Books : Italian Language Builder (CD)

Rating: - Good for revision
If you have completed Michel Thomas's 8-hour course you will find that this is a mixture of revision and new material, about half-and-half. It goes a bit faster than the main course (there are no students on the recordings) so you will probably want to work through it two or three times. Unlike the main course, there is a booklet with a transcription of the CDs, which is useful for revising on the bus.

Personally, I find Michel Thomas's gravelly voice and exaggerated intonation memorable. He is sometimes unclear or inconsistent, but that just prompts me to investigate further. A good book (such as Alwena Lamping's Grammar) is helpful for clarifying the things that Michel Thomas doesn't explain well or pronounce clearly (such as the difference between 'mi' and 'me').

You need to be quick on the pause button: he often leaves no gap at all between saying the question and giving the answer. There's no point in trying to use this material while driving or doing the ironing.

It's a bit expensive though - I would have expected three CDs at this price. Even so, if Michel Thomas brings out a third level course I'll be the first to get it.

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Rating: - Rather a dissapointment - not a big advancement
Having waited for this sequel to the 8 hour course for some time I must say I was quite dissapointed by ths 2 hour course.

Almost everything covered in it is covered in the 8 hour course with little or no new information being covered. However, it does serve as a good revision to the 8 hour course. Having said that, you could have just listened to the 8 hour course again!

When is an ADVANCED course coming out? (i.e. another 8 hour course). This is what we want!