Earworms Rapid Italian (Volume 2)

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200+ essential words and phrases anchored into your long-term memory with great music

Your personal audio language trainer

Your personal audio language trainer

earworms mbt© Rapid Italian puts the words and phrases you need not just on the tip of your tongue, but also transports them deep into your long-term memory. Simply by listening to these specially composed melodies with their rhythmic repetitions of Italian and English a few times, the sound patterns are indelibly burned into your auditory cortex. You will have successfully learned the Italian phrase and have the correct accent ringing in your ears. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing: While jogging, in the car, in the bath, doing the ironing -you can be learning Italian at the same time!

earworms mbt© Rapid Languages is the first language course to get your toe tapping. You know the phenomena of those catchy tunes or earworms that you just can't get out of your head? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? Well, earworms mbt© has put this phenomena to positive use. Gone are the days of learning pressure and frustration at not being able to remember, the experience of many on conventional language courses. In combination with music, the phrases you need are automatically anchored deeply into your memory, ready for instant recall. Music is the key The idea is as simple as it is old. Before the age of writing, ancient historical events were recorded in verse and song form for easy memorisation. In his book 'Songlines' Bruce Chatwin describes how the Australian Aborigines were able to navigate their way across hundreds of miles of desert to their ancestral hunting grounds without maps. And how? The extensive lyrics of their traditional songs were exact descriptions of the routes!

Rhythm and words i.e. song and verse have always been a very powerful memory aid, and this is supported by recent scientific research. The advertising industry knows only too well how powerful music can be in getting the message across with brainwashing-like jingles and soundbites. It really works! Developed and used over years in the classroom, earworms mbt© Rapid Languages has shown phenomenal success. In tests pupils using this technique regularly get average marks of over 90% compared to less than 50% with conventional book based learning. Why hasn't music been used more in education up to now? Imagine kids at school getting a CD of hip hop songs with all the historical dates they have to learn, or all the irregular verbs they have to learn! Wouldn't that make their (and teachers') school lives much easier, much more fun, much more successful? What you get Volume 1 dealt with the essentials for your visit abroad, looking at typical situations: taking a taxi, at the hotel, at the restaurant, requesting, polite phrases, finding your way, numbers, dealing with problems and so on. Volume 2 will have you engaging in dialogue about yourself, the past, the present and future, and provide language to cover further typical situations that you may find yourself in. The themes follow closely the Common European Framework for language learning, a recognised benchmark of language proficiency, and the emphasis is constantly on usefulness to the learner.

Memory hooks This booklet contains all the words and phrases spoken on the CD, both English and Italian, giving you extra visual input. Additionally, on the CD we sometimes slip in memory hooks to spark your imagination and aid your memory. Memory hooks are for example, if you want to memorise the Italian word for welcome to = Benvenuto a, think of: “Mr Ben A. Venuto - I welcome you” - and you will easily remember. More examples of these can be found on the earworms website, and they serve as a starter pack to inspire you to develop your own ideas. How to use earworms: Don't think, just listen! Sit back, relax and groove along to the melodies without trying to listen too hard. Treat them as songs you hear on the radio. Our recommendation is that you do familiarise yourself with the written words in the booklet - at least the first time you listen. After listening several times, playfully test yourself cover up the English side of the phrase book and see how many words and phrases you remember! Lastly - a word of thanks The earworms team would like to thank you for putting your trust in our 'slightly different' learning concept and are sure that you will have the success that many others have already had. It's motivating to know that learners are really benefiting from our research and development. Also, as accelerated learning is a rapidly growing field, we look forward to hearing your experiences and successes - so feel free to visit us on the website:

www.earwormslearning.com

1. On business or on vacation? Are you going - to Venice...

Va - a Venezia*...

...on business (for work)

...per lavoro

...or - on holiday?

...o - per vacanza?

I'm going - on business

Vado - per lavoro

...and - also - to visit some friends.

...e - anche - per visitare degli amici.

Excuse me, Sir, excuse me, Madam, could you... ...switch off - your - cell phone/mobile.

Mi scusi, Signore, mi scusi, Signora, può... ...spegnere - il suo - cellulare.

Yes, certainly / of course.

Sì, certamente.

Excuse me, could you bring me a cognac.

Mi scusi, può portarmi** un cognac.

**Notice how the words 'bring' = 'portare' and 'me' = 'mi' are joined into one word: portarmi una birra - un cognac a beer - a cognac (una = feminine, un = masculine) Mi porti ..., per favore. Bring me …, please. Yes, certainly, straightaway.

Sì, certamente, subito.

And also for me - the same.

E anche per me - lo stesso.

Here you are (talking to two or more people) - your cognacs. Here you are (to one person) - your cognac. Cheers! - Your health!

Ecco a Voi - i vostri cognacs.

I understood. (Lit: I have understood.)

Ho capito!

Ecco a Lei - il suo cognac. Salute!

*Listen to the words with letters highlighted in orange. At the end of the phrasebook there is a list of all of these words together. Go through them and see if you can imitate the Italian pronunciation.

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Read the original text and phonetics

2. Are you Italian? Are you Italian? (Literally: Are Italian?)

È italiano?

You are Italian?

Lei è italiano? (The 'you' = 'Lei' is often left out) È italiana?

Are (you) Italian? (When addressing a woman) Are you English?

È inglese?

I'm Italian, but I live in England.

Sono italiana/o, peró vivo in Inghilterra.

I'm

Sono - italiana/o - peró...

- Italian - but...

...(I) live in England. ('I' is often left out.)

...vivo in Inghilterra.

Are you from Venice? (Lit: Are from Venice?) No, I'm not from Venice.

È di Venezia?

I'm not -

Non sono - di Milano.

from Milan.

No, non sono di Venezia.

From where - are you?

Di dove - è?

From where are you?

Di dov'è? (drop the e from dove: dov')

I'm from...

Sono di...

...a little Italian village.

...un piccolo paese italiano.

It's - in the - south.

È - nel - Sud. (nel = in the)

It's not

Non è - nel Nord.

- in the north.

(To) you I wish a nice stay in Venice.

Le auguro un buon soggiorno a Venezia.

To you - I wish - a pleasant stay.

Le - auguro - un buon soggiorno.

To you I wish a happy bitrthday.

Le auguro un buon compleanno.

I wish you a nice weekend.

Le auguro un buon fine settimana.

weekend*

fine settimana* (Lit: finish of the week)

*You can also say 'weekend'. Italian is easy!!

3. Great to see you! Hi, how's it going? How great to see you*.

Ciao, come va? Che bello vederti*.

How great - to see you*.

Che bello - vederti* / vederla*.

(You: ...ti = informal, ...la = formal). Notice it is stuck onto the end of the verb. I'm pleased - to see you.

Piacere di - vederla.

I'm John Smith, pleasure.

Sono Francesca Rossi, piacere.

How are you?

Come sta? (formal) Come stai? (informal)

How's - it going?

Come - va?

Everything ok?

Tutto bene?

Everything in the pink? (Lit.: Everything in place?) Welcome to Venice.

Tutto a posto?

How did the journey go? (Lit.: How - is gone - the journey?) It went well.(Lit.: Is - gone - well.)

Com' -

At what time did you leave? (Lit.: At what time - are you - left?) I left at 4.(Lit.: I am - left - at 4.)

A che ora - è - partito? (partita when addressing a woman) Sono - partita / o - alle quattro.

Benvenuto a Venezia. è andato - il viaggio?

È - andato - bene.

What time - do you leave - tomorrow? A che ora - parte - domani? do you leave?

parte?

I leave

Parto - alle quattro.

- at 4.

It's clear?

È chiaro?

* 'You' is not just 'you' in Italian: Depending on whether talking to a close friend or in a more formal boss-employee-situation, or whether the 'you' is the main object of the sentence or not, there are different words for 'you'. Don't concern yourself too much with this at this stage, just be aware that there are differences. More on this can be found on the website under: 'Discover earworms> Extras> Italian Grammar'.

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4. Future plans Cosa facciamo adesso?

What are we doing now? What

-

are we doing

-

now?

Cosa - facciamo - adesso?

do

fa-re

I'm taking you to the hotel. (Lit.: You - I am taking - to the hotel.) I'm coming - to - collect you - at 7.

La - porto - in hotel.

I'm coming - to...

Vengo - a...

collect you / pick you up (Lit.: take you)

prenderla

take

prendere

And then?

E dopo?

We shall go to a restaurant.

Andremo al ristorante.

we shall go

andremo

go

andare

to the restaurant

al ristorante

We shall eat some specialities of the locality.

Mangeremo alcune specialità del posto.

to eat

mangiare

We shall eat - I shall eat

Mangeremo - mangerò

...some specialities

...alcune specialitá

...of the locality.

...del posto.

Now, let's go!

Adesso, andiamo!

See you at 7. (Lit.: 'Us we see at 7'.)

Ci vidiamo alle sette.

I can't wait!

Non vedo l'ora!

Did you understand? (Lit.: Have you understood?)

Hai capito?

Vengo - a - prenderla - alle sette.

5. What type (kind) of...? I have...

Ho...

...reserved a room.

...prenotato una camera.

What type of room?

Che tipo di camera?

What type of ...?

Che tipo di...?

A single, twin or...

Una camera singola, doppia o...

...double room?

...matrimoniale?

in the name of...

a nome di…

Can I see your passport, please?

Posso vedere il suo passaporto, per favore?

Can I - see...

Posso - vedere...

...your - passport?

...il suo - passaporto?

Here you are. (Literally: Here to you.)

Ecco a Lei.

How do you want to pay?

Come vuole pagare?

How - you want to - pay?

Come - vuole - pagare?

by credit card

con carta di credito

in cash

in contanti

Here you are - the key.

Ecco a Lei - la chiave.

What time is breakfast?

A che ora è la prima colazione?

From 7 to 10.

Dalle siete alle dieci.

Do you need help with the cases?

Ha bisogno di aiuto con le valigie?

You have - need of - help - with the cases? You have...? / I have / We have

Ha - bisogno di - aiuto - con le valigie? Ha...? / Ho / Abbiamo

Yes, please.

Si, grazie.

- No, thanks.

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- No, grazie.

How often do I have to listen to the earworms CD before I can really remember all the language on it? With the appeal of the earworms songs we hope that it is not a question of 'having to', it is rather a question of 'wanting to'. But seriously: the memory is like a muscle, it needs to be trained and exercised. Based on scientific studies, the ideal is listening relatively intensively at the beginning (the learning phase), thereafter listening periodically to review what you have learnt and refresh your memory. In practical terms this means listening to the whole album the first day, in order to 'tune your ear in' to the sounds of the language. Then listen regularly, several times, over a period of one or two weeks, making sure that you listen to every song equally as many times. While listening, actually speak the words out loud, when you can, to get a feeling for their pronunciation. After this, go through the booklet and test your knowledge, picking out any gaps that you may wish to concentrate on. Lastly, the review phase. As we all know, memories fade, so it is important to refresh your memory by listening to the CD at your leisure, say, once a week for the following few weeks. Thereafter, monthly. This review phase is crucial as it consolidates your knowledge and transfers it into your long-term memory. Although this demands self-discipline, it is of course without effort, as you are only listening to songs. The result is that you will be able to recall the words and phrases with the same ease that you remember your telephone number!

6. More Numbers & Time 11

undici

50

cinquanta

12

dodici

60

sessanta

13

tredici

70

settanta

14

quattordici

80

ottanta

15

quindici

90

novanta

16

sedici

100

cento

17 = 10 + 7

diciassette

101

centouno

18 = 10 + 8

diciotto

200

duecento

19 = 10 + 9

diciannove

300

trecento

20

venti

400

quattrocento

21

ventuno

500

cinquecento

30

trenta

1000

mille

31

trentuno

2007

duemilasette

40

quaranta

2008

duemilaotto

At what time? A che ora? seven o'clock (at seven o'clock)

le sette (alle sette)

half past eight ( eight and half)

le otto e mezzo

a quarter past eight (eight and quarter)

le otto e un quarto

a quarter to 11 (eleven minus quarter)

le undici meno un quarto

twenty to ten (ten minus twenty)

le dieci meno venti

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7. How can I help you? Hallo, good day.

Buongiorno.

How - can I - help you?

Come - posso - aiutarla?

Can I / May I...

Posso...

...help you?

...aiutarla?

Have you - a room - free?

Ha - una - camera - libera?

For - how many - persons?

Per - quante - persone?

Only for one.

Solo per una.

Only for me.

Solo per me.

For two persons.

Per due persone.

For how many nights?

Per quante notti?

For two nights / one week.

Per due notti / una settimana.

With a shower or a bath?

Con bagno o con doccia?

Smokers or non-smokers?

Fumatori o non fumatori?

How much - is it - per night?

Quant’ -

75 Euros.

Settantacinque e-uro.

Does it include breakfast? (Lit.: It includes breakfast?) Yes , it includes.

È inclusa la prima colazione? Sì, è inclusa.

Yes, that's fine.

Sì, va bene.

I'll take it. (Lit.: It - I take)

La - prendo.

Where are the elevators?

Dov' è l'ascensore?

Where are...?

Dov' è...? (not : dove è...?)

è - per notte?

8. Personal details Could you complete this form?

Può compilare questo modulo?

Could you...

Può...

...complete

...compilare

...this form?

...questo modulo?

first name - last name

nome - cognome

nationality

nazionalità

passport number

numero di passaporto

marital status

stato civile

married

sposato (man), sposata (woman)

single (when filling out a form)

celibe (man), nubile (woman)

I'm single (spoken).

Sono single.

age

età

place (location) of birth

luogo di nascita

date of birth

data di nascita

signature

firma

The months of the year (l mesi dell' anno)

gennaio, febbraio, marzo, aprile, maggio, giugno, luglio, agosto, settembre, ottobre, novembre, dicembre The 25. of December

Il venticinque dicembre

The first of January

Il primo gennaio

The forth of July

Il quattro luglio

The second of June

Il due giugno

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9. We have reserved... We've reserved - a table for 9 (o'clock).

Abbiamo prenotato - un tavolo per le nove.

In the name of?

A nome di?

Yes, follow me, please.

Sì, mi segua.

Are you (plural) ready to order?

Siete - pronti - per ordinare?

No, not yet.

No, non ancora.

Could you - bring us - a liter of red wine?

Può - portarci - un litro di vino rosso?

Want a starter? (said to a friend*)

Vuoi un antipasto?

Maybe - an Italian starter,...

Magari - un antipasto all' italiana,..

...a seafood salad? (Lit.: a salad with fruits of the sea) I'm not very hungry. (Lit.: Don't have - much - hunger.) We are - ready - to order.

un' insalata ai frutti di mare? (un' = una)

for first course - for second/main course

per primo - per secondo

risotto with mushrooms

risotto ai funghi

grilled steak

bistecca ai ferri (ai ferri = on the irons)

baked trout

trota al forno (from the furnace)

Do you want a side dish?

Vuoi / Vuole un contorno (contour = edge, side)?

Non ho - molta - fame. Siamo - pronti - per ordinare.

*The waiter says: 'Vuole'. A friend would say: 'Voi' for 'Do you want?' a green salad - potato fries

un'insalata verde - patatine fritte

mozarella/ tomato salad (speciality in Capri)

una (insalata) caprese

You like garlic? Yes, I like garlic.

Ti piace l'aglio? Si, mi piace l'aglio.

Mmm, looks good!

Sembra buono!

Really great!

Buonissimo!

10. What do you do? What - do you do - for a living?

Che - fai - nella vita?

I work in a bank.

Lavoro in una banca.

For how long (have you worked there)?

Da quanto tempo?

For 10 years.

Da dieci anni.

Really?

Veramente?

How old are you? (Lit.: How many years have you?) I'm 29 years old.(Lit.: I have 29 years.)

Quanti anni hai?

I don't believe it. ( Lit.: Don't it believe.)

Non ci credo.

Are you married or single? I'm single.

Sei sposato (man), sposata (woman) o single? Sono single.

my brother, my sister

mio fratello, mia sorella

my mother, my father

mia madre, mio padre

my wife, my husband

mia moglie, mio marito

children, a son, a daughter

bambini, un figlio, una figlia

What are you doing tomorrow? (Lit.: What do you tomorrow?) You would like it if we meet?

Cosa fai domani?

meet - we meet

Incontrare -

Yes, with pleasure.

Sì, con piacere.

Where and what time?

Dove

In front of (opposite) the church?

Di fronte alle chiesa.

See you then! / soon!

Ci vediamo dopo! / presto!

I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it!

Non vedo l'ora!

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Ho ventinove anni.

Ti piacerebbe

- e

-

incontrarci?

incontrarci

- a che ora?

Italian pronunciation In Vol. 1 we complemented the Italian text with a phonetic guide to pronunciation. Here we have simply highlighted the letters that sound very different to the English. Listen carefully to how the letters in orange are pronounced and then try to read these words with the correct Italian accent. Read them out loud, preferably with a degree of Italian gusto!

Venezia, vacanza, anche, amici, Signore, Signora, spegnere, cellulare, certamente, soggiorno, ciao, che, piacere, viaggio, facciamo, specialità, ci, hai, ho, chiave, colazione, dieci, valigia, grazie, undici, dodici, tredici, quattordici, quindici sedici, diciassette, diciotto, diciannove, cinquanta, cento, centouno, duecento, trecento,quattrocento, cinquecento, buongiorno, bagno, doccia, cognome, nazionalità, nascita, marzo, giugno, luglio, dicembre, piace, moglie, figlio, figlia, piacerebbe, chiesa.

The science behind earworms mbt© 1. How we learn A large part of learning in general and language learning in particular is to do with the memorisation of words, facts and other significant information. It's a well known fact that we use only a fraction of our brain power and traditional book learning is now recognised as not suiting every learner. earworms uses simple techniques which open up and exploit more of the brain's native power, and come under the heading of 'accelerated learning'. In a recent issue of the journal 'Nature' researchers at Dartmouth College in the US reported that they had pinpointed the region of the brain where 'earworms' or catchy tunes reside, the auditory cortex. They found that the sounds and words that have actually been heard can be readily recalled from the auditory cortex where the brain can listen to them 'virtually' again and again. 2. What we learn

earworms mbt© adopts the so-called lexical approach to language. In essence, this means we look at language in terms of whole meaningful chunks, then break these down into their component bite-sized, easily absorbable parts and then reconstruct them. You not only learn complete, immediately useful phrases, you also intuitively learn something about the structure (the grammar) of the language. These 'chunks' which the learner can 'mix and match', gradually build up to cover whole areas of the language.

Also available:

(coming soon)

(coming soon)

www.earwormslearning.com

(coming soon)

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The Tracks: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

On business or on vacation? Are you Italian? 7:15 How was the journey? 7:08 Future plans 5:49 What kind of...? 6:21 Time & numbers 5:42 How can I help? 6:31 Personal details 5:50 We have reserved... 7:58 What do you do? 7:38

8:15

Concept and Development: Marlon Lodge, Project Management: Andrew & Maria Lodge, Text: Renate Elbers-Lodge, Music: earworms, Sax: Martin Gerwers, Pedagogic Support: Bob Glynn, Recorded @ Hill House Studios, Italian Voice: Filomena Nardi, Graphic Design: Jaroslaw Suchorski & Bernd Kreuder @ HKP, Production: Noisebox Digital Media. Special thanks to: Jan, Jen, Olivia, Jane, Evie, Anna, Freddy.

www.earwormslearning.com © 2006 earworms publishing Catalogue no. EARW 0502 Produced in the EU