Buondì. It’s my birthday today, and also the anniversary of the day I met my Italian wife, twenty-one years ago! So we’re going out, just for a walk around the shops in Bologna, maybe to spend a gift voucher I received for a bookstore (remember those?) And for an ‘aperitivo’, of course! But it all […]

On Sunday I posted my suggestions for beginners or near beginners. Yesterday I recommended materials for those of you at A2 and B1 (pre-intermediate and intermediate) levels. So today, let’s look at the more challenging stuff! As previously mentioned, The Tenses You Need To Speak Italian is a useful read. And our five-level grammar workbook […]

Yesterday I wrote about what beginners or near beginners should buy to boost their progress with Italian. If you missed it, here’s the link: I’m a beginner (or nearly). What should I buy? But hey, one day you’re a beginner, then time passes, and suddenly you’re not! Like me with the Swedish. Less than eighteen months […]

You’re just beginning with Italian, or have recently started. What should you buy from our online shop that could speed things up, keep you motivated, or just add a little variety to whatever it is you’re doing now? One question. Do you have money to spend? If the answer’s no, not a cent, and please […]

I’d be rubbish at working in retail. In fact I WAS rubbish at working in retail, around thirty-five years ago, having once been an easily-bored teenager who was prone to sulk when he perceived his talents were being under-employed. But what I mean is that, suppose I worked in a boutique or a sneaker-shop or […]

Buondì. It seems to be a holiday just about everywhere in Europe today, except in Italy (as I point out each Good Friday.) My kids are off school for a week or so, as am I, which is nice for them but means I have to prepare lunch and wash the dishes. Also, the EasyReaders.Org […]

Buondì. Spring has sprung here in Bologna. The cherry trees in the courtyard in front of our house have that lovely pink blossom that lasts just a few days before it’s gone. From my bedroom window, I can see a rash of little blue flowers (no idea what type) popping up from every inch of […]

Buondì. I’m in a rush today as I spent a good chunk of the morning studying Swedish (words for things in the bedroom – it felt a bit like shopping at Ikea…) followed by an enjoyable online lesson. Amongst other things, I learnt how to say ‘I’m joking’ (Jag skojar). I asked my teacher “Do […]

The problem with having an office is that people expect you to be in it. Worse, it fills up with paper, much of it needing attention. And if you’re unfortunate enough to work for an organisation with an I.T. department, it will likely be ordained that the most secure way for you to work is […]

Buondì. First, many thanks to those of you who took time to leave feedback on Monday’s experimental new material ‘Il cane‘. The comments are at the bottom of Monday’s article. Read what was written by clicking that link and scrolling down. Note that it’s possible to comment on what other people have written. Look for […]