Frank from Boston

Hey guys I've been reading the boards for a while, but I've never signed in. You all seem to be a great bunch of fun loving people.

Well, here is my situation; I'm going to Italy for the first two weeks of July. I'm interested in the Amerispan language program in Roma. (www.amerispan.com) I'm probably intermediate Italian, but I would like to be fluent. I know that two weeks is not enough but, that's all the time I can go for right now.

Have any of you ever done any language classes abroad? If so, which ones and what was your experience like?

Your responses are greatly appreciated. Also, If any of you would like to come to beantown sometime don't be afraid to ask me about it.

agriadam

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beergal

heh frank from boston just wanted to say a quick hello and welcome to the boards!

I havent been on any language programmes per se however i have been on two exchange programme one in France and one in Hungary where learning the language was part of my schooling. I would definately recommend living ing the country as it helps you to pick up the language more quicker and with a sense of romanticism

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tumblezweedz

My husband did a two week course in Lithuanian at Vilnius University after about 6 months of studying four hours a day with a private instructor in the US. No question he learned a ton more in that two weeks. You learn so much more hearing people chatting in the street, listening to the news, etc. than sitting in a classroom, anyway.

And he was starting from zero, so you'd be miles ahead before you start in country. Another thing that we've found useful for vocabulary and especially learning expressions is getting movies that are in the language and then reading the English subtitles (or it works vice versa, but it's harder to discipline yourself) to figure out the general gist.

Good luck, sounds like fun!

Joker

Benvenuti e Travel Punk!

Total immersion is the best way to be forced to learn a language. My uncle has been living in Cuernavaca, Mexico since winter of 2001, and learned fluent spanish at the language school there in about a month. I mean FLUENT. He loved it so much he stayed there permanently. Has a girlfriend, etc, and no plans of leaving any time soon. (he's the one i get my wanderlust from)

Anyway, even though I'm not familiar with that school, any TI language school has gotta be worth it.

Ciao Bella!

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Esterina

Benvenuto !

I went twice in Germany for intensive german classes. The first time, only two weeks and the second 6.

You'll meet people from all over the world ! And get to know Italy in a special way.

Two weeks will help you assimilate what you already know. You'll learn more, but probably won't integrate it. Tumblezweedz will correct me if I'm wrong, but her husband probably learned a lot because he had been doing 4 hours a day of the language, and lived in the country, and continued AFTER his class to live there.

To make the best of your 2 weeks there, and if you have the possibility, live with an italian family. That's what I did, and loved it. And when I felt too tired to understand real speed german, I just went out my the classmates, to converse at "my level".

Enjoy !

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Ryder

try and see if you can find the school's website directly. usually if you book through the school and skip the agent(amerispan) you can save A TON of money, up to $400-$500 sometimes.

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Frank from Boston

So you guys really are as cool as I thought. Ryder, thanks for your advice I'm sure it will save me some money.

That's funny Joker I was thinking about doing the same thing in Cuernavaca this winter. Hopefully, I will have as much fun as your uncle.

Thanks for all your responses, I'm happy I've become a "member." I hope I can help you guys out sometime in the near future.

And I'm so glad I asked you guys before I went ahead and booked the trip.

omisan

Just to chime in on the immersion programs.. DO IT!

I've studied French for 8 years and recently took on Spanish for 3 months.. and my skills aren't anywhere NEAR the damn fluency I've seen in people I've met who were only done with their first month of immersion programs.

In France, I met this guy who was there to teach English - with NO previous French experience - who was fluent and had a native accent after one month. In Spain and Costa Rica, I met tons of people who were in 1-2 month Spanish immersion programs who not only spoke fluently, but knew all the local slang and how to do business on the phone. Great stuff. One guy who struck me in particular was this German who after 4 weeks spoke better Spanish than the English he spent a lifetime learning in classrooms.

Hrmm.. I think I know what my next adventure should be!

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