Blog
Prendere and Portare: The Difference
Prendo or Porto: What's the difference? When it comes to describing movement, the difference between prendere and portare is not obvious to native English speakers. In my private classes, students frequently default to prendere when they should be using...
What’s the meaning of ‘ancora’ in Italian?
How to Use "Ancora" in Italian Ancora is one of those words used in a number of different ways in Italian—and it’s very common. As always, when learning something new, it’s paramount to consider the context and the sentence in which the word is used. In the case of...
5 Italian Sayings About Love
1. L'amore non è bello, se non è litigarello There is no equivalent in English, although searching, I came across a quote by Shakespeare that sums up the meaning of the Italian provarb above. "The course of true love never runs smooth." When do...
CILS B1 Cittadinanza (Citizenship): Writing Part
The duration of the entire exam is 2.05 hours The writing portion will take 40 minutes There's only one task. The CILS B1 citizenship writing section includes two writing prompts. Only one prompt must be chosen and completed. You'll be asked to: ...
‘Cosa’ and ‘Quale’: The Difference
Because the interrogative word "Quale?" is sometimes translated into English as "Which?" and sometimes with What?, it's frequently confused with Cosa?, Che? or Che cosa? which are more common translations of What? Cosa? = What? Cosa is the default What? for...
9 Nonfiction Books to Improve Your Italian
This is my list of the non-fiction books I have read in the last few years. Every book on this list has inspired me in one way or another. Some books were recommended to me by my lovely students too! Since I believe that reading non-fiction in Italian is an...
Episodio #2 – Cosa sono le Zone Blu?
Days of the Week in Italian
The Italian calendar is based on the ancient Roman system and is composed of seven days. lunedì (Monday) martedì (Tuesday) mercoledì (Thursday) giovedì (Friday) sabato (Saturday) domenica (Sunday). As you can see, the days from Lunedì to Venerdì end with a stressed...
How To Improve Your Listening as a Beginner in Italian: a Review on Italian Pod101
Many students fall into the trap of focusing all of their attention on grammar or conversation when learning a foreign language. They believe they will develop a natural ear for listening. I firmly believe, instead, that listening to Italian is crucial for all...
How to create your perfect Italian Immersion Trip
5 Steps to Create a Travel Itinerary for Your Language Immersion Trip We study a foreign language because we enjoy the priceless experience of visiting a foreign country and feeling at ease Imagine traveling to Italy and feeling at home: shopping in Italian at...