If you read these articles in an e-mail, you’ll only see the first few lines in future. To read the whole article (and to register for the Italian conversation groups) you’ll need to click the ‘Read more’ link and visit the website.
Why?
Statistics show us that, while a minority of people open, read and enjoy the emails, most people don’t. Long e-mails are off-putting for many people.
So, the idea is to bring people back to the website where, if they want to read the article, they can.
Or, if they find the article too tedious (sorry), at least they can click through to the free Italian exercises, courses (or maybe the shop!)
Italian conversation lessons – LAST WEEK FREE!
There’s another change in the pipeline, too.
Paolo has been doing the Italian conversation lessons for around a month now. We’ve been very pleased with the level of interest and hope to continue to offer onlineitalianclub.com users this opportunity.
To ensure that this will be possible, from March we’ll be introducing a small charge to cover the cost of the teacher. Split between a maximum of 6 participants, it should be easily affordable for anyone who’s interested.
Anyway, that’ll be from the beginning of March.
But this coming week is still February, so all three sessions remain completely free.
So, if you haven’t joined Paolo and the gang for a ‘Parliamo in italiano’ session, this would be a good week to give it a try.
And of course, you regulars are welcome back, too. Without you all, it wouldn’t be the same!
How to take part
- Choose your session according to which is the best time for you – note the change of day from Friday to Thursday!!
- Click the link and fill in your name and email
- Look out for your confirmation e-mail which contains the link you need to click to participate
- On the day of the meeting, make sure your microphone and headphones are set up
- Click the link in the email you received and follow the simple instructions
Paolo will log in around 10-15 minutes earlier than the ‘official’ lesson start time. So, if you have doubts about the technology, or just want to say ‘ciao’, go ahead and log on a little earlier than the lesson start time.
As last week, we are only accepting registrations from up to 10 people for each session (30 in total). All 10 participants can share audio at one time, and the first six can also share video.
Register now for your FREE Italian conversation lesson!
“Parliamo in italiano!” on Tuesday, February 25, 8:00 AM (click here to register) log on from 7.45 AM
“Parliamo in italiano!” on Wednesday, February 26, 9:00 PM (click here to register) log on from 8.45 PM
“Parliamo in italiano!” on Thursday, February 27, 1:00 PM (click here to register) log on from 12.45 PM
P.S. Please note, at the moment we’re using the free version of anymeeting.com, which is funded by adverts shown on your screen from login onwards. The anymeeting.com system does NOT require you to download any software in order to participate in the free online Italian conversation lesson. At the time of the online session, just click the link in the email you receive and follow the instructions. If you see an advert with the words ‘Download’, that’s all it is, an ad. Feel free to click it if you wish, but it’s nothing to do with the lesson, for which no downloads are necessary!
July Rice says
How can so much fun be gratis? I will gladly pay for the weekly “parliamo” meetings.
Also, I read with pleasure your articles as well as the “speak your mind” responses.
A proposito, Daniel, what was the “forum” you mentioned in a previous article?
A presto!
Daniel says
Thanks for your interest, July. Let’s see how many other people feel the same!
The forums were places where anyone could start and join in conversations. But they were woefully under-used. And attracted thousands of spammers. I used to spend half the day deleting false user registrations.
John was very enthusiastic, though…
Jo says
Ciao Daniel. You know how there is a little equation to fill out just above this message box to prove you are a real person and not a computer. Usually the equations are very simple like 2 plus 4 or something like that. But today’s equation was quite a challenge! It has made me realise that my mathematics is much more hopeless than my Italian, as I actually had to use a calaculator to work out seven x 9. Hello! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I would also be very happy to pay for these group discussions. Paulo has been an absolute joy and the discussions have been so interesting and so much fun!! Thanks to you, Paulo and all the other speakers!!!
A presto!
Jo : )
Daniel says
Thanks for the feedback, Jo. I’m happy you enjoy the conversations with Paolo and the others.
I’m thinking about how to organise these groups for the future. Probably there’ll be a special offer for ‘early-birds’. Watch this space!
7 x 9 is 63, by the way.
July Rice says
Buon giorno. Non vedo l’ora per incontro oggi. Ma prima, vorrei chiedere se il problema che ho con mio webcam e colpa mia o colpa tua. Quando parlo su skype, no ho problemi. Cosa ne pensi?
A presto! July
Daniel says
Hi July,
Assuming you’re one of the first 6 people to log on (and future classes will have a maximum of 6 participants), there’s no reason why you should have problems.
If there’s something not working, it’s likely to be at your end…
Give me as much information as you can about the problem (describe in detail what you do, and what happens or doesn’t happen), and maybe I or John can give you some tips that might help?
It’s usually something obvious.
Have a good lesson!
Daniel
July Rice says
Grazie, Daniel. Tu sei sempre cosi gentile. I’ll make notes of what I do, as I do it and hope to figure out the problem eventually.
Era una buona sessione oggi, e ero molto soddisfatto parlare con Ruth e Paolo. Loro erano, come sempre, cortese, simpatico e molto paziente. Ma … sentivo la mancanza de le altre persone. Cosa e successo? Voglio molto continuare le sessione con pagamento, naturalmente. Do people really expect to get this for free? Do people “go funny” when money is mentioned? Yes, Ruth, I have ordered the book from Amazon,uk – in good used condition for a total, including postage, of 5 Euros. The Black Cat readers are easily available online. They are graded readers with a CD, starting at just the right level for us – livello A2 and continuing to C1 level.
Speriamo moltissimo che rivedervi prossima settimana.
A presto! July
Ruth Stephens says
I too enjoyed the session this morning very much, July.. I felt that you and I were at the same level – piu’ o meno – and both a bit lacking in confidence but Paolo was very understanding and put us ar our ease. But, yes, where were the others? Especially John who would normally never miss a chance to practise his Italian, spoken or written. Hope he’s ok. Do reassure us soon John!
Ruth
John Thomson says
Ciao a tutti
Mi dispiace, ho dimenticato completamente sulla riunione
nonostante tre solleciti
la mia unica scusa è che mi sto insegnando come costruire un sito web, molto difficile, ma molto interessante
Ti prego di accettare le mie scuse Paolo
Io sto bene Ruth, grazie per avermelo chiesto
Ho usato il dizionario un bel po ‘per scrivere questo post
alla prossima volta
John T
Daniel says
Not to worry, July. Even starting with two or three happy customers gives us an idea of what works and what doesn’t, and we can build on this for the future.
Poi, we haven’t done any real marketing yet. So far we were just messing around!
So, prepare yourself for a bombardment of e-mails about how to improve your spoken Italian with online conversation groups! Let’s see if we can find you some others to converse with…
Paolo Copparoni says
Ciao a tutti,
John non ti preoccupare, vedrai che come dice Daniel ci saranno presto altre occasioni per partecipare alle conversazioni!!!
a presto
PS: bravo che hai scritto in italiano!!!
Ruth Stephens says
Ovviamente ti piace una sfida, John. E imparare italiano non n’e’ abbastanza.
Spero che il sito web sia un successo. Possiamo lo visitare?
Ruth
Dianne Price says
Ciao Daniel, Ho provato a participare 2 volte, ma la conessione era male. La prima volta tu e Paola non potreste sentirmi, anche se il mio Skype va bene. Le seconda volta, il mio schermo ha sospeso e io non potrei ritornare e gli altri studenti non erano chiare. E` possibile che sia il mio computer!!
Communque, mi sono divertita la sessione e Paolo era molto simpatico e paziente. Grazie.
Dianne
Daniel says
Ciao Dianne,
mi dispiace per i problemi! Comunque, sono contento che ti trovavi bene con Paolo.
A presto!
Daniel
July Rice says
I think I have solved my problem with connecting to the Parliamo sessions. This may help Dianne also. First, make sure that your microphone is not muted. Then make sure that your camera is not being used by any other app, e.g. Skype.
A presto! July
Daniel says
I HOPE you have, July!