Author Archives: Jodina

Welcome back! 🙂 This is Part 3 of a 5-part series on ideas and ways to amp up your speed of learning. (Aumentare la tua velocità di apprendimento) I challenged my students to come up with entertaining and enriching ways … Continue reading →

‘Dare sui nervi a qualcuno’ or ‘Dare ai nervi a qualcuno’ means to ‘get on somebody’s nerves.’ . Here’s an example perfect for a long spell of rainy weather: . La pioggia incomincia a darmi sui nervi! [The rain is … Continue reading →

Ciao a tutti! I’d like to invite you to an Italian language study group I’ve started thru Meetup. We meet Saturday mornings at a cafe in Vista. It’s like studying with a group of amici back in the day at … Continue reading →

Hello again! 🙂   Thanks for stopping by for Part II of the 5-part series on ways to amp up your speed of learning. (Aumentare la tua velocità di apprendimento)   These entertaining and intriguing ideas are the result of … Continue reading →

Hello and welcome! 🙂 This is Part I of a 5-part series on ideas and ways to amp up your speed of learning. (Aumentare la tua velocità di apprendimento) I challenged my students to come up with entertaining and enriching … Continue reading →

La Befana, aka a present-delivering old woman on a broom, officially ushers out the Italian Christmas season… read on… This is an exciting nite for many an Italian child, as they will hang stockings before bed tonite in anticipation of … Continue reading →

While here in the U.S. we’re back to work, back to school, the tree’s out to the curb, and the manger’s back in the box… in Italia it ain’t quite over just yet. Back at the presepio, or nativity scene, … Continue reading →

Lentils (Lenticchie) /lehn-tee-keeay/ Lentils are little round flat legumes, often used in soup or stew. Popular Italian tradition has it that since the lentil shape resembles a coin, eating it on New Year’s Eve or Day guarantees good health and … Continue reading →

KEY WORDS The Days: La vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) Natale (Christmas) Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen, Dec. 26th) Capo d’anno (New Year’s Eve) Epifania (Epiphany, 6th Jan.) Greetings: Buon Natale (Merry Christmas) Buone Feste (Happy Holidays) Felice/Prospero Anno Nuovo (Happy/Prosperous … Continue reading →

Italian Christmas Traditions & Practices – A Survey I asked my friends in Italia (Milano, Lombardia Region) the following questions: Generally, what is the tradition on present-giving in Italy? Who gives gifts to whom? Do adults exchange gifts? And when … Continue reading →