Postcards from Italy | Learn Italian | Beginner and Intermediate

In today's episode, we dive into public transportation in Italy and learn about train travel, buses and more. Elisa prepares us to buy tickets, read time schedules and handle the occasional worker's strike, so that it won't derail your trip, figuratively, of course.But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons… and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

In today's episode, Elisa offers some simple tips to avoid falling for common tourist traps. We also learn how to ask for -- and listen for -- directions in Italian, especially when all roads *don't* lead to Rome!But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons … and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

In today's episode, you'll learn how to fill up your calendar with dates… literally! First, we follow our character Kristi through an outdoor Italian market and learn all about the days of the week, months, years and seasons. Then, Elisa teaches us how to make small talk about the weather. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons… and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

In today's episode, we learn how to tell time in Italian. Elisa shares typical opening and closing times in Italy and why travelers should get familiar with the 24 hour clock before an Italian getaway.But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons … and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

This one's all about counting and money! Today, we learn to count from one to ten… and then all the way up to one billion.Then Elisa teaches us Italian vocabulary about money so we can spend those billions on fabulous Italian shoes and accessories.But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons… and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

Today, we begin to connect with Italians, both formally and informally, from exchanging names and phone numbers to basic questions. Elisa also teaches us the difference between the two popular ways of saying “I'm sorry” in Italian, and when to use each one.But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons … and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

In today's episode, we learn how to make friends and meet new people in Italy. Elisa gives us examples of informal and formal greetings, as well as the etiquette of hugs and kisses Italian-style.You'll learn how to say hello and goodbye, introduce yourself, ask how someone is, and show off what a wonderful, curious traveler you are! Although these are basic niceties, they are the key to making a good impression on everyone you'll meet in Italy, from hotel staff to shopkeepers and baristas. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons… and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

Today, we tackle some do's and don't's for learning and speaking Italian as a traveler. Elisa congratulates you on the extensive Italian vocabulary that you probably didn't realize that you already know. (Bravo!)And finally, we share 25 expressions and words that EVERY traveler to Italy needs to know. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online course. You'll get:A phone-friendly & clickable PDF of all our mini-glossaries ← the perfect travel buddy for Italian learners!Full episodes (we only stream a portion of our conversations!)Dialogue transcriptsListen-and-repeat audio glossaries (no banter, just vocabulary to practice your pronunciation)Practice lessons … and so much more! www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

Our Italian adventure begins with the basics: the Italian alphabet and pronunciation. If you're planning a trip to Italy or want to refresh the Italian you learned in college, today is step one! In today's episode, we learn the alphabet and Elisa gives us a basic pronunciation guide for Italian so that you can begin to practice sounding out all the beautiful words you'll see on menus, maps and signs. We also get familiar with the Italian place names of famous cities and landmarks. Lastly, we meet our Season 2 traveler, Kristi, as she begins her Italian journey on a city tour in Rome. Andiamo!To get the most out of Italian for Travelers, subscribe to our premium online course for bonus audio, dialogue transcripts, listen-and-repeat audio glossaries, practice lessons and so much more!www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com Live La Dolce Vita glamor... without all the grammar :-)

Ready to live La Dolce Vita without getting lost in grammar rules? Your favorite Italy-loving friends Elisa and Erin are back with a fresh season of episodes about the language and culture of Italy, especially for travelers!Italian for Travelers (Season 2 of the Postcards from Italy Podcast) is your go-to Italian language guide, designed especially for travelers and beginners (and rusty returners!). Whether you're going to Italy for the first time or refreshing your Italian before your next trip, this season will be your perfect travel companion!Hosted by Elisa, a native Italian teacher from Emilia-Romagna, and Erin, a curious American traveler who's been in your shoes, Italian for Travelers is the "field guide to Italy" that only your best girlfriends will give you: the perfect blend of essential Italian vocabulary, pronunciation, cultural do's and don't's, travel tips, practice exercises and more... with a healthy dose of fun and laughter.Boost your confidence and lose your fear of speaking Italian! Each episode features:- Easy Italian pronunciation, key phrases, and travel-friendly vocab- Real-life situations like renting a car, shopping at a market, visiting the pharmacy, or even how to beach like an Italian- Cultural tips, mini-dialogues, and idiomatic expressions that'll have you feeling like a local — even if it's your first time!✨ And for those who want to go deeper, our Season 2: Italian for Travelers Bonus Materials are a game-changer! Check out our website www.postcardsfromitalypodcast.com for these exclusive resources to level up your Italian:✅ Episode transcripts✅ Vocabulary lists✅ Printable practice worksheets✅ Exclusive audio glossaries — hear the English word followed by the Italian, perfect for repeat-and-learn on the go!Whether you're driving, doing dishes, or daydreaming about pasta in Positano, Italian for Travelers will make your next trip the most memorable one yet! To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, visit our website www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com for full episodes, dialogue transcripts, discussion notes and special BONUS materials not found anywhere else!

In the last episode of Season 1, Julie and Dani leave Rome on a train bound for new adventures in Orvieto. Small talk – and a little argument – with fellow passengers adds more local Italian flair to their Italian journey.In our roundtable, Elisa shares a pair of idioms, including the Italian equivalent of Julie's favorite – “When in Rome…” – and another about the Mona Lisa. In our premium version, we get a stack of useful phrases for train travel in Italy.But there's more to Postcards from Italy! To get the most out of Season 1, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

After visiting the Colosseum, Julie and Dani go shopping at an outdoor market in Rome, then shop for shoes at a boutique. They also have a bit of fun chatting with “ragazzi” dressed as gladiators.In our roundtable, Elisa shares an idiom that tries to explain how your mustache can make you feel superior. In our premium version, we also learn all about shopping in Italy, from do's and don't's to how and when to bargain for deals. As usual, the free version of this episode only scratches the surface! To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani go to a pharmacy and learn about all natural Italian cosmetics to help soothe skin, repel mosquitos and much more. Later on, Elisa teaches us everything we need to know about disgusting things… namely, the word for “disgusting” in Italian: “schifo”! As usual, the free version of this episode only scratches the surface! To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

The Do's and Don't's of eating in Italy! In this very special episode of Postcards from Italy, Julie and Dani enjoy a lively dinner discussion with their new friends that includes a hilarious idiom about why old chickens are preferable to young chicks and a strong warning about drinking cappuccini after breakfast.But things really heat up in our roundtable, where Elisa shares her insider knowledge as a born-and-raised Italian to tell us the top 37 food rules to obey while traveling in Italy. The free version of this episode only scratches the surface! To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Cuciniamo! Let's cook! Julie and Dani join a cooking class in Rome and prepare classic Roman recipes that illustrate the Italian expression “avere l'acquolina in bocca,” to have water in one's mouth.In our roundtable, Elisa gives us a long list of Italian verbs to use in the kitchen. We also learn that drinking like a sponge is not considered a positive thing in Italy, so drink responsibly!To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani shop for recipe ingredients with a local chef in Campo de'Fiori, where they learn that you must never touch another man's fruit and that good wine makes good blood.Later, Elisa tells us about the more sinister history of the famous Roman food market piazza Campo de'Fiori, and we learn a fun (and often-used) way to contract the phrase “va bene.”To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani eat dinner in a charming restaurant across the Tiber River in Trastevere, where they use a few colorful Italian idioms and are first “hungry as a wolf” and then “full as an egg.” Dani learns about some more (weird) food rules in Italy!In the roundtable, Elisa and Erin savor three classic Roman recipes and Elisa takes us step-by-step through the grammatical structure of the deceivingly simple-sounding word “farcela.”To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Dani and Luca go to a popular Roman summer festival along the Tiber River, where their date is interrupted, first by friends and then by a slap! In our roundtable, we learn about “the misery of the pork” and how it's used by Italians to express surprise or frustration, or both! Elisa also demystifies “proprio,” which is a veritable Swiss army knife of Italian words. [In fact, in our subscriber bonus notes, we offer 15 examples of how to use it!]To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

The date with Luca continues in the Borghese Gardens of Rome, where Dani meets two of Luca's friends at a scenic spot. Elisa shares an idiom that says, if you can't hear very well, you can probably blame it on deli meat. We also daydream about the quintessential Italian tradition of la passeggiata.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Ro-ma... Ro-ma-mah! Roman romance is in the air as Dani goes out for an afternoon with Luca. He charms her with his romantic words and the most delicious gelato in Rome. Elisa and Erin enter the arena for the Battle of Gelato versus Ice Cream. We also learn why gelato is so good, you might need to lick your mustache!To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani visit the Vatican, but first they have to get through security and learn the rules to follow in the Basilica. We also learn that being educated in Italy is not the same as being polite!Elisa shares an idiom to express surprise, which is helpful when Erin describes how she almost got kicked out of the Sistine Chapel!To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani visit a tabaccheria, and learn all about this magical mystery store that sells much more than just tobacco. After they buy bus tickets, postcards and stamps, they run to catch a city bus. We also learn an Italian proverb that explains why good friends are like white flies.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani eat breakfast at the hotel, where Dani meets a new friend and Julie samples the international buffet. We also learn the *single word* that makes an Italian language learner immediately sound like a native speaker.Elisa also tells us how Italians use the word "fritatta" as more than a tasty breakfast food! Erin asks about Italian vs. American breakfasts and we drool over all the sweet treats that start a beautiful day in Italy.  To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani get their first taste of pizza in Italy… and Dani learns that Italians have very strict rules about pizza. In our roundtable, we discuss an expression of surprise or frustration that translates as “sheer madness”! We also begin a deep-dive discussion about the classic pizzas you'll find in Italy… and in our bonus materials we dive even deeper into the ones you won't. To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani enjoy an aperitivo on the terrace after getting a recommendation for a pizzeria. While enjoying the views of Rome, they are treated to cocktails and snacks at the hotel's rooftop bar. In our roundtable, Elisa tells us why Italian mothers hate to hear that someone is starving, and we learn a phrase that means “to be hungry as a wolf.” While discussing another animal-related expression, Elisa explains why she is “Team Chickens.” Erin also asks Elisa to tell us about all the yummy food her Italian mamma might make if she were hungry.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani go up to their hotel room and learn about its many interesting amenities, including an “emotional shower.”In our roundtable, we learn how to live like the Pope, and also how Elisa's own father can be mistaken for the Pope. We discuss the 2nd part of our list of useful hotel phrases and the many kinds of accommodations you can find in Italy.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com** Mille grazie a Laura Teso. Laura is the creator of My Corner of Italy and generously allowed us permission to adapt her useful hotel phrases for this episode. You can find her on Instagram @mycornerofitaly and more of her resources here: https://www.italiarail.com/accommodation/albergo-or-pensione-quick-guide-types-hotels-available-italyhttps://mycornerofitaly.com/book-an-hotel-room-in-italian/And: https://mycornerofitaly.com/italian-hotel-phrases/

Julie and Dani check into their hotel and meet a few hotel employees, including Luca, who takes an interest in Dani.In our roundtable, we discuss the Italian idiom “venire alla luce” or come to the light and all the ways it can be used. We also explore vocabulary about hotel services and part 1 of our list of useful phrases and questions for hotel stays.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com** Mille grazie a Laura Teso. Laura is the creator of My Corner of Italy and generously allowed us permission to adapt her useful hotel phrases for this episode. You can find her on Instagram @mycornerofitaly and more of her resources here: https://mycornerofitaly.com/book-an-hotel-room-in-italian/And here: https://mycornerofitaly.com/italian-hotel-phrases/

On their way to the Hotel Artemide, Italian driver Pietro teaches Dani how to count in Italian and Julie asks about directions.In our roundtable, we cover two different expressions about being tired and a classic Roman insult that involves dead people (really!). We also do a deep dive into numbers and directions.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani talk about their family members on the way to the hotel and learn that they may not know Italian families as well as they think they do.In our roundtable, we cover two expression about families and Elisa bursts the myth of the "Big Italian Family" stereotype. We also learn a few words that mean "together," and get a long list of vocabulary about families.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

Julie and Dani chat with their driver and he recommends a place to eat while teaching Dani a little bit of Italian. In our roundtable, we cover three idioms (including "managgia," a favorite of Erin's) as well as learn about Trastevere, learn some small talk basics (how to say your name, age, and job), and Elisa teaches us a nursery rhyme to remember the months of the year.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills.www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com

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The Baxters' Italian adventure begins! Julie and Dani arrive at the airport in Rome and meet the driver they hired to take them to their hotel.In our roundtable, we cover three idioms (including a very polite curse word) as well as labor strikes, a common Italian greeting that most travelers don't know, and how to say where you're from and where you live.To get the most out of Postcards from Italy, subscribe to our premium online course for full episodes, transcripts, roundtable notes and Italian-only audio to test your listening and comprehension skills. www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.comOther show notes:If you are traveling by train, you should be able to check whether your train is confermato or cancellato on the Ferrovie dello Stato website: (https://www.fsitaliane.it/content/fsitaliane/en.html).