A Foggy Day

Day 82 of My Italian Learning Journal*

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Our weather is a little strange this time of the year with a lingering Fall finally giving way to a mild Winter. This morning began as a cool humid day, but then a fog floated down -- one moment it's clear and the next foggy.

Ascolta Questo:

• Questa mattina il tempo era fresco e sembrata una bella giornata.
  This morning began as a cool and beautiful day.

• Ma verso le 9:00 è scesa la nebbia.
  At about 9:00 a.m the weather become foggy.

• Due giorni fa c'è stato un incidente a causa della nebbia.
  Two days ago there was an accident in foggy weather.

• Una persona è morta nell'incidente.
  One person died in the accident.

• E' stato un tragico evento.
  It was a tragic situation.

• I conducenti devono stare attenti in caso di maltemp.
  Drivers must be alert in bad weather.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]

[ Grazie a Beatrice99 ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

Falsi Amici

Day 81 of My Italian Learning Journal*

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As I continue to build my Italian vocabulary I came across the term "false cognates." I had noticed that some similar looking and sounding English and Italian words are confusing. I found a collection for these "false cognates" on a  "Speak 7" website ( http://italian.speak7.com/lesson2-7.htm ). I am posting this group of "false cognates" here for easy reference.

Ascolta Questo:

• Di seguito è un elenco di falsi amici.
  Below is a list of "false friends" (false cognates).

• Vorrei esaminare questo elenco di parole regolarmente.
  I will review this list of words regularly.

 False Cognates

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

La Cassetta Postale e Il Muratore

Day 80 of My Italian Learning Journal*

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Each day brings its own surprises. Someone knocked down our brick mailbox in the night. It appears that someone may have backed up their automobile into the brick mailbox and left a pile of bricks on the ground. So, this morning I shopped for a temporary mailbox and called a bricklayer for an estimate on building a new mailbox.

Ascolta Questo:

• Nella notte qualcuno ha demolito la nostra cassetta postale di mattoni.
  In the night someone knocked down our mailbox made of brick.

• Ho comprato e installato una semplice cassetta postale temporanea.
  I bought and installed a simple temporary mailbox.

• Ho chiamato un muratore per una stima sulla costruzione di una nuova cassetta postale.
  I called a bricklayer about an estimate on building a new mailbox.

• Il muratore ha detto che era impegnato in un lavoro.
  The bricklayer said he was working on a job.

• Ha detto che sarebbe venuto più tardi per darmi una stima su una nuova cassetta postale di mattoni.
  He said that he would come later to give me an estimate on a new brick mailbox.

• Sto aspettando e mi sto chiedendo quanto costoso sarà il lavoro.
  I am waiting and wondering how expensive the work will be.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

A Busy Day at Work

Day 79 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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Wow! There are times that work can be quite hectic after a holiday -- and today was one of those days. At our high school we have some students who are actually taking college-level courses, and many came to see me today to collect their applications for the Spring semester. I think the last student I saw today actually noticed how busy my day had been, as she said: "I heard you were working overtime today."

Ascolta Questo:

• Sono stato molto occupato a lavoro oggi.
  It was a very busy day at my job today.

• Ho aiutato molti studenti con le loro domande di accesso all'università.
  I helped many students with applications for the university.

• La parola italiana "stanco" è perfetta per descrivere lo stato in cui mi sento.
  The Italian word "stanco" is perfect for the way I feel.

• Sono curioso di vedere cosa succederà domani.
  I will see what tomorrow brings.

[ Grazie a 1stefania ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

The Holiday Ends

Day 78 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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Being on holiday was great. I spent time with family and had time to relax. I caught up on some reading as well. But tomorrow it's time to get back into a work routine. Fortunately, I do have an amazing job working with high school students, helping them get ready for their next step beyond high school.

Ascolta Questo:

• La mia routine quotidiana nei giorni lavorativi inizia con la sveglia alle 05:15 di mattina.
  My workday routine begins getting up at 5:15 a.m.

• Sono fortunato che il mio tragitto per andare al lavoro sia molto breve.
  I am lucky that my commute to work is very short.

• Una parte del mio tempo al lavoro è dedicata ad aiutare gli studenti a riuscire a scuola.
  Some of my time at work is devoted to helping students succeed in school.

• Aiuto anche gli studenti a presentare le domande di ammissione alle università..
  I also help students apply to universities.

• Il mio lavoro è estremamente gratificante.
  My work is exceptionally rewarding.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

Reflexive Verb & Pronouns

Day 77 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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In my eagerness to learn Italian I get away from studying some of the basic grammar of the language. It appears that one learns in plataeus, remaining a one level for a while, and then moving to the next level of learning. This blog has helped me make steady progress. Tonight for my own practice I'm reviewing a reflexive verb and reflexive pronouns. There is so much to learn. -- Lento ma costante.

Ascolta Questo:

Vestirsi

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Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

A Few Italian Proverbs

Day 76 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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Although I am still at the beginner stage in learning Italian, I can see how the language can be quite expressive. Tonight I thought I would look at a few Italian proverbs and how they might translate into English, in similar idea anyway.

Ascolta Questo:

• "A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello." (To every bird his nest is beautiful.)
  “There’s no place like home”

• "Acqua passata non macina più." (Water that's flowed past the mill grinds no more.)“It's water under the bridge."

• "O mangia la minestra,o salta dalla finestra" (Either eat this soup or jump out of this window.)"Take it or leave it."

• "Far d'una mosca un elefante." (To make an elephant out of a fly.)
  "Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

• "A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio." (Give them a finger and they'll take an arm.)
  "Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile."

• Sei lento come una lumaca. - Grazie a mpapaia
  "You are slow as a snail."

• "Quando la volpe non arriva all’uva dice che é acerba.” - Grazie a EleBrunetti
  "When the fox does not reach the grape, he says it is sour."

• "A caval donato non si guarda in bocca." - Grazie a keramus
  "You don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

• "Non è bello ciò che è bello ma è bello ciò che piace." - Grazie a Paolooo99
  "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

• "Chi fa da sé fa per tre." [ Grazie a sweetsflowers7 e Grazie a Ver77 ]"If you want something done, do it yourself."

• "L'erba del vicino è sempre più verde." - Grazie a Ver77
  "The neighbor's grass is always greener."

• "Sangue richiede sangue." - Grazie a Erudite
  "Blood requires blood."

• "Se non è zuppa è pan bagnato." - Grazie a ludovicamelis00
  Meaning that two things are substantially the same even if they appear different.

• "Dove mangiano in due mangiano in tre." - Grazie a SerenaGranato96
  "Like two eat, three can eat"

• "Rosso di sera bel tempo si spera." - Grazie a SerenaGranato96
  When the sky at the sunset is red, you can expect that the next day there will be a good weather.

• "Predica bene e razzola male." - Grazie a SerenaGranato96 e Grazie a PiccolaLola
  "He doesn't practice what he preaches."

• "Chi non risica non rosica!" - Grazie a glo_rome
  "Nothing ventured nothing gained."

• "Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare." - Grazie a sery2001sm
  "It's easier said than done."

• "Cielo a pecorelle, pioggia a catinelle." - Grazie a elisa88
  A red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

• "Meglio tardi che mai." - Grazie a sahararadiosa
  "Better late than never."

• "Chi va a Roma perde la poltrona." - Gracie a YasmineFlower1416
  "Who goes to Rome loses the armchair."

• "In bocca al lupo." - Grazie a mpapaia.
  "Good luck."

• "Nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono" - Grazie ad aurorapaiola
  "Good things come in small packages."

Contributed proverbs are highlighted in blue. Proverbi hanno contribuiti sono evidenziate in blu.

I especially like: "Far d'una mosca un elefante."

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

Family Relationship Names

Day 75 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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Today is Thanksgiving Day and an occasion when many people spend more time with family members, either in person or by other means, such as FaceTime. This is also a good time for me to review how to talk about family and relatives. I looked on the Internet for a listing or chart and I found a good set of flashcards at Quizlet.com. The title of this specific set of 36 flashcards is "Italian Relationship Names and Titles" and it can be found on the Internet via the link below.

Click here: https://quizlet.com/39745328/italian-relationship-names-and-titles-flash-cards

Ascolta Questo:

• Quando si impara una nuova lingua è importante imparare i nomi dei gradi di parentela.
  When learning a new language it is important to learn relationship pronouns.

• Ciò implica anche l'apprendimento di aggettivi appropriati per i pronomi.
  This also involves learning appropriate adjectives for the pronouns.

• C'è una raccolta utile di schede didattiche sul sito "Quizlet."
  There is a collection of flash cards at the website "Quizlet."

• Mi chiedo quante famiglie dedichino del tempo per creare un albero genealogico?
  I wonder how many families take time to create a family tree?

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

The American Turkey

Day 74 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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As I look for topics for this blog that will help me continue to learn Italian daily, I find myself also learning about other information. For example, the Thanksgiving Holiday turkey. The wild turkey is native only to the Americas. In the 1500s, Spanish traders took some that had been domesticated by indigenous Americans to Europe and Asia.The turkey may have received its name because Europeans first imported the bird from shipping routes that passed through Turkey. The event that Americans commonly refer to as the "First Thanksgiving" day was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621.

Ascolta Questo:

• I pellegrini hanno celebrato per la prima volta il "Ringraziamento" nel 1621.
• The Pilgrims celebrated the first "Thanksgiving" day in 1621.

• Il tacchino è un gallinaceo nativo delle Americhe.
• The turkey is a native gallinaceous of the Americas.

• Nel 1500, i commercianti spagnoli hanno introdotto il tacchino americano in Europa e in Asia.
• In the 1500s, Spanish traders introduced the American turkey to Europe and Asia.

• Nella città di Cuero, in Texas, c'è una sfilata annuale di tacchini.
  In the town of Cuero, Texas, there is an annual parade of turkeys.

 Link: History of Cuero Turkey Fest

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]
[ Grazie a JacopoMarley ]

Turkeyfest Parade - Cuero, Texas USA

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

There Is & There Are

Day 73 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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I was having some difficulty grasping the uses of C'è and Ci sono, and remembering the differences. Then the obvious occurred to me -- think location. Think adverb. Remember singular and plural. This will require some drill and repetition. I have written a few sentences for my practice and review.

• C'è posta per te.
  There is mail for you. (Singular)

• C'è il taxi.
  There is the taxi. (Singular)

• C'è un cane nella casa.
  There is a dog in the house. (Singular)

• Ci sono molti poliziotti.
  There are a lot of policemen. (Plural)

• Ci sono barche a vela nella baia.
  There are sailboats in the bay. (Plural)

• Ci sono i vostri strumenti.
  There are your tools. (Plural)

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

French Toast?

Day 72 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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My practice script for tonight is about my breakfast this morning. To begin with, I enjoy French toast. At the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is where my wife and I stopped this morning for a "light" breakfast. It became more than a light meal. That meant skipping lunch.

Ascolta Questo:

• Questa mattina io e mia moglie abbiamo fatto colazione da IHOP.
  This morning my wife and I had breakfast at IHOP.

• Sulla copertina del menu c'era la foto di un French toast.
  On the menu cover was a picture of french toast.

• Non ho guardato oltre e ne ho ordinato un piatto.
  I looked no further, so I ordered a plate.

• Il toast francese era accompagnato da cremosa cheesecake e da mele alla cannella.
  The french toast had creamy cheesecake, and cinnamon apples.

• Questo significava niente pranzo oggi.
  This meant no lunch today.

• Il "French toast" non ha avuto origine in Francia.
  French toast did not originate in France.

• Il piatto che oggi conosciamo come toast francese, sembra esistesse già all'epoca dell'Impero Romano, infatti nel "De re coquinaria", una raccolta di ricette scritte da Apicius e che risale al 400 d.c., se ne trova una che gli assomiglia.
  The dish we know today as a French toast seems to have existed at the time of the Roman Empire, in fact, in the "De re coquinaria", a collection of recipes written by Apicio dating back to 400 dc, there is a recipe that resembles it.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]
[ Grazie a 1stefania ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

The Pecan

Day 71 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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This afternoon my wife and I were doing a little shopping and we bought a pecan pie along with other items. I make my blog practice Italian scripts as real as possible, and I thought about the pecan nut. I actually live near the Nueces River that evolves into our Port of Corpus Christi ship channel. Nueces is a Spanish word for pecans. The Port of Corpus Christi is the fourth-largest port in the United States in total tonnage.

Ascolta Questo:

• Cosa sarebbe il Ringraziamento senza torta di pecan?
  What would Thanksgiving be without pecan pie?

• Gli alberi di Pecan originari di questo luogo hanno alimentato gli americani per migliaia degli anni.
  The native pecan trees fed Americans for thousands of years.

• Il nome Pecan deriva dalla parola indiana "pacane" nel linguaggio Algonquin e significa "noce che deve essere rotta con una pietra."
  The term pecan comes from the Algonquin Indian word "pacane", meaning a nut that needs to be cracked with a stone.

• I semi del pecan sono commestibili.
  The seeds of the pecan are edible.

• Mi piace rompere le noci di pecan e mangiare i semi.
  I enjoy cracking pecans and eating the seeds.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

Some Garage Cleaning

Day 70 of My Italian Learning Journal*
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Today is Saturday and the beginning of my Thanksgiving Holiday. Surprise, surprise -- I spent most of the day cleaning my garage and looking for some of our Christmas decorations. And then there was the need for batteries for some of the decorations. Not a real vacation day.

Ascolta Questo:

• Oggi sono iniziate le mie vacanze per la festività del "Ringraziamento." 
  Today is the beginning of my Thanksgiving Holiday.

• Questo non è stato un giorno di riposo.
  This was not a day of rest.

• Ho trascorso la maggior parte della giornata pulendo parte del mio garage.
  I spent most of the day cleaning part of my garage.

• Ho trovato alcune cose da portare al negozio di beneficenza.
  I did find some things to donate to the Goodwill Store.

• Così da questo lavoro ne è uscito qualcosa di buono.
  So good did come out of the work.

[ Grazie a mikael-sixsix ]
[ Grazie a sailorcya ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.

Our High School Football Team

Day 69 of My Italian Learning Journal*

Our high school's football team is travelling out of town for a playoff game. This afternoon we had a send-off pep rally. There was a lot of excitement in the air. We wish our team the best for tomorrow's game.

Ascolta Questo:

• Oggi la nostra squadra di calcio è in trasferta ad Austin, Texas.
  Today our football team travels to Austin, Texas.

• La nostra mascotte è il centurione.
  Our mascot is the Centurion.

• Nero e oro sono i colori della nostra scuola.
  Black and gold are our school colors.

• Ci auguriamo che la nostra squadra di calcio vinca la partita di domani.
  We hope our football team will win the game tomorrow.

[ Grazie a Mikela-july ]
[ Grazie a Lucio ]

Alla prossima!

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*Note: This is my personal journal of daily practice in learning Italian. I welcome Italian grammar corrections. Grazie.