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The Tree of Life – Part 1 Posted by Geoff on Jan 21, 2015
Castagno = Sweet Chestnut Tree Castagna (plural castagne) = Sweet Chestnut/s Castagneto = Chestnut Plantation Up until just a few decades ago, the humble castagna was a vital part of the Italian contadino’s (peasant’s) diet. Il castagno, often referred to in times past as l’albero del pane (the bread tree) proliferated around small towns and…
Past, Present and Future, Quiz Solutions Posted by Geoff on Jan 12, 2015
Well done to those of you who had a go at last week’s quiz. If you missed it and would like to have a go before reading the solutions you can find it here. In the quiz we asked you to translate a number of sentences into Italian using the appropriate tense of the given…
Past, Present and Future, a Quiz Posted by Geoff on Jan 7, 2015
In Monday’s blog we looked at some of the ways in which we talk about the past, the present and the future. Today, it’s your turn to have a go. Below, you’ll find a series of short sentences in English. We’d like you to translate those sentences into Italian using the appropriate tense of the…
L’INVERNO DI VIVALDI Posted by Geoff on Dec 30, 2014
It’s hard to find a more appropriate theme for winter than Inverno from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni. Vivaldi took inspiration for his Four Seasons from four Sonnets, apparently written by himself. Each of the four sonnets is expressed in by a corresponding movement of the concerto: La Primavera, L’Estate, L’Autunno, and L’inverno. Here’s the sonnet…
Natale in Tempo di Crisi Posted by Geoff on Dec 22, 2014
The serious economic crisis that Italy is undergoing is making itself felt this Christmas, and it seems that people are beginning to think more carefully about how they spend their money. But perhaps that’s not a bad thing. Let’s face it, Christmas has become a confusing and, in my opinion, obscene mish mash of religious…
Top Italian Internet Searches 2014 Posted by Geoff on Dec 16, 2014
Every year trillions of searches are carried out on the internet. Google Trends analyses samples of these searches and tells us which of them are currently the most common. If you want to know more, follow this link: A Year In Search 2014. So, what have we been searching for, and do the results tell…
Helpful Labels – The Living Room Posted by Geoff on Dec 10, 2014
We’re glad to hear, via the comments, that readers are finding these labels useful. If you missed our previous posts here are the links: The Kitchen The Bathroom The Bedroom And if you haven’t tried it yet have a go, it really is a powerful tool for reinforcing your Italian vocabulary. Basic Vocabulary in the…