Italian Language Resources

Podcaster

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:05:00 +0000

Addendum (11 October 2011): Podcaster has been updated again, and the new look is pretty cool. I use this app every day to listen to podcasts from Radio 24, Rai and other online sites to help practicing my Italian listening skills. If you are looking for podcast suggestions, just check out some of the other posts on this blog. The app also has a database that you can search, or you can simply input the feeds of your favorite podcasts and follow them with this app. Hoping for an iPad version, soon. Regardless, this app is an excellent tool for connecting with Italian audio content!

--Original Review from June 16th--Anyone who follows my blog regularly knows how much of a proponent I am for listening to podcasts of Italian shows and programs to improve one's language skills. It's important to listen to Italian along with reading, writing and speaking, but, for those of us who can't get to Italy often or who don't have Italian friends with whom we can talk, we have to rely on more creative solutions.

Listening to spoken Italian is a great way to train your ear for the "real thing" -- last year when I went to Italy for a month, I was amazed at how well I could understand Italian from strangers. Listening to Italian podcasts can help prepare you for the speed that Italians use their language.

One such app is called Rss Player (it's been renamed Podcaster for a while now -- check out their web site)- they have a blog, and you can read about their app with links to purchasing the app in the Itunes store. They have developed a very useful program that allows you to stream and download podcasts through the device without having to sync up to Itunes. They've also created a listing of podcasts, and many of the podcasts that I've discussed here in the past are listed. If it is not listed, there's a way to add the RSS feed, too. The app has received some complaints about crashing and not working, but I've used the app for the past week, and it has not crashed once, works great, functions as it says. I find the app very useful and versatile, and I use the app to listen to Italian podcasts on my way to my Italian conversation class to get my ear ready!

Another reason that many people like this app is that it allows you to download without using Itunes, and there's no limit on how much or how long you can listen, no download limit, and you're not limited by the Apple servers. The app interacts directly with the servers where the podcasts are hosted. (FYI - if you don't have unlimited data usage, you might want to restrict your downloading to when you're on a wi-fi network. The app can be configured to work over wi-fi or wi-fi and cellular).

If you use the app, leave a comment and let me know what you think of it.

Parola del Giorno iPhone App Available in iTunes

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti!

Our App is now on sale -- The app costs $0.99. Click the widget on the left to download it. The app has also has a special design for iPads so you do not get that pixelated/miniature version of the app on the larger screen.

UPDATE: The first bug fix has been submitted and was approved on 18 December 2010. If you’ve downloaded the app, please download the update. I have reduced the number of posts that display to seven because several users complained that the app was slow. Perhaps having 30 display was just too much. Over the coming days, I will tinker with the number. I will see about getting 14 days (two weeks) worth of posts visible on the app. For now, please enjoy the seven that are available!

ALSO: I have noticed that the button to tap to play the word sometimes requires more than one tap in the iPhone/iPod Touch version. We are looking into this, too.

There are no bugs so far in the iPad version and seems to be the more stable version.

Next year I hope to unveil an Android version, too! Stay tuned for more details!

Our app is a great way to improve your Italian vocabulary while also listening to the pronunciation of the words while seeing the words also used in their context. This makes new words easier to remember!

Mr. Kilowatt & Radio 24

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:53:00 +0000

Sorry for not blogging recently, but things have been hectic. In the past few months, I have run across some more great listening resources. I just want to remind readers that listening every day to Italian is important.

When learning a language, it helps to do a little something each day, even if it just ten to fifteen minutes each day! Try to apply that same concept to your listening comprehension! Just remember, it's not important to understand each and every single word being spoken, but to understand the sense of what is being said.

On that note, I think that the Radio 24 program, Mr. Kilowatt, is a great program to practice with because 1) it's short in duration, between 10-15 minutes 2) it talks about energy and how it affects our lives, the environment, political influences and more. This is a program that discusses themes that are relevant to each of our lives as the world strives to find renewable and sustainable sources of energy. As we all know, this is difficult in the current political climate on our planet! Although it may not be a topic that is of interest to everyone, the words used should be familiar as it is an argument and topic that is hard not to know about.

The show airs Monday through Friday on Radio 24 at 9:00 PM (21:00). You can listen to it live or following the program through podcasts!

INGV YouTube Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:52:00 +0000

INGV is the Italian institute for geophysics and vulcanology, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, and they monitor seismic and geophysical events all over Italy. If you're a fan of science like I am (I enjoy reading about geology and volcanoes), you might find many of their short videos interesting to watch which you can view on YouTube by visiting their channel. These great videos for learning about seismic activity in Italy as well as learning new words and phrases related to geology and earthquakes.

They also track earthquakes in Italy, and it's no surprise that there are at least a few each day in and around the country. Check out their YouTube channel and web site. They also have a friend iPhone app that relays all the seismic activity in Italy - letting you know where and when earthquakes have taken place and their magnitude.

La Scala Richter = Richter scale

BellItalia

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:18:00 +0000

BellItalia is a program produced by TGR (part of Rai) that explores the culture of Italy by going to cities, town and museums across the country (the episode above is from 2010 and is a portion of the episode which discusses the town of Vigevano). Each episode discusses a different city or museum, and there are often discussions of festivals, culture and other cultural happenings around the country.

I like this program because the segments are short (between 8 to 10 minutes each), and this is an optimal amount of time to practice your listening skills while learning about new places in Italy that you might not see on your normal trip to the country!

Divertiti! (Enjoy!)

Corriere TV: Spotlight

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Another quick video stream to watch online is Corriere TV's Spotlight, a short video segment where a famous person is interviewed and asked a series of questions. The interviewer is not seen and only the responses to the questions is heard. It's a sort of conversation without the conversation, so to speak. There are several of these interviews with various people in Italian politics, film, literature, etc. They are a great way to connect with important and influential people in Italy and hear their thoughts.

Corriere TV: 3 minuti 1 parola

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0000

A very entertaining program on Corriere TV called Tre minuti una parola that looks at a particular word in Italian and explains how it is used, its history and some linguistics when it is relevant. The show is down with animation and graphics which often helps to explain what Beppe Severgnini is saying, so if you're having trouble following the conversation, just watch the images, and you'll find that it is easier to understand what he is saying.

This is one of my favorite programs, and you are bound to enjoy it!

Not only will you find the program entertaining, but I am sure you will learn a new word or two!

Rai 3: Cosmo

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:57:00 +0000

Learning Italian when it is paired with current events is a great way to learn and improve the language. A new program on Rai 3, Cosmo with Barbara Serra, is a great way to improve your Italian and learn about the world around you. Many of you many be familiar with Barbara Serra, who, since 2006, has been the face of Al Jazeera English in London (She also hosted the Street Food episode on Palermo). This show is unique in that all of the correspondents are women and includes the reporting of Elisabetta Curzel, Alessandra Viola and Silvia Bencivelli.

Cosmo is an investigative program that looks at issues in our world, such as privacy and nuclear energy, explains the issue or problem by interviewing experts from around the world. The most recent episode on April 17th focused on nuclear weapons and the arms race. The great thing about this kind of format is that you have an established context that can help you understand what you are hearing and learn about the world around from an Italian perspective.

Each episode is about an hour in length, and I found myself enthralled through each episode. The format of the shows make use of special effects, computer models and other tools to help explain the science. For example, on the most recent program about nuclear weapons, they created computer simulations about what might happen if Rome were bombed by an atomic weapon and the kind of damage that it would have on the city and people who remained.

The shows airs every Sunday at 11:35 PM, but repeats of the episodes can be watched again on Rai.tv.

Corriere TV

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:04:00 +0000

A while back I mentioned Corriere TV as a resource of listening and practicing your Italian because many of their videos are shorter in length, informative and easy to follow. If you're a fan of Facebook, you can now follow their new page, Corriere TV, and watch videos from your Facebook page without having to leave Facebook.

Of course, if you're not a fan of Facebook or you do not use it, you can still visit the site directly to watch their video content.

Parola del Giorno App!

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Our app, Parola del Giorno, is now on sale in the App Store. Download it to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad today! The app costs only $0.99, but it is a great way to learn new words, hear them pronounced and increase your Italian vocabulary!

Screenshot of the app

Antefatto -- The YouTube Channel for Il Fatto Quotidiano

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:38:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti!

It's been a while since I updated this blog, so I want to spend the next few days alerting you to some great resources for listening and practicing your Italian language skills.

Having said that, I want to remind you of the power of YouTube! There is a lot of content online that you can use to practice your Italian. A friend of mine uses it to watch Italian movie trailers and the occasional movie that is posted online at YouTube. Another likes to follow blogs and video blogs of various Italians online. I want to bring your attention to Antefatto, the YouTube channel for Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Il Fatto Quotidiano is one of the few news sources in Italy that isn't controlled by the Italian government or run by Berlusconi's media empire or his family. It is extremely independent, receives no government support and is sustained by its readers. This video channel on YouTube has interviews with some interesting characters as well as video stories on things going on in Italy -- a superb way to practice your Italian while at the same time learning about what's happening in Italy from a news source that is reliable.

It's no secret that the Italian press, particularly RAI, Berlusconi's TV/media units, often does not cover controversial figures or controversial events in Italy. But with Il Fatto Quotidiano, you hear from voices that you might not get to hear from while at the same time improving your comprehension skills.

Radio 24 Iphone App Update and More News

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Felice nuovo anno a tutti! | Happy New Year to everyone!

Many of you who read my blog always send me nice emails or leave comments about certain apps, so I just wanted to say that the app for Radio 24 has been updated (finally!). You can now listen to their podcasts directly from the app!

Just do a search in the app store for "Radio 24" or click here to go to their Itunes page. Their app is currently free.

I recommend this radio station because they have a large number of radio programs on various topics, and it is always a great way to build your vocabulary by listening to shows about various topics, even those that you might avoid in your native language (for example, I don't read/listen to sports news much, but I try to do more of that in Italian).

Another app that I just recently discovered thanks to iPhone Italia is the free iPhone/iPad app for Sky News 24. The first thirty days that you download the app, you can watch live and streaming over your phone this channel. Currently, you can watch free from your PC, but if you're away from your PC and want to watch the news or find out what is going on in Italy at any given moment, this is a cool app. After 30 days, a subscription (in app purchase) is required before you can stream. A monthly subscription costs $1.99 and the price decreases per month if you purchase a yearly subscription. Check the app for the latest in app prices.

Also, TG1 and TG3, which deliver TV news and are part of Rai, also have apps for the iPhone. Users have reported that these apps do not work well, but they appear to work fine on my iPhone. Check them out and see for yourself.

Before closing, I just want to address a message I received a few weeks ago. I am sorry if I do not talk about apps for other devices. Since I do not have any other kind of phone, it is hard for me to comment on them. I apologize for the Apple centricness of my blog, and I will do better to promote listening resources that do not require an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. As always, if you know of an online resource that I should profile, please let me know!

Last Post for 2010 and Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti! I hope that 2010 has been a great year for all of you who read this blog and use (or at least try to use) some of the sites and resources that I mention. While this blog is the least trafficked and visited of any of the blogs that I maintain, I still enjoy updating this site when I can and help you to find excellent resources that are not only educational but entertaining, too!

I know how hard to it is when you're first learning Italian to find resources that aren't too difficult to use, but keep plugging away at your listening skills. You will be surprised at how much better they become the more you practice. For the more advanced speakers and listeners, always try to find time in your day for a little Italian listening to keep your ear used to the language and its pace.

I'll be back in 2011 with more interesting sites to review and profile as well as some new ideas for learning Italian. Below is a list of some of my favorite tools, apps, and sites for learning Italian that I profiled in 2010! I hope that you will continue your Italian language learning odyssey in year(s) to come!

Enjoy and Buone Feste a tutti!

I have to say, hands down, that my favorite discovery in 2010 has been Podcaster! This is an app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad that allows users to download and store podcasts on their phone without having to sync up to Itunes. It's a great app for your phone or iPod and is very versatile because it allows you to pull together dozens of podcasts into one location. So if you like sports, news, current events, or history, there are tons of podcasts that you could pull into the app and listen to at your leisure. The app is easy to use, and the developer is very responsive to feedback, too! Recent updates allow users to download podcasts in the background as well as put the app "to sleep" (especially useful if you enjoy listening to podcasts at bedtime like me!)
Learnitalianpod.com is another one of my favorite sites that is always doing something new. They have a series of podcasts and a learning center for all levels as well as podcast courses for intermediate and advanced levels, too. I love this site for beginners because they have a course for those of you who may want to learn Italian but do not know where to begin. Pay them a visit, download their podcasts, and subscribe to their learning center! You will not be disappointed!
Maxmondo.com is a superb site geared to intermediate/advanced learners. It is so hard to find materials for intermediate and advanced users. Subscribe to their audio newsletter which comes with a pdf transcript that you can follow along as well as exercises and helpful vocabulary. This is a very well developed online product that is a must for your Italian language learning arsenal! They also have free short podcasts that you can download as well.
L'Italiano in Famiglia is an online course developed by the "Ufficio Scolastico Provinciale di Brescia" and has been specifically developed for those who seek to learn Italian as their second language or for those who do not have access to Italian courses in their area. This features videos that profile a family, following them around as they do and take part in various activities. What I like is that no only is there an audio component, but there's a visual one, too! Seeing and hearing together can most often aid in understanding or at least help to provide a context to the situation -- this can make learning new words and expressions much easier. While the dialogs and acting can be a bit "odd" at times, it is a well done course with accompanying materials.

ziePOD

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:07:00 +0000

Screenshot of ziePOD on my Desktop

While not strictly an "Italian resource," I always like to identify programs and applications that can be helpful in aggregating your podcasts. One such program is called ziePod (http://www.ziepod.com). This easy to use resource is a great way to organize your podcasts -- it downloads them automatically if you want or you can set it up so that it alerts you to new podcasts. Don't want to clutter your PC with podcast files? You can also stream them and listen to them on your laptop, desktop or netbook!

I have a small netbook as my primary PC, and this little program doesn't use a lot of resources nor does it slow down my computer. Another nifty feature -- the program is "smart" in that all you have to do is copy the podcast feed address, and when you go to activate the subscription, it grabs the feed "automatically" from the clipboard.

ziePOD also has support for Ipods, too.

Remember how important it is to practice not only your Italian grammar (conjugating verbs, using pronouns, etc.) but also your listening comprehension! A great thing about ziePOD is that it provides a summary of the podcast (when provided by the person/people who produced the podcast) and displays it prominently (unlike iTunes which makes it more complicated to read/find). Reading the summary first can provide with valuable context clues about what you will be listening to and make understanding new words easier.

Short videos for short attention spans

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:56:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti!

I want to use this post to put you onto the idea of learning with short videos. Today, while I was on my break at work, I listened to some short videos about nutrition. These informative videos not only were interesting and full of great information, but they were also short enough so that I could watch them in the small amount of time I had.

A comment that I hear a lot from people is that videos and podcasts are just too long. How many of us have an hour or two a day to just sit and listen, especially when the listening requires so much concentration. Attention spans are shorter now for a variety of reasons, many of them no fault of our own. So what better way to practice your Italian than with these short five minute videos from Corriere TV.

I think one of the most difficult parts of learning Italian is listening comprehension, especially when you want to comprehend what is being said at native level speeds. I think it's important to remember that people you meet in shops, on the streets, etc. won't necessarily take it down a notch, especially if they are pressed for time. In other words, these short films are just long enough to capture our attentions while helping us improve our listening at the same time.

As always, do not be discouraged by words that you don't know -- with the videos, you also have visual clues, too. Make use of all your senses as you practice your listening comprehension -- context really helps!

Uchef.it

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:49:00 +0000

There's no better way to learn Italian than when you do it with food, and good at that! Check out this site which features tons of videos (all in Italian) about Italian cooking, wine, and food preparation. There are also videos about specific Italian regional cuisines as well as videos about non-Italian dishes and more. Many of the videos appear to be done in the kitchens of restaurants in various regions of Italy, and it's interesting to listen to the different Italian accents in the videos. That is also something that is difficult to practice.

I think that many of the video recipes are pretty easy to follow even if you don't know any Italian. Or if you get stumped and do not know what something means, just watch the person as they cook, and it should be easy enough to deduce what they are doing.

Lately, I've been a bit obsessed with "la cucina pugliese" so I've embedded a video that shows you how to make a typical Puglian dish! Buon appetito!

(just hover over the video and click on the "play" button to watch)

Digitalia

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:03:00 +0000

Screenshot of the Iphone app
(http://www.digitalia.fm)

Doing a program about technology and technology trends is difficult to produce and maintain because it is an environment that is constantly changing. There have been many programs that have come and gone over the past few years, but this program has lasted and is well produced. Digitalia is a project that was realized by Franco Solerio, with the help of Carlo Becchi and Massimo De Santo, that focuses on technology and those who love learning about and using technology. What I enjoy most about the show is that it is not just a dry summation of the technology out there: the show also explores how technology impacts and affects our everyday lives which makes the program more appealing.

This program is one of the most popular Italian podcasts and has been one of the Itunes/Apple staff favorites for months. The show has built up quite a following of listeners who call themselves digitaliani. This community not only supports the program financially but also in a participatory fashion using Twitter (#digitalia), where users discuss, debate and share their opinions and feedback on the various puntate.

New episodes are live every Tuesday evening from 9:30pm to 11:00pm (Italian time) with the podcast following soon after -- so if you can't catch the live show, you can download the podcast of the show at your leisure. On the web site, there are always links to topics discussed in the podcasts as well as links to emerging technology and gadgets that might be of interest to you.

The sound quality of the podcast is excellent, and it is a great way to improve your Italian listening skills, learn new words related to technology as well as learn about trends in the world of technology and the web.

Apps for both iOS and Android operating systems are also available so that you can listen to Digitalia on the go -- you can find the links to the apps below. I can't speak for the Android app, but the iPhone app works great (and is free!), and I always enjoy listening to their podcasts while I work:

http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/digitalia-fm/id334846109?mt=8
http://it.androlib.com/android.application.it-mf-digitalia-pwFw.aspx

Their RSS feed:

http://digitalia.fm/digitalia.xml

Finestre Sull'Arte -- The First Italian Podcast For Art History

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:39:00 +0000

One of the things that has made Italy famous over the centuries has been its art, and it would be difficult to find a person who does not know about Michelangelo or the Sistine Chapel or even the Renaissance.

The art of Italy spans centuries: from the Etruscans, Greeks, Ancient Romans, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque...the list goes on and on. Now you can learn about the various artists and their production from this podcast, Finestre Sull'Arte: il primo podcast per la storia dell'arte.

Currently, there are currently about thirty-nine podcasts, and each podcasts talks about a different Italian artist, some of their most important works as well as other historical information about them. These podcasts are very informative, entertaining and thought-provoking. If you're a student of art history, these podcasts can certainly help you improve your art related vocabulary. Accompanying many of the podcasts are shorts essays/notes (le note) which discuss the artists in greater detail. Reading the nota before you listen can also aid in your understanding in the podcast, especially if listening is still difficult for you.

If you click on the podcast, there are often links to images of the works discussed in the podcasts, and this can be helpful to view as you listen along with the commentary. There are also links to books on the artists profiled as well as information on exhibitions or places where these works can be seen (NB: a lot of Italian art resides not in museums but in situ, such as churches, basilicas, cathedrals, chapels, palazzi, or even outdoors in piazzas).

There is also a newsletter, too, which you can subscribe to on their web site.

In 2009, their site/podcasts received second place in the category of "eCulture and Heritage" at the 2009 eContent Award Italy.

Radio24 on your Ipod Touch/Iphone

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:00:00 +0000

In June, Radio24 released an Ipod Touch/Iphone App for listening to their radio station. If you like to listen to Italian radio "on-the-go" like I do, then you'll probably find this app useful. Some people prefer radio apps where you can listen to more than just one radio station, and, sure, I can get that. But you can't go wrong when the app is free!

I listen to a lot of podcasts at work, but doing so through my computer is problematic, especially when so much of the resources on my computer at work are needed for work-related tasks. With this app, you just turn it on and listen.

Great points about this app:

It's easy to use (see below, because it's also one of the downsides).
It has never crashed on me.
It has volume controls in the app.
If you click the link to their homepage, it launches Safari.

Downsides to this app:

Features? Yes, there are none (unless you count the in app volume controls).
The app doesn't multi-task -- if you leave the app, it stops playing.
You can't view the schedule (palinsesto) within the app.
No access to their podcasts.

I still like the app, I'm just saying...

I do hope that they provide some more functionality in the future. If you're looking for a simple app that provides quality programming and need something to listen to that you don't have to fidget with while you're listening (like when you're at the gym, at work or driving), this is a great app.

You can download the app here: http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/radio-24/id365304617?mt=8

Radio24 and L'Altra Europa

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:09:00 +0000

I know it's been a while since I updated, but I have some new listening resources that I want to talk about so look for some new posts in the coming weeks!

Many radio programs in Italy take the summer off -- some end in June or July while others stop for Ferragosto. But this program continued through much of August, and it was a fun program to listen to while I traveled around for my own summer vacations.

The program in question is called L'Altra Europa which is produced by Radio24. Radio24 is one of my favorite radio station because a majority of the programs are talk so not only do you get a lot of listening practice you also have the opportunity to learn about what is going on in Italy from a source of news that I would consider to be very balanced.

L'Altra Europa is a program that is hosted by Federico Taddia (he's also co-authored several books, you can see them here) that focuses on what's going on in Europe in the sphere of politics, culture and economics. Recently, Taddia interviewed the author, Claudia Cucchiarato, about her book (I'll be reviewing it on my blog, Italy in Literature, very soon!) on the new wave of Italian emigration. There have also been interviews with Italians living in and around Europe, most recently in Russia, to talk about the fires and heat wave.

The show discusses not only larger issues (such as the deportation of gypsies in France) but also smaller local ones (such as a local Serbian music festival), as well as highlighting and promoting all aspects of European culture. It's a fun show to listen to because of the wide range of guests and the variety of topics discussed.

If you like learning about Europe and European issues, you'll certainly enjoy listening to this show.

Listen to it online or as a podcast!

RAI Radio App for Ipod Touch/Iphone

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:33:00 +0000

It's about time that RAI finally came up with an app for their radio content!

I found it in the App Store last night while I was winding down from my long day. The app works pretty well for the most part, and you can listen live to many of RAI's stations (although, I find that live listening works better on ooTunes). The great thing about this app is that is keys you into all the podcasts, allowing you to listen to many of the podcasts on RAI 1, 2 or 3. I'm really impressed with the app (although there is room for improvement!).

Listening to the radio, while it's challenging and difficult for many, is a great way to learn new words and to practice your listening comprehension. The fast pace of speaking takes time to understand, but the more that you practice listening, the better you will be at it.

If you're interested in downloading the app (it's free, by the way), click here.

RAI's smartphone page is here ("Tutta la radio in tasca!").

I wrote a short review of the app on Appolicious -- you can read that by clicking here.

Learning about history and improving your Italian with historycast

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:56:00 +0000

historycast is a cool podcast that explores various topics in history, from the Black Plague to the Etruscans to the injustices committed against Sacco and Vanzetti. The podcasts are beautifully and expertly done, and you are not only bound to improve your Italian but learn about historical topics on Italy as well as around the world. Some of the best podcasts are those that not only teach you new words and helps with your listening comprehension but also helps you to learn about history all at the same time. Read about them "Presentazione" to learn what they are all about -- it shows you the quality of the podcast that they have put together!

They have a popular blog, too, and the podcasts can be downloaded from their web site, via RSS feed or through the Itunes store. Simply search for "historycast" in the Itunes store to download their history lessons for free!

Check out their active and popular Facebook group, too!

Ad alta voce

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:42:00 +0000

One of my favorite Italian programs is Ad Alta Voce, a radio program on Rai Radio 3 in which you can listen to some of great works of literature read aloud. Recently, I found a recording of Leonardo Sciascia's Il giorno della civetta, and I was able to listen to the book and read it while it was being read to me. Listening while reading is a great way to hone your listening skills while at the same time enjoying some of the many jewels of Italian literature.

There are dozens of others titles, too, and you can listen to them directly from the web page for Ad Alta Voce (this link has the complete listing) or via Rai.tv (I find that Rai.tv works best in IE, but that's just my own opinion/experience). If reading and listening to Italian literature is daunting, there are several titles that are translated from English into Italian that might help to provide some context to what you are reading. It shouldn't be too difficult to decipher which of the titles are English ones.

Below is a partial list of some Italian classics that are my favorites -- I find listening with the book makes for a better experience. I've linked the titles of the books to the Internet Bookshop Italia:

Metello
Il deserto della Libia
Il cavaliere inesistente
Senilità
Le sorelle Materassi
L'isola di Arturo
La luna e i falò
Una storia semplice
Il giorno della civetta
Diceria dell'untore
Il giornalino di Giamburrasca
Amore e ginnastica
Il barone rampante
Il giardino dei Finzi Contini
Il mare non bagna Napoli

Repubblica Domani

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:24:00 +0000

A comment that I hear often from readers of my blog is that it is difficult for them to listen to a sixty-minute podcast or to watch 45-60 minutes of Italian television. I "feel" their pain -- it's difficult to find the time in the day. It can also be frustrating to listen to something and not understand much and become easily discouraged.

And I present to you Repubblica Domani. This is a short video that is done by the staff of La Repubblica which is a meeting between various correspondents, reporters and journalists that run the newsroom. They do their best to go over the main important news points of the day, covering not only events happening outside Italy but also domestic news, political affairs, the economy, sport and culture. The program is on the short side and varies between 5 to 10 minutes. At the start of each video, there's a summary of what will be discussed with photos so it helps to give you some context of what you will be hearing.

La Repubblica is also one of the few "independent" news outlets in Italy which generally does a good job providing balanced and fair coverage.

Below I've embedded the episode from Monday, May 24, 2010. To see the latest episode as well as the current list of episodes, click here.

L'Italiano in famiglia

noreply@blogger.com (Keith) — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Today, I learned about this Italian resource from the blog, The Smiling Eggplant -- a TV show centered around a family living in Brescia that helps you to learn Italian. It is called "L'Italiano in famiglia," and it follows the daily life of the Frappani family. It was designed to help Italians living in South Africa retain their Italian and most probably was designed for young children or young adults who might lose some of their language skills living in a country where Italian is not the official language.

I listened and watched the latest episode and was pleasantly surprised and impressed. After watching the video, there are exercises, grammar explanations, a listing of some important vocabulary in which you can click the pictures and hear them pronounced (again), games to play to practice the language, as well as a recap of lessons learned from the two teachers, Manuel and Patrizia, which not only will help you learn new words and understand the language better but also understand the key points of the episode watched.

You can also download the episodes as podcasts as well as get a print out of the dialogue.

One of the things that I like most about the site is how well it works. It's a Flash driven site that has pop-ups which contain pdf's and games and other useful tools. Currently, there are 20 episodes! Hopefully, they will be producing more of them!

My own criticism is that sometimes the dialog seemed odd and a bit forced, but if you can get past that little bit of "corniness" of the dialog, it really can be useful in improving your listening comprehension. The actors speak at a fairly slow pace by Italian standards, and even I thought that they spoke slower than normal.

If you use the program, leave a comment and let me know what you think!