I never really thought about why we “toast” with our drinks when gathered with others, I just accepted it as a time-honored tradition. But the armchair historian in me was amused to discover recently, while browsing one of my Italian texts, that we have the ancients to thank for this one. This sparked my interest, … Continue reading
We study Italian because we want to, not because we need to. Because the music of the language moves us to learn it, to engage in this “impracticality”, to throw some of our precious time to the wind and do something simple for the pleasure of being able to pronounce words like piacere. –From “Why … Continue reading
With so many options of learning Italian in Italy, choosing the right program can be daunting. There’s the question of where: a big city, with more options for formalized language programs and an easier home-base for travel; a smaller town with more possibility of language immersion and local charm. There’s the decision of which type … Continue reading
One of the beauties of Italian is that it is a very specific language. I would say I love that, but that would be very un-Italian indeed. For example, there are different words to indicate playing a sport (giocare) versus playing an instrument (suonare). Or for painting a wall (tinteggiare) versus creating something with paint — like … Continue reading
I have written that, a few years back, I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions, but last week, at the start of a new session of Italian classes, there was a buon proposito waiting for us all: Migliorare il mio italiano | Improve my Italian Our professoressa had written this knowing that certainly this a goal for all of … Continue reading
Falling in love with the Italian language has been one of the more beautiful surprises of my life. Growing up in an Italian-American family, with a grandfather who, as a teenager, emigrated from Puglia in southern Italy to America, Italy was no big deal to me. I never intended to learn Italian, and I especially never expected … Continue reading
Roma Termini “Roma Termini (in Italian, Stazione Termini) is the main railway station of Rome, Italy. It is named after the district of the same name, which in turn took its name from the ancient Baths of Diocletian (in Latin, thermae) which lie across the street from the main entrance.” —Wikipedia Train stations in Italy can … Continue reading
If you are an Italian language learner, surely you know the work of my friend Melissa, otherwise known as Studentessa Matta. She shares her love of learning Italian with passion and enthusiasm, and right now, several of her sites are up for awards at Top 100 Language Lovers. In honor of her, and to encourage … Continue reading
The word storia, in Italian, means story. And also, history. Growing up, Italian was always part of my history, but never part of my story. Until, one day, a fire for learning the language unexpectedly sparked. Growing up in an Italian-American family, Italy was no big deal. The following was all quite normal: Sundays at … Continue reading
Congratulations to Dianne Hales and LA BELLA LINGUA, her memoir documenting her love of Italian and all things Italy. Seven years after its release, LA BELLA LINGUA this week sits at #8 on a New York Times bestseller list. “Italians say that someone who acquires a new language ‘possesses’ it. In my case, Italian possesses me.” Auguri, … Continue reading
