An Excellent Italian<>English Android Dictionary App

I have found a nice Italian<>English Android dictionary app. It is not on the level of the Larousse French<>English dictionary app I use or the Kabuto Japanese<>English app, but it appears to be the nicest of the Android Italian<>English dictionaries. It is the Berlitz Standard Italian<>English Dictionary by Langenscheidt KG and Paragon Software. It costs $29.95. (There is another Berlitz Italian<>English Android Dictionary app that is less expensive and not as good.)

This app allows you to search for a word by typing or by speaking. It also has the audio pronunciation of the words. It is very easy to use. I have it loaded onto both my Samsung Galaxy S II phone and my Archos G9 80 tablet.

Foreign Language Podcasts; Italian Podcasts

One great and free tool for language learning is foreign language podcasts. There are many that specifically focus on language learning. Additionally, there are many others that are intended for the speakers of a particular language, but that are very helpful for learning about another culture or society.

To find lots of free language learning podcasts on iTunes:
1. Go to the iTunes Store
2. Click on Podcasts
3. On the lower right hand side of the page, under featured collections, click on Language Learning
4. Click on the language category that interests you.

One source of Italian podcasts that I love is Radio il Sole 24 Ore (Radio 24 Hours of Sun), from an Italian radio station by that name. These podcasts cover a wide variety of topics and can easily be downloaded through iTunes and loaded onto any smartphone - iPhone, Android, or Windows phone. Additionally, the podcasts can be listned to through iGoogle.

The programs used to create these podcasts can also be listened to live through smart phone programs like the Android TuneIn app.

The 52 or so Radio il Sole 24 Ore podcast series (http://www.radio24.ilsole24ore.com/listaprog.php?podcast=1)  include the following series and many others:
1. Il Gastronauta (The Gastronaut) - this one covers many, many topics on food and wine. I love it.
2. Focus Economia (Focus on Economy) - this one covers every aspect of the Italian economy. It's very interesting.
3. 2024 - the way technology changes life
4. A Tempo di Sport (Sport Time) - Soccer on Monday through Thursday, baskeball on Friday, and all sports on the weekend.
5. America 24 - a variety of themes and opinions about the U.S.

I only listen to the first two. In each of those two, there is a host who solicits the opinions of experts, and who invites listeners to call in or send text messages. Both hosts do a superb job.

The fluency level needed to deal with those two ranges from intermediate to advanced, depending on the speaker and the topic.