Ciao contadina! Capisci cuando ti scrivo in Italiano? I'm half Italian, but I live between Switzerland ( the French speaking part) and Spain so now I'm very Italo-Spanishly confused. I do remember those CDs, I even had cassettes for learning Spanish a million years ago and we would play them in the car back when we still used to go to Ibiza. It's hard to learn a language once you're an adult, unless you have a talent for it, or are super disciplined like my husband who takes two spanish lessons a week and does his homework like a goodie-goodie! He's improved immensely in two years, overtaking me with his vocab and verbs. But I'm more versatile in just going for it and not caring whether I get the grammar right. I can speak to anyone about almost anything by circumventing and finding other words if necessary! Good luck and go you!
Have you heard of comprehensible input (CI) when it comes to language learning?
When I moved to Spain, I knew from Day 1 that Duolingo wasn't the way to learn a language, but a few months in, I decided to dip into it. When the first thing it wanted me to learn was the word for "hammer," I quickly left and never went back.
I've lived here four years now and have never needed the word for hammer😁
I've got great resources for "input" in Spanish but not Italian, though I'm sure they're out there.
The only way I've stayed motivated in my language learning was thanks to CI. I discovered CI after my first year here. Three years later, I'm not fluent, but I can have 45-minute conversations and understand podcasts for native speakers. The speed with which someone is speaking is rarely a problem for me.
Not every method works for every person, but just thought I'd throw this thought in the mix:)
Daje! (which is an encouragement expression in Roman slang rather than Italian, nevertheless it's understood all along the peninsula)
I was just thinking about launching yet another Substack to try and teach some Italian to whoever wants to learn that — this autumn, though, as my brain is already melting as is, right now I probably wouldn't be able to even explain il verbo essere... 😅
A great piece of writing! And I know what you mean about having a whole library of (now) antiquated language education products. I have a theory that one could have a successful business making language study guides that had only a couple of printed pages in front and in back and are blank from page 10 to 150. Because 99% of the people will never see anything beyond page 5.
Rosie, I am so sorry for your loss.- It is so wonderful that you spoke with your Mam every day of your life! Side-note my mother passed in 2007 and her name was Rosie. How sweet is that!
Did you see the word in Italian for grief: dolore? Deep sorrow and sadness.
Sorry for your loss Rosie, it must be so difficult for you. When my dad died my mum described her feeling of grief as "come se mi avesse travolto un autobus". ❤️
Thank you for writing... we lost my mother-in-law earlier this year and Dad a couple of weeks ago... your words & books and inspiration help guide me through ongoing midlife crisis - doing & preparing for and towards I'm not sure yet but reading beyond my screen and writing something are on the agenda. Take care.
Dear Rosie, I feel your heartbreak. But good for you, trying to redirect your daily conversations into something constructive. I can relate to your panicky feeling when trying to speak Italian. I memorized how to tell a cab driver the address of my hotel but completely blew it and reverted to English when the driver looked at me in his rear view mirror totally confused! You can do it Rosie.
Dear Rosie, so sorry for your loss. Your piece really moved me❤️ Take care & good luck with the Italian...wouldn't it be a wonderful testiment to your family to keep going with you...I'll bet they're encouraging you from the wings😊
Rosie my heart goes out to you. Losing someone close never gets easier.
As for learning Italian I’m still waiting to use the phrase “Qual è il tuo pinguino?” … I think that Duolingo gives a lot of vocabulary but is very limited.
I love your writing Rosie & feel the weight of your grief after losing my mum last year too. And sitting writing this in Rome and wondering why my Latin of 6 years is failing me in understanding so much! I thought I’d be better at it but it’s too fast! Love to come look you up if have time with view to retreat one day 🙏
Oh Rosie, my heart goes out to you, it really does.... I still miss my Dad who died in October 2021 and wish time after time I could just have a quick chat or ask him a question. It really is heartbreaking..... Sadly, my Mum, whilst still alive, is missing in her own failing mind, now in the grips of Alzheimer's and spending time with her is heartbreaking in a different way.
Hats off to you for channeling some of your grief into improving your Italian....for sure every little bit of time spent doing that will pay dividends. Love and hugs to you and the family ❤️🤗🙏💞
Ciao contadina! Capisci cuando ti scrivo in Italiano? I'm half Italian, but I live between Switzerland ( the French speaking part) and Spain so now I'm very Italo-Spanishly confused. I do remember those CDs, I even had cassettes for learning Spanish a million years ago and we would play them in the car back when we still used to go to Ibiza. It's hard to learn a language once you're an adult, unless you have a talent for it, or are super disciplined like my husband who takes two spanish lessons a week and does his homework like a goodie-goodie! He's improved immensely in two years, overtaking me with his vocab and verbs. But I'm more versatile in just going for it and not caring whether I get the grammar right. I can speak to anyone about almost anything by circumventing and finding other words if necessary! Good luck and go you!
Hello Rosie --
Have you heard of comprehensible input (CI) when it comes to language learning?
When I moved to Spain, I knew from Day 1 that Duolingo wasn't the way to learn a language, but a few months in, I decided to dip into it. When the first thing it wanted me to learn was the word for "hammer," I quickly left and never went back.
I've lived here four years now and have never needed the word for hammer😁
I've got great resources for "input" in Spanish but not Italian, though I'm sure they're out there.
The only way I've stayed motivated in my language learning was thanks to CI. I discovered CI after my first year here. Three years later, I'm not fluent, but I can have 45-minute conversations and understand podcasts for native speakers. The speed with which someone is speaking is rarely a problem for me.
Not every method works for every person, but just thought I'd throw this thought in the mix:)
Daje! (which is an encouragement expression in Roman slang rather than Italian, nevertheless it's understood all along the peninsula)
I was just thinking about launching yet another Substack to try and teach some Italian to whoever wants to learn that — this autumn, though, as my brain is already melting as is, right now I probably wouldn't be able to even explain il verbo essere... 😅
How incredibly vulnerable. Thank you for sharing this Rosie! I can certainly relate to your processing of grief having gone through it myself. 🌸
A great piece of writing! And I know what you mean about having a whole library of (now) antiquated language education products. I have a theory that one could have a successful business making language study guides that had only a couple of printed pages in front and in back and are blank from page 10 to 150. Because 99% of the people will never see anything beyond page 5.
Try watching Italian films on TV
Rosie, I am so sorry for your loss.- It is so wonderful that you spoke with your Mam every day of your life! Side-note my mother passed in 2007 and her name was Rosie. How sweet is that!
Did you see the word in Italian for grief: dolore? Deep sorrow and sadness.
Collin’s Dictionary and Cambridge
Honestly nothing can truly describe it.
Highest and Best
Luisa
Sorry for your loss Rosie, it must be so difficult for you. When my dad died my mum described her feeling of grief as "come se mi avesse travolto un autobus". ❤️
Thank you for writing... we lost my mother-in-law earlier this year and Dad a couple of weeks ago... your words & books and inspiration help guide me through ongoing midlife crisis - doing & preparing for and towards I'm not sure yet but reading beyond my screen and writing something are on the agenda. Take care.
You need Portuguese: saudade. It means longing, but a melancholy longing. And yes, I'm over here struggling with Portuguese. I understand completely.
Dear Rosie, I feel your heartbreak. But good for you, trying to redirect your daily conversations into something constructive. I can relate to your panicky feeling when trying to speak Italian. I memorized how to tell a cab driver the address of my hotel but completely blew it and reverted to English when the driver looked at me in his rear view mirror totally confused! You can do it Rosie.
Sending a warm hug.
Funny and touching, Rosie. Sending you good energy for learning and healing.
Dear Rosie, so sorry for your loss. Your piece really moved me❤️ Take care & good luck with the Italian...wouldn't it be a wonderful testiment to your family to keep going with you...I'll bet they're encouraging you from the wings😊
Rosie my heart goes out to you. Losing someone close never gets easier.
As for learning Italian I’m still waiting to use the phrase “Qual è il tuo pinguino?” … I think that Duolingo gives a lot of vocabulary but is very limited.
Just keep practicing!
Sending love xx
I love your writing Rosie & feel the weight of your grief after losing my mum last year too. And sitting writing this in Rome and wondering why my Latin of 6 years is failing me in understanding so much! I thought I’d be better at it but it’s too fast! Love to come look you up if have time with view to retreat one day 🙏
Oh Rosie, my heart goes out to you, it really does.... I still miss my Dad who died in October 2021 and wish time after time I could just have a quick chat or ask him a question. It really is heartbreaking..... Sadly, my Mum, whilst still alive, is missing in her own failing mind, now in the grips of Alzheimer's and spending time with her is heartbreaking in a different way.
Hats off to you for channeling some of your grief into improving your Italian....for sure every little bit of time spent doing that will pay dividends. Love and hugs to you and the family ❤️🤗🙏💞