Author: Serena Capilli

About Serena Capilli

https://www.italianpills.com/

Language Coach, Online Tutor, communications and marketing specialist and philanthropist. I do all this with passion and dedication. My favourite quote is: If it were easy, everyone would do it.

Posts by Serena Capilli:

How to use dovere, avere bisogno and servire in Italian

This week I want to unravel the mystery in the usage of three different Italian verbs which have a similar translation into English, and because of this are, sometimes, tricky to use.

I am talking about the verbs dovere – avere bisogno di – servire.

They all express a need. Nevertheless, they can’t be used indifferently to say in Italian I need or I must. Hence, you need to know when it is correct to use one or another.

What is the difference between dovere, avere bisogno and servire?

DOVERE

Dovere is a verb with different meanings.

Obligation – I must – I need – I have to

When you must, need or have to do something, you should opt for the verb dovere. An infinite (non-conjugated) verb always follows dovere in this instance.

Devo uscire in anticipio dall’ufficio – I need to get off work earlier
Ho dovuto cancellare la riunione perché stavo male – I had to cancel the meeting because I was sick

Responsability – I am supposed to

You can use dovere when in English you would you “I am supposed to”.

Devo finire la relazione entro venerdì – I am supposed to finish the paper by Friday

Use dovere in the imperfect tense when you want to express that something was supposed to happen but didn’t for whatever reason.

Dovevo partire per il mare ieri, ma non ho potuto – I was supposed to leave for the sea tomorrow, but I couldn’t

How do you know when dovere implies an obligation or a responsibility? Well, it depends on the voice intonation.
Devo andare means both I must go, and I am supposed to go. Thus, pay attention to the intonation and gestures.

Warning or suggestion – I should, you should, etc…

The conditional of dovere is used to give a warning or a suggestion in Italian

Se vai a Roma, dovresti visitare il Giardino degli aranci – If you go to Rome, you should visit Il Giardino degli Aranci

AVERE BISOGNO DI

That being said, Italian has another common verb expressing a need, which is the verb avere bisogno di (literally: to have the need of)

No need to say I have listened to this verb misused countless times. Why so?

One is driven to think that avere bisogno dicorresponds to the English to need. It is…and it is not.

When can you use avere bisogno di instead dovere?

When you need something

Ho bisogno di un nuova macchina – I need a new car

When you need to do something with the purpose of doing something else

Ho bisogno di fare una bella vacanza in una spa per rimettermi in forma – I need a to take a vacation at spa to get back in shape

With the pronouns me/te/lui/lei/noi/voi/loro

Hai bisogno di me? – Do you need me?

SERVIRE

And, it is not over, as wordy as they are, Italians have another way to express a need which implies the verb servire. The use of servire does not vary from the one of avere bisogno di.

If you want to say that you need a thing, you can say

Mi serve + singular noun → mi serve una mozzarella di bufala per fare la pizza napoletana – I need a bufala mozzarella to make a Neapolitan pizza
Mi servono + plural nouns → mi servono due uova per fare la torta – I need two eggs to make the cake

As you might have noticed, the verb, servire follows the same pattern as the impersonal verb piacere. Servire is conjugated just in the third person singular or plural and it is preceded by an indirect object pronoun.

Mi serve / servono
Ti serve..? servono…?
Gli serve / le serve / gli servono/le servono
Ci serve / ci servono
Vi serve… ? / vi servono…?
Gli serve/ gli servono

Some tips and trick to use the verbs dovere and avere bisogno di correctly in Italian

An infinite verb always follows dovere (when expressing a need)
A noun always follows servire
A noun can follow avere bisogno di
Avere bisogno di can be used with pronouns me – te – lui – lei – noi – voi – loro
Avere bisogno di can be followed by an infinite verb when it means that you need to do something in order to do something else

To recap:

I need to go → devo andare – it’s is CORRECT!

I need to go → ho bisogno di andare – it’s WRONG!

I need a hot bath to freshen up → ho bisogno di un bagno caldo per ricaricarmi – it’s CORRECT

An extra common expression expressing a need is…

BISOGNARE

Another common verb expressing a need or an obligation for some action to be performed is the strictly impersonal verb bisogna.

Bisogna exists just in simple tenses (simple future, simple conditional, etc..) and is used only in the third person singular. An infinite verb always follows it when the subject is not identified.

Bisogna pagare il conto prima di ordinare il caffe – it is necessary to pay the bill before ordering the coffee

If the subject is determined, bisogna is followed by che + subjunctive

Bisogna che mio figlio studi di più – It is necessary that my son study more

Modica e il suo ciccolato (B1)

L’argomento di quest’attività è il concetto di il ciccolato di Modica, una specialità siciliana
E’ adatta per studenti con un livello intermedio (B1/B2)
L’obiettivo è quello di proporre nuovo vocabolario e far discutere lo studente sull’argomento

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il food sharing (B1/B2/C1)

L’argomento di quest’attività è il concetto di food sharing
E’ adatta per studenti con un livello intermedio e avanzato di italiano (B1/B2/C1)
L’obiettivo è quello di proporre nuovo vocabolario e far discutere lo studente sull’argomento

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10 easy and practical ways to be fluent in Italian

If you are here and reading this post is probably because your goal is to travel to Italy and feel like at home. To be fluent in Italian or any other foreign language can give you a sense of personal achievement and better your life. The truth is that becoming fluent in Italian does not happen overnight and it is necessary to implement some practices to connect with Italian on a nearly-daily basis. How do you do it, if you don’t live in Italy or you don’t have the time or budget to join private classes?

I drew up a list of 10 free and paid tools that you can use to start to take your Italian to the next level starting from tomorrow.

1. Use HelloTalk

Hello Talk is a language learning app that you can use to connect through voice and text chat with native speakers from all around the world. It covers over 100 languages, and it is free! When signing up, everything you need to do is marking your native language(s) and your target language, for example, Italian. You do not need to be fluent in Italian to use HelloTalk, as the app also offers a voice recognition system and translations help. For instance, if you don’t know how to spell something you can talk to the voice record which will type it for you.
Another feature I like is that you can find Italian native speakers in your area. Great if you want to take your eyes off the screen and chat up in Italian over a coffee.

2. Join or start an Italian language meetup group in your city

What is Meetup? Meetup is a worldwide community of people who meet because they like the same things, like hiking, coding or learning Italian! The good news is that free Italian language meetings happen in every major city. All you need to do is looking for one in your area and show up for the event. I like meetups because they offer the chance to native Italian speakers and Italian learners to come together and share the language in a social environment. Answering to impromptu questions and practicing your Italian while sipping a glass of wine is by far one of the best ways to take your Italian to the next level. What if there is no Italian language meetup in your area? Take your chances, and start your one 🙂

3.Journal in a foreign language

Keeping a journal is an excellent exercise for an infinite number of reasons, like reflecting on your thoughts, setting goals, tracking your little daily achievements and the likes. Journaling is an excellent self-awareness tool that you can use to serve your Italian language learning mission also. How? You need just 10 minutes a day. Sit down, combine Italian with self-reflection. No doubt is going to work. Why? Memory retains better everything that connects to our experiences and soul. The best way to learn is through experience. Writing down some parts of your life in Italian will boost up your Italian like never before.

4. Take an Italian Language Retreat or a Italian Language Vacation

For those who don’t know what a language retreat is, I am telling you it is a beautiful opportunity to mix up fun with language empowerment. A language retreat a full immersion language vacation that you spend can spend in Italy. Working on your Italian while is Italy has immeasurable upsides. Traveling is a way to disconnect from your routine and explore novelty. Joining a language retreat is traveling with a purpose. How to find a suitable language retreat? Many schools of Italian organizes regular ones, all you need to do is browsing the internet and find the ideal treat for your goals.

5. Start using Quizlet

Quizlet is a software used by teachers and students to learn information through learning tools and games. What is unique about it? It is free, and you can have total control of your Italian learning process. You can make your list of words or sentences and decide how and when to learn them. You can share them with you fellow Italian learners, or you can use the ones that other Italian teachers have made on the platform. You can find here one of my Quizlet activities related to Italian sentences and words related to language learning.

6. Use Italki

It is hard to separate the culture from the language, and the best is learning from a native instructor because you can learn her/his culture too. I know hiring a native Italian instructor can be a tricky in your area. On Italki, no matter how far from Italy you live, you will be able to hire a native Italian instructor or tutor 24/7. Italki is the biggest teacher and tutor marketplace in the world, where you can hire professional teachers and tutors. If you don’t need professional lessons, you use the platform to look for language exchange partners with whom you can converse in Italian.

I have been delivering professional lessons on Italki for almost three years, and I was very lucky to meet inspiring and dedicated Italian learn from all over the world. You can check my profile here.

7. Join the ADD 1 Challenge

The ADD1 Challenge is an accountability program. Uhm..what exactly? When you sign up, you will join a 90 days challenge whose ultimate scope is having you have a 15 minutes conversation with a native Italian speaker or 5 minutes video in Italian. And, you will need to record it and share it on the platform. ADD1 challenge is not a school, nor a course of Italian. It’s a program to keep your motivation high and hold you accountable for your goals. You will need to sort out how to learn Italian by yourself (however some free and paid service are recommended to boost up your Italian learning process).

8. Follow and Italian Youtuber / IG account/ Blogger

Combine your interest in Italian learning. Look for an influencer who is regularly posting or blogging about something get your attention. Once you have found a good one, follow she/her, interact with the account, read the comments. If you don’t know any Italian famous Youtuber, check this list I made a few months ago.

9 Study by using the Pomodoro technique

Have you ever experienced doing a long Italian study session on one day, ending up exhausted and not touching your Italian learning resources… for the next five days? I did it. But, this shouldn’t be the way to go when learning Italian or any other foreign languages. Significant progress stems from small but regular steps. Steal yourself twenty to twenty-five minutes every second day too and do some activity that involves Italian. Mesure your time using the Pomodoro Technique. What is it? It is a twenty-five minutes timer that you can install on your phone or desktop. For me, it works brilliantly. Why? Twenty-five minutes is not too much, and not little. It is the right the amount of time I can keep my focus on something, without any interruption. When 25 minutes are gon, the bell rings, and you know what, I am not exhausted at all.

10. Use a language planner

Make some time to create a realistic Italian learning planner and stick to it. I always recommend my students not to plan many things but setting realistic and doable goals to achieve. Choose one or two of the ideas I discussed above and stick to it. The rule of thumb is quality over quantity. If you don’t have a language planner yet, you can download this this straightforward down here. Print it out, fill it with little doable activities and hang it on a visible spot.

I WANT MY ITALIAN LANGUAGE PLANNER

Enjoy learning Italiano 🙂

Il ruolo delle donne nella società di oggi (B1/B2/C1)

This activity is suitable both for Italian learners and teachers of Italian as a foreign language
The students should have a B1/B2/C1 level
Topic: The role of the women in society, today
Focus on: oral expression, vocabulary extension
Grammar practice: using the subjunctive

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5 Italian authors whose books you should read

We all learn a foreign language because we want to use it.

Spending your vacations on the Italian Riviera or skiing in the Dolomites is, without any shade of doubts, the best way to immerse yourself into the Italian culture and tune up your Italian skills.

What happens to your Italian when you are not using it? As an English say recites, use it or lose it. If you don’t want to lose touch with the Italian language and want to add a little bit of Italian spark into your Italian learning routine, picking up a good novel and flipping through its pages is a beautiful learning practice.

Reading a good book from Italian authors is excellent for all types of Italian learners who have a thing for the Bel Paese. This is why I made a list of well-known Italian authors to help you to navigate into the vast world of Italian literature.

The list of Italian authors is for upper-intermediate or advanced Italian learners.

But wait… if you are a beginner learner and passionate reader, don’t put yourself down! I encourage you to search for the translation in your mother tongue. Reading Italian authors in your mother tongue will serve as a topic for many conversations, that you can have in Italian. No matter what your level is. And remember, successful language learning is not just a matter of being able to speak the actual language, but flirting with its culture.

Oriana Fallaci (1929 – 2006)

Oriana Fallaci was an Italian journalistic superstar, author and war reporter. In my personal opinion, one of the greatest women that Italy has ever given birth to.

Coming from a working-class family, she was a bike messenger for anti-Fascists in World War II in Florence, when she was just 14. She massively traveled the world in the past century to interview world leaders, when journaling was mainly a men profession. She was of the most prominent figures who spoke the truth to power.

Once, she even had to perform a temporary marriage to enter Iran in order to interview Ayatollah Khomeini (unmarried women were not allowed to enter the country alone).

There are many reasons why you should pick one of her books and dive into her stories. They are not just stories, but contemporary teachings about how modern society and power work. She has sold over 20 millions copies all over the world, and her books are translated into many foreign languages.

Some of my favourite Fallaci’s works:

Il sesso inutile, viaggio intorno alla donna (The Useless Sex: Voyage around the Woman)
Lettera a un bambino mai nato (Letter to a Child Never Born)
Un uomo (A Man)
La Rabbia e l’Orgoglio (The Rage and the Pride)

Tiziano Terzani (1938-2004)

Reading a Terzani‘s novel is a joy for the soul. Terzani’s life was unique. After studying law and working as a manager for a major Italian company, he decided to turn his life upside down and started a new life in Asia.

In Asia, while working as a reporter to Europe, he developed a great interest in the philosophical aspects and spirituality of Asian cultures, which is reflected in his works.

I recommend his novels to anyone who has a thing for Asian cultures and is interested in spirituality.

His works are a mixture of critic towards the world’s capitalism, but they are also full irony, positiveness, and love for life, in every aspect. He died from cancer in 2004, after traveling in several parts of the world to find a cure against the disease. He describes his quest for healing in one of its most beautiful novel Un altro giro di giostra (One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round).

Other significant novels by Terzani are:

Buonanotte, signor Lenin (Goodnight Mr Lenin)
In Asia (Asia)
Un indovino mi disse (A Fortune Teller Told Me)
La fine è il mio inizio (The End Is My Beginning)

Andrea Camilleri (1925)

Some claims Andrea Camilleri is the most appreciated contemporary Italian author. Funnily enough, the most popular present Italian author didn’t gain its popularity until he was in his 50ies. Before being a prominent author, he was working as a screenwriter for theatre plays and TV shows.

What brought him to fame are the Inspector Montalbano novels. Who does know them?

What is special about Camilleri’s works is the very language he uses in his books. Many claims he has invented a language of his own, being a mixture of Italian with a sprinkling of Sicilian grammar and vocabulary.

The best about his books are the evocative images of Sicily, who make the reader feel like he is experiencing the Sicilian landscape and slow pace of life through the endeavors of the interesting and usual character of Inspector Montalbano.

He has sold over 10 million copies and many of his books and translated in many foreign languages.

The most enjoyable books by Camilleri (according to me):

La forma dell’acqua – (The Shape Of The Water)
Il cane di terracotta – (The Terracotta Dog)
Il giro di boa – Rounding The Mark)
Un covo di vipere – (a nest of vipers)

Giorgio Scerbanenco (1911-1969)

If you love Milan and you love crime fiction, you should not miss Scerbanenco detective novels.

Scerbanenco was a writer of Ukrainian origin, who immigrated to Italy with his family as a child ,and eventually settled down in Milan as a young adult.

His best novels are often described as Milanocentric because they barely refer to other Italian cities or regions. Instead, they show Scerbanenco affection for Milan and its inhabitants. The town described in his novels is very distant from the town that today everyone knows. Far from being eccentric and capitalist, Milano was a vast industrialist village, slowing turning into the giant that is today. The characters of his novels are Milaneses undergoing a major change, from the simplicity of life towards consumerism and capitalism.

The best works of Scerbanenco is the compelling detective series starring the detective Duca Lamberti, a doctor struck off the register for having performed euthanasia and, hence, turned detective.

Venere private (A Private Venus)
Traditori di tutti – (Betrayers of All
I ragazzi del massacro – (The Boys of the Massacre)
I milanesi ammazzano al sabato – (The Milanese kill on Saturday)
Sei giorni di preavviso – (Six Days of Notice)

Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936)

Luigi Pirandello was a novelist, poet, dramatist, and a Nobel prize winner of Sicilian origins.

He is a figure that every Italian has studied in school and one of the most prominent Italian character related to the literature and philosophy in the 20th century.

Pirandello is also considered a philosopher because its works touches upon the concept of human identity. Pirandello’s thinking focuses on the idea that we live in flow and thus, we live in a constant change. We are never the same. We always change shape and way of thinking as the result of our day to day experiences.

The constant changes lead us not to see ourselves for what we are in the moment, but for what the other people see in us.

Pirandello is one of those life-changing readings that I would recommend to anyone who is searching for the self and the meaning of humanity.

His most significant works are:

Novels

Il fu Mattia Pascal – (The Late Mattia Pascal)
L’esclusa -The Excluded Woman)
Uno, nessuno e centomila (One none and a hundred thousand)

Plays

Così è (se vi pare) – (So It Is (If You Think So))
Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore – (Six Characters in Search of an Author)

How to talk about the weather in Italian

How many times have you been asked in Italian “what’s the weather like” (Che tempo fa?) and you have felt your answer was way to brief? Whether you are a beginner or intermediate Italian learner, you might want to extend the conversation to practice your Italian vocabulary.

Don’t forget that, talking about the weather is one of the most favorites ice-breakers for Italians, a topic to use during a small talk or something to complain about in the office! Three good reasons to try to memorize a few of the following common Italian expressions and phrases and learn how the Italians do speak about the weather.

What Italians would say…

Mi piacciono quelle serate estive quando l’aria è calda di sera e posso riscaldarmi al sole.

Che tempaccio! Soffia un vento gelido e piove a dirotto, meglio rimanere a casa!

Oggi si muore di caldo. Ieri ha piovuto senza tregua tutto il giorno. Che tempo pazzerello!

When the weather is ugly…

C’è brutto/cattivo tempo – it’s ugly
C’è un tempaccio – ugly weather
C’è un temporale – it’s stormy
C’è un vento gelido – freezing wind
C’è un tempo uggioso – the weather is dull
Che tempo pazzerello – what a freak weather
C’è maltempo – it’s ugly
Si muore di freddo – it’s crazy cold/the cold is killing us
Piove a dirotto – it’s pouring down
Nevica – it’s snowing
Grandina – it’s hailing
Il tempo si sta guastando – the weather is deteriorating
Il vento è gelido – the wind is freezing cold
La neve cade – the snow is falling
L’aria è gelida – it’s freezing
Il mare è in tempesta – the sea is stormy
È ventoso/piovoso/nuvoloso – it’s windy/rainy/cloudy
Ci sono 2 gradi – it’s 2 degrees

When the weather is nice…

C’è bel tempo – it’s nice
È soleggiato – it’s sunny
Il cielo è limpido – the sky is very clear
L’ aria è calda – the air is warm
Il sole splende – the sun shines
Prendere il sole – to sunbathe
Che bel tempo, speriamo che regga – what a nice weather, hopefully, it will hold up
Si muore di caldo – it’s crazy hot / the heat is killing us
C’è un caldo rovente – it’s scorching hot
C’è una temperatura piacevole oggi – it’s mild
Il mare è calmo – the sea is calm

Use it or lose it!

Time to practise

Che tempo fa nella tua città oggi? Descrivi il tempo della tua città nei commenti usando almeno 3 delle espressioni sopra elencate.

How many Italian words starting with Q do you know?

How many Italian words starting with Q do you know? Probably not so many.

This is why I drew a short list of three tricky “Q” words to be familiar with if you want to boost up your Italian vocabulary.

Qualsiasi/qualunque

First and foremost, qualsiasi and qualunque are indefinite adjectives that have the same meaning, thus, there is no difference in its usage. They are interchangeable and it will be totally up to you, opting for one or another.

Why are these words challenging to use? The reason is, they have no exact translation in English, and so, they might sound confusing in Italian.

How to use qualsiasi and qualunque in Italian?

Qualsiasi and qualunque have four possible translations in English.

ANY

Most of the times qualsiasi (or qualunque) refer to a thing or number of things, no matter how much or how many.

Per qualsiasi ragione – for any reasons
Puoi venire a qualsiasi ora – you can come anytime
Quale colore vuoi? Qualsiasi – What colour do you choose? Any.

WHATEVER

When qualsiasi (or qualunque) means whatever, it is mandatory to conjugate in the subjunctive the verb following it.

Qualsiasi cosa tu dica, ti sostengo – Whatever you say, I support you
Qualsiasi cosa accada, gli saro vicino – Whatever happens, I will be by his side

ORDINARY (adj.)

Qualsiasi (or qualunque) means ordinary or casual when placed after the noun that is referring to.

Un paese qualsiasi – an ordinary village
Noi non abbiamo un prodotto qualsiasi – we don’t have an ordinary product

EVERY

In some expressions, qualsiasi (or qualunque) mean every.

Lo voglio a qualunque costo – I want it at all (every) costs
Da qualsiasi parte – everywhere

Qualora

Qualora is one of those words you don’t hear very often, but when you use it will give your Italian a sophisticated touch.

The meaning of qualora is very similar to if, describing a hypothetical situation. Hence, when using qualora instead of if?

You can use qualora if you want to speak Italian more elegantly (qualora belongs to a higher standard of the Italian language) or to translate into Italian the English conjunctions “in the event that…” or “in case that… “

Qualora vincesse le elezioni… – if/in case/in the event she wins the elections
Qualora cambiassi idea… – if/in case/ in the event you change your mind

Quandanche

Quandanche is another sophisticated Italian word meaning even if or even though. A subjunctive verb follows it.

Synonyms of quandanche are sebbene, benché.

Quandanche cambiasse idea, non cambierebbe la situazione – Even though he changed his mind, the situation would not change

Why getting an Italian Language Certification is a great idea and how to do it

If you are a big fan of the lingua di Dante and you have already achieved a certain level of Italian, you might want to prove your worth or, maybe, set yourself a higher goal to keep you motivation strong. In both cases, validating your Italian language skills through an Italian language certification does not sound that bad!

Let’s start from the crucial question…

Why taking an Italian Certification is a great idea?

1 .Preparing for a test is a great motivator to continue to learn Italian consistently. Setting a goal will help you to gain a purpose.

2. Mixing business with pleasure: you can get your Italian Language Certification in many countries worldwide and Italy. What if you travel to the Bel Paese to sit for the exam? They take place regularly in many Italian cities, North to South.

3. You stand out in a crowd. You can use your official Italian Language Certification on your CV. A language certification is, in fact, an excellent tool to broaden your resumé and demonstrate your level of Italian. Besides, it will come in handy if you decide to study, work or reside in Italy at some point in your life.

4. You fill the gaps. Preparing for an Italian proficiency test is the best way to tune up the whole four skills of Italian language learning: reading, speaking, listening, writing. There is always a silver lining!

5. Challenge yourself. You are not in school anymore, taking a test, without the stress that real school exams involve, can be fun. Take a chance to prove yourself. Language learning is the best brain gym, after all , isn’t it?

Once you are motivated enough, you might wonder…

What are the Italian proficiency tests like?

There are several Italian language certifications, which are issued by universities, cultural institutions and certified language schools in Italy and worldwide. The most known and used ones are the CELI (Italian Certification as a Foreign Language) and CILS (Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language). Both differ a lot depending on which level exam you are sitting for. However, all of them have a very similar format.

Each of the tests consists of four different areas of Italian language learning and you will be given a specified amount of time to complete every single part.

reading comprehension
listening comprehension
writing expression
oral expression

If you make up your mind and decide to take the test, you should figure out…

How to sign up for the exams?

You should sign up as soon as possible and at latest, within one month from the exam. Tests take places regularly, but not very often. The timing, usually, depends on the level of the certification and the center. Preparing with a large advance is a good idea. Before sitting for the exam, you should, in order, take the following steps:

Choose your examination center (in Italy or abroad)
Choose a date
Register online
Pay for a registration fee (prices vary depending on the country)
Buy a preparation book or sign up for a preparation course

How to prepare for the exams?

Luckily, there is a wealth of practice material available online, to get familiar with the format of the tests. Besides self-study, you could get help from an online private tutor or join a precaution course at an Italian language center. Use mock tests, which you can easily find online, or preparation material. All the exams are doable if you have the correct level. Nevertheless, knowing how to deal with the format of the exams is crucial.

What level to choose?

What level to choose depends on your goal. If you need an Italian Language Certification to access university in Italy, you will need a B2 or C1. If you have an excellent command of the language, maybe you want to take your chance and try the C1 or C2. If you are a beginner learner and you want to take an examination to set yourself a goal to work towards, you can sign up for an A1 or A2.

The CELI and the CILS in depths

CELI

The CELI was created and is issued by the University of Perugia for Foreigners. The exams take places in three annual sections (spring, summer, fall) at the same university and regularly, at certified institutions or language schools, worldwide.

The CELI consists of three different modules:

CELI (the traditional one, intended for educated adults)
CELI for immigrants (intended for foreign citizens who immigrated to Italy and is also available for students with very little education)
CELI for teens (intended for youngsters aged between 13 and 17)

The CELI comprises of six levels, adapted to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

CELI IMPATTO – level A1
CELI 1 – level A2
CELI 2 – level B1
CELI 3 – level B2
CELI 4 – level C1
CELI 5 – level 2

You should know that…

The Italian Ministry of Education recognizes the CELI 3 as a valid Italian Language Certification to study at University in Italy, alongside with CELI 4 and CELI 5.

The CELI exams are made out of 4 to 5 sections (depending on test level) and cover the four skills of Italian language learning (reading, listening, speaking, writing). The test comprises of multiple-choice answers, complete the gaps tests, conversation and writing.

Click here to read all about the specifics of the CELI exam

CILS

THE CILS was created and issued by the University of Siena for Foreigners. The exams take places twice a year (June and December) in Italy and various accredited centers and universities, worldwide.

The CILS comprises of six levels of increasing difficulty, recognizing various levels of Italian language proficiency. As the CELI, the CILS is designed to test students’ ability to listen to and express themselves in Italian.

The CILS is the Italian Proficiency examination with the longest tradition (dating back to 1588) and is a valid worldwide.

It consists of four different modules: the children module, the adolescent module, the module for integration in Italy, the adult module.

CILS A1
CILS A2

CILS 1 – level B1
CILS 2 – level B2

CILS 3 – level C1
CILS 4 – level C2

You should know that…

The Italian Ministry of Education recognizes the CILS 2, as a valid Italian Language Certification to study at University in Italy, without the usual mandatory language assessment.

The test consist of four sections (oral, written, morphosyntactic and lexical competence, comprehension of written texts, comprehension of oral texts). The format of the exam comes into the shape of multiple choice questions, re-elaboration of texts starting from some given elements and free development of a topic.

Each part of the exam is evaluated independently: hence, to pass the test you need to succeed in each of the four sections. If you fail in one or more parts, you can retake the test on those specific sections.

Click here to read all about the specifics of the CILS exam

If you are uncertain about what Italian Language Certification to earn, I think you should consider what’s the best timing of the year and the best examination center for you, in terms of locations. Both the CELI and the CILS are official Certifications issued by Italian universities, which means they are valid and recognized worldwide.

If you decided to embark on this journey, don’t forget to check out my articles about learning Italian effectively, if you want to get in wonderful shape for your Italian proficiency test.

49 Italian words and collocations related to cooking

The kitchen in Italy is, without any doubts, the most favorite room in an Italian household. Having a big, bright and fully-equipped kitchen is the dream of every one of us! Why so? The kitchen for Italians is not just a place where you get some food ready and run off. Nope! It is a place devoted to the creation of something. Thus, a practical and welcoming atmosphere is a must-have.

Italians, unlikely other cultures, tend to consume their meals in the kitchen, where you can often find also a couch and a TV. Hence, it comes as no surprise the kitchen is probably the room where the Italian spend most of their time when at home.

Knowing the Italian names of the objects and the everyday actions carried out when cooking a meal will surely come you into handy when visiting your friends in Italy or taking your Italian cookery course in Tuscany.

This is why I have put together this list of sentences related to the kitchen and cooking, which you would hardly find in any textbooks.

Have fun!

Objects to be found in almost every kitchen

La pentola	The pot
La padella	The frying pan
Il lavandino	The kitchen sink
Lo straccio	The mop
Le posate	The cutlery
La lavastoviglie	The dishwasher
I fornelli	The stove
Il rubinetto	The tap
Lo scaffale	The shelf
L’armadietto	The cabinet
Il bollitore	The kettle
Il tagliere	The cutting board
La scodella	The bowl
Il frigorifero	The fridge
Il freezer	The fridge-freezer
Il piatto	The dish
Il coltello	The knife
Lo scolapasta	The colander

Actions to prepare a lovely meal

Tagliare a pezzi	To chop
Tagliare a fette	To slice
Cucinare a fuoco lento	To braise
Cucinare a puntino	To cook to a turn
Cuocere la pasta	To cook the pasta
Buttare la pasta	To put the pasta into the boiling water
Scolare la pasta	To drain the pasta
Lessare le verdure	To boil the vegetables
Mettere in forno	To put in the oven
Cucinare al forno	To cook in the oven
Saltare in padella	To stir-fry
L’acqua bolle	The water boils
Friggere le uova	To fry the eggs
Impanare	To roll in breadcrumbs
Rosolare	To brown
Mettere l’olio	To put the oil
Aggiungere il sale	To add the salt
Pelare le patate	To peel the potatoes
Condire	To season
Scaldare	To heat
Un pizzico di sale	A pinch of salt
Grattugiare il formaggio	To grate the cheese
Mescolare	To stir

What about cooking a good dessert?

Amalgamare gli ingredienti	To combine the ingredients
Sbattere le uova	To beat the eggs
Infornare la torta	To bake the cake
Sfornare la torta	To take out of the oven
Versare la farina	To pour the flour
Inzuppare	To soak
Spolverare il cacao	To dust the cocoa powder
Montare a neve	To whip up

4 FOOD-BASED IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

And to end with the bang, if your Italian is already fabulous, but you want to speak like a pro, try to use these four food-related expressions:

Fare una spaghettata – to make and eat spaghetti

Stasera facciamo una spaghettata tra amici

Essere pieno come un uovo – to be full as an agg

Ho mangiato troppo, mi sento pieno come un uovo

Essere un pezzo di pane – to be good and generous

mio nonno era un pezzo di pane

Avere l’acquolina in bocca – to crave for a delicious food that you have seen or smelled

Quella pubblicità mi ha fatto venire l’acquolina in bocca!

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46 Italian phrases related to Yoga

If you like yoga and you are learning Italian, this list will come in handy when traveling to Italy. Joining a local yoga group or a yoga retreat in Italy is a beautiful experience to practice your Italian in a real-life situation while practicing one of your favorite activity.

The list covers some of the most common Italian words and sentences you would be likely to hear while practicing yoga in Italy. Below the list, you can find a PDF download of the phrases and the Quizlet flashcards and games I created to help you to memorize the phrases. I hope you will enjoy it!

If you need some tips and tricks to study Italian vocabulary, feel free to consult my article about 8 strategies to build up Italian Vocabulary fast and well.

Happy Italian learning!

Corso di yoga	Yoga course
Lezione di yoga	Yoga class
Stare seduto	To stay sit
Stare in piedi	To stand
Inspirare	To inhale
Espirare	To exhale
Istruttore di yoga	Yoga teacher (male)
Istruttrice di yoga	Yoga teacher (female)
Il tappetino	The mat
Il blocco	The block
Respirare profondamente	Deep breathing
Fare yoga all’aperto	To practise yoga outdoors
Sollevare le gambe	To lift the legs up
Sdraiarsi sulla schiena	To lay on the back
Stirare le gambe	To stretch the legs
Allungare il collo	To keep the neck long
Mantenere la colonna dritta	To keep the spine straight
Portare le braccia in alto	To raise the arms overhead
Appoggiare la testa sul tappetino	To lay the head on the mat
Allungare la colonna	To lengthen the spine
Consapevolezza del corpo	Body awareness
Consapevolezza della mente	Mind awareness
Staccare la spina	To disconnect
Il mondo interiore	The inner world
Respirare attraverso le narici	To breathe through the nose
Espandere il torace	To open up the chest
Rilassare i muscoli	To relax the muscles
Piegare i ginocchi	To bend the knees
I palmi delle mani in su	The palms of the hands up
Incrociare le gambe	To cross the legs
Guardare in su	To look up
Fare il ponte	To do the bridge pose
La postura	The posture

Posture dello yoga

Pozioni yoga	Yoga poses
Posizione del cobra	Cobra pose
Posizione del bambino	Child pose
Posizione del loto	Lotus pose
Posizione dell’albero	Tree pose
Posizione delle montagna	Mountain pose
Posizione del cane a testa in giù	Downward-facing dog pose
Posizione della candela	Candle pose
Posizione della locusta	Locust pose
Posizione della mucca	Cow pose
Posizione della gru	Crane pose
Posizione del piccione	Pigeon pose
Posizione del guerriero	Warrior pose

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The mysterious combination of the pronoun ci and the verb avere

Everybody agrees that the pronoun ci is, probably, one of the most mysterious word in Italian, and thus, I thought it would be great to discuss in the post, the use of ci when occurring with the forms of the verb avere.

1.Ce l’hai? Ce l’ho! Non ce l’ho!

I am sure you might already have heard the phrase ce l’ho and wondered what does it mean. Or better, what does the ce mean in that sentence. Well, you will be relieved to know that..it means nothing!

When someone asks you, if you have something, you can either answer by saying you have it or not. In the same way, in Italian, when indicating the possession of an object previously mentioned (in a question, for instance), the combination of the verb avere (to have) and the direct object pronoun (it), is required.

Hence, the sentences ce l’ho and non ce l’ho indicates that you have something or not.

Hai un cane? – Do you have a dog?
Ce l’ho – I have it
Non ce l’ho – I don’t have it

What is the function of the ce in the examples? Well, it has not a specific grammar function. Nevertheless, it is obligatory to have it there when combining a form of avere with a direct objec pronoun.

ce le abbiamo – we have them
ce li avete – do you (all) have them?
non ce l’ho avuto mai – I haven’t ever had it

This use, probably, stems from a desire to avoid the cacophony of using simply l’ho/le ho/li ho or its extreme brevity.

The only rule to apply is, to transform ci in ce, as it always happens when a direct pronoun follows ci.

2. Avercela con qualcuno

There is another colloquial and common construction of the pronoun ci with avere and occurs, precisely, with the pronominal verb avercela, which means, to be angry with someone.

Con chi ce l’hai? – With whom are you angry?
Ce l’ho con il mio collega – I am angry with my colleague

Avercela is not to be confused with the form of avere indicating possession, as, it is always followed by the preposition con.

Avercela has quite the same meaning of the verb arrabbiarsi, a verb you might already be familiar with. What’s the difference between the two? Well, I’d just say avercela is far more colloquial than arrabbiarsi. Thus, it’s up to you which one to use.

Don’t forget that ci has many different other meanings, as follows:

reflexive pronoun → ci svegliamo alle 6 – we wake up at 6
direct object pronoun→ ci conosci? – Do you know us?
indirect object pronoun → ci ha regalato un biglietto gratis per il concerto – she gave us a free ticket for the concert
adverb of place → Ci vado il prossimo mese – I am going there next month
There is, there are → c’è, ci sono

41 Italian sentences related to language learning

If you are here, it’s because you have already decided to start your Italian language learning journey. The odds are that you find your self talking about the joys and pains of language learning. If so, I am pretty sure that, from time to time, you see yourself engaged in a conversation with your tutor or friends where the trending topic is studying a language!

Well, this is why you should get a good grasp of some common Italian sentences related to the world of language learning.

Do you need some tips and trick on how to learn Italian vocabulary efficiently? Consult my article about 8 strategies to boost up your Italian vocabulary fast and well.

1.	Fare un tandem	To do a language exchange
2.	Perfezionare una lingua straniera	To perfect a foreign language
3.	Scegliere un corso di lingue	To choose a language course
4.	Non avere paura di sbagliare	Not being afraid to speak
5.	Conoscere una lingua	To know a language
6.	Perfezionare l’accento	To perfect the accent
7.	Essere madrelingua	To be mother tongue
8.	Imparare una frase idiomatica	To learn an idiomatic sentence
9.	Memorizzare una parola	To memorize a word
10.	Scrivere un diario	To write a journal
11.	Tradurre	To translate
12.	Parlare una lingua correttamente	To speak a language fluently
13.	Iscriversi ad un corso di lingue	To sign up for a language course
14.	Guardare un film in lingua originale	To look a movie in its original language
15.	Cercare una parola nel dizionario	To search a work in the dictionary
16.	Migliorare la comprensione orale	To better oral comprehension
17.	Fare una full-immersion	To do a full-immersion
18.	Essere mulitlingue	To be multilingual
19.	Essere poliglotta	To be a polyglot
20.	La mia lingua madre	My mother tongue
21.	Prendere lezioni private	Taking private lessons
22.	Cercare un partner linguistico	Looking for a language partner
23.	Padroneggiare una lingua straniera	To have a good command of a foreign language
24.	Il significato letterale di una parola	The literal meaning of a word
25.	Il significato figurato di una parola	The figurative meaning of a word
26.	Capire il senso di un’espressione	To get the sentiment of an expression
27.	Scaricare un eBook	To download an eBook
28.	Stile di apprendimento	Learning style
29.	Partecipare a un ritiro linguistico	To join a language retreat
30.	Dedicare tempo allo studio di una lingua	To devote time to language learning
31.	Esprimersi in italiano	To express o.s. In Italian
32.	Essere arrugginito	To be rusty
33.	Parlare con scioltezza	To speak with advanced fluency
34.	Non afferrare il significato di una parola	Not being able to catch the meaning of a word
35.	Parlare la lingua dei segni	To speak the sign language
36.	Sperimentare una cultura diversa	To experience a different culture
37.	Abbattere la barriera linguistica	To break down the language barrier
38.	Riprendere in mano una lingua	To refresh a language
39.	Rinfrescare una lingua	To refresh a language
40.	adottare un’ abitudine	To embrace a habit
41.	Assimilare	To assimilate

If you found this list useful, take the chance to make your flashcards out of the list or use the Quizlet flashcard below. You can download the PDF and store in your files or print it out, by clicking on the link below.

Happy Italian learning!

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Why is knowing your learning style important for your Italian?

Have you ever felt frustrated while taking an Italian language course? Have you ever experienced feeling lost amongst endless vocabulary lists, grammar rules, must-see Italian movies or audio lessons? A myriad of inputs, and nevertheless, that feeling of stagnating is still there?

Maybe you already know or perhaps not, but every single person learns differently. No secret recipe works for every learner of Italian. We are humans, very dissimilar one another and thus, we absorb information in a variety of ways.

If you feel or if you have felt a little bit like this, at some point of your Italian learning journey, it is likely that you have been using a studying method which is not ideal for you.

The thing is, every single person is born with a different learning style, hence, knowing what style suits you best, is crucial to learn how to learn Italian. Using the most efficient method for you is vital to make the most out the time spent with Italian (or anything else).

How many learning styles are there?

Neil Fleming, a New Zealand teacher, has divided people in three different styles of learning: a visual one, an auditory one and a kinesthetic one. The letter can coexist in the same person or one or two can be predominant. No need to say, knowing your prevalent learning aspect will pave your way to a more effective Italian language learning time.

If you want to find out what your personal learning style is, you should take the VARK test, designed by Fleming.

What are the characteristics of the three learning styles?

Visual (or spatial) learning style

The typical visual person is the one that won’t remember a person name, but would definitely remember a personal appearance. Visual students learn efficiently through mental visualization. This means that they need to visualize what they study, in the shape of an image or a graphic or by writing down words. Visual students would better retain an Italian grammar rule while reading, rather than when listening to it, for instance.

Auditory (or musical) learning style

The typical auditory person is the one that remembers the people appearance but skips their names. Auditory students retain what they listen to and, thus, learn efficiently through conversation and listening activities, such as songs or podcasts. Memorizing endless wordlists without writing them down shouldn’t be a big deal for them.

Kinesthetic (or physical) learning style

The kinesthetic person is one that does not remember a person’s appearance or what he says, instead, he reminds people for what they do. Kinesthetic students tend to learn through experience. Doing is far more important than listening or reading. Learning on the move (using role plays or simulation) is one of their strengths.

What are the most productive learning activities for each style?

visual learners	reading (books, newspaper) for expanding the vocabulary using a solid textbook for grasping the grammar using pictures to describe situations making vocabulary lists working in small groups quite study place
auditory learners	listening activities (Podcasts, music, Youtube videos) methods e.g. Assimil or Pimsleur learning in groups learning though Tv series or Italian movies
kinesthetic learners	role plays and simulations learning on the move (e.g. through podcasts) writing down on a notebooks or index cards the new words storytelling

Long story short, knowing how your mind absorb information, will allow you to design your very own Italian learning strategy. Using an approach which best suits your peculiarities, means that you will be most likely to maximize your linguistic potential and less likely to get bored, carrying out Italian learning activities that don’t suit you.

In my experience, the VARK test showed I am someone with a prevalent visual and kinesthetic learning style. This sums up my learning preferences: visualizing words, by writing them down, in the shape of lists. When learning German, jotting down and copying sentences helps me to magically memorize words with very very little effort. Well, this is me! As an Italian teacher, I have come across a great wealth of students with a surprising auditory style, who would learn anything just by listening to it.

No matter what is your learning style, the secret for an exciting Italian language journey is to customize, as much as possibile, your studying strategies to your potential.

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