Author Archives: Jodina

Lentils for Luck – Italian Recipe for a Prosperous New Year

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Jodina

Prefer to read this post in English? Skip to the text in green. Secondo l’usanza italiana, se ti vuoi assicurare di un nuovo anno fortunato, a Capodanno devi mangiare le lenticchie. Piatte e tonde, assomigliano le monete, e per … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Holiday Vocab Round-up! Top 30 Italian Christmas Words & Phrases + Quizlet Practice Set!

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Jodina

Ciao ragazzi! Before going on holiday break, my students asked if I would create some materials to help them practice their Italian and stay engaged with the language during the holidays… So, here’s a round-up of the most popular Italian … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged babbo natale, befana, italian christmas natale, Learn Italian, natale, study italian | 16 Comments

Watch Movies, Improve Your Italian!

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Jodina

Shorter days, longer nights and chilly temperatures make it the perfect season to cozy up with a good Italian movie. Most of my students find watching Italian movies an enjoyable experience, but “they talk so fast” (referring to dialog … Continue reading →

Posted in italian movies, learn italian | Tagged italian classes, Italian movies, Learn Italian, study italian | 2 Comments

“Piove” — An Italian song about rain

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Jodina

(Note: English translation follows.) Per festeggiare la pioggia inaspettata questo weekend a San Diego (ne abbiamo molto bisogno) propongo la canzone “Piove” di Jovanotti. Jovanotti, per chi non lo sapesse, è uno dei miei cantautori italiani preferiti. “Piove” è una … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Music, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged italian music, jodina, jovanotti, Learn Italian, pioggia, rain, rain pioggia | 3 Comments

Auguri alle donne! | International Women’s Day

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Jodina

March 8th is International Women’s Day. This day is observed widely in many countries around the world. Oddly though, it is not observed in the United States. In fact, the first time I’d heard of it was shortly after I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, learn italian, Uncategorized | Tagged Italian Culture, Italian Language, jodina, Learn Italian, MARCH 8 WOMEN'S DAY, mimosa | Leave a comment

Love, Italian Style | Amore all’italiana

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Jodina

“Ti amo” or “Ti voglio bene”? That is the question for italophiles this upcoming day of San Valentino. The answer, it turns out, depends on the object of your affections. “Ti amo” (I love you) is reserved for romantic loves, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, italian idiomatic expressions, Italian idioms, learn italian, Sayings | Tagged Italian Culture, italian love phrases, jodina, speak italian, study italian, study italian san diego | Leave a comment

2 for Tuesday: Scioglilingua | Tongue Twisters

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Jodina

PING PONG[Note: Any text in Italian is followed by the English translation.] Gli scioglilingua sono un ottimo modo per esercitare la tua pronuncia in Italiano! Tongue twisters are an excellent way to practice your Italian pronunciation! Eccone due divertenti che … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, italian tongue twisters, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged italian audio, italian carlsbad, italian classes, Italian Language, italian lessons, italian oceanside, italian vista, jodina, Learn Italian, speak italian, study italian, study italian san diego | 9 Comments

I giorni della merla / Days of the Blackbird, Groundhog’s Italian Cousin

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Jodina

[NB: This post is in Italian interspersed with the English translation.] I giorni della merla sono il 29, 30, e 31 di gennaio. Secondo la leggenda, se questi giorni sono freddi la primavera sara` bella, e se sono caldi la … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Proverbs, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged giorni della merla, Italian Culture, Italian Language, italian proverbs, jodina, Learn Italian, speak italian, study italian | 7 Comments

La Befana viene stanotte! | Befana Comes Tonite!

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Jodina

Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) didn’t check everything off your list? Not to worry. You get a second chance tonite. Kid’s all over Italy are getting ready to hang up their stockings for la Befana to fill this eve of Epiphany, … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged befana, italian classes, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, jodina, Learn Italian, speak italian, study italian | 8 Comments

Panama… una scappata dalla città | … an escape from the city | Foto Blog

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Jodina

Panama… Una Escapada de la Ciudad (Span.) | An Escape from the City… After so much hustle and bustle in the city, exciting as it is, it was time to get out of town for a spell, para un cambio … Continue reading →

Posted in learn italian, learn spanish, panama travel, Photo Foto Blog, the jet set gypsy, travel with jodina | Tagged jodina, jodina travel, Learn Italian, learn spanish, the jet set gypsy, travel panama | 8 Comments