A proposito di propositi… Speaking of Resolutions… + Quizlet Practice Set!

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Jodina

So yes, the title if this blog post is a play on words: A proposito di, meaning “speaking of,” propositi, meaning “intentions/aims/objectives/goals”, as in the expression i buoni propositi per l’anno nuovo, or New Year’s resolutions.

And speaking of resolutions, you might be wondering why I’m bringing them up now, given we’re already three weeks into the new year…

Il primo gennaio, Jan 1st

Well, while while many are not fans of making New Year’s resolutions, it’s undeniable that it’s a hot topic at the beginning of the year… But studies show that as early as three weeks into the new year, many have already abandoned or started to slack off on their resolutions, and that only 8% ultimately reach their goals. With such high failure rates, it’s no wonder so many people don’t even bother setting them in the first place.

It turns out though, that there’s an art to creating goals that will get you where you want to go.  This week, I’m sharing an article that we read in Italian Story + Conversation class on creating more effective goals that can work for you.

Mangiare sano – Eat healthy

Whether your New Year’s resolutions and goals need a little tweaking, or you just want to practice your Italian, this is an interesting read. The article is in Italian and English (scroll down), with the extra bonus of an interactive Quizlet vocabulary practice set created exclusively for my students and readers (see below)!

Buoni propositi per l’anno nuovo: consigli per renderli efficaci

Risparmiare soldi – Save money

Non c’è anno nuovo senza buoni propositi. Per molte persone la fine dell’anno e l’inizio della scuola sono i momenti migliori per decidere le cose da buttare e stabilire i nuovi obiettivi. Ma pochissime persone realizzano i loro buoni propositi. Ecco una miniguida per avere più successo con i tuoi obiettivi.

  1. Non esprimere desideri generici: esempio? “Essere ordinato” è troppo vago; Meglio:  “metterò in ordine la mia stanza e il garage. E li terrò in ordine”.
  2. Creare obiettivi specifici e a piccoli passi: per esempio, invece di semplicemente “Dimagrire”; Meglio: “perderò tre kg (chilogrammi) entro febbraio, e poi altri tre entro aprile.”
  3. Monitora i progressi per rimanere concentrato sull’obiettivo e

    Dimagrire – Lose weight

    sapere se sei sulla strada giusta.

  4. Condividi l’obiettivo: Non necessariamente su Facebook, ma il fatto di condividere i tuoi propositi e obiettivi con un amico o un parente ti aiuterà a rimanere concentrato sulla loro realizzazione.
  5. Non strafare: Pensa a tutto quello che vuoi realizzare nel 2017, e poi scegliere uno semplice da raggiungere entro gennaio, e gli altri dopo.

Click here to access the interactive Quizlet Vocabulary Practice Set and use the password JODINA.

New Year’s Resolutions: Suggestions to Make Them More Effective

Fare ginnastica – Exercise

It’s not a new year without resolutions. For many people, the end of the year and the beginning of school are the best moments to decide what to “toss out” (change) and to set (establish) new goals.  But very few people achieve their new year’s resolutions. Here is a mini-guide to have more success (be more successful) with your goals.

  1. Don’t express generic wishes: Example? “Be neat, orderly” is too vague. Better: “I will put in order (straighten up, organize) the bedroom and the garage. And I will keep them in order.”
  2. Create specific goals and in small steps (break them into small steps): Instead of simply “Lose weight”; better: “I will lose 3 kg. by the end of February, and then another 3 by end of April.”
  3. Monitor your progress to stay concentrated (focused) on a goal and to know whether you’re on the right track.

    Migliorare il tuo italiano – Improve your Italian

  4. Share your goal(s): Not necessarily on Facebook, but the act of sharing your resolutions and goals with a friend or relative will help you to stay focused on reaching them.
  5. Don’t overdo it: Think of all you want to accomplish in 2017, and then choose an easy goal to reach by the end of January, and the others after.

What are your resolutions & goals for the year? Can you make them more specific, manageable, measurable? Do you have any Italian language goals?

[Let me know if you like this and find it helpful… If I know people are using it, I’ll create more practice materials!]

Buona fortuna con i vostri buoni propositi!

Good luck with your resolutions & goals!

Posted in Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Arriva la Befana | The Befana Is Coming

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Jodina

Around Italy, i ragazzi, the kids, are getting ready to hang their calze, stockings, by il camino, the chimney, with care, in hopes that la Befana soon will be there.

i bravi, the good ones, will get caramelle, candies, and little regali, presents, while i cattivi, the bad ones will get carbone, coal.

While Babbo Natale, Santa Claus, comes on Christmas Eve, la Befana arrives during the night between January 5/6, coinciding with l’Epifania, Epiphany.

There are other noteable similarities and differences between the main present-bringer, Santa, and la Befana.

Just like Babbo Natale, la Befana travels through the air. In place of a sleigh with flying reindeer, befana dollla Befana flies a broomstick from house to house where there are bambini, children, entering by way of il camino.

Where Babbo Natale is rotund, merry, white-bearded and dressed in red and white, la Befana is depicted as a smiling, grandmotherly-looking witch, wearing tattered clothing and covered in soot astride a broomstick.

Just like Santa Claus, la Befana’s origins are nebulous, mainly the stuff of folklore, with many variations.befana + re magi
The most common story I encounter is that la Befana lived along the route the Magi took to Bettlemme, Bethlehem. In this version, they stopped at her house seeking food and shelter, but she wasn’t feeling sociable and sent them away.

Later, la Befana had a change of heart and set out to find the Magi to accompany them to find the Christ Child. But by then, she was too late to catch up, and she never found the three kings or the baby Jesus.

So, as the story goes, to this day, at this time of year, she still travels the world, leaving gifts for every child, lest they be il Gesù Bambino, the Baby Jesus.

Poster for a Befana event

January 6, the Epiphany, marks the official end of the Italian Christmas holiday season. It is also said that la Befana takes away the old year, and i dolci, sweets, and regali she brings symbolize seeds to grow in the new year.

Many cities and towns hold special events and parties dedicated to celebrating la festa dell’Epifania/la Befana, Epiphany holiday. People play bingo and cards, and gather outdoors in the piazze, squares, for festivities, including music, processions, live presepi, nativity scenes, mercatini, open-air markets, and live appearances by la Befana.

And while it’s mainly a celebration for the kiddos, you’ll find adults getting in on the action, too, dressing up and parading around as la Befana.

Feeling festive? Perhaps you want to get into the act, too… You could wish people “Buona Befana!,” a popular greeting on January 6 in Italy.

This could be a great time to adopt a fun new tradition, with kids, family or friends. All you need is una calza, a stocking!

Buona Befana, and hope she brings you caramelle!

Have you heard of la Befana before? Do you have any special observances for Epiphany?

Have fun practicing the Italian words in this story on Quizlet!! Click here to access the Quizlet Christmas Round-up list, and use the password JODINA.

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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.

gold coins     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 il fatto che aumentano in misura durante la cottura, simboleggiano soldi e crescita finanziaria. Di solito in Italia le lenticchie si preparano in forma di una gustosa zuppa che viene mangiata nel periodo di Capodanno.

     According to Italian custom, if you want to ensure good luck in the new year, you must eat lentils on New Year’s Eve/Day.  Flat and round, they resemble coins, and due to the fact that they expand in size during cooking, they symbolize money and financial growth.  In Italy, lentils are usually prepared in the form of a tasty stew or soup eaten during the New Year period.

[Let me hear from you if you enjoy learning about Italian cooking, and I’ll share more recipes! Leave a comment!]

Ecco la mia ricetta – È deliziosa e abbastanza facile.

Here’s my recipe – It’s delicious and pretty easy.

[Printer-friendly version of recipe]

Zuppa di lenticchie | Lentil Stew

Persone: 4  |  Preparazione: 30 minuti  |  Cottura: circa 2 ore   |  Difficoltà: media

Serves: 4  |  Preparation: 30 minutes  |  Cooking time: about 2 hours  |  Difficulty: medium

Ingredienti | Ingredients  [Italian | English]lenticchie-2

  1. 300 gr lenticchie verdi secche | 10-11 oz dry green lentils
  2. 1-2 cucchiai olio d’oliva | 1-2 tblsp olive oil
  3. 1-2 cucchiai di burro | 1-2 tbsp butter
  4. peperoncino q.b. /quanto basta | red chili pepper, to taste
  5. 1 cipolla tritata | 1 chopped onion
  6. 1 costola di sedano tritata | 1 stalk of celery, chopped
  7. 2 gambi di porro tritati | 2 bulbs/stems chopped leeks
  8. 1 carota tritata | 1 chopped carrot
  9. 1 bicchiere di vino bianco secco | 1 c./8oz. dry white wine
  10. 1 pomodoro piccolo tritato | 1 small chopped tomato
  11. 1 foglia di alloro | 1 bay  leaf
  12. 8-10 bicchieri (2-2 ½ litri) d’acqua | 8-10 c. (2-2 ½ qt.) water
  13. Dadi di brodo vegetale q.b./quanto basta (circa un dado per litro d’acqua) | Broth cubes, as needed (approx. 1 cube per quart of water)
  14. Sale e pepe, q.b. | Salt and pepper, to taste
  15. Qualche rametto di timo fresco | A few sprigs of fresh thyme
  16. Facoltativo: 300 gr cotechino o altra salsiccia | Optional:  10-11 oz. “cotechino”, a traditional Italian pork sausage, or other sausage

Preparazione | Directions

  1. Sciacquate le lenticchie e mettetele in ammolo in acqua fredda per circa 2-3 ore.
    1. Rinse and soak lentils in cold water for approx. 2-3 hours.
  2. Riscaldate l’acqua con i dadi di brodo e tenetela coperta a fuoco lento finche occorre.
    1. Heat the water with broth cubes and keep covered at a simmer until needed.
  3. Trascorso il tempo di ammollo, potete iniziare a preparare la zuppa di lenticchie.  In una pentola grande rosolate  cipolla, porro, sedano e carote tritati nel burro e l’olio d’oliva.italian food italian cooking
    1. Upon completion of soaking time, in a large pan sauté the chopped onion, leeks, carrot and celery in the butter and olive oil, until onion is transparent.
  4. Aggiungete le lenticchie, ben scolate dall’acqua di ammollo,e la foglia di alloro, girandole 1-2 minuti mentre assorbono il burro, l’olio ed i gusti della verdura.
    1. Add lentils, having drained the soaking water, and the bay leaf, stirring 1-2 minutes as they absorb the butter, oil and flavors of the vegetables.
  5. Aggiungete e fate sfumare il vino bianco, girando il tutto a fuoco basso.
    1. Add white wine and stir the mix while sautéing so wine absorbs into lentils as it evaporates.
  6. Aggiungete il pomodoro e girate a fuoco lento.
    1. Add tomato and stir while sautéing.
  7. Aggiungete sale e pepe quanto basta.
    1. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Aggiungete circa la meta` del brodo e coprire la pentola. Controllate, girate ed assaggiate di tanto in tanto, aggiundendo del brodo in piu` quando occorre ed evitando che le lenticchie si attaccano. Attenzione che le lenticchie ultimate siano al dente e non stracotte.
    1. Add about half the broth and cover the pan. Check, stir and taste every so often, adding more broth as needed to avoid lentils cooking to the bottom of pan.  Take care that the finished lentils are “al dente” and not overcooked (when ready, lentils should be soft but not mushy).
  9. Aggiungete del sale quanto basta.
    1. Add salt as needed/to taste.
  10. In una padella a parte, fate rosolare le salsicce. Abbiate cura a non stracuocerle. Alla fine della cottura la pelle sara` diventata biancastra. Dovrebbero essere tenere e non dure.
    1. In a separate pan, steam the sausage(s). Be careful not to overcook. When finished, the casings will have turned white. They should be tender, not tough.
  11. Quando le salsicce saranno ultimate, toglietele dalla fiamma e togliere la pelle.
    1. When sausages are cooked, remove from heat and remove casings.
  12. capodanno-buon anno 2014

    Buon Anno | Happy New Year!

    Quando la zuppa di lenticchie sara` ultimate, toglietela dalla fiamma, togliete la foglia di alloro, aggiungete del timo fresco e mescolate.  Affettate le salsicce, mettete le fette in cima alle porzioni di zuppa ed aggiungete un rametto di timo fresco. Buon appetito e prospero anno !

    1. When lentils have finished cooking, remove from heat, remove bay leaf, add the leaves of several fresh sprigs of thyme and mix.  Slice the sausages, put slices over the top of the portions of lentil stew, add a sprig of thyme and serve.  Good eating and Prosperous New Year!

Un sacco di lenticchie

P.S. Don’t have the time or desire to cook? No problem! Another tradition to ensure good luck in the new year is simply to cross the threshold of your home at the stroke of midnight and enter your household carrying a sack of lentils!

Have you ever eaten lentil soup?  What special foods do you eat at New Year’s?

Let me hear from you if you enjoy learning about Italian cooking, and I’ll share more recipes! Leave a comment!

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 Christmas words and phrases. I’ve set it up the same as the “Words of the Week” (WoWs). WoWs are words we choose and practice each week from the materials we’re working on in class.

I’ve added this week’s WoWs below, to a list I created in Quizlet. If you’re already familiar with Quizlet, then you know how engaging and fun it is to use the many interactive exercises it features to build your vocabulary and strengthen your memory. Click here to access the Quizlet Christmas Round-up list and use the password JODINA.

  1. Natale: Christmas
  2. la vigilia di Natale: Christmas Eve
  3. il presepe, il presepio: Manger, nativity scene
  4. i regali: gifts, presents
  5. gli addobbi: Decorations
  6. le luci: lights (also, “le luminarie”)
  7. le palline: ornaments (lit. little balls)
  8. l’albero di Natale: Christmas tree
  9. la stella: star
  10. il vischio: mistletoe
  11. le castagne: chestnuts
  12. le caldarroste: roasted chestnuts (also called castagne arrostite)
  13. il panettone: Italian Christmas cake (dome shaped with candied fruit and raisins)
  14. le lenticchie: lentils (eaten to ensure good fortune in the new year)
  15. il cenone: big dinner, from the word cena (dinner) plus the suffix -one, indicating large
  16. la chiesa: church
  17. santa messa: holy mass
  18. Gesù Bambino: Baby Jesus
  19. Babbo Natale: Santa Claus (Father Christmas – babbo is a colloquial word originating in Tuscany and meaning dad, daddy, pops)
  20. Buon Natale!: Merry Christmas!
  21. Buone Feste!: Happy Holidays!  
  22. Auguri di stagione!: Seasons Greetings!
  23. Capodanno: New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day (lit. the head/end/extremity of the year)
  24. Buon Anno!: Happy New Year!
  25. Prospero e felice anno nuovo!: Prosperous and Happy New Year!
  26. l’Epifania: Epiphany, celebrated Jan 6th
  27. i Re Magi: the wise men (three kings, magi)
  28. la Befana: gift-bringing witch (comes on Epiphany)
  29. la calza: stocking (to hold candies and small gifts la Befana brings)
  30. i biglietti di auguri: greeting cards

Got any Italian holiday questions or words to add to the list?

Let me know if you like this and find it helpful… If I know people are using it, I’ll create more practice materials!

Posted in Italian Holidays, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged , , , , , | 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 in the films) is a frequent observation, usually followed by this question: “What can I do to increase my comprehension of these films?”

Here’s my advice for a tried-and-true way to employ Italian movies as a vehicle to exponentially expand your understanding of spoken Italian :

  1. Watch as many movies as you can get your hands (or eyes) on, preferably ones that are easily available. (See my picks of Italian movies on Netflix here.)
  2. Choose one of these movies as your “project”. Make it a film that you enjoy so much you’d happily watch it over and over again, because that’s exactly what I’m about to prescribe.
  3. Watch the whole movie several times, while reading the English subtitles, until you have the movie meaning and content memorized.
  4. Now, starting with chapter one (or the first section/scene of the film), turn off the subtitles and (already knowing what is happening in the scene) focus on listening only to the Italian. At this point, because you know exactly what’s going on in the movie plot, you are free to focus on the spoken language. Listen to each chapter or scene several times, focusing first on getting the gist and then gradually on comprehending words and phrases.
  5. If possible, when you first turn off the English subtitles, consider watching with the subtitles switched to Italian.
  6. It might seem like you’re training yourself to be able to understand only this one movie, but stick with it. What you are really doing is using it to train your ear, and this will improve your comprehension skills and spill over to any new movies or programs you listen to in Italian (not to mention actual live people). When it’s time to choose a new movie “project”, if you’ve followed these steps, you’ll be amazed at how much more quickly you are able to understand and get the gist!
  7. Here’s that list of my Italian movie picks on Netflix. Enjoy!

Got any favorite Italian movies? Or listening comprehension suggestions you’d like to share? Love to hear your comments!

Posted in italian movies, learn italian | Tagged , , , | 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 canzone d’amore, che si tratta di una persona che aveva deciso di non inamorarsi mai più ma che poi si innamora di nuovo… paragonando in questo caso l’amore alla pioggia in un posto (il cuore) dove non piove da molto tempo.

TRANSLATION

To celebrate the unexpected rain this weekend in San Diego (we really need it), I propose the song “Piove”/Rain, by Jovanotti.  Jovanotti, for anyone who didn’t know, is one of my favorite Italian singer-songwriters. “Piove” is a love song about a person who’d decided never to fall in love again, but then does fall in love again… comparing in this case love with rain in a place (the heart) where it hasn’t rained for a long time.]

For Rainy Day words (Parole Piovose) see this earlier blog post.


SONG VIDEO

LYRICS IN ITALIANO

Ritornello:

Piove! Senti come piove! Madonna come piove! Senti come viene giù!
Piove! Senti come piove! Madonna come piove! Senti come viene giù!

Verso 1
Hai visto che piove? Senti come viene giù!
Tu che dicevi che non pioveva più!
Che ormai non ti saresti mai più innamorata!
E adesso guardati sei tutta bagnata!
E piove! Madonna come piove
sulla tua testa e l’aria si rinfresca,
e pioverà fin quando la terra non sarà di nuovo piena
e poi si rasserena!

Ritornello

Verso 2

Senti le gocce che battono sul tetto!
Senti il rumore girandoti nel letto!
Uhm, rinascerà sta già nascendo ora!
Senti che piove e il grano si matura,
e tu diventi grande e ti fai forte,
e quelle foglie che ti sembravan morte,
uhm, ripopolano i rami un’altra volta
è la primavera che bussa alla tua porta!
E piove! Madonna come piove
prima che il sole ritorni a farci festa!
Uhm senti! Senti come piove!
Senti le gocce battere sulla tua testa!

Ritornello x  2

Verso 3

Tu che credevi che oramai le tue piantine
si eran seccate e non sarebbero cresciute più!
Hai aspettato un po’, ma senti come piove
sulla tua testa! Senti come viene giù!
Non eri tu che ormai ti eri rassegnata
e che dicevi che non ti saresti più innamorata?
La terra a volte va innaffiata con il pianto,
ma poi vedrai la pioggia tornerà!

Ritornello x 2

LYRICS IN ENLGLISH

Refrain:

It’s raining! Listen to* how it’s raining! Madonna** how it’s raining! Hear how it’s coming down!

It’s raining!

Listen to* how it’s raining! Madonna** how it’s raining! Hear how it’s coming down!

Verse 1
Have you seen that it’s raining? Listen to how it’s coming down!
You said it wouldn’t rain anymore!
That by this point you would never fall in love again!
And now look at yourself, you’re all wet!
And it’s raining! Madonna how it’s raining
on your head and the air is refreshed,
and it will rain until the earth is full again
and then it will clear up!

Refrain

Verse 2
Hear the drops that beat on the roof!
Hear the noise as you roll over in bed!
Uhm, it will be reborn, it’s being born now!
Listen as it rains and the grain matures,
and you will become great and regain your strength,
and those leaves that to you seemed dead
uhm, they will repopulate (rebloom on) the branches again
It’s Spring knocking at your door!
And it’s raining! Madonna how it will rain
Before the sun comes back to make a party for us!
Uhm listen! Hear how it’s raining!
Feel the drops beating on your head!

Refrain x 2

Verse 3
You who believed that by now your little seedlings
had dried up and would never grow again!
You waited a while, but feel how it’s raining
on your head! Listen to how it’s coming down!
Wasn’t it you who by now had resigned yourself
And who said you would never fall in love again?
The earth is sometimes watered with tears,
but then you will see the rain come back!

Refrain x 2

(*Sentire is the ‘sensory’ verb and can mean hear, feel, listen.)

(**Madonna is the Virgin Mary and is often used as an exclamation, like saying Oh my God!)

Ahh, la pioggia, a volte triste, in altri momenti romantica.  A volte nutre, ad altre destrugge. Come ti fa sentire TU la pioggia?

[Ah, the rain, sometimes sad, other times romantic. Sometimes it nourishes, and other times it destroys.  How does the rain make YOU feel?]  Comments welcome below!

Posted in Italian Music, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Auguri alle donne! | International Women’s Day

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Jodina

festa donna 8 marzoMarch 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 moved to Italy.

In italia la Festa della Donna si festeggia l’8 di marzo. | In Italy, Women’s day is celebrated on March 8th.

festa donna mazze mimose

Mazze di mimose | Bouquets of mimosa flowers

Gli uomini regalano i fiori, solitamente le mimose, alle colleghe di lavoro e a tutte le altre donne importanti nelle loro vite… mamme, sorelle, fidanzate, ragazze, ecc. | Men give flowers, usually mimosas, to their female colleagues and to all the other important women in their lives… moms, sisters, fiances, girlfriends, etc.

Contrary to popular belief, the mimosa is not just a popular cocktail made from succo d’arancia (orange juice) and champagne, though I suspect this drink was inspired by the true mimosa.

mimosa.drink

La mimosa piu` famosa — the most famous mimosa: Mimosa Cocktails

The mimosa is the fragrant and fluffy yellow pom-pom-like flower of the acacia tree.  California is full of these trees this time of year, as is Italy, which is why this flower is so common on this day.  I love the smell of these flowers — their fragrance zooms me straight back to wonderful memories.

Below are a few Women’s Day auguri (greetings) to share with someone special:

  1. “Questa mimosa è bella come te che splendi e profumi nel giorno della tua festa.” | This mimosa is as beautiful as you that shine and are fragrant on your special day.
  2. “Auguri a tutte le donne del mondo ed in particolare alla mia che è la più bella che ci sia!” | Good wishes to all the women of the world and in particular to mine who is the most beautiful there is!
  3. “La donna è la colonna portante del mondo, senza te tutto crollerebbe e la nostra famiglia andrebbe in rovina… Grazie donna, grazie mamma.” | The woman is the main supporting column of the world, without you everything would collapse and our family would go into ruin… Thank you woman, thank you mom.

women dressed in yellowWomen’s Day is a celebration of all that is wonderful about women, and it is a day to pause and reflect on the accomplishments and importance of the role of women in our world. It’s also a moment to consider improvements and changes needed to better the quality of women ‘s lives in general, and especially of women and girls whose rights and life conditions are extremely compromised or perilous.

Remember to give an extra hug or shout out to the women who matter in your life today. And remember also the women whose lives are not what they could be. We’ve come a long way baby, ma c’è ne ancora di strada da fare! (there’s still a ways to go!)

Have you heard of Women’s Day before?  Do you celebrate it?  Which mimosa do you prefer, the flower or the cocktail?  😉  Love your comments!

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, learn italian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love, Italian Style | Amore all’italiana

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Jodina

saying i love you in italian“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, while “Ti voglio bene” (I want/wish you well) is used to say I love you to everyone: family, friends, and lovers. Per non fare brutta figura (to not make a faux pas) watch the video below!

After the video, check out the round-up of Italian love phrases to help you sweep your adorato (adored one) off their feet! Plus a link to send free online Italian Valentine’s Day cards.

Video:  Saying “I love you” in Italian

More instructional videos >>

Be your own Don Giovanni with these romantic phrases!

  1. Buon San Valentino (Happy Valentine’s Day)
  2. Ti amo. (I love you. Used only for romantic love.)
  3. Ti adoro. (I adore you.)
  4. Amore mio (My love, my beloved)
  5. Tesoro mio (My treasure)
  6. Ti voglio bene. (I love/care about you. Used for all types of relationships: family, friends, lovers.)
  7. I tuoi occhi brillano come le stelle. (Your eyes shine like stars.)
  8. Sei bella come una rosa. (You are as beautiful as a rose.)
  9. Per sempre (Forever)
  10. Per sempre tua,o (Forever yours)
  11. Sono pazza,o di te. (I’m crazy for you.)
  12. Anima mia (My soul)
  13. Sei incredibile. (You’re incredible.)
  14. Sei bellissima,o. (You’re very beautiful.)
  15. Sei un dono. (You are a gift.)
  16. Sei stupenda,o. (You’re fantastic.)

Send a free online Italian Valentine’s card to someone special at www.kisseo.it.

heart in cappuccino coffeeA tutti i miei lettori un buon San Valentino! Siete stupendi! (To all of my readers, a happy Valentine’s Day! You’re fantastic!)

Got a favorite Italian  love phrase or anecdote? Ever wished someone Happy Valentine’s in italiano? Sei un tipo romantico? (Are you the romantic type?) Leave a comment below!

Posted in Expressions, Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, italian idiomatic expressions, Italian idioms, learn italian, Sayings | Tagged , , , , , | 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!

3 tigri contro 3 tigriEccone due divertenti che ha condiviso il mio amico Lobsang di Torino. Li ho provati lo scorso sabato nella mia classe di conversazione e studio dell’italiano e gli studenti si sono divertiti un mondo facendo esercizio.

Here are two fun ones my friend Lobsang from Torino shared with me. I tested them out this past Saturday in my Italian Study & Conversation class, and the students had a blast practicing them.

Tre tigri contro tre tigri. | Three tigers against three tigers.

Dieci limoni, cento limoni, mille limoni.  |  Ten lemons, a hundred lemons, a thousand lemons.

[P.S. No, they don’t make sense… of course not, they’re tongue twisters!]

10-100-1000 limoniSuggerimenti & Consigli:

  •  Ascoltare le registrazioni audio
  • Pronunciare lo scioglilingua lentamente, poi due volte di fila, infine tre volte senza fermarsi
  • Aumentare la velocità senza sacrificare la pronuncia corretta

 

Suggestions  & Advice:

  • Listen to the audio recordings
  • Say the tongue twister once slowly, then twice in a row, and finally  three times without stopping.
  • Pick up speed without sacrificing correct pronunciation

Tre tigri contro tre tigri.

Dieci limoni, cento limoni, mille limoni.

Divertiti e fammi sapere come va! Hai mai usato gli scioglilingua come modo di fare esercizio in italiano? Lo trovi utile, difficile, divertente? Quali sono i tuoi preferiti? Lascia un commento!

Have fun and let me know how you do! Have you used tongue twisters before as a way to practice Italian? Do you find it useful, difficult, fun? What are some of your favorites? Leave  a comment!

See more tongue twisters here: Italian Tongue Twisters | Sopra la panca…

Posted in Expressions, italian tongue twisters, Italian Vocabulary, learn italian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Buoni propositi per l’anno nuovo | New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 5, 2015 by

[Note: Any text in Italian is followed by the English translation.]

È giunto quel momento: un nuovo anno luccicante è iniziato! Un anno pieno di possibilità e buoni propositi, cioè tutti quegli atti e nobili intenzioni che vorremmo riuscire a mettere in pratica nei prossimi dodici mesi.

That moment has arrived: a shiny new year has begun! A year full of possibilities and resolutions, that is to say, all those actions and noble intentions  that we’d like to be able to put into practice in the next twelve months.

Ecco i miei, o perlomeno tre dei miei più importanti obiettivi:

Here are mine, or at least three of my most important goals:

– Rimettermi in forma… visto che l’anno scorso ho messo su peso e non mi vanno più i ginnasticajeans… uffa! Mi sono già iscritta ad un intenso programma di ginnastica.

– Get back in shape… seeing that last year I put on weight and can no longer get into my jeans… darn it! I have already signed up for an intensive exercise program.

– Imparare a gestire e investire intelligentemente i soldi… visto che ormai sono diventata responsabile con le finanze, è giunto il momento di procedere al prossimo traguardoinvestire soldi… Sono brava con le parole, ora voglio migliorare le capacità finanziarie.

– Learn to intelligently manage and invest money… seeing that by now I have become responsible with my finances, the moment has arrived to move to the next milestone… I’m good with words; now I want to improve my financial skills.

– Imparare a cantare e a usare bene la voce. È sempre stato il mio sogno poter cantar bene, o almeno decentemente (possibilmente evitando che i cani abbaino mentre intono una canzone). In più, visto che parlo per mestiere, apprendere l’uso corretto Jodina singing at Cicciotti's-editeddell’apparato vocale-respiratorio penso sia un buon investimento nella mia vita professionale.

– Learn to sing and use my voice well. It has always been my dream to be able to sing well, or at least decently (possibly avoiding that dogs howl when I sing a song). Moreover, seeing that I speak for a living, I believe that learning to correctly use my vocal-respiratory apparatus is a good investment in my professional life.

Questi sono i miei propositi per il 2015. Le aspirazioni e i sogni che punto a realizzare. Dichiararli agli altri è sempre difficile, ma fondamentale. Per questo vi chiedo di condividere anche i vostri. Che cosa farete nel nuovo anno? Come investirete il vostro tempo? Per quali obiettivi lotterete?

These are my resolutions for 2015. Aspirations and dreams that I aim to realize. Declaring them to others is always difficult but essential. For this reason, I’m asking you to share yours, too. What will you do in the new year? How will you invest your time? What goals will you strive for?

Auguro a tutti un anno  felice e pieno di creatività!

I wish everyone a happy new year full of creativity!

Posted in Italian Customs, Italian Holidays, learn italian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments