LearnItalianPod

29. The Jackpot Fever (Culture Shot)

October 26th, 2008

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Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod! This episode is about… winning the “SuperEnalotto jackpot” and become a legend! The SuperEnalotto is the Italian lottery, and that’s what 99% of Italians are thinking about this week as a record-breaking prize of one hundred million euros (more or less 140 million US dollars), is up for grabs! They say the fever for the game is so high in Italy that the Italian consumer rights group is demanding that the record jackpot for the popular game be seized because it is “too high”. - So, let’s learn a thing or two about this “SuperEnalotto’s Fever”, and let’s see what Italians do to “hit the jackpot” and change their lives forever!

Culture Shot - Episode Nr.29

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• Difficulty Level Culture Shot
• Topics: culture, games
• 4 Comments

28. The Mama’s Boys (Culture Shot)

October 5th, 2008

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Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod! This week’s episode is about… “the mama’s boys!” - Unbelievable but true, eight out of ten Italians aged between twenty and thirty still live at home, and the average age for moving out of the house is… thirty-six! In particular, well grow up men in their late thirties or even forties, with great jobs and disposable income, seem to love being taken care of by their “mamma”. There is even an Italian name for them: it is “mammoni”! So, let’s pay a “tongue and cheek” tribute to all “mama’s boys” out there, and their affectionate and loving mothers, of course. Enjoy!

Culture Shot - Episode Nr.28

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• Difficulty Level Culture Shot
• Topics: culture, family
• 3 Comments

26. The Red from Maranello (Culture Shot)

August 17th, 2008

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Learn Italian with LearnItalianPod! In this episode, Jane and Massimo would like to pay tribute to one of the major symbols of Italian creativity in the world, a true Italian cultural icon that has represented for decades the image of the perfect fusion of technology and beauty. Also known by enthusiasts all over the world as “the red from Maranello”, let’s put our hands together and celebrate the legendary “Scuderia Ferrari”!

Culture Shot - Episode Nr.26

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• Difficulty Level Culture Shot
• Topics: cars, culture
• 4 Comments

25. My Big Italian Wedding (Culture Shot)

April 20th, 2008

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Our friend Kelly from New Zealand sent us a wonderful email. She just got married with Paolo, who is from Italy, and their wedding took place in beautiful Sorrento, in Italy. - She says her wedding day was perfect, from the ceremony to the reception. She just didn’t know how big weddings can be in Italy! Then she says: “How about a Culture Shot on Italian weddings? That’s definitely Italian culture…at its best!” What a good idea, Kelly! - So today let’s talk about the big day in Italy: il matrimonio Italiano! And by the way, congratulations, Kelly!

Culture Shot - Episode Nr.25

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• Difficulty Level Culture Shot
• Topics: culture, traditions
• 10 Comments

Phrasebook #7: Sightseeing & Entertainment

March 23rd, 2008

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Gianni, one of the most active LearnItalianPod VIP members, sent us a terrific email. He says: “Jane and Massimo, I love your podcasts! It makes learning Italian so much fun, and easier than any other method I’ve tried, and I’ve tried many! - Now, I have a request: how about some useful words and sentences we can use to better enjoy our fun activities in Italy, like sightseeing a city, taking an excursion, going to a museum or to the theater, hiring a guide, and so on… I think it would be very useful.” - We think so too, Gianni, so here it is… Phrasebook #7: Sightseeing & Entertainment. Enjoy!

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• Difficulty Level Phrasebook
• Topics: culture, movies, places
• 4 Comments

20. Crazy for Limoncello! (Culture Shot)

September 9th, 2007

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Learn how to speak Italian with our twentieth Culture Shot! Our friend Elliott from Australia sent us a nice email, all in italian (great job, Elliott!). At some point he says that one of the best drinks he has tasted in Italy is a liquor, usually served after meals, that is called limoncello. He also says: “Sembra che gli italiani ne vadano matti!” (It seems like Italians go crazy for it!). Elliott, Italians are not the only ones to go crazy for limoncello - just listen to today’s story and you’ll know what we mean… Enjoy!

Culture Shot - Episode Nr. 20

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• Difficulty Level Culture Shot
• Topics: culture, drinks
• No Comments