away. In addition to all the practical navigating skills you'll gain in this lesson, you'll also increase your understanding of Italian culture by learning several ways Italians greet one another.

Lesson 6
Numbers are handy in many daily situations, and in this lesson, you'll learn the numbers 1 through 100. You'll explore ways you can put these numbers to practical use by asking and stating phone numbers, addresses, and bill totals. You'll even visit an Italian bar or caff? and learn to order breakfast. At the end of this lesson, you'll be able to discuss telephone numbers and addresses, ask and say how much things cost at the bar, and how and where to pay for them.

Lesson 7
In this lesson, you'll explore the calendar, learning to ask about and express days and dates. You'll learn some helpful techniques that make remembering the days of the week and the months of the year much easier. We'll also go over two key verbs?"avere" and "fare." Both verbs are especially helpful when discussing the weather. By the end of Lesson 7, you'll be able to talk about days and dates, and to ask about and describe the weather.

Lesson 8
Today, you'll apply the numbers knowledge you gained in Lesson 6 and 7 to the clock and schedules. You'll learn to ask and tell the time, and to ask and express key time-relate terms, such as "when," "early," and "late." You'll continue learning about Italian culture, and find out how important labor strikes are in Italy. Because strikes often impact travel, you'll learn how to ask when they'll begin and when they'll end. All of these things should help put you more at ease while traveling. By the end of the lesson, you'll know how to tell time and read business schedules in Italian.

Lesson 9
Do you plan to make some purchases while in Italy, or take a train, boat, or bus? We'll go over how to handle these situations in today's lesson. You'll learn the vocabulary and phrases you need to discuss items such as transportation tickets and their prices. You'll learn to use the always-handy expression "vorrei"???which means "I would like..."?to request information or items. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how ask about and purchase train, boat, or bus tickets, ask about prices and make purchases, and even rent a vehicle while in Italy.

Lesson 10
Even before you arrive in Italy, you'll probably need to discuss and book your accommodations, and we'll explore how to do just that in today's lesson. You'll learn to describe the kind of room you're looking for, and ask about availability. By combining new vocabulary with elements you've learned in previous lessons, you'll be able to ask very specific questions about your lodging. You'll know how to confirm whether your room has air conditioning and Internet service, and if the price includes breakfast. You'll practice making a phone call to a hotel to ensure you can book your accommodations long before you arrive at your destination.

Lesson 11
In this lesson, we'll go over something really important: How to ask for help?"aiuto" [ah-YOO-toh]?in any situation. More specifically, you'll learn to describe health and medical concerns to a pharmacist or doctor. You'll practice an authentic dialogue with each to help put you at ease while you're in Italy. You'll also learn to ask others to help you by calling the police or an ambulance. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll be able to handle virtually any emergency situation in Italian.

Lesson 12
Italy's world-renowned cuisine is as important as its many historical monuments (some might say it's even more important!). In our final lesson, you'll become well-versed in the various types of eateries in Italy, the types of meals you can expect to find in them, and how meals are typically served. You'll practice using all the vocabulary you'll need to order food, whether it's a snack in un bar or an entire four-course meal in una trattoria. You'll learn how to ask about typical regional or local specialties, and how to say that you'd like to try a particular wine or dish. When you reach the end of this lesson, you'll be fully prepared to order a meal at any Italian eatery.