If you’re learning Italian, or any foreign language, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the experience of confusing two words that, at least to you, look or sound similar. For example, when I’m speaking Italian I tend to confuse the word scorciatoia (short cut) with the word scoiattolo (the tree-dwelling rodent). Why am I telling […]

I’m waking up today in a different time zone. My eldest and I are in Texas, USA, and so seven hours behind Italian time. Everything here is big, just like they say. Malls and fast foods (lots of parking), the pickup trucks. But also very neat. Tidy. Well-organised. Pretty, even. Unlike what they say, the […]

Buondì. Here’s the final article from Italy, for a while at least. As mentioned the other day, from Wednesday I’ll be in Texas, USA taking a road trip with my eldest daughter, whose birthday present this is. I assume there’ll be WiFi, so things should proceed more or less as normal, apart from observations about […]

What’s the longest river in Italy? Every Italian school child knows this one, I’m sure. But if you don’t, I’ll give you a clue. Remember that children’s story about a teddy-bear, who lives in Hundred Acre Wood, along with various other improbable forms of wildlife: a donkey, a family of kangaroos, a piglet, a tiger […]

Buondì. Ragazzi, it’s hot here in Bologna this week! Hotter than usual for June at around 34 degrees centigrade (93 degrees Fahrenheit). That said, it’s perfect ‘acclimatization’ for next week, when my daughter and I will be taking a road trip in Texas. Approximately the same temperature, but windier. This is my eldest child’s eighteenth […]

Buondì. After a fun weekend on the boat (mostly away from WiFi, though), I’m in a bit of a rush today. So quickly, let me link to some material suitable for those of you who are just starting out with Italian. While aimed at lower levels, it’s also useful practice for students who are further […]

Today’s free Italian listening task is about introducing yourself (‘presenting yourself’.) Click the link below to listen to Lucia and to answer the questions to check how much you understand of what she says. She’s ‘una persona simpatica e divertente’ apparently, though perhaps not that modest with it. There’s also a transcript, though if I […]

Monday evening I was teaching a small group of Italian eight-year-olds their first English irregular plurals. man – men woman – women child – children You get the idea. It’s well known how kids learn the regular patterns first (of their own language too). They then extrapolate from what they already know, which causes predictable errors: […]

Buondì. As promised, it’s back to normal this week, with posts today, Wednesday and Friday. I have a free Italian listening (with transcript and task) for you to take a look at. Plus, a ‘Book of the Week’ offer! But things are still hectic around here so let’s get right on. The listening is, while […]

Buondì. It’s cloudy in Bologna today, but it’ll be Friday all day, so no problem! Today I have an announcement you might want to take note of. Next week, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, I’ll be suspending the usual Monday, Wednesday, Friday articles. Why? Because after twelve years our Italian school is ‘moving house’ on […]