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Fluenz definitely made my vacation great!
I had purchased all three DVDs of the Italian lessons in anticipation of our 3-week trip through Italy. We had a wedding in a small town and I had heard that not too many people speak English and I figured studying can only help. Help it did! I was able to have conversations with the locals who sat next to us at dinner, shop keepers complimented me on my Italian, I was able to communicate with taxi drivers and bike rental places - it was an incredible feeling. Other tourists who didn't put forth the effort thought the Italians were rude. Not my experience!
I started the lessons 9 months before our trip and I ended up using everything I learned right up to the last session. I did spend a lot of time practicing - about 5 hours a week outside of the lessons. I would record the phrases in English with a pause before the recorded phrases in Italian to practice and test myself. I don't know if I will continue the Italian since it will be quite some time before we go again, but I will use Fluenz to brush up on my French. I took 7 years of French and forgot it all for the Italian! I am a testament that if you put forth the effort it will pay off.
I started the lessons 9 months before our trip and I ended up using everything I learned right up to the last session. I did spend a lot of time practicing - about 5 hours a week outside of the lessons. I would record the phrases in English with a pause before the recorded phrases in Italian to practice and test myself. I don't know if I will continue the Italian since it will be quite some time before we go again, but I will use Fluenz to brush up on my French. I took 7 years of French and forgot it all for the Italian! I am a testament that if you put forth the effort it will pay off.