The only slight problem being that I don’t have a few months…
Bootcamp starts a week tomorrow - and then after Bootcamp is over, I have three weeks until I’ll be off to San Giacomo…
But if I can get enough to play around with and to show willing, that’ll be great. 
Well, as I said, you would be understood now, I’m perfectly sure of it - and the Italians I know don’t mind a bit of a Spanish accent:)
@aran, in the dim and distant past, I visited Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan. Mostly I was with an Anglo-Aussie and a real Aussie! I was amazed how brilliant Italians are at understanding bad Italian. I never had proper lessons, just a bit of “teach yourself” and a lot of listening! If I could get by with what I knew, you will be seen as totally fluent!! I went back to Venice for a scientific meeting, staying at a very small, non-touristy hotel and commuting by water bus(bliss)! Again, amazed by ability to communicate!
p.s. Total confusion over red juice which arrived when I expected orange! I was assured it was orange. It turned out to be the juice of blood oranges!!!
Which city?
Modena:) Almost the centre of Italy. I’ve always preferred the South (and the Southerners :)) though. Siciliano, Napoletano and Pugliese are just as lovely as the official language, if not better.
I agree:)
Yes but if you want to see real genius at work, then watch a hot-blooded Italian start the courtship process.
You probably left a many broken hearts behind in Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan
Justin
Well if you consider that much of the language and culture can be mastered through colourful gesticulations - then my bet is that you are already 50% of the way there.
Then with frequent use of va bene, ciao bella, bacio, buongiorno, ci vediamo, vino, pasta, formaggio, proscuitto, tartufi and funghi you probably have about 30% of the other most important occasions covered.
So after practicing these words and gesticulations in front of the mirror you will be already verging on 80% mastery of the Italian language and culture - especially if you also watch “A Fish Called Wanda”.
Now there are a few other indispensable words like bunga-bunga and perhaps 4,000 others to take you to 95% mastery but from the time you first mention vino you will probably forget that you need the rest
Justin
When I first came to Italy (I was 14) I only knew one expression “Che bello!” Now, I’m not saying it’s a bad expression, you can survive on this alone (maybe adding “Dov’e il bagno” and “Ho fame” too, just to be sure) for a long time - with a bit of luck, you can even get married knowing just this one sentence. But if you abuse of it as I did, it can get you into trouble. We were driving from the airport with my mother and step-father (he’s Italian), and I, feeling that, as a guest, I need to entertain my hosts with some small talk, but knowing just this one sentence, squealed happily at every turn: “Ma che bello!” Flowers were “bello”, fields were “bello”, everything was “bello”. When we were passing a very nice building with a long metal fence, I repeated my “Che bello” with so much enthusiasm, that mom turned to me, looked at me in an odd way and said “Guarda che e un cimitero” (Look, it’s a cemetary).
Yah, except they don’t like each-others too much (according to what I’ve seen in Spain) - hehe
Thanks to Stella, I’m intending to rely principally on ‘Ho domenticato la buona parte del mio italiano’…
I’ve always loved this sentence because it kind of implies you used to be incredibly proficient in it:) I use it all the time with my French!
Well, diolch for the compliment, but I did find the men incredibly determined chatters-up! Except in Venice. When I finally got chatted up there, he turned out to be a Roman!! In comparison with most Italians the French are positively shy!!! I actually found Venice really relaxing!
To @seren and @aran I am forever saying “Dwi’n wedi cofio fy Nghymraeg imi!”
You might want to switch that to ‘Dwi wedi anghofio fy Nghymraeg’…
Oh, @aran, I am literally laughing out load!! Of all the typos in the world!! How did I manage that??? And I didn’t notice!! I can’t edit it now, as it wouldn’t be fair to others!!
Let it stand as an object lesson!!