Kristina Olson – Learning Italian: Step by Step and Region by Region

From the masterworks of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Dante, and Verdi to the dazzling panorama of Roman life in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Italian culture is passionate, groundbreaking, and timeless. Italian art, cuisine, cinema, technology, and fashion are mainstays of our contemporary world, and Italy remains one of the most magnetic and popular destinations for global travelers.

With its musicality, sensuality, and rich expressiveness, Italian is one of the most beautiful languages in the world—as well as the doorway to one of the world’s most iconic cultures.

What better way to know this magnificent culture than through the extraordinary beauty of its language?

If you’d like to learn to speak Italian, and delve into the wonders of Italian culture, The Great Courses’ Learning Italian: Step by Step and Region by Region is the ideal place to start. Adding to our cadre of other popular language programs, this exciting course presents a carefully chosen learning system that is both fun and highly effective for adult learners.

Professor Kristina Olson of George Mason University, an acclaimed teacher and scholar of Italian language and literature, has designed this course with a core premise: Italian is inseparable from Italy itself, and to understand the language, you must understand the “Bel Paese”—the beautiful country.

As a country to discover, Italy offers the fabulous cities of Rome, Genoa, Venice, Florence, and many more, as well as the romantic beauties of Tuscany, Umbria, Calabria, and 17 other fascinating and diverse regions. In Learning Italian: Step by Step and Region by Region, you’ll not only gain a solid grasp of the fundamentals of spoken Italian, but you’ll also take a grand tour of Italy’s 20 regions. You’ll practice the language itself through studying and exploring the glorious cultural riches of Italy.

An inspiring and dynamic teacher, Professor Olson makes Italian directly accessible, grounding you in the core elements of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and usage, and providing substantial practice in speaking, comprehension, and reading. You may be amazed to discover that within the first half of the course, you’re reading substantial texts describing each region in Italy and its culture—and that you have the skills to understand them.

Among Italy’s stunningly diverse regions, you’ll discover:

• Campania—Take the measure of this storied area of Italy, containing the beloved city of Naples, historic Pompeii, and the scenic Amalfi coast, and practice describing its architecture, history, and natural beauty;

• The “Marches”—In this richly endowed region, practice your conversational skills as you discover the birthplace of Raphael and Rossini, with its imposing medieval castles, breathtaking mountain scenery, and world-famous artisanal industries;

• Il Veneto—Treasures of Il Veneto include alpine vistas; the beauties of Lake Garda, Venice, and Verona; and the artistic legacy of Palladio, Giotto, and Titian. Expand your linguistic knowledge in speaking about star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet and Francesca and Paolo; and

• Tuscany (Toscana)—One of Italy’s most famous and popular regions for travelers; learn the passato prossimo (past) tense as you reflect on the Renaissance jewel of Florence; the region’s food and wine; and the genius of Boccaccio, Michelangelo, and

Learn This Glorious Language through Its Culture

Throughout these lessons, Professor Olson introduces you to the rich diversity of Italian life, including one of its most internationally recognizable cultural touchstones: food. You’ll learn to speak about Italian cuisine and food products, from Ragù alla Bolognese (Emilia-Romagna) and Perugina chocolates (Umbria) to the celebrated wines of Piemonte.

You’ll also delve into Italian cinema by speaking about landmark films such as Ermanno Olmi’s Il Posto, Francesco Rosi’s Tre Fratelli, and Antonioni’s Deserto Rosso. And you’ll explore historical culture in ways such as describing Botticelli’s daily routine during the Renaissance and tracing the writing of Carlo Levi’s celebrated novel Christ Stopped at Eboli.

The course workbook goes hand in hand with the video lessons, offering you key translations, useful vocabulary, supplemental activities, grammar review, maps of Italy, and even a listing of suggested films and novels by region.

In Learning Italian: Step by Step and Region by Region, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable immersion into Italy’s splendorous language and culture. Andiamo! (Let’s go!)