Adesso!: A Functional Introduction to Italian

Some of our teachers use this book when teaching Italian and find that it works very well. It teaches grammar almost painlessly while teaching how to communicate effectively.

This textbook with accompanying CD is VERY EASY to follow, giving many excellent real-life experiential samplings for converational Italian, along with the all-important grammar, vocabulary, etc. I am enjoying it as an accompaniment to the Converational Italian class I'm currenty taking at university. Ciao, amici! See you in Italia...:)

Yes, it's a reasonably good book. But if you are a student buying this book for a class, most classes require the online workbook/lab manual, too. This requires a key that will cost you at least $51.00 extra if you buy it separately. I made the mistake of buying my book online (not here, though) and it did not have the key included, so I'm paying a lot more than if I'd bought them together as a package. Most bookstores on campus get them together for less money than if purchased separately. Check to be sure your online purchase includes this if your course requires it.

I used this book after it was required both for first and second semester Italian at UC Berkeley. The appraoches to grammar and vocabulary are ecxellent. Important grammatical points are highlighted and are easy to find when needed to refer back to. As a student planning to study abroad in Italy next year I highly recommend this university level textbook.

When used with the accompanying lab manual which includes useful audio tapes, this book is great for learning beginning Italian quickly and easily. I used this required textbook for both first and second semester Italian at UC Berkeley and as a student planning to study abraod in Italy next year I highly recommend this text.