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 […]
Just starting out with Italian? Here’s something for you!
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 […]
Meet Lucia, ‘una persona simpatica e divertente’!
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 […]
Fun fun fun ’til daddy takes the T-bird away
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: […]
OnlineItalianClub.com – We’re back!
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 […]
Next week, NO EMAILS FROM DANIEL!
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 […]
Like dogs, cooking and grammar? This is your lucky day!
Buondì. Two more free Italian listenings for you. They’re level B2 (upper-intermediate) but worth a try wherever you are with your Italian. Each focuses on a different variation of the passive form. The passive in Italian isn’t, in itself, hard. But it helps to recognise it when you see it. The first listening is about […]
Free Italian Listening and New ‘Book of the Week’ Offer!
Buondì. This morning I have a new ‘Book of the Week’ offer for you – half the usual easy reader ebook price on a title we published a while back, which you may not therefore have seen. This time I’ve chosen L’ascensore, a sweet little story about two neighbours who dislike each other but get […]
Free Italian listening with transcript: la particella SI
Buondì. Today we have a free Italian listening (with transcript) which focuses on the use of the third, and final, pronominal particle. Monday we saw the particle ‘ci‘. Wednesday you listened to examples of the use of ‘ne‘. And so, if it’s Friday, it must be ‘si‘, which has got to be the easiest of […]
More intermediate Italian grammar – la particella ‘ne’
Following on from Monday’s article, which linked to an audio on la particella ‘ci’, today we have another from the same group of awkward little words. Personally, I find ‘ne’ much easier to use than ‘ci’. But maybe that’s just me. Have a go at the audio and see what YOU think: La particella NE […]