Category Archives: Uncategorized

Everybody Speaks Italian — The Cool Phenomenon of Language Crossover

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Jodina

“Word Bridge” (photo by Dutch artist Art Rock) . “How’s that?,” you say. Well, you might be a student of la bella lingua (Italian’s nickname, meaning, literally, the beautiful language) and speak it with some degree of proficiency, … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Vocabulary, learn italian, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Favorite Artichoke Recipe: “Carciofi al cartoccio”

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Jodina

I recently held my first-ever official Italian cooking class. While it’s true that I’ve been informally teaching friends and family Italian recipes, tips, and cooking techniques for years… this was my first organized class… and it was a huge success — … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

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Charlie Sheen & Italian Verbs…

Winning >>Vincente!

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jodina

Charlie Sheen prende in giro un programma di cucina (CS spoofs a cooking show) . L’altra sera in classe, uno studente ha cominciato di parlare di Charlie Sheen. (The other evening in class, a student started talking about Charlie Sheen.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Vocabulary, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged charlie sheen, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Language, italian vocabulary, italian words, Learn Italian, winning | 5 Comments

Anniversario Unità d’Italia >>

Italy turns 150!

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Jodina

. Italy turned 150 today, which might surprise you. With so many ancient ruins and all the Renaissance and other historical works of art… you might wonder how the country could be so young. . And your surprise would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged 150 anniversary italy, garibaldi, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian sayings, italian unification, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, Learn Italian, risorgimento italiano | 5 Comments

International Women’s Day>> Festa della Donna

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Jodina

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

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged festa dellla donna, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina jovanotti, Learn Italian, march 8, mimosa, speak italian, women's day | 6 Comments

L’amore è nell’aria>>

Italian love phrases, proverbs & music

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Jodina

. In onore della stagione d’amore e il giorno di San Valentino (in honor of the season of love and Valentine’s Day), dedico questa puntata del blog ad alcuni proverbi, frasi e una canzone d’amore italiani (I dedicate this blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressions, Italian Holidays, Italian Music, Italian Proverbs, Italian Vocabulary, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged amore italiano, frasi italiani d'amore, italiah valentines day, italian audio, italian classes, Italian Culture, Italian Language, italian love, italian love phrases, italian music, italian phrases, italian proverbs, italian sayings, italian songs, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, l'amore e nell'aria, Learn Italian, san valentino, zucchero | 9 Comments

The Week in Words>> A Blast of Italian Vocabulary

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Jodina

. Perhaps one of your new year’s resolutions is to migliorare (improve) in italiano. As a way to expand and improve your vocabulary of Italian words, I thought it might be useful and interesting to share some of the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Vocabulary, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged italian audio, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian new year's resolutions, italian sayings, italian verbs, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, propositi per l'anno nuovo, speak italian | 2 Comments

Italian Holidays>>

It’s not over ’til the old lady…

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jodina

…flies in on a broom! . . [Note: Any passages in Italian are followed by a translation in English.] . Yes, the lore of la Befana is one of my favorite parts of the Italian winter holiday traditions. So, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Sayings, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged befana, calze, carbone, coal, epifania, epiphany celebration, epiphany in italy, filastrocche sulla befana, Italian Culture, italian expressions, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, perchè la befana si festeggia, quando si festeggia la befana, re magi, speak italian, stella cometa, stockings | 4 Comments

Italian Vocabulary:

>> Favorite Italian Christmas Words & Practices

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Jodina

. Some of my favorite things about the Italian Christmas holiday season are — not surprisingly — edible. Starting with le castagne, il panettone, and le lenticchie, following is a list of a few of my favorite Italian Christmas holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Food, Uncategorized, Vocaboli Italiai | Tagged italian christmas, italian classes, Italian Culture, Italian Language, italian phrases, italian sayings, italian vocabulary, italian words, jodina, learn italiano, natale italiano, study italian san diego | Leave a comment

Italian Traditions>>

Buon Sant’Ambrogio & O’Bej O’Bej!

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Jodina

[Note: Any passages in Italian are subsequently translated into English.] Il 7 dicembre a Milano viene osservato e festeggiato come il giorno di Sant’Ambrogio, il patrono della città. (The 7th of December in Milan is observed and celebrated as Saint … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments