When learning any language there will always be moments when you want to give up, throw your text book in the bin, punch your teacher and go and take up karate instead. This usually happens after the initial excitement has worn off and you start to realise that it’s not quite as simple as they [...]
If you have found work and are coming to live in Italy, you’d better get used to being a straniero (foreigner)!
Italians split stranieri into two groups: comunitari (those coming from member states of the EU) and extra-comunitari.
First of all you will need un posto da vivere (somewhere to live). The most logical solution is to [...]
If you are planning on visiting Italy, you’ll probably want to go out for a nice meal at some point. Here is a great opportunity to practice your Italian!
If you choose a trattoria or ristorante you will probably be given a menù (pronounced ‘menoo’), but in some more rustic establishments you may have to sit [...]
Although public transport in Italy is really very good (especially in the North), nothing compares with getting off the beaten track and discovering the ‘real’ Italy.
Unless you are planning on bringing your own car you will need to noleggiare un auto (rent a car). Most cities have plenty of choice, often situated near the aeroporto [...]
Today it’s never been easier to organise an inexpensive short break in Italy.
Budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet fly to a large number of beautiful Italian cities and with the internet you have access to a huge number of alberghi (hotels) or bed and breakfasts throughout the country.
If you are booking via the internet, [...]
Vocabulary is undoubtably the most fundamental aspect of learning to speak a language. You can make yourself understood with just vocabulary but not with just grammar.
There are no short cuts to learning vocab. It takes time and effort. Some methods will tell you to do strange-sounding things like “find a similar sounding word with a [...]
The real reason people visit Italy! Forget the monuments, art and history - we want the food!
First thing to decide is where to go. Depending on your budget you can choose from a whole range of eateries.
Starting from the cheap and cheerful, a self-service restaurant (despite the sound of it) can actually offer really great [...]
