Buondì.
Just to clarify something – I’m ‘retiring’ (with no pension) from teaching English, not from the various other things I do.
Those include writing these articles, SELLING EBOOKS, being the person who’ll go to jail if our Italian school inadvertently breaks any laws, and, um, getting bitten by agressive toddlers (Sunday’s highlight!)
So no need to write wishing me a peaceful and joyous sunset of life, as many did.
Thanks for the positive feedback, though. It was cheering to hear that some people, somewhere in the world, have benefited from the, ormai a million or so, words that I’ve typed about learning Italian (and other languages).
An email from Marion got me thinking about four types of language learner:
The ‘do-it-by-the- (grammar) book’ type
Drop a rock from a tall building and this is the type of learner you are most likely to kill. But no worries, for they are ubiquitous. Still, teachers and grammar book writers have to earn a living, too, so maybe don’t drop that rock. Or at least, don’t say it was my idea…
The ‘too-busy-with-my-app-right-now’ type
Perhaps when you’ve finished with the app, then? Oh, sorry, yes… The app never finishes, right? It’s designed by psychologists and data analysts (never actual teachers) to keep you engaged until, eventually, you pop your clogs. While maximising advertising revenue, of course!
The ‘seeks out and follows good advice’ type
The good advice is not always followed, of course, but for those the force is with but who are not Jedi yet, mastery comes from trying different things, and so eventually learning what works well, and what doesn’t.
The ‘been there, done that’ type
This is me (and Marion, from what she writes). We used to buy and read ‘easy readers’, but now we devour authentic texts, and have favorite radio shows and TV programs in the languages we’re learning. She and I are still learning, of course, but we’re no longer dependent on materials produced for learners. Or on teachers’ advice.
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Which type, I wonder, are you?
My goal is to make Marions of you all, THEN I’ll retire from writing articles like this one.
Sure, language learning can potentially go on for your whole life, why not?
But if you’ve been a long time with the training wheels on, so haven’t yet moved on to using the language as native speakers do (having proper conversations about real things, consuming media, etc.), you should be asking yourself why.
As far as I’m concerned, the sooner you become former online students, and/or former ‘easy reader’ buyers, the happier I’ll be.
Just as long as you’ve moved up, rather than on.
A mercoledì.
P.S. New ‘easy reader’ ebook published this week!
Here I go again, trying to sell something!
Plinio e l’eruzione del Vesuvio is level B2/C1 so, in theory, upper-intermediate/advanced.
But if you’ve been paying attention, and diligently practising reading and listening to Italian, as well as all the tedious grammar-booky stuff, then you might want to give it a go even if you’ve not yet reached those elevated heights.
Check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) to be sure. And don’t forget to listen to the online audio (the link is in the .pdf).
What’s it about, then?
“Roman-era admiral and ‘natural historian’, Plinio, is having a lazy afternoon with his scrolls, when his sister rushes in, alarmed by smoke rising from nearby Vesuvio!”
I wrote that part, for the search engines. But the blurb in our online shop is in Italian:
Caio Plinio Secondo, più conosciuto come “Plinio il Vecchio”, ha scritto la più grande enciclopedia del mondo antico. Quest’opera, intitolata “Osservazione della natura” (Naturalis historia) è un immenso trattato di antropologia, storia dell’arte, zoologia, botanica, medicina, geografia e mineralogia.
Durante i suoi numerosi viaggi come comandante militare e governatore delle province di Roma, Plinio non ha mai smesso di osservare i fenomeni naturali, le piante, gli animali e le persone, né di raccogliere informazioni.
Nell’anno 79 d.C., Plinio è a capo della flotta militare romana, tenuta nel porto di Miseno, perciò vive in una villa vicino a Napoli. Proprio in quell’anno, dal Vesuvio, enorme vulcano attivo della Campania, comincia a uscire del fumo…
- .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
- .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
Buy ‘Plinio e l’eruzione del Vesuvio‘, just £5.99! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | Browse our Catalog!
How do I access my ebook?
When your order is ‘completed’ (allow up to 24 hours), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.
P.P.S.
Saturday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news is available to read/listen to, if you’ve a moment.
Many thanks to everyone who has helped fund the website/mailing list with their donations. The EIN team really appreciates your continuing support!
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OnlineItalianClub.com | EasyItalianNews.com | EasyReaders.org (ebooks) | NativeSpeakerTeachers.com (1-1 lessons)
Chris Jolley says
Good news Daniel, I hoped you weren’t giving up on us! Another great article today, I’m just wondering if I might have sneaked into the Marion category thanks to all your good advice about language learning. Having just returned from 10 days in Lucca where both my wife and I dared to engage in Italian with the locals and I watched some of the Giro on Rai TV, listening to the commentary, which I had done 6 years ago on holiday in Calabria and heard gibberish for 2 hours. This time I heard them chatting on about the reintroduction of Marmots to the Dolomite region and the benefits to the eagles which love to hunt and eat them! Strangely little to do with cycling, but it shows what can happen by listening to and reading real Italian every day for just over a year now. So glad I took your advice. Many thanks.
Daniel says
Marmots again!!
Thanks for the feedback, Chris, and well done to you for sticking with it.
Sharon Dias says
Hi Daniel
Love your articles. This one made me smile. I’m afraid I fall into all the categories, so will never be a pure Marion. Nonetheless still enjoy the way I am doing it. I live on Vancouver Island near Mount Washington and we have marmots. They started a breeding program a few years ago and numbers are growing.
Ciao
Sharon
Daniel says
What are the marmots breeding, Sharon? They sound like an entrepreneurial bunch. Hope they don’t decide to enter the ‘learn Italian’ market!
Thanks for commenting!
enda says
Daniel Your articles always make me smile too 😊 . I think I’ve become addicted to checking out what you have to say on language learning . I seem to have read it all before but still come back looking for more. I enjoy your comments on your day to day life in Italy.. I haven’t been to your house to share the Sunday pizzas or ever driven through the noisy busy streets in Bologna but feel almost as if I have.!
commiserazionI per la mancanza della pensione ma bon proseguimento !
Enda
Daniel says
Grazie, Enda!