Although Italians involved in the tourist industry often know basic English, especially in such popular destinations as Florence, Venice, and Rome, that is certainly not the case in every situation you will encounter in this fascinating country. In our workshop, participants will learn how to pronounce Italian, introduce themselves, and enhance their experiences in cafes, restaurants, hotels, and shops. Reading from store signs and menus provided on PowerPoint, everyone will become adept at purchasing items, ordering meals, paying the bill, and handling pesky Italian waiters without having to resort to English. Italians typically expect that American tourists have never studied their language; here’s your chance to make a big impression!

Convener: Christopher Nissen is professor emeritus of Italian at NIU. His previous contributions to the Lifelong Learning Institute have included sessions on Venice and Italian civilization of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.