developing an ear

When learning Italian, most people focus on la bocca - the mouth. Getting your tongue and lips around all those rolled r's and strange "gl" combinations. But equally important are le orecchie - the ears. The sooner you can develop an inner sense of something just "sounding" right (or wrong), the better. You'll make fewer gaffs and blunders and pronounce more smoothly.

Here's a link to some free Italian audiobooks that will give your ears a workout. Buon ascolto!