Answers
May 18, 2012 - 12:22 PM
Hi Christine, I was trying out Fluenz Italian 3 on my computer (PC, Windows 7, version f2.5), but the words and phrases are playing automatically. I was wondering which version did you have. You might want to download and run the latest updates: http://goo.gl/NNJZk and see if this fixes the issue.
And indeed there's a leap between levels 2 and 3, but nothing to worry about since there are ways you can get to feel more at ease with it. Have tried listening to our podcasts? That will help you go over some vocab and grammar, and will certainly help you retain what you learn better. And since Italian is quite different from English, maybe listening to it for an hour a day while you're doing other things, can help you get habituated to sounds and certain words, even though you might not understand much of it at the beginning. It is by constant immersion that fluency is achieved. I can recommend you a good site where you can see Italian TV programs: http://goo.gl/0Thwz, this will come in handy for listening comprehension.
Also our Flashcards can be a great supplementary aid in your learning process. I can recommend you an excellent grammar book, which outlines all you need to know in the simplest and most comprehensive way I've ever encountered: http://goo.gl/uZ49Q. I've used it myself and it's worked out very well. Hope this helps!
And indeed there's a leap between levels 2 and 3, but nothing to worry about since there are ways you can get to feel more at ease with it. Have tried listening to our podcasts? That will help you go over some vocab and grammar, and will certainly help you retain what you learn better. And since Italian is quite different from English, maybe listening to it for an hour a day while you're doing other things, can help you get habituated to sounds and certain words, even though you might not understand much of it at the beginning. It is by constant immersion that fluency is achieved. I can recommend you a good site where you can see Italian TV programs: http://goo.gl/0Thwz, this will come in handy for listening comprehension.
Also our Flashcards can be a great supplementary aid in your learning process. I can recommend you an excellent grammar book, which outlines all you need to know in the simplest and most comprehensive way I've ever encountered: http://goo.gl/uZ49Q. I've used it myself and it's worked out very well. Hope this helps!
May 21, 2012 - 08:58 AM
Thanks, the update made the program run as it should. Now I just have to get that ear trained and realize that I am going to make grammatical errors in Italian just as often as I do in English! Really love the flashcards and the podcasts are good when I'm driving in the car.
Jun 07, 2012 - 09:14 PM
i have to click on the 'play' button every time. i'm on level 2 and have had to do it since level 1, do i need to update my version?
Jun 08, 2012 - 05:16 PM
I am doing Spanish. When I got to Level 5, it was just like that for me. I'm doing flashcards now, and in the lower levels I feel fine, but get to the higher ones, especially Level 5, and I fall apart. Don't get discouraged! I'm sure most of us are in the same boat--no matter which language we are learning.
Jun 13, 2012 - 04:44 PM
wow, i updated my version. what a difference it makes to not have to press the 'play' button. something so little and simple makes such a significant difference. so much easier now, thanks for the info Leo!
Nov 13, 2018 - 08:02 PM
yes, just started level 3 and I am so bummed out. I thought I was doing well in level two. I cannot understand Sonia on the write the phrases you hear - repeating them 5-6 times. the speed combined with dropping vowels all over the place and lack of intonation. Please tell me it gets better.
Nov 14, 2018 - 10:41 AM
Try using the "Slow Speech" option in Fluenz Online, that may help a bit, but keep in mind that it's perfectly normal to have to listen to the phrases 5-6 times—even more. Stick with it and all the hard work will pay off.