LearnItalianPod

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. LearnItalianPod VIP subscriber Alexandra from Vancouver is in Italy for study reasons. She says: “It’s the week of mid-August here in Milano and I wasn’t really prepared for what appears to be a desert city. I mean, it is… empty! Where’s everyone? And what’s with the sentence “agosto, moglie mia non ti conosco” that I keep hearing all the times?” Dear Alexandra, welcome to the Italian “Ferragosto”, and thanks for the inspiration! – So, here they are, one of the most famous Italian summer’s sentences ever and a celebration of the Italian summer all in one Culture Shot. Enjoy! [Going Shopping in Italy – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Going Shopping in Italy”, containing the 29 most popular, must-know Italian sentences to use when going shopping in Italy – a very useful single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want to master the language of (Italian) shopping! Culture Shot – Episode Nr.43

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #22 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “Add A Seat To The Table”. There are at least two things that every Italian loves to do: the first is “to spend time with friends”, and the second is… to eat well. And when these two things are combined and done together, there you have it… “the perfect time!” So, let’s follow our favorite couple, Lucia and Italo, as they plan a nice dinner with friends. You’ll really find a lot of useful, informal, 100% “real” Italian on this episode, the language that Italians really do speak informally as they go along with their everyday lives. Enjoy! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Leggere” (To Read), plus some of the most common and useful idiomatic expressions that use this important verb. Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.22

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Here’s what VIP Member Richie from Chicago has to say about his recent trip to Italy: “I had the best time ever. It’s just incredible how beautiful Italy really is… and how Italians can be charming and generous, once you just try to speak their language! And, about the Italian language… how many times can Italians repeat the word “ciao”? I heard it everywhere, all the times… it must be the most famous Italian word!” Right on, Richie! Used to say “hi” and “goodbye”, used as informal exclamation with different meanings, used doubling the word, the word “ciao” is known all over the world and it is currently used in several languages as a loan word. So, let’s celebrate the word “ciao”, by finding out its origin, its different meanings, and some curious facts about it. Enjoy! [Money & Banking – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Money & Banking”, containing all of the most popular, must-know Italian words and sentences used when dealing with money and banking in Italian – a very useful single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want to master the language of (Italian) money! Culture Shot – Episode Nr.42

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #21 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “A Hot Summer’s Night”. Someone said that nothing can surpass a nice summer’s night in a town on the sea in Italy. A bright moon, a clear sky, the ideal temperature, music in the streets, and everywhere people enjoying the summer. So, let’s celebrate summertime in Italy by following our favorite family, Lucia, Italo, and their children Mattia e Marina, as they’re enjoying a “hot summer’s night” in beautiful “Portofino”, on the Italian Riviera. On the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the dialogue giving grammar rules and extra examples. Enjoy! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Piacere” (To Like). Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.21

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Finally, your dream trip to Italy is becoming a reality, and it is just about to begin. Now for the big questions: “how and what to pack?” – You certainly don’t want to spoil your dream vacation in Italy just because you left something necessary back home. What you do need is… a packing list! – Don’t have one? No worries, LearnItalianPod.com is here! Here it is, a very comprehensive packing list (including more than 100 items!) that you can use to prepare for your next trip to Italy. So, get ready to learn and practice 104 must-know, indispensable Italian words, and get your packing right! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members: Download The Premium Version of This Lesson!] If you are a LearnItalianPod VIP Member, login to the Learning Center and download the complete, “advertising free”, “premium version” of this episode, containing all of the 104 essential items from the packing list in both Italian and English, with the addition of blank spaces after each word instance so you can practice your pronunciation over and over!

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. VIP Member Gloria was in Venice just a few days ago. She wrote us an incredibly nice email, where she says: “As I was walking around this marvelous city, I couldn’t help but notice a lot of billboards featuring the smiling mayor of Venice saying ‘Anch’io bevo l’acqua del Sindaco’ (I, too, drink the Mayor’s water). At first, I thought it was some kind of joke, but then my Italian friend Carlo explained to me: that’s actually the city of Venice promoting what was previously unthinkable: that Venetians should drink tap water”. So, let’s dedicate this Culture Shot to “The Mayor’s Water” and let’s see what’s making this advertising campaign run by the city of Venice so unique! On the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the story giving grammar rules and extra examples. You will find a lot of useful Italian language to learn on this lesson, so let’s get right to it! [Asking & Telling The Time - LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Asking & Telling The Time”, containing all of the most popular, must-know Italian words and sentences used when asking or telling the time – in fact, we have collected all of the sentences about time that we’ve ever published (and many more!) in a single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want: this is really a great resource to have and practice before taking your next trip to Italy! Culture Shot – Episode Nr.41

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #20 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “I Told You So!” – The sentence “Te l’avevo detto” (I told you so, in English) is the one phrase that everyone hates to hear when something goes wrong, and it’s a sure way, when used between husband and wife, to end up in an argument. So, let’s see a little argument over directions between husband Italo and wife Lucia, and let’s practice some of the most common popular Italian expressions you’ll ever hear! On the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the dialogue giving grammar rules and extra examples. Enjoy! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Asking & Giving Directions”, containing some of the most popular, must-know Italian words and sentences used when asking or giving directions – in fact, we have collected all of the sentences about directions that we’ve ever published plus more in a single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want: this is really a great resource to have and practice before you take your trip to Italy! Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.20

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Longtime VIP Member Patricia from Boston sent us a terrific email. She writes: “One of the fondest memories I have of my recent trip to Italy is the discovery of some great Italian tales written by an ancient author called Fedro. It all happened one night, by absolute chance, as I heard my Italian friend Luisa reading two fables to her children, before they went to sleep. Such a fascinating moment… and a great idea for a Culture Shot, right Jane & Massimo?” Absolutely, Patricia! So, let’s feature a terrific, super famous, ancient Italian tale: “La Volpe e Il Corvo” (The Fox and the Crow). On the grammar section, we’ll be reviewing the hypothetical constructions, and we’ll learn and practice some more useful Italian sentences. Enjoy! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the super popular, “must-memorize”, regular 1st conjugation Italian verb “Parlare” (To to speak, to talk). Culture Shot – Episode Nr.40

Learn Italian with the newest show on LearnItalianPod.com: “Canta Che Ti Passa”, episode #3! This time we feature a very famous, happy and joyful Italian pop song called “Quando, Quando, Quando”. Presented at the Festival di Sanremo contest in 1962 by great singer and music producer Tony Renis, “Quando, Quando, Quando” didn’t win the contest, but went on to become a huge success all over the world, recorded by hundreds of different artists. The sung Italian of this great song is so clear and precise that you are sure to greatly improve your Italian pronunciation by practicing these lyrics. Happy singing, everyone! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, lesson #3 (which includes audio file and PDF transcript) of the new mini series “How Would You Say It”. This lesson is entitled “At The Restaurant”, and that’s a terrific way to improve your Italian and be prepared for those “real-life” situations when you need to say something in Italian but you can only think it in English. Canta Che Ti Passa – Episode Nr.3

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Italians love food, and love to eat… that’s a fact. For them, food is pleasure as much as nourishment. What they also love to do is to express opinions about people or things using food names that best describe them! So, let’s follow Lucia and Italo as they play this little funny game called “Say It with Food”: the first that cannot come up with a popular idiomatic sentence that uses food names to express opinions about people or things loses. Get ready to learn and practice some of the most common popular Italian idiomatic expressions you’ll ever hear, a lot of food names, and have lots of fun! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Mangiare” (To Eat). Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.19

Learn Italian with the newest show on LearnItalianPod.com: “Canta Che Ti Passa”, a terrific new series that will teach you how to dramatically improve your Italian through its most famous songs! In this second episode of the show, we are going to feature one of the best known songs in all opera history, an all Italian song (“aria” in the world of opera) called “Nessun Dorma”, made hugely famous all over the world by the great Luciano Pavarotti. So, let’s learn pronunciation, idiomatic expressions, cultural facts, and more about this great song! Happy singing, everyone! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, lesson #2 (which includes audio file and PDF transcript) of the new mini series “How Would You Say It”. This lesson is entitled “At The Hotel”, and that’s a terrific way to improve your Italian and be prepared for those “real-life” situations when you need to say something in Italian but you can only think it in English. Canta Che Ti Passa – Episode Nr.2

Welcome to all of you Italian learners to the newest show on LearnItalianPod.com: “Canta Che Ti Passa”, episode #1! One of the easiest and most fun way to improve every aspect of your Italian, including pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and expression, and at the same time to learn more about Italian culture, is through…Italian music! So here it is, the newest LearnItalianPod show that will teach you how to dramatically improve your Italian through its most famous songs! In this first episode of the show, we start with the all time Italian classic, perhaps the most well-known Italian song ever: that is “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu”, also known as “Volare”, sung by the great Domenico Modugno. So, let’s learn pronunciation, idiomatic expressions, cultural facts, and more about this great song! Happy singing, everyone! [LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, lesson #1 (which includes audio file and PDF transcript) of the new mini series “How Would You Say It”. That’s a terrific way to improve your Italian and be prepared for those “real-life” situations when you need to say something in Italian but you can only think it in English. You will be amazed at how effective this new “How Would You Say It” series can be! Canta Che Ti Passa – Episode Nr.1

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #18 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “At The Galleria degli Uffizi” – Let’s follow Lucia and her colleague Tina, who is an architect from New York in Italy for business, as they visit the “Galleria degli Uffizi” in Florence, one of the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. We will review and practice almost everything you need to say when visiting an Italian museum – and we’re pretty sure that if you ever travel to Italy, you will definitely find this lesson super useful. Enjoy! [Two Great Extra Bonuses for LearnItalianPod VIP Members!] Login to the Learning Center to download: – 1) an audio file and PDF transcipt containing the sixty-four (64) most popular, must-know Italian words related to art (words like trecento, quattrocento, terracotta, quadro, cupola, incisione, and so…), with definitions and the addition of blank spaces after each word instance so you can repeat it over and over. That’s the ultimate way to learn the Italian artistic vocabulary! – 2) Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” irregular verb “Vedere” (To See). Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.18

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Our dear friend and longtime VIP subscriber Carlo, who is from England but lives in Rome, says: “I have got to tell you, Jane and Massimo… some of the sounds of the Italian language, like “GL”, “GN”, or “SC”, are so difficult to pronounce correctly. Please make an episode about it, I need to get this right!” Excellent idea, Carlo! So, let’s practice the pronunciation of some of the difficult sounds of the Italian language, like “GL”, “GN”, and “SC”. And yes, we are going to practice these sounds with the help of some good old tongue twisters! – Oh, by the way, all of these tongue twisters are used in Italian schools to teach Italian to Italian kids, so… they work! [VIP Members Only Extra Bonuses!] Login to the Learning Center to download an audio file containing every letter of the Italian alphabet together with pronunciation instructions and a sample word for each letter, with the addition of blank spaces after each word instance so you can repeat over and over. That’s the ultimate way to learn how to pronounce Italian the right way. Culture Shot – Episode Nr.39

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod.com – Our dear friend and longtime VIP subscriber Lisa from Chicago sent us a fantastic piece of news about an invention made in Italy which, if it works, is going to change forever one of the icon of the Italian food: la pizza! That’s the “pizza vending machine” – a machine that doesn’t just sell pizza, but is actually a mini pizzeria that kneads the dough, spreads the toppings and bakes a personal pizza in just three minutes as you watch through a little window! So, let’s dedicate this Culture Shot to this incredible and revolutionary new piece of “Made in Italy”, and let’s learn and practice a few must-know Italian food names together with some common and useful Italian idiomatic expressions. Enjoy! [VIP Members Only Extra Bonuses!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” irregular verb “Dire” (To Say, To Tell). Culture Shot – Episode Nr.38