EssexItalian.com Blog

Well, I missed a flight (even though my Ma made a special call to remind me to leave extra time), and I won’t be home in time for the lesson.  So enjoy the King holiday, and Emily will see you next week. 

P.S.  Il viaggio era bellissimo, nonostante il ritardo. 

Bacione,

Linda

Keep the easiest, most enjoyable resolution - improving your Italian with private group lessons.  The lessons are so popular now, that Emily White, another Sparhawk Italian teacher, is coming to help out on the first Monday class, January 8, to see if we can open up another night of the week for a third group. 

We currently have Mondays from 6:30 - 7:30 for intermediate/advanced students, Tuesdays from 6:30 - 7:30 for beginner/intermediate students, and we’re looking at adding Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Auguri, and ci vediamo presto.

Bacione,

Linda 

Call Newburyport Adult Ed if you can teach Italian this term. 

Classes are 2 hours for 8 weeks, and the pay is $20/hour.  The students in past terms have always been wonderful people, geerally on their way to tour Italy. 

The term starts in late January, and they need a good teacher to sign up right away.  Call Vicki Hendrickson at (978) 361-6008.

Small group instruction every Monday and Tuesday.  Monday evenings we have a group of intermediate to advanced students.  Tuesday is for beginning to intermediate students.  More nights are going to be added after the holidays.  Classes are from 6:30 - 7:30.  Contact Linda for more info:  linda@essexitalian.com.

This Monday, December 18, our class is meeting at Wild Bites for the monthly Italian cultural dinner party.   

Come to the Haverhill Lodge this Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:30 for a lesson in basic Italian. Everyone’s welcome.

Come alone or with friends. Introduce yourself to Carmine or Michael, and they’ll make you feel right at home. You don’t have to be a member of the lodge to come (and you don’t have to be Italian or a son, either).

This lesson is open to the public, and everyone is welcome. $5 donation.

Victor Emanuel Lodge #1648 124 Washington St. Haverhill, Mass. Carmine Loconte at 978-373-1447 or Michael Schroth at 978-372-0023.

Welcome, everyone, to beginning Italian classes at the Haverhill Sons of Italy Victor Emmanuel Lodge.

We have a lesson this Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:30 that will include half a dozen useful topics and lots of fun.
The entire community is welcome (you don’t have to be a lodge member), and we have students of all ages. Classes meet Wednesdays through November 1, and even if you can come just for the one class, come. You’ll have a great time, you’ll learn something, and we’d love to see you.

The suggested donation is $5.

If you go to the Students and Teachers page on this site, you can now see my weekly lesson plans and assignments there. You’re welcome to post feedback directly to that page.

Coraggio, studenti! Andiamo avanti!

Monday, September 11, 2006

Goals:

1. Understand that while Italy is a quintessentially European country, it is influenced by its close neighbors from Africa, Asia, and Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Begin to learn about Italy’s history.
3. Begin learning “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti.

Objectives:

1. From memory, draw the outline of Italy, and locate the following cities on your map: Venezia, Genova, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, and Palermo.
2. Correctly pronounce the names of the following neighboring countries: Francia, Svizzera, Austria, Slovenia, Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Grecia, Spagna, Algeria, Tunisia, Libia, Egitto, and Turchia.
3. Correctly identify the continents of the neighboring countries as Europa, Africa, o Asia.
4. Read “The History of Italy” (Dorling Kindersley’s Italy, page 39).
5. Listen to “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti while reading the lyrics in Italian.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Goals:

1. Understand that while Italy is a quintessentially European country, it is influenced by its close neighbors from Africa, Asia, and Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Begin to learn about Italy’s Etruscan history.
3. Begin learning “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti.
4. Master the salutations on pages 1 – 3 of Avanti.

Objectives:

1. On a blank map of Italy, indicate the following cities: Venezia, Genova, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, and Palermo.
2. On a blank map of Europe, correctly identify at least two of the following countries: Francia, Svizzera, Austria, Slovenia, Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Grecia, Spagna, Algeria, Tunisia, Libia, Egitto, Turchia.
3. Correctly identify the continents of the neighboring countries as Europa, Africa, o Asia.
4. Read “The Age of the Etruscans” (Dorling Kindersley’s Italy, page 40).
5. Listen to “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti while reading the lyrics in Italian.
6. Select your Italian name for the term from pages 3 – 4 of Avanti.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Goals:

1. Understand that while Italy is a quintessentially European country, it is influenced by its close neighbors from Africa, Asia, and Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Begin to learn about Italy’s Etruscan history.
3. Begin learning “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti.
4. Master the salutations on pages 1 – 3 of Avanti.

Objectives:

1. On a blank map of Italy, indicate the following cities: Venezia, Genova, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, and Palermo.
2. On a blank map of Europe, correctly identify at least three of the following countries: Francia, Svizzera, Austria, Slovenia, Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Grecia, Spagna, Algeria, Tunisia, Libia, Egitto, Turchia.
3. Correctly identify the continents of the neighboring countries as Europa, Africa, o Asia.
4. Read “The Age of the Etruscans” (Dorling Kindersley’s Italy, page 40).
5. Listen to “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti while reading the lyrics in Italian.
6. Read an English translation of “Lo zingaro felice” in English.
7. Create and pass an exam on the salutation from pages 1 – 3 of Avanti with a score of at least 80%.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Goals:

1. Understand that while Italy is a quintessentially European country, it is influenced by its close neighbors from Africa, Asia, and Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Begin to learn about Italy’s Etruscan history.
3. Begin learning “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti.
4. Master the salutations on pages 1 – 3 of Avanti.

Objectives:

1. On a blank map of Italy, indicate the following cities: Venezia, Genova, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, and Palermo.
2. On a blank map of Europe, correctly identify at least four of the following countries: Francia, Svizzera, Austria, Slovenia, Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Grecia, Spagna, Algeria, Tunisia, Libia, Egitto, Turchia.
3. Correctly identify the continents of the neighboring countries as Europa, Africa, o Asia.
4. Read “The Age of the Etruscans” (Dorling Kindersley’s Italy, page 41).
5. Sing “Lo zingaro felice” by Alex Britti while reading the lyrics in Italian.
6. Read an English translation of “Lo zingaro felice” in English.

7. Act out the salutations from page 4 of Avanti with a partner. Use a loud, clear pronunciation and the correct form each time.

Ciao, studenti. As soon as we start school, there’ll be class notes here on the site.

And last night, Sandra and I decided that I’m going to hold some private group lessons at my new home - for students who are past the very beginning level. Email me if you’re interested. Ci vediamo.

Danza lenta

Hai mai
guardato i bambini
in un girotondo? 
 

O ascoltato il rumore della
pioggia
quando cade a terra? 
 

O seguito mai lo svolazzare irregolare
di una farfalla? 
O osservato il sole allo
svanire della notte? 
 Faresti meglio a rallentare.
Non danzare
così veloce.
Il tempo è breve.
La musica non durerà. 
 

Percorri ogni giorno in volo? 
Quando dici “Come
stai?”
ascolti la risposta? 
 

Quando la giornata è finita ti stendi
sul
tuo letto con centinaia di questioni successive
che ti passano per la
testa? 
 

Faresti meglio a rallentare.
Non danzare così veloce.
Il tempo
è breve.
La musica non durerà. 
 Hai mai detto a tuo figlio, “lo faremo
domani” senza notare
nella fretta, il suo dispiacere? 
 

Mai perso il
contatto con una buona amicizia
che poi è finita perché tu non avevi
mai
avuto tempo di chiamare e dire “Ciao”? 
 Faresti meglio a
rallentare.
Non danzare così veloce.
Il tempo è breve.
La musica non
durerà. 
 

Quando corri così veloce per giungere da
qualche parte ti
perdi la metà del piacere di andarci.
 

Quando ti preoccupi e corri tutto
il giorno,
È come un regalo mai aperto. . . gettato via.
  La vita non è una corsa. Prendila più piano.
Ascolta la musica
prima che la canzone
sia finita.