Buondì.
Today I have two free intermediate-level Italian listening tasks for you.
But if you’re just starting out with Italian, don’t (necessarily) let my description of the level as ‘intermediate’ put you off.
Free material is, after all, free material and what you can understand when you listen is a function of a lot more than just your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.
Knowledge of the pronunciation system of a language is the obvious difference, but your general level of experience with foreign languages also counts for a lot.
Insomma, it takes time to learn what Italian sounds like, and to get better at figuring out what’s being said!
With practice your ability to hear and recognise words develops, as does your capacity to assemble the pieces of the puzzle to create meaning.
While there’s a lot of overlap, studying the traditional Italian vocabulary and grammar syllabus is one thing, while building your listening skills is quite another!
An ex-wife, for example, learnt English in a few months by spending her days watching soap-operas on afternoon TV.
Pretty effective it was too.
Of course, you already knew that “practice makes perfect”.
But with the audio plus transcript format, you have a lot of flexibility with the WAY you practice.
With my Swedish studies, what I’m currently doing is typing out the transcript first, while thinking about the meaning and looking up unknown words.
Then I’ll listen a few times WITH the transcript.
And finish by listening one or more times WITHOUT the transcript.
I admit that this is the opposite of what I’d usually suggest to students.
The standard approach would be to listen first without the transcript, listen again until you’ve completed the task as well as you can, check your answers to verifty your understanding, and only then look at the transcript.
But you’re adults, so decide for yourselves.
Here are the links:
P.S.
And here’s the usual Wednesday reminder about the week’s ebook offer. 
Michelangelo e il Mosè is aimed at more advanced students, who don’t usually get much of a look in as the majority of our easy readers and parallel texts for learning Italian are at the lower levels.
To get an idea what that means, click this link for the free sample chapter.
This week only Michelangelo e il Mosè is 25% off the usual easy reader ebook price, at just £5.99.
A venerdì.
