We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano

Myra | The Learn Italian Network
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Impariamo l’italiano piano piano is a story-based podcast for B1–B2 Italian learners who want to improve their grammar and vocabulary by following an ongoing mystery, rather than studying isolated lessons. Beginners are welcome too - everything unfolds piano piano, one step at a time. Each episode advances a serialized story, Le Pagine del Passato, allowing you to experience Italian in context as meaning builds gradually through memory, dialogue, and investigation. Grammar structures such as the imperfetto, passato prossimo, congiuntivo, and object pronouns emerge naturally through the narrative, helping you recognize how Italian works in real situations. Hosted by Myra, an instructional designer and adult language learner, the show is joined by Antonio - a dramatic, opinionated presence who interrupts, comments, and occasionally derails things, making the learning process both human and entertaining. Together, they guide listeners toward greater confidence in Italian, step by step. 📜 Looking for full episode transcripts? Full transcripts are shared through the Companion Series on Substack, where supporters can access episode texts and study materials: https://welearnitalian.substack.com 🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency - one episode at a time!

  1. Feb 21

    👀 Bonus Episode 14 Preview – Vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 1: Il primo indizio

    Send me a voicemail Bonus Episode – Vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 1: Il primo indizio Season 3 begins here. In this special bonus episode, we open Chapter 3 – Il primo indizio with a rich, story-driven vocabulary journey designed to prepare you for what’s coming next in Le Pagine del Passato. You’ll hear 40 carefully selected words, organized into six thematic categories that mirror the opening of Chapter 3: Mystery & DiscoveryThe LibraryTime & SequenceColors & AppearanceFamily & TraditionActions & StatesJoining Myra and Antonio (Myra's bigger than life "imaginary" co host) are two new voices, Sara and Luca, who assist her in guiding you through contextual stories, slow and natural Italian readings, active recall, and mini quizzes, all while Antonio  keeps everyone on their toes, as always. This episode is perfect if you want to: build confidence before diving into the storyhear vocabulary used in meaningful, memorable contextsease into Season 3 with clarity 🎧 Tip: This episode pairs perfectly with the Season 3 vocabulary flashcards and is ideal to revisit as you move through Chapter 3. --> Chapter 3 Part 1 Flashcards -- Welcome back. The mystery continues - piano piano.  ⏳ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro  4:20 Category 1 - Mystery & Discovery  7:46 Active Recall - Category 1  8:48 Mini Quiz - Category 1  11:04 Wrap-up Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    👀 Bonus Episode 14 Preview – Vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 1: Il primo indizio

  2. Mar 1

    Episode 21 - Il primo indizio - The Simple Gerundio in Action

    Send me a voicemail Episode 21 – Il primo indizio | Five Uses of the Italian Gerundio --> Link to Post for Study Guide and Transcript for this episode -- (Available to show supporters) In this episode, we take a final, focused look at il gerundio semplice, adding three important uses to the two you learned earlier — and bringing the total to five. You’ll hear how the gerundio can express: cause and reasoncondition and consequencecontrast or surprise with purThrough clear examples and short dialogues, you’ll see how this compact form does a lot of work in Italian, especially in storytelling and written language. Then, we step into Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato. You’ll hear Il primo indizio for the first time, entirely in Italian - first slowly, then again at a natural pace, as Mariella discovers a mysterious message left by her grandmother. A red staircase. An old library. And a clue that sets the story in motion. After the story, you’re invited to reflect on a set of comprehension questions. We won’t give you the answers just yet. We’ll return to them in the next episode, alongside the full English translation. This episode also prepares the ground for what’s coming next: stare + gerundio, the Italian present progressive, which we’ll explorenext, in Episode 22. Piano piano, the mystery deepens - and so, speriamo, does your Italian!  ⏳ CHAPTERS  0:00 Intro 3:37 Three More Uses for the Italian Gerundio 4:18 Expressing Cause 5:52 Expressing Condition 7:27 Expressing Contradiction or Surprise 9:17 Dialogue Practice: Gerundio (Cause, Condition, and Pur) 11:57 Summary of the 5 Uses of the Simple Gerundio 14:06 Chapter 3 Part 1 (Italian Slow Speed) 17:58 Comprehension Questions 19:49 Chapter 3 Part 1 (Italian Normal Speed) 22:01 Wrap-up Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Episode 21 - Il primo indizio - The Simple Gerundio in Action

  3. Mar 8

    Episode 22 - Caught in the Act - Stare + Gerundio

    Send me a voicemail What are you doing right now? In Italian, there’s a beautifully logical way to express actions that are in progress: stare + gerundio, the present progressive. --> Link to Post for Study Guide and Transcript for this episode -- (Available to show supporters) In Episode 22 of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano, we dive into this essential structure and explore how it works step by step. You’ll learn:  • How to conjugate stare in the present tense • How to form the gerundio (-ando / -endo endings) • When to use the present progressive instead of the simple present • Common irregular gerunds • Everyday expressions like Sto arrivando! and Sta piovendo. Then we put everything into action with a lively practice conversation between Luca and Sara, where the focus is on actions in progress. After that, we revisit Chapter 3, Part 1 of Le Pagine del Passato, this time with the English translation alongside the Italian, and go over the answers to the comprehension questions from the previous episode. And before we close, we preview the next step: combining pronouns with the present progressive. Because saying Lo sto leggendo is not quite the same as saying Sto leggendo. As always, we learn step by step.  Piano piano. ⏳ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:33 Stare + Gerundio: What Is It? 2:17 Conjugating Stare 3:32 Forming the Gerund 4:20 Common Irregular Gerunds 6:03 When Do You Use It? 8:43 Practice Conversation 11:57 Practice Conversation (Without Interruption) 13:15 Useful Expressions 15:33 Answers to Comprehension Questions 17:02 Le Pagine del Passato – Capitolo 3 Parte 1 (English and Italian) 23:13 Wrap-up Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Episode 22 - Caught in the Act - Stare + Gerundio

  4. Mar 15

    Episode 23 - The Italian Stare + Gerundio with Pronouns

    Send me a voicemail You already know how to use stare + gerundio to describe what's happening right now. And you know how Italian pronouns work. But what happens when you put them together? --> Link to Post for Study Guide and Transcript for this episode -- (Available to show supporters) In this episode, Myra and Antonio take a moment to revisit the two main types of object pronouns — indirect (mi, ti, gli, le...) and direct (lo, la, li, le...) — drawing on real examples from the story of Le Pagine del Passato. Then we bring it all together: where exactly does a pronoun go when you're using the present progressive? Lo sto leggendo. Or: Sto leggendolo. Both are correct. Both are natural. And by the end of this episode, both will feel familiar. Luca and Sara are back to help us practice, along with their new roommate Carlo, played with great depth by Antonio, in a scene full of doorbells, a barking dog, a missing backpack, and plenty of present progressive. Then we continue with Chapter 3, Part 2 of Le Pagine del Passato: Legami di famiglia (Family Ties). Mariella is piecing together the clues, and we learn more about the shared history between her and her closest friend Zina. Il mistero si infittisce. The mystery deepens. Next episode: we revisit the story in Italian and English, and turn our attention to the reflexive pronoun si, which has been quietly appearing throughout Chapter 3. Piano piano si va lontano. ⏳ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 2:21 Review: Direct and Indirect Pronouns 2:52 Indirect Object Pronouns 5:05 Reinforcement Examples (Indirect Pronouns) 7:38 Direct Object Pronouns 10:38 Reinforcement Examples (Direct Pronouns) 13:20 A Quick Note on Si 14:07 One Key Takeaway 15:13 Three Things to Remember 15:30 Examples Using Stare + Gerundio 16:42 Luca & Sara Scene: Setup 17:36 Luca & Sara Scene with Prompts 22:34 Luca & Sara Scene (Without Interruption) 24:55 Chapter 3 Part 2 (Italian Only – Slow Speed) 27:19 Comprehension Questions 28:06 Chapter 3 Part 2 (Italian Only – Normal Speed) 30:15 Wrap-up Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Episode 23 - The Italian Stare + Gerundio with Pronouns

  5. Mar 24

    Episode 24 – Beyond Stare: Keys, Chaos, and the Italian Gerundio

    Send me a voicemail In this episode, we go one step further with the gerundio and explore what happens when things get a little more complex. --> Link to Post for Study Guide and Transcript for this episode -- (Available to show supporters) You’ve already seen how stare + gerundio works. But what about when the gerund stands on its own? And what happens when you need to use not just one pronoun… but two? In Episode 24, we break it all down, step by step. You’ll learn: • The two key situations for pronoun placement with the gerundio • Why stare + gerundio gives you two options • Why a standalone gerundio only gives you one • How combined pronouns work (and why they change form) Then we put it all into practice with a lively Luca and Sara scene… featuring Carlo, a missing set of keys, and just a bit of chaos. And of course, we return to Le Pagine del Passato – Chapter 3, Part 2 – this time with both English and Italian, so you can deepen your understanding of the story while reinforcing the grammar. ✨ By the end of this episode, you should be able to, not only understand these structures… you should be starting to recognize them just about everywhere. 👉 In the next episode, we’ll build on this even further as we explore reflexive verbs with the gerundio. Piano piano… si va lontano. 🇮🇹 Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Episode 24 – Beyond Stare: Keys, Chaos, and the Italian Gerundio

  6. Mar 29

    Bonus Epi 16A Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Setting, Space, and Detail

    Send me a voicemail In this preview of Bonus Episode 16A, we begin exploring the vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 3 of our story, a section where the language becomes richer, more detailed, and more immersive. --> Link to Post for and Transcript for this episode -- In this first category, you’ll hear vocabulary related to setting and atmosphere - the words that help you describe what surrounds you and shape the feeling of a place. As always, you’ll experience the vocabulary step by step:  • first in context  • then in Italian  • followed by active recall  • and a short mini quiz This is just a small part of the full episode. In the complete version, we continue with additional categories that explore space, objects, history, and fine detail, giving you the tools to not just follow the story, but truly notice the language. 🎧 Want to continue? To access the full version of this episode please click here to support the show. Impariamo l’italiano… piano piano, con noi. ⏳ CHAPTERS   0:00 Introduction 3:40 Category 1 – Contextual Introduction 5:00 Italian Only – Category 1 6:29 Active Recall – Category 1 7:30 Mini Quiz – Category 1 9:01 Wrap-Up  Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Bonus Epi 16A Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Setting, Space, and Detail

  7. Apr 6

    Bonus Epi 16B Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Actions, Perception & States

    Send me a voicemail In this preview of Bonus Episode 16B, we step into Category 6: Actions, Perception & States from Chapter 3, Part 3 of Le Pagine del Passato. This time, it’s not just about what you see or hear…  it’s about what you feel, what you imagine, and what you begin to understand. You’ll hear a short excerpt from the vocabulary episode, where words like affascinata, immaginava, impressionava, and conservassero come to life in context. And when Luca steps in to read… of course Antonio needs to show us how it’s really done. The full bonus episode includes:  guided contextual learning  slow and natural-speed Italian readings  active recall practice  and interactive exercises to help you truly use the language The rest of this episode is reserved for show supporters. If you’d like access to the full bonus episode, transcripts, and study materials, click “Support the show”. And in the next episode, we return to the story… where all of this vocabulary comes alive.  ⏳ CHAPTERS  0:00 Introduction  2:36 Category 6 – Actions, Perception & States  4:17 Italian Only Slow Speed – Category 6  5:55 Italian Only Normal Speed – Category 6  7:09 Bonus Episode Wrap-Up  Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Bonus Epi 16B Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Actions, Perception & States

  8. Apr 11

    Episode 25 - The Gerund and Reflexive Verbs: Putting It All Together

    Send me a voicemail In this episode, we take another important step forward… piano piano. --> Link to Post for Transcript for this episode -- We bring together two key ideas you’ve already started to explore:  reflexive verbs and the gerundio. You’ll learn:  how reflexive verbs work in the passato prossimo (and why they always use essere)  how to form and use the reflexive gerund (svegliandosi, vestendosi…)  what changes when the gerund stands alone how reflexive verbs behave with stare + gerundio and how combined pronouns come together and attach (preparandoselo, comprandoselo…) We build step by step, moving from familiar structures into more complex combinations, always grounded in clear examples from the story. Then we return to Le Pagine del Passato with Capitolo 3, Parte 3: Collegamenti, where you’ll hear these structures in context. As you listen, try to notice:  reflexive verbs in action  moments where the gerund appears  and how pronouns interact within the sentence You may also hear a few new forms such as the trapassato prossimo and the congiuntivo. Don’t worry about producing them yet. This is your first exposure. Just listen… and let the language settle in. If you’d like extra support:  full transcripts are available on Substack to show supporters vocabulary episodes are available for supporters  and chapter markers will help you return to any section And as always,  thank you for learning Italian with me… piano piano. ⏳ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction   1:56 Quick Review – Reflexive Pronouns   3:21 Passato Prossimo and the Reflexive Auxiliary   4:42 Reflexive Actions from Chapter 3   6:36 Reflexive Verbs with Il Gerundio   8:12 Reflexive Verbs as Stand-alone Gerund   9:22 Reflexive Verbs with Stare + Gerundio   10:32 Practice with Reflexive Gerundio Standing Alone   13:00 Combined Pronouns with Reflexive Verbs and the Gerund   15:50 Story Listening Instructions   17:58 Capitolo 3, Parte 3 – Italian Only Slow Speed   22:51 A Quick Note on Some Forms You May Have Heard   23:55 Comprehension Questions   24:28 Chapter 3, Part 3 – Normal Speed   28:56 Wrap-up Support the show Here are the links to the rest of the episodes about the imperativo for your listening prior to this week's meetup. Regular episode 9 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17893477 Regular episode 10 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/17942081 Regular episode 11 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18027859 Regular episode 12 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18067001 Bonus episode 8 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2439585/episodes/18079589 European Meetup https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/ North American Meetup (Vancouver Chapter) https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup-vancouver-chapter/ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano! Here are a few ways you can connect with me: Read...

    Episode 25 - The Gerund and Reflexive Verbs: Putting It All Together
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Impariamo l’italiano piano piano is a story-based podcast for B1–B2 Italian learners who want to improve their grammar and vocabulary by following an ongoing mystery, rather than studying isolated lessons. Beginners are welcome too - everything unfolds piano piano, one step at a time. Each episode advances a serialized story, Le Pagine del Passato, allowing you to experience Italian in context as meaning builds gradually through memory, dialogue, and investigation. Grammar structures such as the imperfetto, passato prossimo, congiuntivo, and object pronouns emerge naturally through the narrative, helping you recognize how Italian works in real situations. Hosted by Myra, an instructional designer and adult language learner, the show is joined by Antonio - a dramatic, opinionated presence who interrupts, comments, and occasionally derails things, making the learning process both human and entertaining. Together, they guide listeners toward greater confidence in Italian, step by step. 📜 Looking for full episode transcripts? Full transcripts are shared through the Companion Series on Substack, where supporters can access episode texts and study materials: https://welearnitalian.substack.com 🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency - one episode at a time!

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