Laurel and Hardy … filmed in French & Spanish

Did you know that Laurel and Hardy, the 1930’s comedy movie stars, reshot a number of their films in French, Spanish, Italian and German?

Laurel and Hardy couldn’t speak any foreign languages, so had voice coaching, and often used native language speaking supporting cast members. These language versions helped to boost their popularity internationally. Pardon Us was reshot in all four foreign languages. Chickens Come Home, Blotto and Below Zero were re-filmed in French and Spanish.

Browse our foreign language film section and learn a language with a movie>>

Audio Magazines Feature The Famous

In the latest issue of our French language audio magazine Champs-Elysées, we have an interview with one of the world’s greatest entertainers, Charles Aznavour. In the next issue of our Italian language audio magazine, Acquerello italiano, we have an interview with the world-famous Italian writer, Umberto Eco Read more

La finale Di UEFA Champions League 2009

We’ve gone all Italian this week! This year’s UEFA Champions League Final will be held in the Stadio Olimpico, Rome on the 27th May 2009. FC Barcelona will play Manchester United FC in what could be an explosive football match.   A five-day celebration of football kicks off in Rome’s historic centre on Saturday 23rd May with the official opening of the UEFA Champions Festival. Read more

David Beckham is learning … Italian

Did you know that David and Victoria Beckham are both learning Italian now that they live in Milan owing to David’s season at football club AC Milan?

Find out how to learn to speak Italian and get the Italian language advantage>>

Read more

Muzzy Is The Bestselling Language Course For Kids

BBC Muzzy is one of the best and most innovative language courses for kids on the market.   Just put on the DVD and see your young kids captivated by their new language … soon they’ll be repeating songs and phrases – and you may be too!   This could be the most important gift you ever give your child. They’ll get their language advantage! Read more

BBC MUZZY LANGUAGE COURSES

BBC Muzzy is one of the best and most innovative language courses for kids on the market! Put the DVD on and see your young kids captivated by their new language … and soon they’ll be repeating songs and phrases – and you may be too!   Choose from Muzzy French, Muzzy German, Muzzy Italian and Muzzy Spanish.   They’ll get their language advantage!

Learning a language will never be this easy again. Up to the minute scientific research shows that the brain’s ‘window of opportunity’ for learning a second language is from birth to ages 10 or 12. Experts say early learning enriches overall mental development, including improved memory and better cognitive and listening skills. This could be the most important gift you ever give your child.

This famous BBC course uses the award-winning character MUZZY, compelling stories and delightful songs to bring language to life. It’s fun and it works. Almost like magic, the proven ’see-listen-and-learn’ technique engages kids’ natural ability to learn language.

All your favourite BBC Muzzy Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

The BBC Muzzy language course includes:

2 Story DVDs (1-3 and 4-6) in Target Language
1 Story DVD (1-6) in Support Language
1 CD Audio of the Story (1-6)
1 Vocabulary Builder Program DVD
Colorful Multilingual Scriptbook
MUZZY at the Seaside CD-ROM
Parents’ Guide
*** Please check that  dvd region is suitable for your country***
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

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01   BBC Muzzy French language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy French BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: French
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy French Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

02 BBC Muzzy German language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy German BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: German
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy German Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

03 BBC Muzzy Italian language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy Italian BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: Italian
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Italian Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

04 BBC Muzzy Spanish language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy Spanish BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: Spanish
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Spanish Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

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Other ways to learn a language for kids:
more language courses and dictionaries for children [UK]
more language courses and dictionaires for children [USA]
more language cd-rom software for children [UK]
more language cd-rom software for children [USA]

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ITALIAN LANGUAGE FILM REVIEWS

Malena (2000)

A language advantage film review by Andrea Martins

From the writer and director of the award-winning film Cinema Paradiso, this film is the story of a boy’s journey to manhood amid the chaos and intolerance of World War II. Monica Bellucci plays the most beautiful woman in a small town in Sicily who becomes the subject of malicious gossip and jealousies from the men and women of the town. The young boy Renato is the only one who understands her and feels sympathetic towards this woman whom everyone else thinks is a whore and a disgrace.

Through the eyes of Renato we see his sexual awakening and watch him become a mature and independent young man. This is a compassionate yet disturbing film in places. There are some scenes that are distressing, but it is compelling viewing as it evokes the restrained and religious culture of the time and the old Italian way of thinking.

It was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Musical Score.

Some Sicilian is noted within the film but the bulk of it is in Italian that is easily understandable if you’ve been learning it. In Italian with English subtitles.

To buy  Malena and other  Italian language films>>

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Life is Beautiful (1999)
La Vita è Bella

A language advantage film review by Tess Bentall

Set in 1939, Italy. The hero Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), who has a gift for making people laugh, and his friend Ferruccio come to a new town to stay with Guido’s uncle Eliseo. Guido meets the beautiful schoolteacher Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) by accident. He nicknames her princess. They encounter one another several times by surprise in amusing circumstances. Eventually he wins her heart and takes her away from her disagreeable fiance.

Years later Guido and Dora are happily married and have a young son Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). Since they are Jews Guido and Giosue are taken to a concentration camp. Dora, a gentile, follows them there voluntartily. In order to protect Giosue’s innocence and to shield him from the dangers and brutality of life during the Holocaust, Guido tells Giosue that they are part of a role playing game where they have to obtain a thousand points by obeying camp orders and coping with camp life in order to win first prize. Will Guido succeed in protecting his son and will the family ever be reunited?

Life is Beautiful is an absolutely adorable film. It is moving, uplifting and extremely amusing. A deserved winner of three Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Actor and Best Original Score. The film gives the viewer a unique insight into Italian history, the Italian way of life and Italy’s family values. It is also a celebration of the power of the imagination and the beauty of the human spirit. The interaction between Guido and Giosue is delightful. The romance between Guido and Dora is entirely believable and all the more touching when the viewer knows that Benigni and Braschi are happily married to each other off-screen. The key triumph of this film is to make one truly believe that life is beautiful. A joy to watch. Five stars.

In Italian with English subtitles.

To buy  Life is Beautiful  and other  Italian language films>>

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The Postman (1994)
Il Postino

A language advantage film review by Andrea Martins

This is a wonderfully charming story of an almost illiterate man, Mario Ruoppolo, played by the late Massimo Troisi. He decides to leave his life as a fisherman and become a postman on his native island in the Mediterranean Sea. Pablo Neruda, the Chilean Poet (played by the French actor Phillipe Noiret also in Cinema Paradiso) has found a rustic home on the same island after he is exiled in 1952. Mario is in charge of bringing Pablo his packages and mail and their friendship develops over time. Like everyone else on the island, Mario is impressed by the foreigner. In trying to imitate his poet friend, Mario becomes aware of all the beauty around him and discovers love with a beautiful local girl, Beatrice Russo.

Poetry is the connection between the two men, as Pablo helps Mario to woo the lovely Beatrice using poetry. It’s a simple film but gloriously filled with poetry and tango music reminiscent of the Chilean culture at that time. Although the English Director Michael Radford directed this film, he shows well the stunning scenery of the Mediterranean island and the very slow, simple way of life of its people. The Italian language is generally easy, although – at times – it is difficult to understand the ramblings of Mario in his thick Italian!

This film won an Oscar and a BAFTA award in 1996 as well as many other nominations for Best Foreign Film and Best Leading Actor for Massimo Troisi. In Italian with English subtitles.

To buy  The Postman  and other  Italian language films>>

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Mediterraneo (1992)

A language advantage film review by Sarah Maddocks

This film is directed by Gabriele Salvatores and set in Greece during World War II. Mediterranneo is a comedy about eight Italian soldiers who are sent to guard a small Greek island. The soldiers ship is sunk and their radio breaks down so as far as the army is concerned the soldiers no longer exist. They start to form a small Italian/Greek community with the locals and their past is soon forgotten. The soldiers’ characters start to change and they begin to adopt the island’s way of life with no desire to return to war.

This film is lovely; a real heart warmer full of passion and romance. A film about human nature, stereotypes and relationships during the war. It’s an Italian love story with a dash of comical genius. Definitely a must for any Mills & Boon fan and anyone who wants to experience an Italian romance with a ray of Greek sunshine.

In Italian with English subtitles.

To buy  Mediterraneo and other  Italian language films>>

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Cinema Paradiso (1989)

A language advantage film review by Andrea Martins

This has to be my all time favourite foreign movie. It is the story of a young boy called Salvatore who grew up in a small Sicilian village in the forties and fifties. As an older man and successful film director, he returns home for the funeral of Alfredo, an old friend and his surrogate father, who was the projectionist at the local cinema in the town throughout his childhood. Salvatore remembers his childhood and his friendship with Alfredo. We are taken back in time and into his memories of love and understand why it took the death of his old friend Alfredo for him to return to his home after 30 years.

This film by director Giuseppe Tornatore, who also produced Malena in 2000. It is a film which is stunning, charming and utterly absorbing. It not only vividly shows life in a small village in Sicily during the 1940’s but also shows the passage of time and how progress, industrialisation and technology can change people’s lives and not always for the better.

It won an Academy Award at the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, five Baftas, a Golden Globe and several other nominations and awards. It is also currently one of the most bestselling dvd’s on amazon.co.uk. This is a definite must-see movie that will have you watching it again and again.

Some Sicilian is noted within the film but the bulk of it is in Italian that is easily understandable if you’ve been learning it for a while. In Italian with English subtitles. Rated PG in the UK.

To buy  Cinema Paradiso  and other  Italian language films>>

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New German Audio Magazine

The next issue of our German audio magazine, Schau ins Land, is now available!   We get February 2009 off to a great start with the latest issue of Schau ins Land. Our main feature is a long interview with the iconoclastic singer/songwriter, Udo Lindenberg. He talks about his colorful past, his efforts to reach out to East Germans before the Berlin Wall came down and his second career as an artist. Read more

La Dolce Vita 2009

Experience The Sweet Life at La Dolce Vita, the annual celebration of the Italian good life in London.   The UK’s most influential Italian lifestyle event is returning to London Olympia in March 2009 for its fifth year! Renowned to deliver an authentic Italian experience for trade and consumer visitors alike.   Read more

TEACH YOURSELF ITALIAN VERBS AND ITALIAN GRAMMAR REVIEW

An independent language books review by Andrea Martins

Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced learner, the Teach Yourself language books are a must. I used the Teach Yourself Italian Grammar and Teach Yourself Italian Verbs books whilst studying for a GCSE * Italian course last year. Although we had a text book as the main learning tool for the course, I chose to buy these books as extra aids for my studies. Even if you are not taking classes, the Teach Yourself books’ purpose is to do exactly that – Teach Yourself.

There are over 300 titles in the Teach Yourself range and they are advertised as being extremely functional, simple and easy to use and cover languages from Afrikaans to Zulu. Most of the language courses have CDs or a cassette with them, but with the verb and grammar series, there are no cassettes; just you, your Teach Yourself book and your interest to learn.

It’s just you, your Teach Yourself book and your interest to learn …

There are 22 units of functional grammar in the Teach Yourself Italian Grammar book; functional in that each unit covers a basic communicative function such as ‘Ask someone else’s opinion’ or ‘Talk about events and actions in the past’. Each unit is laid out in a very clear and non-technical way. There is, however, a Grammar Appendix which lists any grammar points not explained in the book as well as a list of the common irregular verbs. The Index also lists specific grammar points.

Each unit begins with a brief synopsis of what the unit contains highlighting the particular language points covered. You are then introduced to a few examples. These are explained with some individual points being given additional coverage (this section is called Language Plus). A particularly useful section of each unit is ‘Language in Action’ which comprises of up to four exercises as revision based on what has been covered in the unit. Exercises include: fill the gap exercises, reading and writing exercises, translating and so on. I found this useful not only for grammar revision but also for communicative use as the exercises show you how to use the language and grammar in the context of everyday life.

But it’s not all verbs, grammar and verb endings. There are some pictures, postcards, maps, letters and written dialogues which all enhance the grammar being covered giving you examples from spoken and written language. I personally found it helpful to work through each unit only after I had completely learnt and understood the previous one. You do not have to have completed one unit to begin the next one, although I did feel that this helped me with my own greater understanding and fluency. You are given the choice of systematically working through each unit like I did or work at the grammar points that most interest you. It is entirely up to you.

One disadvantage of this book is that the pronunciation of the Italian is not explained as you might find in other language learning books. I feel that this could lead to confusion for the complete beginner.

It’s not all verbs, grammar and verb endings

The Teach Yourself Italian Verbs book is a great book for learning that aspect of language learning that we all love to hate…verb conjugations! You can consult this book about any verb as each one is presented in their full conjugation under each tense (including the conditional and subjunctive tenses). Not all the verbs in the Teach Yourself Italian Verbs are listed though. The book would be huge otherwise! Instead, 200 of the most commonly used verbs are presented in the verb tables and many more are catered for in the glossary at the back of the book. Here you can find the verb that you want and the glossary directs you to a verb in the book that behaves the same way as the one that you want to use.

Each of the 200 verbs are set out one to a page and at the bottom of each page is listed the basic uses of the verb with examples, and well known phrases and expressions using that verb. Whilst taking the GCSE course last year, I found this book really useful for learning verb endings and verb uses. Each verb is set out clearly and with some hard grafting and memorizing, you too will understand how the tenses are formed and use the formulae for each new verb that you come across in your language learning.

For the complete beginner or advanced learner using this book for revision, the first section of the book ‘What are verbs and how do they work’ clearly explains the formation and tenses of verbs together with their grammatical uses. It is a really useful book to use alongside the Teach Yourself Italian Grammar book.

The only disadvantage to this collection of books is that you do need a lot of self-discipline to use them and be determined to complete the units (especially those in the Grammar book). Depending on how self-motivated you are you may find it difficult to continue using these books on a regular basis. Unfortunately, grammar and verb conjugations of any language can be the crux for fluent language learning and therefore some attention does need to be made on these language points.

Grammar and verb conjugations can be the crux for fluent language learning.

I would also say that the language learner would have to have learnt some Italian in order to have a go at learning the verb conjugations in the Teach Yourself Italian Verbs book as many of the verbs are not looked at even at GCSE level. This could seem daunting for complete beginners. However, the Teach Yourself Italian Grammar book states that ‘you need no knowledge of grammar terminology to use it’ – an advantageous point as grammar can be a very complex and boring subject at any level and even for language enthusiasts!

As an independent learner myself, self-motivation is the key to using these books. It may be best to use these books in conjunction with your own tapes and a course book (if you are taking classes) in order to hear the correct pronunciation and get an all round Italian language learning experience. Grammar and verbs and the way they are used are essential to learning any language but cannot be used alone. The great thing about these particular Teach Yourself Italian books is that they give you the freedom to choose whatever grammar point or verb you want to learn allowing you greater flexibility in your learning.

So give these Teach Yourself language books a try…..and see how motivated and enthusiastic you really are!!!

to buy Teach Yourself Italian Verbs or Italian Grammar [UK]>>
to buy Teach Yourself Italian Verbs or Italian Grammar [USA]>>
to find out more about Teach Yourself language courses>>

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