Learning the Italian alphabet

The Italian alphabet (l'alfabeto) contains 21 letters:

Musei Capitolini, Rome 

Letters / Names of the letters
a  a
b  bi
c  ci
d  di
e  e
f  effe
g  gi
h  acca
i  i
l  elle
m  emme
n  enne
o  o
p  pi
q  cu
r  erre
s  esse
t  ti
u  u
v  vu
z  zeta

The following five letters are found in foreign words:

Letters / Names of the letters

j  i lungo
k  kappa
w  doppia vu
x  ics
y  ipsilon

Learning the Basics

If you're pressed for time, focus on the fundamentals. Study the Italian ABC's and Italian numbers, learn how to pronounce Italian words and try to ask questions in Italian

However, the quickest and most effective way to learn Italian is the total immersion method. So, I would suggest to follow one of my courses and then travel to Italy with me.

Isn't this a good idea? 

Why should you learn Italian?

You’re planning a trip to Italy...and you think you can go without knowing the language ..... it will be fun but a bit harder....

You’re married to an Italian or someone with an Italian background...like my husband...you need to learn the language... 

Palazzo Colonna, Rome 

You have an Italian background yourself ....well you want to go to Italy...learn the language!!!!

You know that learning Italian unlocks the door to Italy's cultural "ricchezze": the food, the fashion, the movies, the music, the art.... 

Praiano, South of Italy

You work or do business in Italy or with Italians...you need a mental challenge...

....and then make new friends!!!

NO MUCH TIME....Be quick and get in touch!

Italian classes, tours and much more....

Simona

Let's practise Italian....at the market

At the market
Italian Cultural Experience

Can you ‪#‎translate‬ this?

Al mercato ‪#‎AtTheMarket‬

A- ‪#‎Buongiorno‬ signora. Posso aiutarla?
B- Buongiorno. Vorrei un chilo di ‪#‎pomodori‬ e due ‪#‎carciofi‬.
A- Subito. Serve altro? Guardi che belle ‪#‎zucchine‬ e finocchi che ci sono.
B- No. Basta così. Quanto le devo?
A- Sono 7 euro.
B- Ecco a lei.
A- ‪#‎Grazie‬, il suo resto.
B- Grazie. ‪#‎Arrivederci‬.
A- Arrivederci.

Let's learn and speak ‪#‎Italian‬ with ‪#‎ItalianCulturalExperience‬‪#‎SmallGroupClasses‬ ‪
#‎Brisbane‬ ‪#‎SpeakItalian‬ ‪#‎LoveItalian‬‪#‎ItalianforAdults‬

Do you want to know more?

Just get in touch!!!

Caravaggio and Bernini: a painter and a sculptor

Caravaggio and Bernini: a painter and a sculptor
Around the beginning of the 17th century a revolution in art occurred, both in painting and sculpture. It was driven by two Italian artists, Gianlorenzo Bernini, a sculptor, and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, a painter of outstanding and subtle skill.

These talented artists are linked together not in the famous Renaissance period of European art, but in the later 17th century Baroque period. Bernini and Caravaggio's art focuses on the drama and the centrality of the human body rather than the human experience.  

In this stimulating presentation, art historian Simona Albanese analyses the key works of these two artists who from that period onwards dramatically changed the way  we look at art.

Caravaggio.....

Caravaggio, Boy with a basket of fruit, circa 1593
Galleria Borghese
Rome

Calvesi (p. 25, 1998) describes this work as 'extraordinary because of the naturalist sensitivity with which the silent life of te magic fruit is evoked because of the masterly use of penombra which grades the positioning of the leaves in space and because of the exquisite intensity of the colour references from the matt black of the youth's hair and eyes to the glossier black of the grapes from the whites touched by grey to the toned-down greens and the various ranges of red'. 

Do you want to talk a bit more of Caravaggio? 

An Italian Art workshop will be at New Farm State School on August 6th and 13th.

An Italian Art morning talk will be at ILC on August 27th.

If you need more info, just get in touch!

Gianlorenzo Bernini : a master of the Baroque - Italian Art at New Farm State School

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was the greatest interpreter of Baroque style. He was an architect, a painter, a stage designer and a comedy writer but above all he was a very great sculptor. His artistic training was completed in Rome, where he worked all his life as official artist of the Popes and for the most significant noble families in Rome.

His artistic production was exceptionally immense and varied, the fruit of a theatrically oriented fusion of architecture, sculpture and painting. His most renowned sculptures include the Apollo and Daphne (1622-24) housed in the Gallery of the Villa Borghese in Rome, and the Ecstasy of St. Theresa (1644-51) in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.

For over fifty years Bernini was engaged in the task of enlarging and decorating the Basilica of St. Peter’s, for which he created the square with the colonnaded wings (1657-65), the Baldacchino, or Canopy, (1624-33), the Chair of St. Peter (1656-66) and the tombs of two different Popes.

He adorned Rome’s most important squares with monumental fountains, including the very beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers (1648-51) in Piazza Navona.

Do you want to know more about him? Come to the Italian Art workshop at New Farm State School on August 6th and 13th.

Contact Nancy today at nfsscommunityed@live.com.au

Italian Art - 2 day workshop

Italian Art - short workshop in Brisbane

Art is in my blood! I love to talk about art and share with others my passion for Italian art, culture and language. This is the reason why I have decided to introduce a short two day workshop of Italian Art at New Farm State School.

I look forward to seeing you there!

It's going to be great!

A presto,
Simona

Be sure to enrol soon to avoid disappointment!

Back from holiday : new Italian classes in Term 1, 2015

Happy New Year everyone! 

Did you have a nice break?

Christmas is so far now! Just returned from overseas .....it was so cold but so lovely to see family and friends!!! 

Florence, 2014

 Is Italy your destination this year?

Italy, 2014

New Italian classes are starting next week at New Farm State School - Term 1, 2015.

Classes are offered on Monday and Tuesday evening between 6.30pm and 9pm.

Monday
Italian beginner/traveller
Italian Conversation

Tuesday
Italian Intermediate
Italian Advanced


To enrol in class contact Nancy at nfsscommunityed@live.com.au

A presto!

Simona 
Your connection to Italy

Loving chocolate....

No many weeks to Christmas....you can find chocolate in many shapes and forms !!!

Here an example of what I have bought last year during the holiday.....

I look forward to enjoy some more chocolate soon!

Santa Claus or Babbo Natale!!

Chocolate nativity

ZUPPA DI CAVOLFIORE (CAULIFLOWER SOUP)

Cauliflower is a vegetable typical of the winter season, which is likely to be prepared in many ways and is ideal for making delicious soups. The ZUPPA DI CAVOLFIORE is a rustic dish prepared with simple ingredients which give a special flavour to the preparation. 

The cauliflower soup is a delicious first course, light and nutritious, quick and easy to prepare, especially if it served hot with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 

The white cauliflower comes from the Marche region, from where this recipe comes from.

The process is very easy! 

Just start blending together a quarter of an onion, half a carrot and a piece of celery

blending 

Then chop a cauliflower and two small potatoes.

cauliflower

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, the carrot and the celery and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes or until soft. Then add the cauliflower, potato, stock and water. Cover and bring to the boil. 

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes or until the cauliflower and the potatoes are tender. 

cooking the soup

Leave the soup to rest aside for a short time and then blend until smooth. Add some cream and season with some salt and cheese. 

blend the soup

Ladle soup among serving bowls and drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil. Season with some extra cheese and serve with some fresh bread.

cauliflower soup

ENJOY! 

New tours : will you be part of this new adventure?

New tours have been designed to let you enjoy beautiful moments in Italy, have fun and relax, make new friends be stress free!

We visit places which have long traditions behind, but also produce authentic food!

...but we also visit markets and we taste good food!

If you are thinking to go in September think about a small group of people, join us !

Do you want to be ready and speak some Italian join my Italian classes at the ANFE in New stead and at New Farm State School!

PRIVATE ITALIAN LESSONS in Brisbane

Do you want to learn Italian and you need some lessons just before Easter? 

Give me a call!

The European Baroque: what's outside Italy?

The Drunken Hercules by Rubens

Despite various wars, the Baroque was the style of the seventeenth-century Europe.


The Baroque was passionate, energetic and exciting. Church and palace ceilings were replaced by painted illusions of limitless space, often extravagant and ostentatious, such as the Triumph of Divine Providence for the Palazzo Barberini by Pietro da Cortona.

Sculpture and paintings expand spatially: they evoke emotions and feelings!


The Baroque style took shape in Rome, attracted artists all over Italy, such as collectors and connoisseurs from everywhere, so what was the situation outside Italy?


Come to next series of lectures at New Farm State School during the last term for 2011.


Lessons start on:
Thursday 13th October at 6.30pm.


A presto!


Simona

Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2011 in Australia

Next week the Italian Film Festival 2011 is on again in this part of the world. It will start in Melbourne and Sydney to then reach Brisbane in October.

If you have missed all the nice Italian movies in Italy, this is the perfect occasion to go and enjoy an Italian movie and practice your Italian at the main time, so enjoy!!

FETE's Day 2011: New Farm State School in Brisbane

Every second year New Farm State School organize the Fete. This is the Fete's Day was celebrated on 19 June 2011 and everyone from the school participated in a different way. 

I did lots of photos!! Here just some of them!! We had games, stands, cakes, coffee, and much much more....Have a look!!

prices

games

kids watching games

some wonderful cards

all the kids at school participated to create this artwork!

little plants

prices

some helpers

the principal

music

children art

children art

children art

children art

children art

children art

children art

                                                                     Tony and Lyn

                                                               on the horse

                                                                with the animals

                                                                    more animals

                                                                       let me look!

                                                                                 how cute!

                                                           and more games

                                                                     more pets

                                                                        I am here too!

                                                   cake boxes decorated by kids

                                                                   more boxes

                                                                  more music

                                                                  jam in the hall

                                                                             art

                                                                        I need a coffee!!

                                                                       cakes

                                                                       more cakes

                                                   look how yummy they are!

                                                                 more more cakes

                                                   you could cut even your hair today!

Thanks Kate!

                                                                    and there was even face painting

                                                                      flowers

                                                                           pots

                                                        more cakes and tea room

                                                                 books and music

people around

                                                         and what do you think of this?

                                                                         craft and more...

                                                   at the table to do some artworks

                                                      and finally something fun...

                                                                          and joyful!!!

It was a lovely day and everyone enjoyed!!