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| Your Italian Brain |
| More Lessons! |
| Just Ask! Your opportunity to ask Curzio! Click Here! |
Success Means “Thinking in Italian”
Successful students will develop the ability to “think” in Italian. What we refer to as developing an
“Italian brain”. To the extent possible, we will present new words and concepts directly to the “Italian
brain” as if the student were in Italy surrounded by non-English speaking Italians.
intelligent individuals studying Italian for a very long time without developing the ability to intelligent
individuals studying Italian for a very long time without developing the ability to communicate in
Italian, even though they can scan and comprehend an Italian document for words they have
memorized. Words and the grammar that controls their use must be learned in context, or they are
only abstractions of a very complex language.
they are only abstractions of a very complex language.
Therefore we strongly suggest that the student read the Italian text and try to understand and retain
the meaning of each word without consciously translating the text into English. Remember, your
goal is to develop a section of your brain where every Italian word has its own Italian meaning!
That is what dictionaries do.. You want to learn a languge!
An Example: Try to retain the meaning of sentences rather than memorizing lists of words. You will
be able to retain words as part of a sentence much easier than single words. For instance instead
of memorizing the list below:
Memorize the simple phrase that contains the words that reflect your reality.
Using this methodology, in addition to learning word meanings, and grammar usage, you will be on
your way to using Italian to communicate. You will learn dialogue that you can repeat to friends,
family, grocer, etc.! “Ho un figlio e una figlia.. e tu?”
To the extent possible adapt the Italian you learn to your own life. Things relevant to you tend to
“stick” while what is not is easily lost, regardless of how much you study.
We have noticed that many students learn in different ways! Especially students with technical,
engineering backgrounds certainly benefit from understanding structural patterns - for languages this
is called Grammar. We will link our lessons to our grammar pages. They will contain the rules,
patterns and exceptions as we encounter them through the lessons.
Successful students will develop the ability to “think” in Italian. What we refer to as developing an
“Italian brain”. To the extent possible, we will present new words and concepts directly to the “Italian
brain” as if the student were in Italy surrounded by non-English speaking Italians.
intelligent individuals studying Italian for a very long time without developing the ability to intelligent
individuals studying Italian for a very long time without developing the ability to communicate in
Italian, even though they can scan and comprehend an Italian document for words they have
memorized. Words and the grammar that controls their use must be learned in context, or they are
only abstractions of a very complex language.
they are only abstractions of a very complex language.
Therefore we strongly suggest that the student read the Italian text and try to understand and retain
the meaning of each word without consciously translating the text into English. Remember, your
goal is to develop a section of your brain where every Italian word has its own Italian meaning!
- • When you hear PIZZA … you know what that means (it’s Italian!) … and there is no
translation in English for this word.
• When you hear CIAO … do you know what that means?
• When you hear STORIA … you will have a very good sense of what it means, but:
That is what dictionaries do.. You want to learn a languge!
An Example: Try to retain the meaning of sentences rather than memorizing lists of words. You will
be able to retain words as part of a sentence much easier than single words. For instance instead
of memorizing the list below:
- • figlio – son
• figlia – daughter
• ragazzo – boy
• ragazza – girl
Memorize the simple phrase that contains the words that reflect your reality.
- • ho un figlio
• ho due figli
• ho due figli, un ragazzo e una ragazza
• ho una figlia
• ho due figlie
• ho tre figli, due ragazze e un ragazzo
• non ho figli
Using this methodology, in addition to learning word meanings, and grammar usage, you will be on
your way to using Italian to communicate. You will learn dialogue that you can repeat to friends,
family, grocer, etc.! “Ho un figlio e una figlia.. e tu?”
To the extent possible adapt the Italian you learn to your own life. Things relevant to you tend to
“stick” while what is not is easily lost, regardless of how much you study.
We have noticed that many students learn in different ways! Especially students with technical,
engineering backgrounds certainly benefit from understanding structural patterns - for languages this
is called Grammar. We will link our lessons to our grammar pages. They will contain the rules,
patterns and exceptions as we encounter them through the lessons.
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