The importance of writing
I am always telling my students how effective writing is to improve the mastery of the language we are studying and to enhance our confidence. In fact, through writing we can improve our sentence cons
Blog
Stories, tips, and insights about Italian language and culture.
LET'S TALK ABOUT FOOD, BUT WITHOUT 'CIBO'
Here is a tip for those who are studying Italian and want to sound more Italian. We do have the word 'cibo', which means 'food', in our Italian dictionary, but we hardly use it. In fact, we use other
LA GOCCIA SCAVA LA ROCCIA...
You have been studying Italian for a while and you are fluent or almost fluent, BUT... then again, the same mistakes keep cropping up during your conversations and you want to get rid off them. Listen
SONO ANDATO IN ITALIA y'know E MI SONO DIVERTITO UN SACCO I mean...
Would you believe that one of the most difficult tasks I have encountered as an Italian teacher is to help my advanced and fluent students eradicate completely the use of English gap fillers from Ital
Dove andiamo domani?
DOVE ANDIAMO DOMANI? Andiamo al mercato a fare la spesa! Vorrei un po' di patate, 4 pomodori, un mazzetto di prezzemolo... Tomorrow we are going to do our shopping to the market... because in Italy we
How many Italies and how many Italians...
Sometimes, during our Classes, we use Italian songs as props to stimulate our brains and discuss Italian topics which are at the heart of Italian life. In fact, songs such as 'Inno nazionale' (Itali
Che bellino questo cagnolino... ha proprio un bel canino... What kind of Italian is that??
It is curious, isn't it? Che bellino questo cagnolino' means how nice this doggy is. 'Ha proprio un bel canino' means 'he really has a beautiful canine (tooth)'. Do not worry, do not panic if, in spit
College of Comerce Intermediate 09/04/2013
Intermediate Oggi abbiamo corretto i compiti e poi abbiamo visto il Condizionale. Potete studiarlo a pagina 271. Compiti: esercizi A, B, C, D a pagina 272.
How long does it take to learn Italian?
Learning Italian, as many of you already know, is a wonderful journey and, as such, its duration depends on many factors. It also depends on your goals, of course. A student may be completely happy to
Buona Pasqua to everybody, but let's not forget Pasquetta!
Buona Pasqua a tutti (which literally means Good Easter to all, but you would translate Happy Easter to everybody). Today I have been asked by my neighbor if the Easter Bunny has already come to my ho
Al fresco, outside or locked up?
We laughed so much the other evening with my students about this expression... Al fresco! I found out that two students named their golf team 'Al fresco' and after reading this story you will know why