Episode 00 - Welcome to Your Italian Journey (Start here 📍)

🎙 Welcome to  We learn Italian step by step  / Impariamo l’italiano piano piano

Benvenuti! If you're looking for an engaging way to improve your Italian—beyond textbooks and rigid grammar drills—you’re in the right place. This podcast blends storytelling with structured grammar practice, helping you learn naturally and step by step—piano piano.

Exclusive access to premium content!

In each episode, you’ll hear Italian in context, uncover key grammar points, and actively practice speaking. But before we jump into the story, let’s set you up for success by building some essential vocabulary.

🌟 Highlights:

• A warm welcome and an introduction to how this podcast works.
• Why learning through stories helps you absorb Italian more effectively.
• Key vocabulary to help you follow along in the upcoming episodes.
• Interactive exercises to reinforce your learning.
  → Link to vocabulary flashcards ←

🎯 Practice Makes Perfect:
You’ll hear new words in meaningful sentences, practice active recall, and test yourself with a mini quiz. This immersive approach helps you think in Italian and build confidence without memorizing endless word lists.

🎧 Ready to kickstart your journey? Take it step by step—piano piano—and enjoy the process. Ci sentiamo presto!

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro to Podcast
• 7:07 Key Vocabulary
• 9:41 Places & Locations
• 13:51 Active Recall 1
• 16:15 Mini Quiz 1
• 17:02 Home & Objects
• 18:40 Active Recall 2
• 19:08 Mini Quiz 2
• 20:08 Work & Daily Life
• 21:23 Active Recall 3
• 22:09 Mini Quiz 3
• 22:53 Reflections
• 24:02 Active Recall 4
• 24:19 Mini Quiz 4
• 24:40 Final Challenge
• 25:31 Wrap up and Next Steps

Transcript

We Learn Italian Podcast Introduction

Impariamo l'italiano piano piano - Un impegno quotidiano

→ Link to vocabulary flashcards ←

Ciao a tutti e benvenuti! 
I’m Myra—an instructional designer, a certified TEFL English instructor, and someone who knows exactly what it’s like to learn Italian from scratch. I didn’t grow up speaking multiple languages—I started Italian later in life, and I’ve spent years figuring out what really works.

I believe learning a language should feel natural, engaging, and immersive. That’s why, in this podcast, I combine storytelling with practical grammar instruction, helping you absorb Italian in context. Each episode unfolds through an engaging narrative, where you’ll hear and practice key grammar structures—like the imperfetto, passato prossimo, congiuntivo and more…—in a way that makes learning feel more natural and manageable.

Antonio: Scusi, Myra, ma il Suo italiano ha bisogno di un piccolo aiuto, non crede?

Myra: Who are you? - Chi è Lei?

Antonio: Intendi Lei, non le.

Myra: Scusi? Ma chi è Lei?

Antonio: Mi chiamo Antonio Giovanni Maria di Rossi, e sono qui come la Sua voce ufficiale italiana per il racconto di storie.  La invito a considerarmi come il custode di tutto ciò che è narrativo, colui che porta un pizzico di fascino italiano nelle nostre storie e, di tanto in tanto, La tiene in riga quando si allontana dal percorso. 

Myra: Ah va bene! Mi servirebbe un po' d'aiuto con la narrazione. 
I could use some help with the narrative.  

But I don’t think I need to be kept in line on my own podcast.

Ma non credo di aver bisogno di essere tenuto in riga sul mio podcast.

Well, Antonio Giovanni Maria di Rossi, that’s an awfully long name. È un nome terribilmente lungo. 

Antonio: terrribilmente.

Myra: terrribilmente.

Aren’t you a man? Why do you have the name of a woman? Lei non è un uomo? Perché il suo nome è quello di una donna? 

Antonio: Ah, signora, mi permetta di spiegare: nella nostra tradizione, molti uomini portano 'Maria' come secondo nome in onore della Vergine Maria. Non è un’affermazione di femminilità, ma un segno di rispetto e devozione verso le nostre radici culturali, anche per un uomo.

Myra: I did not know that, about having the name of the virgin Mary being a sign of respect and devotion towards your cultural roots, even for a man.  

In any case, can I just call you Tony? Comunque, posso chiamarla Tony?
 
   Antonio: No, cara signora, mi chiamo Antonio Giovanni Maria di Rossi, e mi aspetto che usi il mio nome per intero!

Myra: That’s a bit of a mouthful for every single time I say your name. How about just Antonio—for the sake of brevity?

Antonio: Per te, Myra, posso anche rinunciare a due dei miei nomi.
(For you, Myra, I can even give up two of my names.)

    Myra: Thank you for that, Antonio. And, can we call each other 'you', informally?
Grazie per questo, Antonio. E… possiamo darci del “tu”?

Grazie per questo, Antonio. E… possiamo darci del “tu”?
    Antonio: Certo, cara amica, del tu andrà benissimo—perché siamo ottimi amici!
Myra:  We're not really that good of friends, Antonio.

Non siamo proprio così amici, Antonio.

Antonio:  Mi ferisce sentirlo.

Myra: I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Non volevo ferire i tuoi sentimenti.

Ma tu sei solo una voce! But you are only a voice!

Antonio (in Italian): Se lo dici tu.

Myra: As I was saying, I also believe in active learning, so you’ll get plenty of chances to pause, think, and speak. Rather than just memorizing rules, you’ll discover patterns, form sentences yourself, and reinforce your skills step by step—piano piano!
  https://sora.chatgpt.com/?utm_source=chatgpt
This podcast is designed for learners at a B1 to B2 level—which is about where I am, too! I chose to start here because there are already so many resources for beginners, but once you reach an intermediate level, it can be more difficult to find engaging material that helps you in your journey to fluency. Plus, creating this podcast helps me to reinforce what I’ve learned and to continue improving my Italian language skills, learning alongside you, whether I’m a few steps ahead, right beside you, or even catching up in some areas! 

Now, you might be wondering—why learn Italian with someone who isn’t a native speaker? Well, I’ll tell you why. Because I’ve been exactly where you are! I’ve wrestled with tricky grammar rules, stumbled over false friends, and I know what it feels like to hit a plateau and feel like you’re just spinning your wheels.

That’s exactly why I created this podcast, for people like me (and maybe you!) who want to conquer Italian, understand grammar in a meaningful way, and if you have a goal in mind—maybe it’s to pass the B1 fluency exam, whether for personal achievement, travel, or even to qualify for Italian citizenship. Or perhaps your dream is simply to be able to walk into a pasticceria accanto alla piazza and have a conversation with the commessa behind the counter.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by Italian but still dream of speaking fluently, you’re not alone. Let’s take this journey together.

Now, Let’s Get Started!

Before we dive into the story in Episode 1, let’s familiarize ourselves with some key vocabulary. Learning these words ahead of time will make it easier to follow along, recognize important details, and feel more confident as you listen.

In the first part of Chapter 1, you’ll hear words related to places, daily life, and our young protagonist Mariella’s world in Florence. Here’s how we’ll approach this vocabulary:

·       First, I’ll introduce new words by mixing them into an English context.

·       Next, you’ll do an active recall exercise to help reinforce them.

·       Finally, we’ll wrap up with a mini quiz for each group of words to test your understanding.

Ready? Let’s begin! Cominciamo!

Antonio:Ehm... scusa, Myra… ma tu pensi davvero che tutti abbiano capito che questa non è ancora la storia?

(Um… excuse me, Myra… but do you really think everyone understands that this isn’t the story yet?)

Myra: Well, yeah, I was thinking course our listeners understand that this isn’t the story yet….They do understand that, don’t they?

Antonio:
Mah… tu hai appena detto “Cominciamo”… e tra poco io parlerò in italiano con voce suadente… sembra proprio l’inizio perfetto di un racconto epico, no?

(Well… you just said “Let’s begin”… and in a moment I’ll be speaking Italian in my smooth, seductive voice… it sounds exactly like the start of an epic story, doesn’t it?)

Myra: Hmm. I guess that does sound a little like the beginning of our story...

Antonio:
Io lo capisco, eh… sei un’insegnante. Vuoi essere chiara. Ma qui sembri pronta a raccontare il romanzo dell’anno… solo che manca la storia!

(I get it, you’re a teacher. You want to be clear. But here you sound like you're about to tell the novel of the year… only the story hasn’t started!)

Myra: Yes, as a teacher I would always want to be clear. All right, point taken. Just to clarify—this episode is a vocabulary warm-up. These are example sentences, designed to get you ready for Episode One, where the actual story begins.

Antonio:
Un aperitivo linguistico…
(A linguistic aperitivo…)

Myra: A linguistic aperitivo, exactly. So if you're here for the story—just hang in there. These words will show up in context in the next podcast episode, and I think you'll be glad you learned them beforehand.

Antonio:
Benissimo. Allora possiamo procedere… con la giusta aspettativa, sì?

(Very good. Then we may proceed… with the proper expectations, yes?)

Myra: Sì sì, Antonio, signore della narrazione.

Antonio (graciously):
Alla fine, qualcuno riconosce la mia autorità.

(At last, someone recognizes my authority.)

Myra: Ritorniamo a Places and Locations – Vocabulary in Context.

→ Link to vocabulary flashcards ←

🏡 Places & Locations

Vocabulary in Context

Imagine waking up in a piccolo appartamento in the heart of Florence. As you step onto your balcone, you see the vivace piazza below. In the distance, the stunning Cappelle Medicee stand tall, full of history. Before heading to work, you pass by the stazione ferroviaria, where travelers hurry to catch their trains.

And now completely in Italian. Over to you Tony!

Antonio: Per favore!

Myra: Va benne, Antonio, prego

Antonio: Immagina di svegliarti in un piccolo appartamento nel cuore di Firenze. Appena entri sul tuo balcone, vedi la vivace piazza sottostante. 

     Myra: Aspetta, aspetta! Piano, Antonio! Puoi parlare più lentamente?
Antonio: Ohhh, certo, certo! Devo parlare… piano piano?
Myra: Esatto! See, listeners? May I call you ascoltatori? That’s one way that you can ask someone to slow down in Italian—Puoi parlare più lentamente? Now let’s try that again, but this time at a human speed, per favore.
Antonio: Ah! Velocità umana? Cara Myra, insinuate forse che io non sia umano?
     Myra: Well… technically, you are just a voice…
Antonio: Solo una voce?! Myra, che crudeltà!
Myra: Va bene, va bene! You are..uh..have.. a very charming and sophisticated voice. But can we get back to the vocabulary in context?
Antonio: Mmm… va bene, solo perché sono un professionista! (resumes at a more learner-friendly pace) 

Immagina di svegliarti in un piccolo appartamento nel cuore di Firenze. Appena entri sul tuo balcone, vedi la vivace piazza sottostante. 

In lontananza si stagliano le splendide Cappelle Medicee, ricche di storia.
Prima di andare al lavoro si passa davanti alla stazione ferroviaria, dove i viaggiatori si affrettano a prendere il treno.

Myra: Perfetto! And now, for contrast, let’s hear it again—this time at your regular break-neck Italian speed, la tua velocità a rotta di collo.
Antonio: Ah, finalmente! Preparatevi, ascoltatori! (dramatically speeds up) Immagina di svegliarti in un piccolo appartamento nel cuore di Firenze. Appena entri sul tuo balcone, vedi la vivace piazza sottostante.
     Myra: Antonio… stai andando un tantino troppo veloce. (you're going a little too fast.)
Antonio: Io? Troppo veloce? Ma questa è solo la mia velocità normale!

Myra: Se lo dici tu…(if you say so...)
Antonio: Va bene, va bene… ti stavo solo prendendo in giro!
Myra: Mi stavi solo prendendo in giro? (You were just kidding me?) I didn't realize you had a sense of humor! Non avevo capito che avessi il senso dell’umorismo! 

Antonio: Ma certo, Myra! Torniamo a noi… penso che questo sia quello che stai cercando…

(Antonio recites the vocabulary in context)
     
  Could you figure our some of those words, just from the context? Let’s do the Active recall of these words. I’ll say the English. I’ll pause long enough for you to hit the pause button. You say the Italian and then I’ll say the Italian.

Active Recall Exercise

🎧 Listen and translate the following words into Italian before hearing the correct answer:

• Apartment → (Pause) Appartamento
• Small → (Pause) Piccolo
• Square → (Pause) Piazza
• Lively → (Pause) Vivace
• Balcony → (Pause) Balcone
• Medici Chapels → (Pause) Cappelle Medici

Antonio:  Ehm... scusa, Myra, ma … in italiano si dice Cappelle Medicee, non Cappelle Medici.

Myra: Davvero? really, but why? Ma perché?
Il nome Medici è il cognome della famiglia, ma quando è possessivo, e femminile plurale, come in le cappelle della famiglia Medici, si pronuncia Cappelle Medicee.

Myra: Ah, so what you’re saying is that Medici is the family name and it is referring to a feminine plural object. So it must be feminine plural. And in addition, it is possessive because the family owned the chapels, and therefore we have the two ‘e’ sounds together. Quindi, non Medici, ma Medicee, with the emphasis on the ‘i’ in the second syllable.

Antonio: Cappelle Medicee. (mumbling to himself):  ecco cosa succede quando provi a fare la traduzione da sola... Il mio povero cuore italiano si spezza un po’

Myra: Your poor Italian heart breaks a little when I try the translation on my own? Davvero?
Maybe you should do the last one Antonio? L'ultima... Train station

Antonio: (cutting in proudly): Stazione ferroviaria!

• Train station → (Pause) Stazione ferroviaria

Mini Quiz – Translate into Italian

🎧 Try to say the correct Italian phrase before hearing the answer:

• I live in a small apartment. → Vivo in un piccolo appartamento.
• She is in the lively square. → Lei è nella vivace piazza.
• From my balcony, I see the city. → Dal mio balcone, vedo la città.
• The train station is nearby. → La stazione ferroviaria è vicina.

📘 Grammar Notes – Places & Locations

• piccolo/piccola – Adjective agrees in gender/number: un piccolo appartamento, una piccola piazza.
• Cappelle Medicee – Cappelle = feminine plural; Medicee = adjective form of Medici, matching gender/number.
• stazione ferroviaria – Stazione (fem.) + ferroviaria (fem. adjective) = “train station.”

🛠 Home & Objects

Vocabulary in Context

Your appartamento is old but full of charm. The pavimenti tend to Scricchiolare under your feet as you walk. When you turn on the rubinetto, the old tubi make strange noises. Sometimes, they even gemevano, like the building itself is alive.

Ok Antonio, questa volta... cominciamo piano piano, per favore. Let’s begin slowly slowly please.
    Antonio: Ma certo! Tutto per i nostri ascoltatori.

Slow version: Il tuo appartamento è vecchio ma pieno di fascino. I pavimenti tendono a scricchiolare sotto i piedi mentre cammini. Quando si apre il rubinetto i vecchi tubi fanno strani rumori. A volte gemevano, come se l'edificio stesso fosse vivo.

Myra: Grazie Antonio. E ora, la versione normale, per favore.
Antonio: Va bene!

(Normal-speed version)
Antonio: Il tuo appartamento è vecchio ma pieno di fascino. I pavimenti tendono a scricchiolare sotto i piedi mentre cammini. Quando si apre il rubinetto i vecchi tubi fanno strani rumori. A volte gemevano, come se l'edificio stesso fosse vivo.

 Active Recall Exercise

🎧 Listen and translate the following words into Italian:

• Floors → (Pause) Pavimenti
• To creak → (Pause) Scricchiolare
• Pipes → (Pause) Tubi
• They groaned → Gemevano
• Faucet → (Pause) Rubinetto

Mini Quiz – Translate into Italian

🎧 Try to say the correct Italian phrase before hearing the answer:

·       Wooden floors creak → I pavimenti di legno scricchiolano.

·       That floor creaks a lot → Quel pavimento scricchiola molto.

·       Old pipes groaned → I tubi vecchi gemevano.

·       Last night, the pipes groaned → Ieri notte i tubi gemevano.

·       Water falls from the faucet → L’acqua cade dal rubinetto.

📘 Grammar Notes – Home & Objects

• pavimenti – Plural of pavimento (floor); masculine plural.
• scricchiolare – Infinitive verb; scricchiolano = 3rd person plural present.
• tubi – Plural of tubo (pipe); masculine plural.
• gemevano – Imperfetto; 3rd person plural of gemere (they were groaning).
• rubinetto – Noun; masculine singular for “faucet.”

💼 Work & Daily Life

Vocabulary in Context

Mariella works at an agenzia di viaggi. Each day, she has to rispondere alle telefonate, prenotare tours, and answer email di turisti who are looking for informazioni su Firenze. 

Myra: Antonio, anche questa volta cominciamo lentamente.
Antonio: Con piacere.

(Slow version)
Antonio: Mariella lavora presso un'agenzia di viaggi. Ogni giorno deve rispondere alle telefonate, prenotare tour e rispondere alle email di turisti che cercano informazioni su Firenze.

Myra: E ora, la versione normale.
Antonio: Va bene.

(Normal-speed version)
    Mariella lavora presso un'agenzia di viaggi. Ogni giorno deve rispondere alle telefonate, prenotare tour e rispondere alle email di turisti che cercano informazioni su Firenze.

Active Recall Exercise

🎧 Listen and translate the following words into Italian:

• Travel agency → Agenzia di viaggi
• To answer phone calls → Rispondere alle telefonate
• To book → Prenotare
• Tourist emails → Email di turisti
• Information about Florence → Informazioni su Firenze

Mini Quiz – Translate into Italian

🎧 Try to say the correct Italian phrase before hearing the answer:

• I work in a travel agency. → Lavoro in un’agenzia di viaggi.
• She answers phone calls. → Lei risponde alle telefonate.
• We book the tours. → Prenotiamo i tour.
• They need information about Florence. → Hanno bisogno di informazioni su Firenze.
  
  

📘 Grammar Notes – Work & Daily Life

• agenzia di viaggi – Feminine noun phrase; agenzia = agency, viaggi = plural of viaggio (trip).
• rispondere alle telefonate – Infinitive verb; telefonate = calls (fem. plural), alle = a + le.
• prenotare – Infinitive; regular -are verb meaning “to book.”
• email di turisti – Email is invariable in Italian; di turisti = “of tourists.”
• informazioni su Firenze – Informazioni = fem. plural noun; su Firenze = about Florence.

🧠 Reflections

Vocabulary in Context

Mariella often wondered if this was the life she wanted. Pensava spesso about her future and how she studied storia dell’arte—but she ended up working in tourism instead.

Myra: Antonio, anche per questa parte… piano piano, per favore.
Antonio: Subito.

(Slow version)
Antonio: Mariella si chiedeva spesso se quella fosse la vita che desiderava. Pensava spesso al suo futuro e a come aveva studiato storia dell'arte, ma alla fine ha finito per lavorare nel turismo.

Myra: Grazie. Adesso la versione normale.
Antonio: Eccola.

(Normal-speed version)
Antonio: Mariella si chiedeva spesso se quella fosse la vita che desiderava. Pensava spesso al suo futuro e a come aveva studiato storia dell'arte, ma alla fine ha finito per lavorare nel turismo.

Active Recall Exercise

🎧 Listen and translate the following words into Italian:

• She often thought → (Pause) Pensava spesso
• Art history → (Pause) Storia dell’arte

Mini Quiz – Translate into Italian

🎧 Try to say the correct Italian phrase before hearing the answer:

• She often thought about her future. → Pensava spesso al suo futuro.
• I studied art history. → Ho studiato storia dell’arte.
  
  

📘 Grammar Notes – Reflections

• pensava – Imperfetto, 3rd person singular of pensare; used for repeated or reflective thoughts in the past.
• storia dell’arte – Feminine noun phrase; storia = history, dell’arte = “of art” (di + l’arte).

🎯 Final Challenge

🎧 Try translating these full sentences into Italian:

1. The floors creak when I walk. →  ________________________
2. She booked the tour for tomorrow. →  ________________________
3. From my balcony, I see the square. →  ________________________
4. She often thought about her job. →  ________________________

Answer key for Translation Exercise:
 
     The floors creak when I walk. → I pavimenti scricchiolano quando cammino.

She booked the tour for tomorrow. → Ha prenotato il tour per domani.

From my balcony, I see the square. → Dal mio balcone vedo la piazza.

She often thought about her job. → Pensava spesso al suo lavoro.

 🎉 Bravi! Bravissimi! And congratulations!, You’re in the process of building a strong foundation of vocabulary to help you follow along in the story. Next up, Episode 1!

In the next podcast episode, we’ll meet Mariella, our protagonist, and step into her daily life in Florence. You’ll hear these words in action as we introduce her world, her job, and the little details that shape her journey. 

You can use the chapter markers in the podcast to replay any sections until you feel comfortable with this vocabulary. 

→ Link to vocabulary flashcards ←

I have also included vocabulary flash cards with grammar notes and common phrases for each word. All you have to do is click the link in the transcript. And if you think this kind of vocabulary preview can be useful to you, you may want to support the show by clicking the link in the description. That will give you access to bonus episodes, with even more tools to boost your learning, including interactive flashcards like the one included in this introductory episode. 

Myra: Alora, in this episode, you’ve had a chance to preview the vocabulary from Episode 1—with a little guidance from our resident narrator. 

Antonio: Un po’ di guida?” Myra, per favore. Io porto eleganza, contesto... e anche un pizzico di mistero. 
(“A little guidance?” Myra, please. I bring elegance, context... and even a touch of mystery.) 

Myra: As always, you’re right, Antonio. You bring elegance, context and even a touch of mystery. You set the stage beautifully. And if you, dear listener, are enjoying this style of vocabulary practice, you’ll find more of the same in the bonus episodes. 

Antonio: Ah sì... i famosi episodi bonus… un’occasione per prepararsi con calma, prima che la storia riprenda il suo corso... 
(Ah yes… the famous bonus episodes… a chance to prepare at your own pace, before the story picks up again...) 

Myra: Exactly. The bonus episodes follow the same format as this one—vocabulary in context, active recall, and short quizzes—to help you to get ready for each new chapter.

Antonio: Così non ti perdi nei cortili decorati o ti fai spaventare da un rubinetto che geme… (So you don’t get lost in decorated courtyards or startled by a groaning faucet...) 

Myra: That’s right. We don’t want anyone getting lost in decorated courtyards or startled by groaning faucets. Think of these episodes as your personal guide through the world of Mariella’s story—step by step… piano piano.

In the meantime, keep practicing these words, and when Episode 1 arrives, you’ll be ready to enjoy the story with confidence! Until later! A dopo! 😊

📚 Vocabulary from Podcast Introduction

🏡 Places & Locations

• appartamento (noun, masc.) – apartment
• piccolo / piccola (adj.) – small
• piazza (noun, fem.) – square
• vivace (adj.) – lively
• balcone (noun, masc.) – balcony
• Cappelle Medicee (noun phrase, fem. pl.) – Medici Chapels
• stazione ferroviaria (noun, fem.) – train station

🛠 Home & Objects

• pavimenti (noun, masc. pl.) – floors
• scricchiolare (verb) – to creak
• tubi (noun, masc. pl.) – pipes
• gemevano (verb, imperfetto) – they were groaning
• rubinetto (noun, masc.) – faucet

💼 Work & Daily Life

• agenzia di viaggi (noun phrase, fem.) – travel agency
• rispondere alle telefonate (verb phrase) – to answer phone calls
• prenotare / ha prenotato (verb / passato prossimo) – to book / she booked
• email di turisti (noun phrase) – tourist emails
• informazioni su Firenze (noun phrase) – information about Florence

🧠 Reflections

• pensava spesso (verb, imperfetto) – she often thought
• storia dell’arte (noun phrase, fem.) – art history
• ha studiato (verb, passato prossimo) – she studied

💬 Bonus Expressions

• Puoi parlare più lentamente? – Can you speak more slowly?
• Mi stavi solo prendendo in giro. – You were just teasing me.
• Non avevo capito che avessi il senso dell’umorismo. – I didn’t realize you had a sense of humor.