Product Details
- Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.
This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. )
- Format: Color
- Rated: NR
- Studio: Cerebellum Corp.
- DVD Release Date: May 29, 2002
- Run Time: 93
- ASIN: B00005R86X
- Average Customer Review:
Based on 7 reviews.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Trust the Standard Deviants team to guide you into basic
Italian gently, thoroughly, and with a generous splash of irreverence. This
90-minute tutorial runs through the Italian alphabet, including the
all-important vowels; stress and cadence; the pesky consonants "c" and "g,"
which change pronunciation depending on what letters follow them; the accent
mark; and lots of sample dialogue and common vocabulary. The Deviants tutors are
as upbeat as any Italian speakers must be, and they pepper their nuts-and-bolts
instructions with truly helpful tips on actually being understood ("When
speaking Italian, remember: you'll move your lips more and the sound will be
much brighter than when speaking English"). There are plenty of chances to
practice your Italian "r's"--though you may find the distinction between the
"single flipped" and "double rolled" to be a bit subtle on first exposure. The
video also helpfully points out the occasions when the informal "ciao" is
acceptable, and when the more formal "buon giorno" is preferable. As
always, the Deviants structure the video with ample opportunity for review and
note-taking. Before long, you'll be chatting up a storm. Bellissimo!
--Anne Hurley --This text refers to the VHS Tape
edition.
All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
2 of 2 people found the
following review helpful:
It Got Me Started, June 1, 2004
It is very simple, but if you are just starting, as I was, simple can be a
good thing. It's unlikely this DVD alone will have you speaking Italian, but it
will give you a foundation. It explains the rules for pronouncing words as they
are spelled, and offers a small starter vocabulary and some grammar. I used it
as part of a larger program that included a variety of books and tapes. It is
not as detailed as the second DVD in the series, and you probably skip this one
go to the second one if you have already started with other materials. Still, I
enjoyed it. --This text refers to the DVD edition
2 of 6 people found the
following review helpful:
Not worth the money, June 16, 2003
Learning a language is difficult enought without all the "cute" comments and
bits in this DVD. You can learn as much, for a lot less money, from an Italian
phrase book.
1 of 2 people found the
following review helpful:
Standard Deviants is a Delight, January 14, 2003
Well organized, entertaining and chock full of useful pointers in learning
Italian. I recommend this to all new students of Italian.
--This text refers to the VHS Tape edition
10 of 10 people found the
following review helpful:
Back to work on this, kids ..., August 26, 2002
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| Reviewer: |
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tom (New York, NY United States) |
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It's simple and painless, but not perfection. In fact, as another reviewer
noted, it often sounds as if no experienced Italian speaker was around for the
final edit. The Deviants cast read the prompter well, but there are
inconsistencies in pronunciation that might confuse a novice - and this really
is beginner's level. I studied Italian with a native-speaking Italian tutor, and
am a Spanish speaker, so I warn newbies that consistency is really important,
and it's lacking here. With no expert was on hand to fix the mistakes, or catch
simple nuances that are missing, you might learn a few things you have to
unlearn later. Many of the company have no command of the language at all - it's
funny to hear a guy say he speaks "only Italian" with a heavy American accent.
To sum up, not a waste of time, but hardly a gem. --This
text refers to the DVD edition
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