Buondì.
Most of what follows will involve money in one way or another, but before I get to that, here’s are some reminders for club members:
EVERYTHING ON THE CLUB’S WEBSITE IS FREE
Why am I reminding you of this?
Because people sign up to the club (which is basically a mailing list), get one or two of my thrice-weekly emails, and unsubscribe in disgust.
I’m guessing they’ll be thinking something like “How is this meandering rubbish going to help me learn Italian?”, though I don’t have to guess too hard, as sometimes they actually write to say so.
The answer is that these emails are about keeping people interested in learning, presenting new materials, encouraging students to actually DO something with them, and so on.
Sometimes in my emails I forget to mention that ON THE CLUB WEBSITE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF STUFF, which anyone can access, any time for FREE.
That’s because it’s obvious, or should be, or used to be.
Apps have so dumbed us down, though, that a lot of people hardly ever visit an actual WEBSITE, so have lost the habit of clicking around to discover all the good stuff they could potentially profit from.
If it’s not an app, spoonfeeding you – do this first, now do that, tra-la-la, little crown, your score is, next level – it appears to no longer register as a thing.
Remember the days we might have tried to learn a language from a book? Or better, a book with accompanying audio cassettes?
I’m not saying that was a good thing. Just that, these days, if it’s not part of an app, people don’t even see it.
For instance, oftentimes I suggest that people listen to the radio in the language or languages they’re learning (which is what I do – yesterday in Swedish, French, Spanish and Turkish).
Radio is FREE. It’s usually not geo-blocked (unlike TV, which usually is). There are hundreds, possibly thousands of options, in terms of programs and stations. And it’s suitable for learners at any level, though it takes some work – regular listening – to find something that works for you.
How many people follow this great advice, from a language teacher with over thirty years experience, who actually practices what he preaches?
More or less no one.
I may as well be telling people that putting a sharpened flint on the end of a long stick and hurling it from the cover of a bush is a good way to catch dinner, once you get the knack of it.
Oh well, websites are a ‘no’, radio is a ‘no’, FREE doesn’t seem to chime with people.
What to do?
I know, we can start selling stuff, that seems to work (though the customer service is a NIGHTMARE…)
More about dirty commerce below. Intanto, consider yourself reminded about all the free stuff.
Oh, and by all means ‘unsubscribe’ from emails like this one. Hundreds of people do each month, and the bigger the list, the more it costs me.
There’s a link to ‘unsubscribe’ at the bottom of every bulk email sent out. Next week we have our ‘Autumn/Fall Sale’, so unsubscribe sharpish and you won’t have to read about it.
E così. On to Dal Risorgimento alla Seconda Guerra Mondiale, “the ebook version of a thirty-part series of articles with online audio which walks a curious student of Italian through an event-packed period in Italy’s history, from the Risorgimento (1860s) to the end of the Second World War (1945).”
“While the articles that make up this ebook are available for free at https://onlineitalianclub.com/history/, this version of the material (.pdf, .mobi Kindle-compatible, .epub versions available) is easily printable and/or readable on an ebook reader, such as the Kindle.”
Blurb from the ebooks store. See?
If people don’t bother to look at the FREE stuff, maybe we can tempt them into learning by asking for £££. You’d be surprised… And it helps cover the cost of the writer.
More blurb:
“Please note: unlike our other ‘easy reader’ ebooks, for reasons of length this one does not contain glossaries of difficult words nor comprehension exercises after each chapter. Take a look at the free sample chapters before you buy!”
No one looks at the FREE sample chapters, of course, however often I urge them to do so (hoping it will cut down on the moans…)
Followed by the usual stuff:
- .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
- 30 chapters to read and listen to!
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapters (.pdf)
And the links to buy… Don’t worry guys, it’s not radio, it’s not a website (well it sort of is…) and it’s NOT FREE. You should be fine with this!
Buy Dal Risorgimento alla Seconda Guerra Mondiale just £7.99 | FREE sample chapter (.pdf) | History/Historical ebooks | Catalog
E poi, there’s always this part, designed to head off some of the inveitable emails from people who have waited for a month but the postperson still hasn’t delivered their parcel:
“How do I access my ebook?
When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment), 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, where available, cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them. There’s a space to do that on the order form – where it says Additional information, Order notes (optional). If you forget, or if you have problems downloading the .pdf, don’t worry! Email us at the address on the website and we’ll help. Also, why not check out our FAQ?”
Didn’t get your ebook? That’s probably for one of these reasons:
- It’s in your spam, but you didn’t think to look there
- We sent the download link in an email, which you saw but didn’t read, thinking it was just a receipt
- You got the download link, clicked on it from your iPhone or iPad (or both), didn’t save a copy (expecting Apple to do it for you), then wrote to me when you couldn’t find it next time you looked
- You used a different email address for your order (i.e. Gmail) but as you usually use your iCloud (Apple) email on the iPhone/iPad you didn’t consider looking elsewhere
This week’s pet hate?
People whose requests for help are so vague or misleading that I spend fifiteen minutes or so guessing what the problem might be and writing a personalised email describing the various solutions.
They then provide me with more information, which they could have given me previously, so proving that I’m a damned idiot for wasting so much time on them. At the weekend.
And then, when I point that out, the ask why I’m so rude.
A mercoledì.
P.S. 
Have you read/listened to Saturday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news, yet?
Don’t fall behind! There’ll be another bulletin tomorrow (Tuesday) and another two days after that (Thursday).
Subscribers receive each one, via email, as soon as it’s published. Subscribing, is FREE!
How come it’s free? Because the site is funded by donations from students of Italian who value it.
Every two months or so, the EIN team do an appeal, and satisfied learners step up to help pay the bills. It’s mostly small sums (though we remember Mark 12:42-44), sometimes fifty or a hundred dollars, or more. All gifts, large or small, are welcome!
See who donated here (mostly people prefer to remain anonymous…)
Or help out yourself! https://easyitaliannews.com/support-easyitaliannews-com/
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OnlineItalianClub.com | EasyItalianNews.com | Shop (ebooks) | Shop (online lessons)
Helen says
Just to let you know there is at least one person who has taken your advice – me!
I have been listening to Italian radio ever since you put a link to it on one of your emails. I listen to anything I can find ( even things I wouldn’t consider in English such as sport ) and I can say it really is worthwhile.
Thanks for the advice.
Daniel says
Prego, Helen. And well done to you! I hope your listening skills are improving as a result of your efforts!
Patricia says
Hi Daniel, This is just a check up. My small donation to EIN is sent through PayPal every month and the donation should be from Chris, my spouse, or me, Patricia, because it’s a shared account I didn’t see either of our names on the donor’s list so I’m hoping the donation is actually showing up. Also I loved this summer’s history series and looked forward to it every M-W-F. I’m happy to know all four years are safely stored in my computer and have actually used it as reference material, so outside of its educational value I find it useful. Thank you.
Daniel says
Ciao Patricia,
EasyItalianNews.com is a different company, so normally please write to them directly, at the address on the website. If everything comes through me, it’s impossible to delegate anything, and that can be overwhelming.
I checked with them and they receive your monthly donations. There is no ‘instructions from buyer’ data in the notification they receive from Paypal, which means you or your husband did not fill in the ‘See your name on the Thanks page’ box, or whatever it’s called, at the time you set it up. Most people don’t, and you’ll appreciate we can’t put people’s details on our site without their specific permission, hence the box to complete or ignore.
If you’d like that acknowledgement, the EIN team will be happy to add your name/details manually, but they do need you to specifically request that. An email would do it, each month, or you could cancel the automatic Paypal thingy and do it again, being careful to provide details for the ‘Thanks page’.
Felice says
I can’t believe that people can’t be bothered even to download the free sample chapter! How on earth are they going to know about the free audio recording to accompany the chapter (whoops – maybe I wasn’t supposed to mention that)!
You didn’t mention the lazy gits who can’t even be bothered to write a short review … guilty as charged! Please feel free to remind me, though in my defence, it’s taking me time to get through all the fine learning material at a bargain price (not to mention the YouTube videos).
Daniel says
I often mention that the free sample chapters contain a link to the audio, not just for the chapter or chapters we give away, but for the whole text! So not a secret, or at least, not intended to be… But some people don’t read, so miss out on hundreds of hours of free audio!
And you are one of our top ebook reviewers! Many thanks for your efforts.
Agnes says
I have actually taken your advice and do listen to Italian radio and also listen to Italian books on audible ( not free but as part of my subscription)
And the website is brilliant – most of the exercises I do with my teacher Antonella are from there. I love that it marks my answers I’m red and green. So thank you.
And I like your evil ramblings.
Daniel says
Thanks for the feedback, Agnes!
April Munday says
I prefer podcasts to radio, because it means that I can choose what I’m listening to in Italian. I like history and reading, so I’m listening to podcasts about history and books. I don’t understand every word, but what I have noticed after several months is that most of the speakers are talking a lot more slowly than they used to. Sadly, Montalbano and his chums are just as incomprehensible as they ever were.
Daniel says
I’ve nothing against podcasts, April, and have experimented with them in the past. Radio is just easier, somehow. Not all the sites I listen to offer podcasts of their programs, and for the ones that do, there’s a lot of variation in the technology. Thanks for reminding me that it’s an option, though!
Yvonne says
It’s OK Daniel. Please watch your blood pressure. Don’t get disheartened. I’m sure there are lots like me who do really appreciate websites rather than apps but then I hate using phones for everything – much too small. Always loved my ipad (yes, I know you hate them) but it’s the right size to do serious reading. Love the idea that there are real people over there in Bologna, too. So thanks for what you do. Also great that we don’t have to enrol for courses that keep on automatically enrolling you (and charging) unless you remember to stop them. Your site, Easyreaders, and online teachers over the last few years have given me a lot of pleasure learning the language and culture of your adopted country.
Daniel says
What nice feedback, Yvonne. Thank you!
My blood pressure is fine, by the way. At least that… It doesn’t seem to stop me ending up in Italian hospitals, though.
Asli Oysul says
Salve Daniel, I respect the job you make, and try to read all your e- mails . It’s wonderful to know that there is someone who supports us sempre to continue learning, non importa che cosa sia. Grazie mille for your time and for all the information you provide us.
Daniel says
Prego, Asli. Do you still have the daughter in Sweden, or has she moved on now? I was very envious, but my Italian/Swedish wife refused to move.
Asli Oysul says
She finished her master in 2022 but during the pandemic spent one and a half year with us in Turkey. After finding an internship online in a firm based in Singapore she continued to work there and still with us in Ankara. But plans to go to London next year. The other one is still in Washington DC. Greeting to Stefi and take care!!! Ciaoo!
Esther Hombergen says
Ciao Daniel,
Grazie, grazie, Grazie.
Mi piacciono i tuoi e-mail, sono molto divertenti.
I often delete them for lack of time but don’t want to unsubscribe, like to stay in touch.
I didn’t need your reminder and agree fully with the content of this email.
I use a lot of the free content of your website, especially the grammar exercises and I’ve been learning a lot.
So again: many thanks and keep on being rude to idiots 😜.
Ciao,
Esther