I hate being late. Missing deadlines is not me at all.
But it’s been that sort of week. Chiedo scusa.
Anyway, here it is! The first in our series of eight B2 level Italian listening tracks, complete with the usual transcript to study.
If you find this too hard, there are 8 similar exercises each on the A1, A2 and B1 pages.
For those reading this in an e-mail, or (horror) on an Apple product, you may not see the plug-in which powers the listening.
In which case click here to view this article on our website.
1. USO DEL CONGIUNTIVO – LA FONDAZIONE DI ROMA
La città di Roma è una città molto antica, costruita molti anni prima della nascita di Cristo. Si ritiene che sia stata fondata il 21 aprile del 753 avanti Cristo. Ed è per questo che si dice che il 21 aprile è il compleanno di Roma. La leggenda vuole che sia stato un uomo di nome Romolo a fondare Roma e che ne sia diventato il primo re. Romolo aveva un fratello gemello di nome Remo.
Secondo gli antichi Romani, Romolo e Remo erano discendenti della dea Venere. Si dice che i gemelli siano stati abbandonati in una cesta sul fiume Tevere e siano stati trovati da una lupa, che se ne prese cura.
Si dice inoltre che un pastore si sia preso cura dei due gemelli fino a quando divennero grandi.
Secondo gli antichi Romani Romolo e Remo decisero di fondare una città, ma pare che a causa di alcuni litigi tra i fratelli Romolo abbia ucciso Remo e sia diventato re della città di Roma.
Questa è solo una leggenda molto affascinante, ma nessuno ritiene che sia accaduto veramente. Si crede che questa leggenda sia nata per dare importanza alla città. Infatti in questo modo si diceva che Roma discendeva direttamente dalla dea Venere.
Uno dei poeti latini più famosi che ha raccontato la storia della fondazione di Roma è stato Virgilio. Si dice che Virgilio sia stato uno dei poeti più apprezzati e famosi dell’Impero Romano. Il compito di scrivere delle origini di Roma gli fu affidato proprio dall’imperatore.
P.S.
I’m dying to know… Has the work you’ve been doing on your listening helped with this ‘more difficult’ material?
Karen says
Yes it certainly has, I feel much less stressed about listening exercises as a result. It has given me the confidence to do some work on the 2012 Siena test papers so I now have a goal (B1 !)
ps I love my MAC !
I have sent my class the links to the hypothetical subjunctive/conditional exercises so am spreading the word.
Much appreciate all your hard work
Daniel says
Thanks for the feedback, Karen. And for the ‘word-of-mouth’.
Good luck with the B1 exam!
Maria says
Ciao Daniel:
Sarebbe di moto aiuto se avessi un piccolo questionario per misurare la comprensione. Ho trovato quest’audio utile perche sono stata spronata a investigare l’origine dei romani y poi dei latini.
Moltissime grazie per il lavoro in preparare e maneggiare questo blog.
Daniel says
Ciao Maria,
si, hai ragione. Sarebbe utile includere le domande.
Il motivo per cui non l’ho fatto era per non ‘spaventare’ le persone…
Daniel
Frances Kenny says
Hi Daniel.
The listening exercise is perfect, not so fast that I can’t hear each word but I’m afraid it is showing up my lack of vocabulary. Quite a number of words that I did not understand so transcript was invaluable. I hate listening to something and never finding out what it’s all about. Hope the comment goes through this time. Thanks for supplying such valuable resources.
Daniel says
Hi Frances,
Your comment was published automatically and without problems!
Thanks for the positive feedback. It makes us happy!
About the number of words you couldn’t get, it’s pretty typical as you push on to higher level materials. Wait a few weeks and see how you get on with the C1 stuff – you’ll find it’s the same, but more so!
The trick, of course, is to learn how to handle the unknown words and phrases… Being ‘B2’ or ‘C1’ at listening is only partly a function of how many words (and how much gramamr) you know. It’s also about your ability to interpret what you hear, to fill in the gaps, to make sense of what is inevitably going to be an imperfectly perceived stream of sounds.
What should happen is that, with time and suitable practice materials, your listening skills will ‘catch up’ with your paper knowledge of the language, and then perhaps even exceed it.
So you might, one day, be able to follow political speeches on the radio, even though your knowledge of the language remains imperfect.
It does take a while, though!
Frances Kenny says
Political speeches! Never! I can’t handle them in English !
Killian says
Many thanks for posting such excellent material. I find that the B2 stuff is really stretching me, but what’s wrong with that?
Best
Kiillian
Daniel says
Absolutely nothing Killian!
And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Jo says
Hi Daniel
Goodness me that was a tough one! I could understand it once I read the transcript and looked up a few words, but at first I could only understand the odd word in the audio. I have not been keeping up with the previous listening exercises however, and have only listened to a few of them, as work has been extremely busy for the past few months. So I am only now trying to catch up. In this exercise, I particuarly liked that there are lots of examples of the different ways in which the subjunctive can be used. Thank you so much Daniel and a huge thanks also for all the teachers who are preparing these wonderful listening exercises. Jo : )
Nancy Dunbar says
Hi Daniel –
I’ve had to take a break from study for a while but I’m back and wanted to leave a comment about the idea of a writing class. SIGN ME UP! I’m really most interested in speaking BUT (1) I thinking writing is a good way for me to study vocabulary and check my understanding of grammar, to learn the flow of the language, etc and (2) it’s very useful for those of us who don’t have a great internet connection. So I’m looking forward to learning more.
and I WILL catch up on my listening!!
thanks for all you do – Nancy
Daniel says
Hi Nancy!
Nice to hear from you again.
OK, as soon as the writing class is ready, you’ll get an e-mail announcing it! It should be a couple of weeks in the making…
Best wishes,
Daniel