Thanks to Elsbeth, a UK Italian teacher and talented proof-reader, who has found yet another glitch in one of Monday’s exercises, now corrected.
Many thanks also to Steve, who wrote to me about a typo that even Elsbeth hadn’t spotted!
Goes to show, however many times you get something checked, there are always more mistakes to find.
Life lesson, huh?
Another interesting email I received yesterday was from Annalinda, who wrote:
I love getting your emails. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to practise regularly. Quite frankly the lessons are a wee bit too advanced for me. How do I switch to a lower level? Don’t even recall what I asked for.
OK, what’s happening here is that people visit our club website, perhaps referred by Google or by a friend, see that there’s lots of good, free material there, and so willingly sign up to receive emails about NEW materials (and promotions…)
They then open a few of the emails, take a quick glance at the exercises I’ve linked to that day, and think “Too easy”, “Too hard” or “I’m not going to learn Italian with just those two exercises. What a scam!”
Good point, Annalinda.
I was aware of this problem and have in mind a possible solution, not yet implemented due to the massive amount of work involved.
The idea is this.
When you first sign up as a club member (for free, remember) you’ll get a document with links and descriptions of THE MOST USEFUL MATERIAL ON THE SITE, in level order.
You save the file on the desktop of your computer or tablet.
It would be a sort of checklist, with a space next to each exercise to mark what you’d done, the date, your score, and so on.
Then, when you’re in the mood to study Italian, all you have to do is open the document, click the URL for the next exercise, and off you go.
You’re studying Italian on our site, for free, and at an appropriate level for the knowledge you currently have (or don’t have.)
Before I commit to actually DOING THIS, given that there are something like 3000 pages of free material at the clubhouse, I thought I’d ask for your feedback.
Whad’ya think?
Email me with your gut reaction, suggestions, criticisms, etc.
So, no new exercises today.
Why not? See above.
Instead, what I want you to do is go explore the clubhouse.
Think of it as an actual building, with rooms on the first floor and second floor.
Open a few doors to see what’s in there.
The place to start is the BLACK MENU with the WHITE WRITING.
Ignore the first three links (Shop, Cart, FAQ) as I’m not trying to sell you anything, at least not right now.
Start with the fourth from the left: Levels
But like I said, it’s a club house, you’re a member, so go where you want.
Open some doors and see what you can find:
Verbs | Vocabulary | Listening | Grammar | Italian Conversations | Italian Lessons
What if you don’t know where to start?
Nessun problema.
Write to me with a few details about your level and what Italian you have or haven’t done before.
I’ll be happy to suggest something.
P.S.
Yes, you CAN learn Italian online, from home, without spending a cent.
I’m convinced of it, in part because it’s the way I prefer learning.
Hence, I spend a LOT of my free time on this website, and others like it.
Free time, meaning I don’t get paid.
Revenues from OnlineItalianClub.com, such as they are, go to pay the team and/or are reinvested in making other great stuff
Like easy readers and parallel texts, for example. We’re having so much fun with those!
However, like many of you, I have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed, for which I also need a day job.
My nine-to-five is running a language school in Bologna.
Today I’m not teaching, but there are emails to write and we have our Christmas lunch!
Me, Stefi (my Italian wife and co-owner of the school), our permanent teaching staff, plus some regular freelancers, are going for a pizza!
(See our pics.)
The day job is keeping these people in work.
Of course, there’s a synergy with the club.
You’re learning Italian?
Here’s lots of free stuff to help you.
Ready to take an Italian course in Italy?
Cool idea.
Check out this promotion and save 20% on a 2017 Italian course in Bologna.
Buon Natale a tutti!
A lunedì.
Daniel
