Mastering Italian Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach

I am particularly fond of this series of vocabulary books (also available in French and Spanish)-- its inexpensive, easy to read/use, and covers an extensive range of topics. All of the words are arranged in a topical fashion. For example: work, school, etc... and a wide range of common phrases and idiomatic expression are integrated where appropriate. I would consider this the best companion for a student looking to expand their vocabulary in the Italian language. For travelers looking for an extensive but more compact book, try Italian At a Glance

An excellent way of increasing once vocabulary. For people (like me) who have reached a basic knowledge of the language but want to increase conversational use through increased number of words. The book provides 24 different aspects in life e.g. Food & Drink, Art & Music etc with all its different words and usages in everyday life. I find that by just reading through one of the categories at regular intervals (say daily or weekly), I gradually retain more and more words and usages. Walter Moser, Newtown VIC, Australia.

This is the "Bible" for improving and expanding your Italian vocabulary. I think, personally, that the first edition was slightly better than the 2nd, but the 2nd edition is expanded and has more words. It has also been updated. I'd like to see a third edition that would keep pace with the internet and technology. I like how the words are group together and organized, and one of my favorite aspects is that they use the words in sentences so that you can see how they are used -- this is especially helpful with verbs. Advanced beginners and intermediate students would profit immensely from this book. You can't go wrong with this book, but it does take some effort to learn and remember the words.

Barron's series Mastering Vocabulary is a great tool for language learners! As another reviewer points out, this is not a book for teaching yourself grammar. It is, though, a great way to move on from knowing the basics to being competent in the language. Using a normal course, such as one in the Colloqial series, you will end up with knowing the grammar relatively well and with a vocabulary of 1500 words. That's a good start, but you need to know more words to get moving. The Mastering Vocabulary series is a great help along the way. By doing one chapter each week, you will know more than 7000 words after half a year. That is enough to live in a language where the language is spoken and use it in all everyday interactions and communication. My only real complaint with the series is that it's not available for more than four languages.

This is wonderful book for reviewing vocabulary. You should also know that French, Spanish, and German versions exist as well. The words covered are very helpful, especially for those who like to travel and need to know "easy" words that do not appear frequently in literature but do come up often in offices, stores, etc. Each entry offers a clear example of usage in its proper context. These books are so inexpensive, that it is worth taking one with you on a trip abroad, even if you end up abandoning it at the end to make more room in your suitcase for the books that you want to bring home.