learning the lingo

So this is how i'm kind of trying to learn italian in Rome!

Well, it's not the only way but i found this kiddies book for about 2euro in a market and thought....

''what the heck?''

except that it's kind of hard...............or am i just being 'childish'? (excuse the pun)

Here's an exert that has really helped me though....it may sound strange but just learning the vowel sounds can make all difference if you want to know how something should sound.

This little rhyme leads you to pronouncing the correct vowel sounds.

gamba qua gamba la

mi presento son la A

lo di braccia ce ne ho tre

mi presento son la E

sempre dritta, notte w di

mi presento son la I

Oh che sonno, niente fo

mi presento son la O

lo'arrendo, mani in su

non sparate son la U

The literal translation from google is 

the leg side leg

I am present at the

the arms we have three

I am the present and

always straight night w

I introduce myself I am the

Oh that sleep, no fo

I am presenting the O

lo'arrendo, hands up

Do not shoot the son U

which clearly makes no sense whatsoever....but i'm sure a native italian would think it a sweet little ditty.

Which leads me to giving a few pieces of advice for anyone wanting to learn italian.

1) practice the vowel sounds ( i get mixed up with how 'E' and 'I' should sound.)

2) buy a dictionary. A good one, not like me who bought an italian to english dictionary in the local italian supermarket for about 4 euro. It seemed like a good idea, but really it was cheap for a reason and isn't that extensive. The notes are in italian and the emphasis was to help them learn english....not the other way round.

3) don't trust google translate. I can't tell you how many times me and Alessio have tested this. For some basic things, it's ok, like checking nouns. But you have to remember that each region of Italy is like a whole different country compared to each other. They have different dialects, accents and intonation. I'm learning from a sicillian......so my italian language knowledge will be 'dirtier' than most.

(yeh....i know the swear words already)

4) and of course practice as much as possible with real italians 

(i'm still working on this one, I'm a bit chicken..........)