Our glorious season of infographics about the Italian language couldn’t be complete without presenting at least some of the most used Italian words regarding winter holidays and Christmas!
Enjoy and… buone feste da Kappa Language School!
Read the original article on Kappa Language School’s website.
Brace yourselves, Capodanno is coming!
The new year means 365 days of new experiences, with of course all chances to make your wishes come true and to finally do everything that you want to do… at least on paper! For instance, this year 2016 I wanted to learn Italian and I can tell you that, although I didn’t turn into Dante Alighieri, I manage to speak some Italian by now and I can proudly order my magnificent lasagna avoiding puzzled looks by the waiters. If learning a new language is also on your list for 2017, keep on reading! And if this isn’t the case, well, also continue reading, for maybe after this you will add “learning Italian” to your list too. 🙂
As you might know, the foundation of language learning is motivation, and that motivation you can get out of almost anything. For example: family, friends or maybe even this blog. Remember learning a language is not easy, but if you really want it you can do it! How to start with your language learning experience in the new year? First of all, you need a to-do-list. This will help you in the first steps of your journey, which usually are the hardest ones. But fear not, after those the rest will be easier.
1. Download an application to approach basic Italian vocabulary. For example Duolingo, Memrise or Speak and Translate. Say to yourself this is the new year and I am going to do every day 20 minutes of practice or 10 exercises with this application. It’s easy to get this accomplished because you can use these applications everywhere. Besides, you don’t really need to focus on grammar when making acquaintance with a foreign vocabulary, but this will turn very useful later on, when things will get more serious.
2. Approach the grammar, and do it in the most casual and informal way you can: find yourself a penpal or, even better, a tandem friend through one of the many websites that offer such service. Start exposing yourself to the new language and try to practice, with the help of a native, fixed expressions and very simple idioms you will be able to use to “survive” speaking your target language. Beware, though: being part of a tandem means that you need to guide your new friend through the discovery of your own mother language. It’s a good way to get mutual benefits and increase your motivation while making new international friends.
3. Last but not least, travel to Italy and take a course at an Italian Language School. Following a course at a language school is a unique experience, that at least everyone should have done one time in their life. Learning a language in the country where the language is spoken gives you the opportunity to practice and get in contact with locals and their culture. This all makes a language school the perfect place to learn a language and finally get your goal in the new year.
The first two things you can do it home and are completely free. Follow a course at a language school can be expensive, but it’s totally worth it. That’s why Kappa Language School wants to give you all a present for the new year, hoping this will help you follow your dreams and plan your holiday in Rome. Click here book your discounted Italian language course in January 2017 now!
And that’s it, buone feste to you all! We hope to see you in the new year to keep on helping you in the discovery of Italian language and culture!
Read the original article on Kappa Language School’s website.
Italians are famous for their fashion, the most famous luxury brands in this world are born there. Brands as D&G, Versace, Giorgio Armani etc. are becoming the cultural heritage of this country. Of course, you already know streets like Via Condotti, Via Cola di Rienzo or Via del Corso. All these streets are famous for their luxury stores and are easy to find in every tourist guide to Rome.
Now that you know mostly all the Italian words you need for your shopping adventure, in this article you will find all information to “shop till you drop” in the best shopping areas of Rome.
1. Centro commerciale Porta di Roma
So, let’s start with a low profile: Porta di Roma is the biggest shopping center of Rome, located outside the city center. It’s the perfect mix of luxury stores and middle segment stores. You can find Michael Kors and Massimo Dutti in this shopping center, but also Footlocker and Pull&Bear. This commercial center doesn’t only have clothes stores, it also includes a cinema, restaurants, bars and an arena for live shows. Also on rainy Sundays, you can enjoy this completely covered shopping dream, although locking yourself down in a shopping mall might not be your best option when in the Eternal City (even if it’s raining outside).
Website: http://it.club-onlyou.com/PORTA-DI-ROMA
How to reach: Bus line 80 from Piazza Venezia or Bus line 38 from Termini station
2. Monti area
The Monti neighborhood is a young and dynamic (although proudly historic) area with all kind of shops in small and cozy streets. In Monti you will find second-hand stores, handmade clothes stores, vintage stores and alternative style stores. Also, you will be able to visit boutiques with the newest fashion for a reasonable price (or at least more reasonable than other areas of the city center!). Monti is also a good neighborhood to learn Italian: here you can find the best Italian Language School in Rome 8-), surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars to spend your pranzo time and practice Italian with locals.
How to reach: Bus line 64, 40 direction Termini (stop: Nazionale- Palazzo Esposizioni) or Metro Cavour (blue line)
3. Porta Portese Flea market
A milestone for every respectable visit of Rome, this market takes place every Sunday morning in the neighborhood of Trastevere. Here you will find a nice and inspirational mix of second-hand clothing, handmade jewelry, makeup, food, antiques and all kind of souvenirs that you ever wanted to have and you won’t find in one of the many dreary traps for tourists scattered all over the city center. Take your time and browse all rows and stalls of this crowded market: here you will for sure find something unique that will make your day.
How to reach: Tram 8 Largo Argentina to Trastevere station from there you will reach the market in just a few minutes of walking
4. Via Condotti
Yes I know, I was supposed to skip this part but… come on, it’s Via Condotti! This is the shopping area where you can find BVLGARI next to Prada with on the other side Gucci and Tiffany’s and co. There is a store of almost every kind of luxury brand that exists in this world. While have your shopping overdose, you can stop by for a coffee at the historic Caffé Greco or continue towards the magnificent Piazza di Spagna and have a tea at Babington’s, the oldest tea saloon in the city. Also all around the piazza you will find luxury brands like Nespresso and Aqua di Parma. Although this area is mainly occupied by renown brands, on a deeper look you will also find particular and elegant local stores. Prices aren’t properly affordable, but taking a look is completely free
How to reach: Metro A Spagna or by walking as a sidestreet of via del Corso.
These were just my own favorite places to go, but of course there is much more to discover in Rome. To me, as a shopaholic, Rome is really a heaven because there are all of my favorite brands. If you like shopping and the biggest brands of the world Rome is your place to be and of course if there will ever be an official Roma shopping route, I will let you guys know! For now, let’s grab your shopping bags and follow your heart (or your wallet). Divertitevi!
Read the original article on Kappa Language School’s website.
As a beginner in the Italian language, it can be hard to make conversations with locals. However, since I am a hopeless shopping addicted, I tried to speak to Italian shopkeepers as soon as I arrived in Rome. Guess what? They didn’t understand nothing! That’s why I decided to learn some useful Italian words and sentences about shopping that I wish to share with you today with a full article and an infographic… you will thank me later 🙂 Let’s start!
The Italian word for “store” is Negozio, it is used for every kind of store for example Negozio di scarpe (but also Calzature) which is the Italian translation for “shoe store”. When a store is open you will find the sign Aperto on the door, although when a store is closed you will find the sign Chiuso.
In some periods there are big sales in Italy, and this period is called Saldi.
Well, now that you got all the major signs, let’s take a look inside the shop for the most common Italian words for clothes and accessories.
La borsa = the bag
Il vestito = the dress
Le scarpe = the shoes
Il cappotto = the coat
La maglietta = the t-shirt
La cintura = the belt
Il maglione = the sweater
I pantaloni = the pants
La gonna = the skirt
Let’s make it a little bit more difficult with some useful phrases during shopping.
Practice your Italian in the stores of Rome now and don’t forget to join on of our Italian Language Courses to learn more practical words for shopping in Italy!
Read the original article on Kappa Language School’s website.
