Thanks to the various people who wrote in on Friday with their gut reactions to my suggestion about orientating people to the mass of materials on our site.
Sorry, I don’t have all your names handy, as I’ve been ill, but I think I did manage to reply to each of you personally.
Everyone was positive, but from what some people wrote, it’s clear that it’s one thing for me to write something, but quite another thing for people to understand what I’m trying to communicate.
So, back to basics, then.
In teaching Italian we commonly use the CEFR level system, which defines six ‘levels’.
Materials at ‘your’ level should be best adapted to your current learning situation.
If you’re just starting out, look for A1.
Everything else will likely be a step too far, though there’s no reason you shouldn’t try harder stuff if you wish.
Ditto, if you’re at the top level, C2, the A1 stuff will be child’s play.
Be my guest and do it anyway.
OK, so here at the club, we’ve been making free online Italian exercises for you guys for a number of years.
Everything we’ve done is available, free-to-access, right now on the site.
99.9% of the material that you could study today at YOUR LEVEL is (surprise!) not in this email.
Email / Site.
On the site, a good starting point would be: https://onlineitalianclub.com/free-italian-exercises-and-resources/
So what, then, is the point of this email?
Ah ha!
In part, it’s so that you feel ‘part of’ something while you self-study Italian.
Also, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, it has a fund-raising function.
We charge no fees, but when we have a promotion, or a new ebook, you’ll be sure to hear about it!
The main function, however, is to remind you to DO SOMETHING!
Which is why I write three times a week.
Some people email me to complain (politely) that they hear from me too often…
Others write saying how they look forward to Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for just that reason.
Guess which group are learning more Italian?
The simple fact of the matter is, if you’re not willing to spend a few minutes three times a week, you’ll not be learning Italian any time soon.
I am the nagging voice reminding you that you want to study Italian.
Listen to me, or if ‘want’ has become ‘wanted’, then unsubscribe.
(There’s an unsubscribe link in email I send.)
Naturally, I have to have something to write about, don’t I?
It’s not easy being the better angel of your conscience without risking repeating myself big time.
Hence the drip, drip, drip of new or ‘refurbished’ exercises.
Today there are three old ones off the pile. I’ll reformat them slightly before publishing this, and invite feedback.
(Over time I get to renew the site this way…)
Will they be exactly right for you to study this morning?
Probably not.
Will they stimulate you to study Italian today?
Hope so.
This email is a taster.
Click on an exercise or two and be reminded that learning Italian is something you want to do.
And having been duly reminded (again), get over to the website and do it!
So, what should you study?
Now that’s entirely up to you.
Grammar? Listening? Vocabulary?
But that’s the point about teaching yourself.
YOU need to make the decisions that otherwise a teacher would make for you.
We have teachers if you need one, but you can easily do this yourself.
It’s not rocket science.
Understanding the level system is a start.
Surveying the mass of free materials on this and other sites is the obvious next step.
You know your level.
You know what’s available at your level.
Via!
And in case you get distracted by life and forget to engage with Italian?
Here am I to remind you!
Every Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, come rain, shine or public holiday.
Here, at last, are today’s exercises:
Colours – Matching Exercise THIS IS SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS
Environment – Gapfill Exercise THIS IS SUITABLE FOR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
Bureaucracy – Matching Exercise THIS IS SUITABLE FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS
P.S.
The ‘January Sale’, a substantial saving on ebooks and online lessons, begins on Wednesday!
Tracy says
Le tue lettere mi piacciono. Loro sono molto utili. 🙂