Buondì.
I’m super-busy today, what with our Italian school‘s annual promotion having started, and preparations for the January Sale at our two online businesses, EasyReaders.org (ebooks for learners) and NativeSpeakerTeachers.com (online lessons with native speaker tutors).
N.b. confusion is understandable, but the Italian school is an Italian business, operating from a historic building (with frescoed ceilings) in a street running down one side of a medieval cathedral, in the very center of Bologna.
Whereas the online businesses are virtual and based in the UK. So basically they’re completely different operations, legally and practically, though with some staff in common (me, for instance.)
Anyway, the Italian school promotion started Monday and ends on Christmas Day (save 20% on GROUP COURSES, at the actual school in Bologna, Italy, NOT online).
Then, a couple of days later, the online shops start their January Sale (Wednesday 28th December), which is also a 20% saving, but this time for ebooks and online lessons. That promotion ends on Jan. 6th, after which I’ll be back to writing orignal, witty articles.
This morning I published one of those on the school website entitled ‘Why learn Italian?‘, which clearly might also be of interest to club members.
And, you know, two birds with one stone, and all that.
Click here to read that article.
Poi, if you’d like to chat about why you personally are learning, or plan to learn, or used to learn Italian, then why not leave a comment on this article, so everyone can read it?
A venerdì, allora.
P.S.
Don’t forget this week’s two seasonal, half-price ‘Ebooks of the Week’!
The first is Natale a sorpresa, level B2.
Matteo’s supposed to be writing a book – he has a deadline coming up – but he’s suffering terribly from writers’ block. All he can do is stare at a blank computer screen. He’s recently out of a relationship, which hasn’t helped…
Worse, it’s December and Christmas is coming! Normally Matteo spends the festive season with his family, but this year they’re visiting relatives in Australia. So it looks as if he’ll be celebrating alone.
Then he has an idea. He’ll call his best friend Filippo, who’ll surely be able to help! Perhaps they can spend Christmas at Filippo’s place in the mountains, or take a trip somewhere…
- .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
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
Buy Natale a sorpresa, just £3.99! | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog
The other half-price ebook is Giallo a Capodanno, the level of which is B2/C1, which means it’s the harder of the two.
“Sbrigati Alida, o arriveremo in ritardo alla festa di Capodanno!” ripete nervosamente Martina alla sua compagna di stanza. Alida sta sdraiata sul letto con un libro di Agatha Christie fra le mani. Si toglie pigramente gli occhiali da lettura e guarda fuori dalla finestra: “Nevica ancora, che incubo!”
It’s New Year 1970 and Martina’s all dressed up for the party, determined to enjoy it! But her roommate, Alida is more cynical:
“Ascolta: siamo bloccati dalla neve in un collegio in cui viviamo tutto l’anno. Dei duecento alunni che frequentano la scuola, solo sette (sette, porca miseria!) hanno dei genitori che non li vogliono tra i piedi nemmeno durante le feste. E noi siamo tra questi sette. Quindi puoi anche vestirti come Marilyn Monroe… ma rimani una disgraziata!”
Alida would rather read detective thrillers than pretend to have fun with just six fellow students. But who knows? Perhaps something interesting will happen?
- .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
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at upper-intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
Buy Giallo a Capodanno, just £3.99! | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog
How do I access my ebooks?
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?
P.P.S.
Don’t forget, either, to read/listen to Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news!
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OnlineItalianClub.com | EasyItalianNews.com | Shop (ebooks) | Shop (online lessons)
Nigel says
I went on holiday to southern Sicily. To my surprise very very few people spoke English. This actually was an attraction and a challenge. I always wished I could speak another language and this was my incentive to learn – to be able to return and talk to the locals. I like it so much I have moved to Sicily permanently.
Daniel says
Well that sounds like a pretty good reason, Nigel! And how are you getting on, living in Italy permanently? I’ve found living abroad has many frustrations, but at least is never dull. There’s always plenty to learn!
Arlene Dahl says
After reading your many exhortations to sign up for conversation (one-on-one) lessons, I finally summoned up the courage to try one (during your free promotions week). I have taken many auditions, and have spent a lifetime performing difficult repertoire in my Symphony Orchestra, but I can honestly say I was more nervous for my lesson that for nearly any concert. The thought of having to actually speak for 30 minutes almost prompted me to invest in an adult diaper. On the appointed hour, I met a very affable, gregarious teacher (Marta0, who was extremely interested in seeing the view outside my window of the 2 feet of snow blanketing my yard (Marta lives outside Rome — this prompted a lively discussion about the weather in central Canada). She was patient with my grammatical mistakes and my many incorrect uses of the past tense, but she was so encouraging, that I finally became less nervous. It wasn’t until after we signed off the Zoom lesson that I had a small epiphany — during the last few minutes of the conversation, I was no longer translating from the Italian question into English, then back into an Italian answer, but I really believe that for a few brief moments, I was thinking in Italian — without the interim English. This is exactly the plateau I am hoping to conquer — putting all the reading, textbook compiti and essay-writing into practical use — to truly communicate (however simplistically) in another language. Isn’t this precisely why we sign up for language studies in the first place? I will be signing up for more one-on-one conversations in January (after the barrage of Christmas/Holiday music concerts is over), and I would encourage any other students who might be hesitant (as I was) to put into practice your learned grammar and vocabulary. Be brave! It will be worthwhile.
Pugwash says
I started to learn Italian shortly after reporting when we had planned to go to Italy on a cycling holiday. Missed the holiday due to a broken hip but have continued the learning as a means of “keeping the brain active”. No filial connections to Italy but hope to visit one day. Love reading your “missives” and many thanks for all your efforts
Anne McNeill says
Amo la storia, l’arte, il cibo, i vini e gli Italiani.
And thinking of returning to Bologna in 2023 for more classes. Last there in 2012., but it ‘s a long way from Australia !
Daniel says
Wow, a lot has changed in ten years! You should come, Anne.