The ItalianChat Experience

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Maybe you’ve already been to Italy once, you’ve seen the monuments, visited the major museums, and stayed in the historic city center and now you’re looking for something different… Maybe you really aren’t that much into cities and don’t like the traffic and the noise… Or maybe your goal is to take your Italian to the next level and you want to meet some Italians you can talk to… If all or part of the above is true, then there’s one word you need to hear… “agriturismo”.

Agriturismo”, an Italian term for what we might call a “farm holiday” or “agricultural tourism”, is about experiencing rural Italian life and a slower-paced holiday. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it? So, let’s get “off the beaten path” and let’s dedicate today’s Culture Shot to a wonderful new way to experience Italy: the “agriturismo”. Enjoy!

[Getting Around The House Vol. 2: The Living Room – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Getting Around The House, Vol. 2: The Living Room“, composed of an audio file and PDF transcript of some of the names of things you find in the living room (il soggiorno, il salotto) that you absolutely need to know if you ever travel to Italy!

Culture Shot – Episode Nr.45

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #24 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “I Lost My Wallet!”. There is nothing than can ruin a day more than losing a wallet, and the thought of all the time one has to waste to report the fact to the police, the bank, close all the accounts, and so on.

So, let’s get very practical and let’s see how to deal with the unfortunate situation of losing a wallet in Italy. We sure hope this will never happen to you, but you know how they say, “better safe than sorry”. We’ll learn a lot of new, useful vocabulary, and on the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the dialogue giving grammar rules and extra examples. Enjoy!

[LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian reflexive verb “Divertirsi” (to enjoy oneself, to have fun), and some of the most common and useful idiomatic expressions that use this important verb.

Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.24

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #23 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “It’s Back To School Time!”. For millions of Italian students the first day of school is just around the corner. In Italy in fact school traditionally begins the second week of September.

Let’s follow our friend Lucia as she makes sure her son Mattia has everything he needs to start school the right way. On the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the dialogue giving grammar rules and extra examples, and we’ll give an overview of the Italian school system. You’ll really find a lot of useful, informal, 100% “real” Italian on this episode, together with a lot of new vocabulary – so, let’s get to it right away!

[LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Mettere” (to put, to place, to set, to stick on, to apply), and some of the most common and useful idiomatic expressions that use this important verb.

Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.23

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. VIP Member Lisa sent us one of the most entertaining email we’ve ever received. She says: “I read this article in the New York Times about an Italian bank keeping wheels of Parmesan cheese as collateral for bank loans to cheese makers. I was blown away by this but not really surprised because Italians are so resourceful! What a brilliant way to make loans available for cheese makers by allowing their aging cheese to guarantee their loans! I think this would make a great lesson as well as a cultural surprise for your listeners, Jane and Massimo!”

You said it, Lisa, Italians can surely be resourceful, and what an example you brought up! So here it is, a Culture Shot about banks, loans, Parmesan cheese, and, most important, about the worldwide famous “arte di arrangiarsi italiana” (the Italian art of going with the flow). Enjoy!

[Getting Around The House Vol. 1: The Kitchen & The Bedroom – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Getting Around The House, Vol. 1: The Kitchen and the Bedroom“, composed of an audio file and PDF transcript of some of the names of things you find in the kitchen and in the bedroom that you absolutely need to know if you ever travel to Italy!

Culture Shot – Episode Nr.44

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. VIP Member Rachel from Miami, Florida, says: “When I was living in Italy a couple of years ago, there were quite a few times when I encountered difficult situations while walking on the street. For example, with men approaching me and trying to get my phone number, street vendors trying to sell me something I didn’t want, or people asking for money… ”

“I never really knew how to deal with these kind of experiences in Italian, as if I tried to be polite, I think I always came off as being encouraging! I think a “How To Italian” episode on how to safely get out of these kind of situations, while being polite yet firm, would be a great idea for people getting ready to visit il Bel Paese!”

Terrific suggestion, Rachel, grazie! So, here it is: “How To Deal With Street Annoyances”… the Italian way!

[“The Parts of The Body” – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “The Parts of the Body“, containing all of the “must-know” parts of the human body in Italian – and, even better, the PDF transcript contains a chart with a drawing of the human body which will allow you to see each body part while you listen to its name, so you can learn faster while having lots of fun!

How To Italian – Episode Nr.30

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. LearnItalianPod VIP subscriber Alexandra from Vancouver is in Italy for study reasons. She says: “It’s the week of mid-August here in Milano and I wasn’t really prepared for what appears to be a desert city. I mean, it is… empty! Where’s everyone? And what’s with the sentence “agosto, moglie mia non ti conosco” that I keep hearing all the times?”

Dear Alexandra, welcome to the Italian “Ferragosto”, and thanks for the inspiration! – So, here they are, one of the most famous Italian summer’s sentences ever and a celebration of the Italian summer all in one Culture Shot. Enjoy!

[Going Shopping in Italy – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Going Shopping in Italy”, containing the 29 most popular, must-know Italian sentences to use when going shopping in Italy – a very useful single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want to master the language of (Italian) shopping!

Culture Shot – Episode Nr.43

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #22 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “Add A Seat To The Table”. There are at least two things that every Italian loves to do: the first is “to spend time with friends”, and the second is… to eat well. And when these two things are combined and done together, there you have it… “the perfect time!”

So, let’s follow our favorite couple, Lucia and Italo, as they plan a nice dinner with friends. You’ll really find a lot of useful, informal, 100% “real” Italian on this episode, the language that Italians really do speak informally as they go along with their everyday lives. Enjoy!

[LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Leggere” (To Read), plus some of the most common and useful idiomatic expressions that use this important verb.

Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.22

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Here’s what VIP Member Richie from Chicago has to say about his recent trip to Italy: “I had the best time ever. It’s just incredible how beautiful Italy really is… and how Italians can be charming and generous, once you just try to speak their language! And, about the Italian language… how many times can Italians repeat the word “ciao”? I heard it everywhere, all the times… it must be the most famous Italian word!”

Right on, Richie! Used to say “hi” and “goodbye”, used as informal exclamation with different meanings, used doubling the word, the word “ciao” is known all over the world and it is currently used in several languages as a loan word. So, let’s celebrate the word “ciao”, by finding out its origin, its different meanings, and some curious facts about it. Enjoy!

[Money & Banking – LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to find, as a special extra bonus, an audio file and PDF transcript entitled “Money & Banking”, containing all of the most popular, must-know Italian words and sentences used when dealing with money and banking in Italian – a very useful single audio file that you can take with you, listen and practice whenever and wherever you want to master the language of (Italian) money!

Culture Shot – Episode Nr.42

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Episode #21 of the “Upper-Intermediate Level Series” is entitled “A Hot Summer’s Night”. Someone said that nothing can surpass a nice summer’s night in a town on the sea in Italy. A bright moon, a clear sky, the ideal temperature, music in the streets, and everywhere people enjoying the summer.

So, let’s celebrate summertime in Italy by following our favorite family, Lucia, Italo, and their children Mattia e Marina, as they’re enjoying a “hot summer’s night” in beautiful “Portofino”, on the Italian Riviera. On the grammar section, we will review some of the most interesting expressions from the dialogue giving grammar rules and extra examples. Enjoy!

[LearnItalianPod VIP Members Extra Bonus!] Login to the Learning Center to download Audio & PDF Transcript of the “must-know” Italian verb “Piacere” (To Like).

Upper Intermediate – Episode Nr.21

Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod. Finally, your dream trip to Italy is becoming a reality, and it is just about to begin. Now for the big questions: “how and what to pack?” – You certainly don’t want to spoil your dream vacation in Italy just because you left something necessary back home. What you do need is… a packing list! – Don’t have one? No worries, LearnItalianPod.com is here!

Here it is, a very comprehensive packing list (including more than 100 items!) that you can use to prepare for your next trip to Italy. So, get ready to learn and practice 104 must-know, indispensable Italian words, and get your packing right!

[LearnItalianPod VIP Members: Download The Premium Version of This Lesson!] If you are a LearnItalianPod VIP Member, login to the Learning Center and download the complete, “advertising free”, “premium version” of this episode, containing all of the 104 essential items from the packing list in both Italian and English, with the addition of blank spaces after each word instance so you can practice your pronunciation over and over!