TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Aug 23rd 2011, 8:41 am

#391

Stellina

Forum Regular

Joined: Feb 2009

Location: Firenze

Posts: 131

Stellina is an unknown quantity at this point

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6monthshere6monthsthere

Hi,

Ok I know very little Italian - I am grade 1 baby level

I have picked up bits and bobs but think it is time to go back to the classroom, I have found a language school in Taormina that seems to be good and have a couple of questions which I am sure will be easily answered on this thread.

I found the following acronym's

Celi
Cils

If I am going to go to a language school and pay a not insignificant amount of money to study I would like to get on to a proper framework of learning - it is not unfeasible that I might want to turn this into an Italian degree in the future (I collect degrees

)

So any info / tips / advice / explanation

thank you

Hi there, I work in an Italian language school and we offer the CELI exam here. As you'll have figured out by now CILS and CELI are official Italian language exams that you can take, the equivalent of the First Certificate for the English language. A CELI level 3 is usually necessary to study at an Italian uni. You can take special exam preparation courses, another useful point of reference is the cvcl (Perugia University for foreigners) website where you can find exam centres and download past papers.

Oct 16th 2011, 4:17 pm

#392

Patty

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Mar 2008

Location: Near Turin

Posts: 2,188

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Puree or Purea ??? (italian mashed potato)

Which one do you say ? I have always said purea and yet here in Piemonte they say puree. My m-in-law is from Veneto and has always said it with the 'a'- but maybe its just her

Oct 17th 2011, 6:56 am

#393

ononno

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Jun 2010

Location: Disneylandia

Posts: 1,824

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Here darn sarf nobody uses either. Mashed tatie aint on anybody's menu'.
However, for what it's worth I always say 'puree'.
Garzanti says it should be pure'.

ciao for now,
'o nonno

Oct 17th 2011, 7:41 am

#394

jonwel

BE Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2011

Location: Milan, Italy

Posts: 710

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Puré (with only one "e" and an acute accent - the Italians don't know the difference between grave and acute) is the French word, used in Italy only for potato puré, the potato part being understood. More in general, if you make it with another vegetable (carrots, cauliflower etc.), the term is purea di xxxx.

Oct 17th 2011, 8:15 am

#395

37100

Concierge

Joined: Apr 2007

Location: Verona/ Nr Turin

Posts: 4,672

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty

I think both are grammatically correct. Hubby's family from Turin call it 'puré di patate' yet here in Veneto the use 'purea di patate'. They both come from the french purée (looked that up in The Treccani)

Jonwel. My sons were taught the difference between grave and acute at school. And it wasn't THAT long ago.

Oct 17th 2011, 9:08 am

#396

Lorna at Vicenza

MODERATOR

Thread Starter

Joined: Apr 2008

Location: Province of Vicenza

Posts: 19,038

Lorna at Vicenza has a reputation beyond repute

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Where I live everyone says purè.

Oct 17th 2011, 12:42 pm

#397

jonwel

BE Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2011

Location: Milan, Italy

Posts: 710

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37100

Jonwel. My sons were taught the difference between grave and acute at school. And it wasn't THAT long ago.

I'm sure they were, but what people remember in adult life is a bit different. Especially in copying down foreign words, even from Spanish where all accents are acute, the tendency is to use the grave accent throughout. Obviously when I said "the Italians" I didn't mean everyone....

Oct 17th 2011, 1:43 pm

#398

37100

Concierge

Joined: Apr 2007

Location: Verona/ Nr Turin

Posts: 4,672

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonwel

No. I realized that. You just made me feel old.

Oct 18th 2011, 11:57 am

#399

beesknees369

Just Joined

Joined: Oct 2011

Location: Vicenza

Posts: 6

beesknees369 is an unknown quantity at this point

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Hi!

Can anyone recommend any private Italian instructors willing to take on an adult and child (11 yrs. old)? At a fairly beginning level. I have looked into some of the local language schools and they don't seem to be able to accommodate children, unsurprisingly. We are located in Vicenza.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Holly

Oct 18th 2011, 12:04 pm

#400

Lorna at Vicenza

MODERATOR

Thread Starter

Joined: Apr 2008

Location: Province of Vicenza

Posts: 19,038

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beesknees369

Vicenza town hall is offering free Italian courses for foreigners. They began on October 3rd.

Info and a phone number can be found on your comune website here :

http://www.comune.vicenza.it/albo/ma...tter.php/67594

Oct 18th 2011, 12:30 pm

#401

37100

Concierge

Joined: Apr 2007

Location: Verona/ Nr Turin

Posts: 4,672

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beesknees369

Unusual.

Language schools will usually offer private lessons tailored to your needs.

Oct 18th 2011, 12:49 pm

#402

beesknees369

Just Joined

Joined: Oct 2011

Location: Vicenza

Posts: 6

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

It's possible I haven't asked the right questions!

And thanks, Lorna, for the link. I did see that the other day. I was hoping to find something that starts around the beginning of November, but I'll keep checking that site.

Oct 20th 2011, 7:19 am

#403

Tom_Essex

Forum Regular

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 54

Tom_Essex is an unknown quantity at this point

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Has anyone tried learning Italian on a CD ? Essentially, due to my work, I dont have a consistent amount of time to attend lessons, but do spend about 2 hours each day in the car driving and changing radio stations every 10 seconds because they are playing 80s or 90s English tat (this time could be much better spent)

, I've been here for 5 months now so dont really want to get a beginners book , just was curious to see if anyone had had a really good experience with anything in particular,

Thanks

Tom

Oct 20th 2011, 7:25 am

#404

Lorna at Vicenza

MODERATOR

Thread Starter

Joined: Apr 2008

Location: Province of Vicenza

Posts: 19,038

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Never used any myself but I think a lot of people like Rosetta Stone.

Oct 20th 2011, 10:19 am

#405

ononno

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Jun 2010

Location: Disneylandia

Posts: 1,824

Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.

Try listening to Isoradio in the car. 103.3 FM. Road traffic news, with occasional bulletins in English. Music's not bad, and it may help you to improve your Italian listening to the traffic and weather reports.
ciao for now,
'o nonno