ISBN0073535265

PREGO! is an excellent and very popular classroom introductory Italian program, here in its 7th incarnation. Lazzarino and coauthors have created a beautiful, easy-on-the eyes layout with interesting cultural readings, charming illustrations, and cute (topic related) cartoons. It's great to see different ethnicities represented in the illustrations (a trend that many publishers seem to be following -- it's about time!).

I began my studies with an early edition of PREGO! and have a fondness for this 2-semester program. I've looked at many other introductory Italian language textbooks and I believe PREGO! remains a best-seller because it provides a fun and attractive approach to rigorous grammar study. It appears to me to be the most polished and visually stimulating textbook on the market, with updated cultural scenarios (including the increasingly multicultural Italian demographic).

The supplemental DVD follows an "American" journalist in Italy and his Italian friend through chapter-related scenarios. It is a well-produced and entertaining enough and provides an opportunity for listening comprehension (with optional Italian subtitles -- better, I believe, in aiding Italian study than having English subtitles).

Students will likely get the most bang out of these materials in a formal study (classroom or tutor) setting. Those who can easily afford these (relatively expensive) materials might want to purchase them simply for a good workout.

You can visit the mhhe site (i.e. McGraw-Hill Higher Education -- I can't post the link) to see a sample chapter (Capitolo 1) and check out the audio files and exercises, etc. Here are the correct ISBN's (from the mhhe site) should you want to order these supplements: Workbook (0073266760) Workbook to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian; Laboratory Manual (0073266698) Laboratory Manual to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian; Audio CD Program, Part A (Audio CD Program (Part A) to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian (7th ed.)); Audio CD Program, Part B (0073266647) Audio CDs (Part B) to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian (7th ed.); DVD (DVD to accompany Prego! An Invitation to Italian)

You don't need to purchase the (expensive) audio CDs as the sound files are available at the online learning center for Prego7, though some may choose to as they feel more comfortable with CDs in hand. I believe you have to pay for access to the online workbook and lab manual if you choose not to purchase the print versions.

N.B. the "buy together" links don't always link the correct editions of supplementary materials, so use the advanced book search or advanced DVD search to choose the proper materials (if edition is listed correctly) to load into your shopping cart. I've inserted links to the correct supplements above.

Also available: AVANTI! by Janice Aski, et al, is a more communicative approach, introductory Italian language program from McGraw-Hill. Avanti!'s emphasis is on repetition. There is much of value in both of these programs. Avanti! is also somewhat expensive and should also be used with other students with an instructor and/or tutor. Avanti: Beginning Italian Student Edition with Bind-in passcode

Those who cannot attend a college course might fare better with the purchase of any number of text + audio programs or all-audio programs (Living Language, etc.) and inexpensive grammar workbooks.

One of the most beautiful countries on Earth is waiting for you -- and your experience will be so much richer with Italian language skills. Please don't be turned off by the fact that acquiring advanced language skills is for most a long-term endeavor. I believe those new to the experience will find the "discipline" of language study to be its own reward (see FLOW by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience And note that some of the non-native speakers I know that have gained the richest knowledge of Italian history and culture in their travels speak (they're the first to acknowledge this) very exaggerated English-accented Italian. They laugh at themselves and continue to enjoy their new experiences as they know that a goofy accent DOESN'T MATTER! (It's often charming.) Grammatical errors? Who cares! Stumble out there and don't cheat yourself out of a rich new experience!

I ended up returning this item because I had bought one earlier (not through Amazon) that I feared got lost in the mail... but I eventually received the first book I ordered. However, the price on this order was good and the item arrived on time.

*This was a required item for beginning Italian courses. It's really comprehensive and quite thorough in explanations!