Thursday, January 16th
2025 Italian Lesson Reviews
Rocket Languages
- Price: Lifetime access to 3 levels for a discounted price of $249.90
- Beginner to Advanced levels, each with seven modules and a Survival Kit
- Interactive audio lessons that can be streamed or downloaded
- Lessons focus on speaking and listening skills
- Grammar explained within lessons
- Voice recognition tool for pronunciation practice
- "Role Playing" activity to practice real conversations
- Additional Travelogue series available for more practice
- Competition with other learners
- 60-day satisfaction guarantee
Rocket Languages teaches German, French, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, Sign Language, English, and, of course, Italian. Their programs focus on improving your listening and speaking skills right from the start, using interactive audio lessons. These lessons are like 30-minute podcasts based on real-world conversations. They also teach you about the culture and grammar of the language you're learning. The program lets you learn at your own speed, and you can access your lessons from anywhere, on any device.
Audio lessons with engaging hosts
The Rocket Languages course offers an interactive way to learn Italian. It uses audio lessons lasting between 15 to 40 minutes, which you can either stream or download. Each lesson revolves around an Italian conversation to give you the chance to practice speaking. If you're new to Italian, it's recommended to listen to the audio multiple times to get used to the language. You are encouraged to repeat the words or phrases after the host, Maria, who will say them in Italian and then give the English translation. The course is not just about understanding Italian, but also participating in conversations. Your hosts are Alessandro, an Italian-American from New York, and Maria, a native Italian speaker from Rome. They both share a deep love for Italian language and culture and look forward to helping you learn.
Grammar is given as much importance as vocabulary
The further you progress in the course, the more spoken Italian you'll hear in your audio lessons. The structure of the lessons is really helpful. You'll hear a full conversation between Maria and Roberto, then it's summarized in English, and finally, it's broken down into smaller parts (think two words of Italian at a time, followed by the English translation.) You're also taught different expressions for the same Italian phrases, which you won't find with many of Rocket Languages' competitors. We also love that you're taught grammar alongside new vocabulary - you aren't left wondering about it for long, and you don't have to go hunt down a separate tab that may or may not answer your questions. (Looking at you, Bird App.)
Tools and features to suit every learning style
Rocket Languages' approach also includes a voice recognition tool called Rocket Record which helps you practice speaking Italian correctly. It offers a "Role Playing" activity that lets you practice real conversations in a stress-free way. You can learn additional vocabulary that isn't in the conversation lessons. There are also flashcards to help you remember what you've learned. Plus, you can practice listening to phrases, writing what you hear, and speaking out loud. There are also quizzes to test your understanding. This approach to learning is like having an interactive textbook with built-in audio - it's a fun way to really learn the language, and we think it's more effective than gamified language learning apps that rely too heavily on word banks and not enough on recall.
3 levels of 7 modules each
The Rocket Italian course is organized into three levels, and each level is made up of about seven modules and a Survival Kit. For example, in Module 1 of Level 1, you'll start with an introduction, then learn how to make a friend, ask if someone speaks Italian, and order coffee and pizza. You'll also learn about Italian cuisine. Plus, you'll get lessons on how to pronounce Italian words, talk about people, places, and things, use articles, and understand the verbs "to be” and "to have”. The Survival Kits offer practical lessons for situations you're likely to encounter, like how to talk about family. Level 3 of the Rocket Italian course tackles more advanced topics. You'll learn to converse about a variety of topics, from organizing a party to discussing Italian literature and history. You'll also explore complex grammar structures like the imperfect subjunctive and the past perfect subjunctive.
Travelogue is great for upcoming vacations
If you want more Italian practice, Rocket Languages also offers something called Travelogues, but it costs extra. When we visited, it was on sale for $99.95, down from $149.95. The Travelogue series is a learning tool that takes you on a virtual journey through Italy. This series of lessons follows the daily experiences of two native Italian speakers, Marco and Sofia, as they travel in Italy, immersing you and allowing you to practice conversational Italian in a real-world context. You'll understand the culture, perfect your pronunciation, and improve your reading and listening skills.
Compete against other language learners
Worried about missing out on a little friendly rivalry by choosing Rocket Languages? Fear not. Tucked away under the "Tools” tab, you'll find the Leaderboard and Points and Streaks dashboard. You can track your own progress and measure how you're doing against just other Italian learners or learners across all of Rocket Languages' courses. This tab is also where you'll find the Italian Forum, where you can ask questions about Italian grammar, culture, travel, and more.
Lifetime access to 3 levels for $249.90
Rocket Languages offers three different one-time payment packages for their Italian courses. The first option is to buy all three levels, which will take you from beginner to advanced Italian. Normally, this package costs $449.85, but it's often discounted to $249.90. The second option is to buy the first two levels, which will bring you to a strong conversational level. This package usually costs $299.90, but it's often lowered to $239.90. The final option is to buy just the first level. This will get you to a good conversational level and is typically priced at $149.95, but it's usually on sale for $89.95.
60-day satisfaction guarantee
If you're not happy with the Rocket Italian course, you can get your money back with no hassle. You have 60 days to decide if the course is right for you. If it's not, just reach out to their Customer Support Team and they'll give you a full refund. Before you buy, you can also try out Rocket Italian for free - you'll get to run through the first lesson of each module.
Our top pick
With a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store from over a thousand reviews, and a 4.7 out of 5 from more than 2,200 evaluations on the Google Play Store, Rocket Languages' Italian course is popular. The course is a well-structured, sequential learning path, but you can also explore topics that catch your interest without having to test into them. The audio content features real spoken Italian, not artificial computer-generated voices. You'll enjoy the competition with other learners and the fact that you can download your audio lessons in MP3 format, meaning they're yours to keep forever. Rocket Languages has no real drawbacks, and it gets our highest recommendation among Italian lessons.
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The 11 Best Italian Lessons
Where Can You Find the Best Italian Lessons?
Learning any new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Italian, with its rich history, captivating culture, and melodious rhythm, is no exception. Learning Italian online has become an increasingly popular choice for people around the globe, thanks to the convenience, flexibility, and variety of resources available at their fingertips.
It's no wonder that learning Italian online has surged in popularity. You've got plenty of options to fit just how you like to learn. If you prefer to learn by listening and getting the hang of how Italian sounds, there are programs made just for that. They help you get used to the language's rhythm and pronunciation. And if you love games, there are fun platforms where you can learn new words and grammar through play, earning points and badges along the way.
Italian Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
If you're someone who likes a clear and structured plan, there are courses that mix video lessons, quizzes, and even writing tasks. This way, you can get better at reading, writing, speaking, and listening to Italian, all in a balanced way.
Prefer talking to real people? You can connect with native Italian speakers through tutoring services. They can talk with you in real time, which is a great way to learn how people actually use the language and learn more about Italian culture.
Whether you're drawn to Italy's enchanting cities, passionate about its cuisine, an admirer of its contributions to art and music, or simply looking to connect with family roots, learning Italian can enrich your life in myriad ways.
Imagine strolling through the cobbled streets of Rome, ordering gelato in flawless Italian, or enjoying the operas of Verdi and Puccini in their original language. Or perhaps you're an avid cook, eager to dive into authentic Italian recipe books without the crutch of translations. Learning Italian can also be a stepping stone in your career, especially if you're involved in fashion, architecture, or the culinary arts, industries in which Italy holds a prestigious position. Moreover, for those with Italian heritage, learning Italian could be a bridge to understanding your ancestry and connecting with relatives in a more meaningful way.
When comparing the process of learning Italian to other Romance languages, like Spanish, there are a few unique aspects you might encounter. Italian's pronunciation is often more straightforward than a language like French, with most letters having a consistent sound, which can make speaking it a bit easier for beginners.
However, Italian has its share of challenges, such as the use of gendered nouns and a plethora of verb conjugations, aspects that are also present but differ slightly in Spanish. The musicality of Italian, with its emphasis on the flow and melody of speech, offers a distinct learning curve but can be incredibly rewarding to master.
Not sure where to start? Think about these things as you weigh your options:
- Your starting point. Are you brand new to Italian or do you know a bit already? Pick lessons that match where you're at.
- How you like to learn. Do you prefer using apps, listening to audio, or sitting down at your computer? Choose a format that fits your routine and how you learn best.
- What skills do you want to focus on. Do you want to get better at talking and listening, or are you more into reading and writing? Or maybe you want to work on everything! Knowing this will help you choose the right lessons.
- Different Italian accents. Some programs might teach a specific regional accent in addition to the standard Italian that's used all over Italy. Italy's full of different accents, but everyone understands standard Italian.
- Cost. Some lessons are free, while others cost money either upfront or through a subscription. Think about what you're willing to spend and what you get from free versus paid lessons.
- What other learners say. Look for reviews from people who've used the lessons before. Their experiences can tell you how effective the lessons are and how quickly you might learn.
To steer you towards the best Italian lessons that align with your goals and preferred learning style, our team at Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated today's leading options and provided honest feedback on what each one offers. So, what are you waiting for? Start your Italian learning journey today!
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