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urinetrouble 
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2007
10571 posts
| Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 11:36 am)
Planning a trip to Italy next year. Is Rosetta Stone Level 1 good enough for someone who just wants to know the basics?
I've heard you can get by without knowing much, but I think it would help me appreciate the trip a little more if I have a better understanding of the language.
Are there better resources out there?
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Tmacelroy12
LSU Fan
Houston
Member since Aug 2012
5489 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 12:36 pm to urinetrouble)
Yeah, you should be fine. Italians are grateful if you at least try and learn their language instead of knowing nothing about it, trust me... they'll work with you. Rosetta Stone is a good tool, I can't remember if it teaches you phrases. Just learn some basic sayings that you would think you would need to know.
If you need any help, let me know. I spent the summer in Italy 2 years ago.
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Celery 
Southern Fan
Cornball
Member since Nov 2010
5544 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 12:45 pm to urinetrouble)
I usually just learn some key phrases when I go to a foreign country. Seems to work okay.
Just know how to count to 20 and the words for wine and bathroom and you can get by. I've tried Rosetta Stone and didn't really learn too much. It helps with pronunciation, though.
This post was edited on 12/8 at 12:53 pm
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Draconian Sanctions
LSU Fan
San Francisco 49ers Fan
Member since Oct 2008
28516 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 12:48 pm to urinetrouble)
I got by just fine in Paris knowing nothing but "I'm sorry but I don't speak French. Do you speak English?" People were super nice after that.
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mooseknuckle
Houston Fan
Your mouthwash ain't makin' it...
Member since Aug 2006
3686 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 12:55 pm to urinetrouble)
I went through all 4 levels of the Spanish part and I still only know a few things and my GF's first language is Spanish. All you need to remember are a few phrases and words that you won't get from Rosetta. Most people just appreciate the effort. Save your money and use a translation app. You'll learn more from it.
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urinetrouble
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2007
10571 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:27 pm to Tmacelroy12)
quote:
If you need any help, let me know. I spent the summer in Italy 2 years ago.
Got any general recommendations? We're planning on Rome, Florence, and Venice, but nothing is set yet.
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urinetrouble
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2007
10571 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:28 pm to Celery)
quote:
Just know how to count to 20 and the words for wine and bathroom and you can get by
Good call on the numbers.
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urinetrouble
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2007
10571 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:29 pm to mooseknuckle)
quote:
Save your money and use a translation app. You'll learn more from it.
Is that something for the iPhone? I don't have one but my wife does.
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:48 pm to urinetrouble)
These levels take a long arse time. I worked on Mexican for about 1-2hrs a night and only got through 3/4 of the first level
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TigerintheNO
LSU Fan
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
18969 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:53 pm to urinetrouble)
quote:
We're planning on Rome, Florence, and Venice, but nothing is set yet.
In Rome it won't matter, everyone speaks English. I would bet that the majority of people you will deal with speak English better than Italian.
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saintsfan92612 
New Orleans Saints Fan
a pretty good city
Member since Oct 2008
16596 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 1:54 pm to Hammertime)
I used both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone and I would recommend Pimsleur over RS. It is a little cheaper and it teaches you conversations much better imo.
I liked Pimsleur better because I could just pop it in my car and go through the lessons on my commute to school and work. RS takes a ton of free time at home because you have to do the lessons on your computer. Because of this, I actually wanted to do the Pimsleur lessons and the RS lessons became a chore.
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LuckySo-n-So
LSU Fan
Member since Jul 2005
12177 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 2:05 pm to TigerintheNO)
quote:
I would bet that the majority of people you will deal with speak English better than Italian.
This.
I tried to learn a little Italian before I went a couple years ago, to no avail. However, not only did EVERY ITALIAN I came in contact with (save one young waitress) speak English, they were all as friendly as hell. Even the gypsies cursed me out in English when I refused to give them a coin or two . 
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saintsfan92612
New Orleans Saints Fan
a pretty good city
Member since Oct 2008
16596 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 2:10 pm to LuckySo-n-So)
Everyone I talked to in Italy actually wanted to speak English. I tried talking in Italian but they were like, No, I want to practice my English
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LuckySo-n-So
LSU Fan
Member since Jul 2005
12177 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 2:13 pm to urinetrouble)
quote:
We're planning on Rome, Florence, and Venice
Doing a tour? or on your own?
I did the Globus tour of Rome/Florence/Venice. Amazing trip.
If you aren't doing the tour and you want to go to a museum--especially Uffizi in Florence--make sure you have reservations, or you will spend hours in line. Granted, "The Birth of Venus" or Giotto's "Madonna Enthroned" are worth the wait, but if you have limited time, reservations are a must.
Don't let anyone talk you out of Venice. I loved Venice. Make sure that you go two or three blocks off the "main drag" and then start walking. Get lost. It's an island, you can't get that lost. Absolute great way to experience Venice.
Start walking a couple months before your trip. You will be happy you did.
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saintsfan92612
New Orleans Saints Fan
a pretty good city
Member since Oct 2008
16596 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 2:21 pm to LuckySo-n-So)
quote:
Don't let anyone talk you out of Venice. I loved Venice. Make sure that you go two or three blocks off the "main drag" and then start walking. Get lost. It's an island, you can't get that lost. Absolute great way to experience Venice.
This plus a million.
Randomly walking in Venice's back alleys was probably one of my favorite things to do in all of Europe.
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St Augustine
New Orleans Saints Fan
The Pauper of the Surf
Member since Mar 2006
36572 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 2:26 pm to urinetrouble)
From my experience with RS it isn't really going to teach you what you wan for a short trip.
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TigerintheNO
LSU Fan
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
18969 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 6:08 pm to LuckySo-n-So)
quote:
However, not only did EVERY ITALIAN I came in contact with (save one young waitress) speak English
when I was there most of the people in the service industry weren't Italian, they were from Greece or Albania
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charles_p_bacon
Member since Aug 2012
13 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/8/12 at 6:45 pm to urinetrouble)
Another useful tool is to write the Italian word for objects around the house on tape and place them all over, doors, cups, pictures...etc.
Rosetta Stone is useful though. You'll learn the most by going there and speaking the language.
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ATL TGR
LSU Fan
Houston
Member since Apr 2008
2628 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/10/12 at 12:23 pm to charles_p_bacon)
FYI Groupon goods has rosetta for 42% off right now
This post was edited on 12/10 at 12:24 pm
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Catman88
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2004
36377 posts
| re: Rosetta Stone Level 1 for a vacation? (Posted on 12/10/12 at 12:26 pm to saintsfan92612)
quote:
I tried talking in Italian but they were like, No, I want to practice my English
I always run into this.
For speaking in foreign countries really Rosetta stone is overkill. Unless you plan on having a conversation with someone really you just need to learn how to order a full meal, check into your hotel and words for just getting around.
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