
We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Impariamo lâitaliano piano piano is a story-based podcast designed for B1 to B2 Italian language learners who want to immerse themselves in engaging narratives while strengthening their grammar and vocabulary. Novices are welcome tooâbecause we take everything piano piano, one gentle step at a time.
Each episode unfolds through an ongoing story, allowing you to experience Italian in context, naturally reinforcing key structures like the imperfetto, passato prossimo, and congiuntivo. Youâll also get guided practice, interactive exercises, and cultural insights to help you think, speak, and write in Italian with more confidence.
Your host Myraâan instructional designer and passionate language learner who understands the challenges of mastering Italian as an adultâis joined by Antonio, a familiar voice youâll get to know throughout the episodes. Together, they guide you piano piano, step by step, toward greater fluency.
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We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
đ ď¸ Bonus Episode 06 - Vocabulary for our Interview with Chiara Brambilla
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We learn Italian - step by step
Exclusive access to premium content!đ§ Bonus Episode 06 â Vocabulary for our Interview with Dottoressa Chiara Brambilla
To Prepare for Interview Episode 02
-> Link to vocabulary flashcards for Interview Episode 2 <--
Before you dive into our insightful conversation with Dottoressa Chiara BrambillaâItalian teacher, translator, and creator of SOS Italianâjoin us for a guided walk through the vocabulary youâll hear in the interview. This bonus episode is your chance to build familiarity with key terms, expressions, and grammar concepts in advance.
Support the show â Get access to premium content including interactive flashcards, vocabulary mini stories, and grammar quizzes.
đ Highlights:
âď¸ Teaching perspectives and learner empathy
âď¸ Online learning and global connection
âď¸ Parallels between adult and child language learning
âď¸ Grammar tools and passive understanding
âď¸ Motivation, idioms, and reflective learning
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đŻ Practice Makes Progress:
Each word is introduced through a short story, followed by active recall exercises, mini quizzes, and grammar notes to help you internalize form and meaning. Whether you're reflecting on your esperienza personale or trying to immergerti nella lingua, this episode prepares your earsâand mindâfor whatâs to come.
đ The full transcript (with vocabulary lists, grammar notes, and contextual stories) is available at https://www.welearnitalianstepbystep.com
đ Looking for more ways to engage? Try the interactive vocabulary flashcards for this episode, linked in the transcript and episode notes.
đ§ Letâs get ready to meet Dottoressa Brambillaâ and enjoy a conversation that inspires, piano piano, passo dopo passo.
âł Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro
1:58 Category 1 â Teaching & Learning Perspectives
5:35 Category 1 â Active Recall
7:29 Category 1 â Mini Quiz
9:12 Category 2 â Online Learning & Global Connection
12:45 Category 2 â Active Recall
15:52 Category 2 â Mini Quiz
18:04 Category 3 â Learning Like a Child
22:33 Category 3 â Active Recall
24:31 Category 3 â Mini Quiz
27:14 Category 4 â Grammar & Language Tools
30:52 Category 4 â Active Recall
32:56 Category 4 â Active Recall (continued)
35:46 Category 5 â Motivation, Idioms & Advice
39:17 Category 5 â Active Recall
41:12 Category 5 â Mini Quiz
43:08 Wrap-up
All content Š 2025 Impariamo lâitaliano piano piano â Un impegno quotidiano
đ§ Welcome to We learn Italian step by step / Impariamo lâitaliano piano piano
đ ď¸ Bonus Episode 06 - Vocabulary that you will hear in our Interview with Dottoressa Chiara Brambilla
Vocabulary Boost for Interview Episode 02
-> Link to vocabulary flashcards for Interview Episode 2 <--
Myra:
Benvenuti a questa nuova puntata speciale! đ§ Welcome to this new bonus episode!
In this session, weâre exploring some key words and expressions that youâll hear in the interview with Dottoressa Chiara Brambillaâan Italian teacher, translator, and creator of the website SOS Italian.
In the interview, youâll hear not only practical tips for learning Italian, but also thoughtful reflections on teaching, the value of making mistakes, and the beauty of learning step by stepâpiano piano.
Weâve organized the vocabulary into five themed categoriesâteaching perspectives, global connection, childlike learning, grammar tools, and motivation & idiomatic expressions.
As always, youâll hear the words in context, practice with active recall, and test yourself with mini quizzes.
Antonio:
Eccomi, Myra. Questa volta mi sento⌠pedagogico. Preparato, brillante⌠come sempre.
Here I am, Myra. This time, Iâm feeling⌠pedagogical. Prepared, brilliant⌠as always.
Myra:
Sempre modesto, Antonio. Cominciamo.
Ever the modest one, Antonio. Letâs begin.
đ§âđŤ Category 1: Teaching & Learning Perspectives
(Chiaraâs background, philosophy of teaching, and learner empathy)
Vocabulary:
- madrelingua â native speaker
- lingua straniera â foreign language
- prospettiva â perspective
- esperienza personale â personal experience
- insegnare â to teach
- insegnante â teacher
- apprendimento â learning
Contextual Introductionâ Category 1: Teaching & Learning Perspectives
English (with vocabulary in Italian)
When she was still in high school, Lucia already knew she wanted to insegnareânot just any subject, but something alive and ever-changing: a lingua straniera.
At first, she thought about teaching English. But eventually, she realized her strength came from teaching her own language. As a madrelingua, she could offer more than just grammarâshe could offer context, culture, even emotion.
Over the years, she became not only an insegnante, but also a lifelong student. She studied her students as carefully as her textbooks. Each learner brought a different prospettiva, shaped by their country, their story, and their esperienza personale.
Lucia realized that apprendimento wasnât something she gave. It was something they built together.
đŽđš Versione in italiano (voce lenta â Antonio)
Myra: Puoi accompagnarci lentamente, Antonio?
Vogliamo cogliere ogni dettaglio.
Can you walk us through it slowly, Antonio? We want to catch every detail.
Quando era ancora al liceo, Lucia sapeva giĂ di voler insegnareânon una materia qualsiasi, ma qualcosa di vivo e in continuo cambiamento: una lingua straniera.
Allâinizio aveva pensato di insegnare inglese. Ma poi ha capito che la sua forza era insegnare la propria lingua. Come madrelingua, poteva offrire piĂš della grammaticaâpoteva offrire il contesto, la cultura, perfino lâemozione.
Con gli anni è diventata non solo unâinsegnante, ma anche unâallieva per tutta la vita. Studiava i suoi studenti con la stessa attenzione con cui studiava i libri. Ogni persona portava una prospettiva diversa, formata dal proprio paese, dalla propria storia, e dalla propria esperienza personale.
Lucia ha capito che lâapprendimento non è qualcosa che si trasmette. Ă qualcosa che si costruisce insieme.
Myra: E ora, dilla come la diresti davvero.
And now, say it like you really would.
(Antonio reads the story again at regular speed)
đ Active Recall â Category 1: Teaching & Learning Perspectives
Myra:
Letâs take a moment to review some of the key words from the story about Lucia, the teacher who learns from her students.
Picture her classroom, her students, and how she reflects on their experiences.
Iâll say each word in Englishâtry to say the Italian before Antonio gives you the answer. Pronti? Are you ready?
Antonio:
Sempre pronto. Professore Antonio, al vostro servizio!
Always ready. Professor Antonio, at your service!
- What do you call someone who speaks a language from birth?
â Antonio: Madrelingua. - Whatâs the phrase for a language that isnât your own?
â Antonio: Lingua straniera. - What word means the way you view or understand something?
â Antonio: Prospettiva. - How do you say âpersonal experienceâ?
â Antonio: Esperienza personale. - Whatâs the Italian verb for âto teachâ?
â Antonio: Insegnare. - Whatâs the word for a person whose job is teaching?
â Antonio: Insegnante. - And finally, whatâs the Italian word for âlearningâ?
â Antonio: Apprendimento.
Mini Quiz â Category 1: Teaching & Learning Perspectives
Myra:
Now itâs time to put your knowledge to the test!
Try saying each sentence in Italian before Antonio gives the answer. You can pause if you need a little more time. Ă ora di cominciare. (It's time to begin)
- She is a native speaker of Italian.
â Antonio: Ă una madrelingua italiana. - He teaches a foreign language.
â Antonio: Insegna una lingua straniera. - Every student brings a different perspective.
â Antonio: Ogni studente porta una prospettiva diversa. - My personal experience helped me understand.
â Antonio: La mia esperienza personale mi ha aiutato a capire. - Learning a language takes time.
â Antonio: Lâapprendimento di una lingua richiede tempo. - The teacher listened to all the students.
â Antonio: Lâinsegnante ha ascoltato tutti gli studenti.
đ Grammar Notes â Category 1: Teaching & Learning Perspectives
Madrelingua
This compound noun means ânative speaker.â It can be masculine or feminine, depending on the person it refers to:
- una madrelingua italiana = a female native speaker of Italian
- un madrelingua inglese = a male native speaker of English
Note that the word madrelingua doesnât change form between masculine and feminineâit stays the same, but you adjust the article and adjectives around it.
Lingua straniera
Literally âforeign language.â Lingua is a feminine noun, so adjectives must agree:
- una lingua straniera difficile = a difficult foreign language
Prospettiva
Feminine noun meaning âperspectiveâ or âpoint of view.â Itâs often used in educational or psychological contexts, but can also be used metaphorically:
- una nuova prospettiva = a new perspective
Esperienza personale
Esperienza is a feminine noun, and personale is an adjective that stays the same for both masculine and feminine singular nouns.
- unâesperienza personale = a personal experience
Insegnare
A regular -are verb meaning âto teach.â It often takes an indirect object:
- Insegno lâitaliano agli studenti stranieri = I teach Italian to foreign students
Insegnante
This noun is gender-neutral in form but used for both male and female teachers. You determine the gender by context or the article:
- lâinsegnante bravo (male)
- lâinsegnante brava (female)
Apprendimento
Masculine noun meaning âlearningâ or âthe process of learning.â Common in formal and academic contexts:
- lâapprendimento linguistico = language learning
- le strategie di apprendimento = learning strategies
đ Category 2: Online Learning & Global Connection
(Teaching online, cultural exchange, learning from students)
Vocabulary:
- connessione internet â internet connection
- background â background (context, experience)
- esperienza â experience
- insegnamento online â online teaching
- da qualsiasi parte â from anywhere
- scambio â exchange (of knowledge or ideas)
- ricevere â to receive
Category 2: Contextual Introduction English (with vocabulary in Italian)
Giorgio teaches Italian online. At first, he worried about not being in the same room as his students. Would they stay motivated? Could they connect?
But lesson by lesson, something shifted. Through insegnamento online, Giorgio began to meet people with incredible backgroundsâartists, travelers, engineers, grandparents.
Each new esperienza brought something unexpected. One student shared a recipe. Another sent a poem. It wasnât just teaching anymoreâit was a scambio, an exchange.
And the best part? With a stable connessione internet, Giorgio could work da qualsiasi parteâfrom his apartment, from a lakeside cafĂŠ or even from a quiet piazza.
He learned that when you teach online, you donât just give. You also ricevi.
Puoi leggerla in versione rallentata per noi?
(Can you read the slowed-down version for us?)
đŽđš Versione in italiano (voce lenta â Antonio)
Giorgio insegna italiano online. Allâinizio si preoccupava di non essere nella stessa stanza con i suoi studenti.
Si sarebbero sentiti motivati? Si sarebbero connessi davvero?
Ma poi, lezione dopo lezione, qualcosa è cambiato.
Attraverso lâinsegnamento online, Giorgio ha iniziato a incontrare persone con background incredibiliâartisti, viaggiatori, ingegneri, nonni.
Ogni nuova esperienza portava qualcosa di inaspettato.
Uno studente condivideva una ricetta. Un altro mandava una poesia.
Non era piĂš solo insegnareâera uno scambio.
E la cosa migliore? Con una buona connessione internet, Giorgio poteva lavorare da qualsiasi parteâdal suo appartamento, da un bar sul lago, perfino da una piazza tranquilla.
Ha capito che, quando insegni online, non dai soltanto. Tu ricevi anche.
Myra:
Ora leggila con il tuo ritmo naturale.
(Now read it with your natural rhythm.)
(Antonio reads the selection again at normal speed.)
đ Active Recall â Category 2: Online Learning & Global Connection
Myra:
Letâs think back to Giorgio and his virtual classroomâmeeting new people, learning from their stories, and teaching from wherever he happened to be.
Iâll say each word in English. Try to remember the Italian term before Antonio answers. You can pause if you need more time. Letâs give it a go!
Antonio:
Avanti! à il momento del quiz⌠digitale.
Sono praticamente un esperto⌠anche se non ho mai fatto login.
Iâm practically an expert⌠even if Iâve never logged in.
Myra:
Right⌠like all those students who say they never need to study.
Iâm definitely not one of them.
Diamoci da fare.
Letâs get to work.
- Whatâs the Italian phrase for teaching that happens through the internet?
â Antonio: Insegnamento online. - How do you say âinternet connectionâ?
â Antonio: Connessione internet.
3. Whatâs the Italian word for âbackground,â like someoneâs past experience or context?
âCerto. Ma lo diciamo alla italiana.
Bèc-graund
Myra:
Ah right, yes. We use the English word in Italian too.
Antonio:
con lâaccento giusto.
Niente bèk-ground o bà k-grà und, per carità !
Antonio:
Ascoltate: bèc-graund.
Ripetete con me: bèc⌠graund.
...
Perfetto! Ora potete sembrare madrelingua⌠quasi.
(Listen: bèc-graund.Repeat with me: bèc⌠graund.
Perfect! Now you sound like a native⌠almost.)
Myra:
Of course. Why invent a new word when you can just borrow one from English?
Antonio:
Ah, vuoi forse parlare di quante parole inglesi arrivano dal latino?
PerchÊ⌠io sono prontissimo.
(Oh, would you like to talk about how many English words come from Latin?
Because⌠Iâm very ready.)
Myra:
Yes, Antonio would love to remind us that English borrowed a lot from Latin.
I guess I walked right into that one.
Antonio:
Come un vero gentiluomo⌠io ho aperto la porta.
Tu ci sei entrata.
(Like a true gentleman⌠I opened the door.
You walked in.)
Myra:
Oh boy!.. So,
- What do you call a life event or something someone has lived through?
â Antonio: Esperienza. - Whatâs the word for an exchangeâlike when two people share knowledge or ideas?
â Antonio: Scambio. - How do you say âfrom anywhereâ?
â Antonio: Da qualsiasi parte. - Whatâs the verb that means âto receiveâ?
â Antonio: Ricevere.
đ§ Mini Quiz â Category 2: Online Learning & Global Connection
Myra:
Time to test what youâve learned! Try saying each sentence in Italian before Antonio gives the answer. Remember, you can pause if you need a moment. Iniziamo! Letâs begin!
- Giorgio teaches Italian online.
â Antonio: Giorgio insegna italiano online. - All you need is a good internet connection.
â Antonio: Ti serve solo una buona connessione internet. - Each student has a different background.
â Antonio: Ogni studente ha un background diverso. - This experience changed my perspective.
â Antonio: Questa esperienza ha cambiato la mia prospettiva. - It was more than a lessonâit was an exchange.
â Antonio: Era piĂš di una lezioneâera uno scambio. - You can work from anywhere.
â Antonio: Puoi lavorare da qualsiasi parte. - When you teach, you also receive.
â Antonio: Quando insegni, ricevi anche tu.
đ Grammar Notes â Category 2: Online Learning & Global Connection
Insegnamento online
A compound noun formed from insegnamento (teaching, instruction) and online.
- Insegnamento is a masculine noun derived from the verb insegnare.
- Youâll often see phrases like lâinsegnamento online è in crescita (online teaching is growing).
Connessione internet
Connessione is a feminine noun meaning âconnection,â and internet is used as-is in Italian.
- Example: Hai una connessione internet veloce?(Do you have a fast internet connection?)
Background
This is a borrowed English word used in Italian, especially in academic or professional contexts. It takes a masculine article:
- un background culturale interessante = an interesting cultural background
Esperienza
A feminine noun meaning âexperience.â
- Watch for agreement: unâesperienza nuova (a new experience), le esperienze passate (past experiences)
Scambio
Masculine noun meaning âexchange.â Often used in expressions like:
- scambio linguistico (language exchange)
- uno scambio di idee (an exchange of ideas)
Da qualsiasi parte
This phrase means âfrom anywhere.â
- Itâs made up of da (from) + qualsiasi (any) + parte (part/place).
- Example: Puoi connetterti da qualsiasi parte del mondo.
Ricevere
A regular -ere verb meaning âto receive.â
- Common in both literal and figurative contexts:
- Ho ricevuto un pacco. (I received a package.)
-
- Ricevi molto quando ascolti davvero. (You receive a lot when you truly listen.)
𧸠Category 3: Learning Like a Child
(Language acquisition parallels between children and adults)
Vocabulary:
- ascolto continuo â constant listening
- ripetizione â repetition
- piccoli passi â small steps
- avere paura di sbagliare â to be afraid of making mistakes
- imbarazzo â embarrassment
- parole/frasi â words/phrases
- naturalezza â naturalness / ease
đ§ Contextual Introduction â English (with vocabulary in Italian)
Sofia has been learning Italian for a few months. At first, she tried to memorize everythingâthe rules, the endings, the exceptions. But it was exhausting.
One day, she stopped and listened. Not to study, just to hear the rhythm. Podcasts, songs, conversations in cafĂŠs. It became part of her lifeâan ascolto continuo.
She began to focus on piccoli passiâmastering a few parole, then short frasi. She didnât rush.
And when she made mistakes, she tried not to feel imbarazzo. Children donâtâso why should she? They learn through ripetizione, and so would she.
The more she listened and spoke, the more she noticed something unexpected: her speech had gained a kind of naturalezzaâa flow that couldnât come from books alone.
đŽđš Versione in italiano
Myra:
Per favore Antonio. Voce lenta.
Antonio:
Sofia studia italiano da qualche mese. Allâinizio cercava di memorizzare tuttoâle regole, le desinenze, le eccezioni. Ma era stancante.
Un giorno si è fermata⌠e ha iniziato ad ascoltare.
Non per studiare, solo per sentire il ritmo.
Podcast, canzoni, conversazioni nei bar.
Ă diventato parte della sua vitaâun ascolto continuo.
Ha cominciato a concentrarsi su piccoli passiâprima alcune parole, poi brevi frasi. Non aveva fretta.
E quando sbagliava, cercava di non provare imbarazzo.
I bambini non lo provanoâperchĂŠ lei sĂŹ?
Loro imparano con la ripetizione, e cosĂŹ avrebbe fatto anche lei.
PiĂš ascoltava e parlava, piĂš notava qualcosa di inaspettato:
il suo modo di parlare aveva acquisito una certa naturalezzaâ
una fluiditĂ che non poteva venire solo dai libri.
Myra:
Perfetto! Adesso come la diresti normalmente.
(Antonio repeats the passage at normal speed)
đ Active Recall â Category 3: Learning Like a Child
Myra:
Letâs revisit Sofiaâs storyâher quiet shift from memorization to rhythm, and the courage to learn like a child.
Antonio:
Ah, comunicazione⌠la mia specialità .
Dicono che parlo troppo⌠ma sempre con il registro giusto.
Ah, communication⌠my specialty.
They say I talk too much⌠but always in the right register.
Myra:
They say you talk too much, but that youâre always in the right register? OK Iâll go along with that. As long as you donât switch to Dante again mid-episode, weâre fine.
Antonio:
Ă cosĂŹ che alleno la voce: recitando Dante!
Thatâs how I train my voice â by reciting Dante!
Antonio (beginning to recite, dramatically):
Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vitaâŚ
Myra:
ahem
Antonio:
Non pensi che sia importante per me mantenere la voce ben allenata?
Donât you think itâs important for me to keep my voice well trained?
Myra:
Yes, I suppose it is important for you to keep your voice well trained.
But maybe âŚbetween podcast episodes?
Antonio:
Ah, la mia arte⌠sempre sottovalutata.
Ah, my art⌠always underappreciated.
Myra:
So, as I was saying, thinking back to the contextual intro, try to picture Sofia listening, repeating, and growing more confident one phrase at a time.
Iâll say the English. Can you recall the Italian before Antonio says it?
- Whatâs the phrase for constant or ongoing listening?
â Antonio: Ascolto continuo. - Whatâs the Italian word for repetition?
â Antonio: Ripetizione. - How do you say âsmall stepsâ?
â Antonio: Piccoli passi. - Whatâs the expression for being afraid to make mistakes?
â Antonio: Avere paura di sbagliare. - Whatâs the Italian word for embarrassment?
â Antonio: Imbarazzo. - What are the words for âwordsâ and âphrasesâ?
â Antonio: Parole e frasi. - And whatâs the word that describes natural ease in speaking?
â Antonio: Naturalezza.
đ§ Mini Quiz â Category 3: Learning Like a Child
Myra:
Letâs test how much you remember.
Try to say each sentence in Italian before Antonio gives you the answer. Take your timeâpiccoli passi!
- Children learn through repetition.
â Antonio: I bambini imparano con la ripetizione. - She made progress by taking small steps.
â Antonio: Ha fatto progressi facendo piccoli passi. - Heâs afraid of making mistakes.
â Antonio: Ha paura di sbagliare. - I donât want to feel embarrassed when I speak.
â Antonio: Non voglio provare imbarazzo quando parlo. - Start with a few words and short phrases.
â Antonio: Inizia con alcune parole e frasi brevi. - Listening constantly helped me improve.
â Antonio: Lâascolto continuo mi ha aiutato a migliorare. - Now she speaks with more natural ease.
â Antonio: Ora parla con piĂš naturalezza.
đ Grammar Notes â Category 3: Learning Like a Child
Ascolto continuo
A masculine noun phrase combining ascolto (listening) with the adjective continuo (continuous).
- Example: Lâascolto continuo è fondamentale per imparare una lingua.
(The constant listening is essential for learning a language.)
Ripetizione
A feminine noun meaning ârepetition,â from the verb ripetere.
- Like many nouns ending in -zione, itâs always feminine: una ripetizione utile (a useful repetition).
Piccoli passi
This expression literally means âsmall steps.â
- Piccoli is the plural of piccolo, and passi is the plural of passo (step).
- Metaphorically, it refers to gradual progress or gentle pacing.
Avere paura di sbagliare
A useful expression meaning âto be afraid of making mistakes.â
- Avere paura di is followed by a verb in the infinitive: di sbagliare = âof making a mistake.â
Imbarazzo
A masculine noun meaning âembarrassmentâ or âawkwardness.â
- Example: Provo imbarazzo quando parlo in pubblico.(I feel embarrassed when I speak in public.)
Parole / Frasi
- Parola (word) is feminine and becomes parole in the plural.
- Frase (sentence or phrase) is also feminine, and frasi is the plural.
- Example: Impara prima le parole, poi prova con le frasi.(Learn the words first, then try with phrases.)
Naturalezza
A feminine noun that refers to naturalness, ease, or fluency in expression.
- It comes from naturale (natural) and can be used for speech, movement, or style.
- Example: Parla con grande naturalezza.(She speaks with great ease.)
đ Category 4: Grammar & Language Tools
(Verb tenses, passive recognition, books and exercises)
Vocabulary:
- passato remoto â remote past tense
- passato prossimo â present perfect
- imperfetto â imperfect tense
- conoscenza passiva â passive knowledge
- traduzione â translation
- esercizio â exercise (practice activity)
- argomento grammaticale â grammar topic
đ§ Contextual Introduction â English (with vocabulary in Italian)
Alessia loves grammar. Really. Sheâs the kind of learner who enjoys a good esercizio, especially when it challenges her to understand how different tenses shape meaning.
Lately, sheâs been thinking about the passato remoto. She doesnât use it yetâbut she knows it matters. So she focuses on conoscenza passiva: being able to recognize it, even if she doesnât produce it herself.
She compares it with the passato prossimo, and even the imperfetto, noticing how each argomento grammaticale reveals something subtle about time, memory, and emotion.
To help herself, she uses traduzione carefullyânot for every word, but to check if she really understands. Every time she revisits an old esercizio, she notices something new.
Grammar, for Alessia, isnât just a systemâitâs a lens that lets her see the language more clearly.
đŽđš Versione in italiano (voce lenta â Antonio)
Antonio, andiamo con calma â frase per frase.
(Letâs go slowly â sentence by sentence.)
Alessia ama la grammatica. Davvero.
Ă il tipo di studentessa a cui piace fare un buon esercizio,
soprattutto quando le fa capire come i tempi verbali cambiano il significato.
Ultimamente, sta riflettendo sul passato remoto.
Non lo usa ancoraâma sa che è importante.
CosĂŹ si concentra sulla conoscenza passiva:
essere in grado di riconoscerlo, anche se non lo usa.
Lo confronta con il passato prossimo,
e anche con lâimperfetto, notando come ogni argomento grammaticale
riveli qualcosa di sottile sul tempo, sulla memoria, sulle emozioni.
Per aiutarsi, usa la traduzione in modo strategicoâ
non per ogni parola, ma per verificare se ha capito davvero.
Ogni volta che rifĂ un vecchio esercizio, nota qualcosa di nuovo.
Per Alessia, la grammatica non è solo un sistemaâ
è una lente per vedere meglio la lingua.
Bene, ora leggila a velocitĂ normale.
(Great, now read it at normal speed.)
(Antonio repeats the passage at normal speed)
đ Active Recall â Category 4: Grammar & Language Tools
Myra:
Letâs return to Alessiaâs storyâthe learner who loves grammar and uses it as a tool to see language more clearly.
Think about the verb tenses she compared⌠the way she used translation⌠and her choice to develop passive understanding first.
Now Iâll say the Englishâsee if you can recall the Italian term before Antonio gives you the answer. Eccoci qua! Here we go!
- Whatâs the Italian name for the past tense used mainly in writing and literature?
â Antonio: Passato remoto. - Whatâs the name for the tense used to describe completed actions in the present perfect?
â Antonio: Passato prossimo. - How do you say âthe imperfect tenseâ?
â Antonio: Imperfetto. - What phrase means passive knowledgeâknowing something without using it actively?
â Antonio: Conoscenza passiva. - Whatâs the Italian word for âtranslationâ?
â Antonio: Traduzione. - Whatâs the word for a grammar exercise or written practice activity?
â Antonio: Esercizio. - And finally, whatâs the phrase for âgrammar topicâ?
â Antonio: Argomento grammaticale.
đ§ Mini Quiz â Category 4: Grammar & Language Tools
Myra:
Letâs test your grammar awareness with a few sentences based on Giulioâs story.
Try to say each sentence in Italian before Antonio gives you the answer.
Antonio:
Quiz di grammatica? Stai parlando con me?
Ma daiâŚ
Io non faccio errori â sono grammaticalmente impeccabile.
Grammar quiz? Are you talking to me?
Come on⌠I donât make mistakes â Iâm grammatically flawless.
Myra:
No, Antonio, I wasnât speaking to you.
We have our ascoltatori online, remember?
Antonio:
Mi scuso, cari ascoltatori.
Naturalmente⌠sono qui per aiutarvi, se avete bisogno.
My apologies, dear listeners.
Of course⌠Iâm here to assist, if you need me.
Myra:
And remember â you have your pause button.
So if Antonio is arriving a beat too fast, you can put him on hold for as long as you like.
HmmmâŚI wonder if I could get a button like that.
Diamo il via!
Letâs kick things off!
- I donât use the passato remoto, but I can recognize it.
â Antonio: Non uso il passato remoto, ma posso riconoscerlo. - The passato prossimo is more common in spoken Italian.
â Antonio: Il passato prossimo è piĂš comune nellâitaliano parlato. - The imperfect tense describes something ongoing.
â Antonio: Lâimperfetto descrive qualcosa di continuo. - Sheâs working on her passive knowledge of grammar.
â Antonio: Sta lavorando sulla sua conoscenza passiva della grammatica. - I only use translation when I really need it.
â Antonio: Uso la traduzione solo quando ne ho davvero bisogno. - That grammar exercise was very helpful.
â Antonio: Quellâesercizio di grammatica è stato molto utile. - This is an important grammar topic.
â Antonio: Questo è un argomento grammaticale importante.
đ Grammar Notes â Category 4: Grammar & Language Tools
Passato remoto
This literary past tense is often used in written Italian (especially novels and history) to describe completed actions disconnected from the present.
- Example: Dante nacque a Firenze = Dante was born in Florence.
- Learners are not usually expected to produce it, but recognition is key.
Passato prossimo
A compound tense formed with essere or avere + participio passato.
- Used to talk about completed actions with a connection to the present.
- Example: Ho studiato molto oggi = I studied a lot today.
Imperfetto
A simple tense used for ongoing past actions, descriptions, habits, or background information.
- Example: Quando ero piccolo, giocavo nel giardino = When I was little, I used to play in the garden.
Conoscenza passiva
Means âpassive knowledgeââyou recognize and understand something but donât yet use it actively.
- Common in reading and listening.
- Example: Ho una conoscenza passiva del passato remoto.
Traduzione
A feminine noun meaning âtranslation.â
- Related to the verb tradurre (to translate).
- Often used in learning materials: con traduzione inglese = with English translation.
Esercizio
A masculine noun meaning âexerciseâ or âpractice activity.â
- Example: Faccio un esercizio ogni giorno = I do an exercise every day.
Argomento grammaticale
Literally âgrammar topic.â
- Argomento is masculine and broadly means topic or subject.
- Example: Lâimperfetto è un argomento grammaticale importante.
đŹ Category 5: Motivation, Idioms & Advice
(Encouragement, idiomatic expression, study routines)
Vocabulary:
⢠immergersi nella lingua â to immerse oneself in the language
⢠sentirsi come un pesce fuor dâacqua â to feel like a fish out of water
⢠diario di apprendimento â learning journal
⢠progressi â progress
⢠motivazione â motivation
⢠consiglio â advice
⢠modo di dire â idiom
đ§ Category 5: Contextual Introduction â English (with vocabulary in Italian)
Elena kept a diario di apprendimento. Not every day, just when she felt stuckâor inspired. It helped her notice small progressi she might have otherwise missed.
Sometimes, the words flowed. Other times, she felt like giving up. Her motivazione rose and fell. But when it dropped, she returned to something simple: a song, a scene from a movie, or one of her favorite modi di dire.
One day, after a difficult conversation, she wrote:
âOggi mi sono sentita come un pesce fuor dâacqua.â
Today I felt like a fish out of water.
Sheâd felt awkward, unsure⌠but she hadnât quit.
Instead, she remembered a piece of consiglio sheâd once heard:
âImmergiti nella lingua, anche se fa paura.â
Immerse yourself in the language, even when it feels scary.
So she did. And step by step, piano piano, her confidence grew.
đŽđš Versione in italiano (voce lenta â Antonio)
Antonio, facci sentire ogni parola, con calma.
Let us hear every word, slowly.
Elena teneva un diario di apprendimento.
Non ogni giornoâsolo quando si sentiva bloccata⌠o ispirata.
Le serviva a notare i piccoli progressi che altrimenti avrebbe ignorato.
A volte le parole scorrevano facilmente.
Altre volte voleva arrendersi.
La sua motivazione andava su e giĂš.
Ma quando calava, tornava a qualcosa di semplice:
una canzone, una scena da un film, o uno dei suoi modi di dire preferiti.
Un giorno, dopo una conversazione difficile, ha scritto:
âOggi mi sono sentita come un pesce fuor dâacqua.â
Si era sentita a disagio, insicura⌠ma non si era fermata.
Invece, ha ricordato un consiglio che aveva sentito:
Immergiti nella lingua, anche se fa paura.
E cosÏ ha fatto. E a poco a poco, piano piano, la sua fiducia è cresciuta.
Myra:
Ok, Antonio â adesso senza rallentare.
Ok, Antonio â now without slowing down.
(Antonio repeats the passage at normal speed)
đ Active Recall â Category 5: Motivation, Idioms & Advice
Myra:
Letâs think back to Elena and her learning journalâthe ups and downs, the moments of doubt, and the small victories.
As always, Iâll say the English, and you try to say the Italian word or expression before Antonio says it. Youâve got this!
- Whatâs the Italian expression for âto immerse oneself in the languageâ?
â Antonio: Immergersi nella lingua. - How do you say âto feel like a fish out of waterâ?
â Antonio: Sentirsi come un pesce fuor dâacqua. - What do you call a notebook where you track what youâve learned?
â Antonio: Diario di apprendimento. - Whatâs the Italian word for âprogressâ?
â Antonio: Progressi. - How do you say âmotivationâ?
â Antonio: Motivazione. - Whatâs the word for âadviceâ or a helpful suggestion?
â Antonio: Consiglio. - And finally, whatâs the Italian phrase for an idiom or saying?
â Antonio: Modo di dire.
đ§ Mini Quiz â Category 5: Motivation, Idioms & Advice
Myra:
Letâs try a few final sentences together. Say each one in Italian before Antonio does. Donât worry if youâre unsureâanche i piccoli errori fanno parte del progresso.
Even small mistakes are part of progress.
Can you remember how to say, âLetâs roll up our sleevesâ? Rimbocchiamoci le maniche!
- Try to immerse yourself in the language.
â Antonio: Cerca di immergerti nella lingua. - I felt like a fish out of water.
â Antonio: Mi sono sentita come un pesce fuor dâacqua.
(or: Mi sono sentito⌠if male) - She keeps a learning journal.
â Antonio: Tiene un diario di apprendimento. - Theyâve made a lot of progress.
â Antonio: Hanno fatto molti progressi. - He needs more motivation.
â Antonio: Ha bisogno di piĂš motivazione. - Thatâs a great piece of advice.
â Antonio: Ă un ottimo consiglio. - Thatâs an expression Iâve never heard before.
â Antonio: Ă un modo di dire che non avevo mai sentito.
đ Grammar Notes â Category 5: Motivation, Idioms & Advice
Immergersi nella lingua
A reflexive verb phrase meaning âto immerse oneself in the language.â
- Immergersi comes from immergere (to immerse), and the -si makes it reflexive.
- Example: Ă importante immergersi nella lingua ogni giorno.
(Itâs important to immerse yourself in the language every day.)
Sentirsi come un pesce fuor dâacqua
An idiomatic expression meaning âto feel out of place.â
- Sentirsi = to feel (reflexive), come = like, un pesce fuor dâacqua = a fish out of water.
- Example: Allâinizio mi sentivo come un pesce fuor dâacqua.
(At first, I felt like a fish out of water.)
Diario di apprendimento
Literally âlearning diaryâ or âlearning journal.â
- Diario is masculine, and di apprendimento means âof learning.â
- Example: Scrivo ogni sera nel mio diario di apprendimento.
(I write in my learning journal every evening.)
Progressi
Plural noun meaning âprogress.â
- Un progresso (a progress), i progressi (the progress).
- Example: Hai fatto molti progressi!
(Youâve made a lot of progress!)
Motivazione
A feminine noun meaning âmotivation.â
- From the verb motivare (to motivate).
- Example: La motivazione è importante per continuare a studiare.
(Motivation is important for continuing to study.)
Consiglio
A masculine noun meaning âadviceâ or âsuggestion.â
- Often used in the singular for âa piece of advice.â
- Example: Grazie per il consiglio!
(Thanks for the advice!)
Modo di dire
Literally âway of saying,â it means idiom or expression.
- Modo = way, dire = to say.
- Example: âAvere le mani bucateâ è un modo di dire italiano.
("To have holes in your pockets" is an Italian idiom.)
đ§ Outro â Wrap-Up & Thanks
Myra:
Once again, well done! That brings us to the end of this special vocabulary episode.
Youâve just explored five themed categoriesâfrom grammar tools and teaching perspectives to idioms, motivation, and what it means to feel come un pesce fuor dâacqua.
Taking time to preview key words like this helps you notice more, understand more, and feel more confident when listening to the full interview, coming up next with Dottoressa Chiara Brambilla.
đĄ Donât forget: thereâs also a set of vocabulary flashcards for this episode.
-> Link to vocabulary flashcards for Interview Episode 2 <--
And a huge thank you to Chiara â not only for joining us in this interview, but also for helping shape the story behind the scenes.
Be sure to check out the downloadable grammar exercise that Chiara as gifted to us. It focuses on the imperative with pronouns â which just so happens to be the next grammar point weâll be covering in the podcast.
You can find the exercise here:
đ Lâimperativo e i pronomi â Extra 5 (PDF)
And as always, the link is also in the episode notes.
Antonio:
Io direi che meritate⌠una pausa. Ma solo breve, eh?
E poi: diario, vocabolario⌠e di nuovo a studiare!
Iâd say youâve earned⌠a break. But just a short one, eh?
Then: journal, vocabulary⌠and back to studying!
Myra:
Grazie a tutti per averci ascoltato.
A presto⌠passo dopo passo, insieme.
Thank you all for listening.
See you soon⌠step by step, together.