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Course booklet · Italian · A1 · Beginner

Speak Italian from day one · Morning

Silvia Ciacciarelli · 10 classes · starts 1 Dec

How to use this booklet

Before each class, read what we will talk about and do the short preparation. It takes 10 to 15 minutes and helps you speak more and better in class.

  1. 1

    Sounds and first greetings

    Tue 1 Dec · 07:00

    Your first words in Italian: the sounds of the language, saying hello and goodbye, and introducing yourself. You'll say: Ciao! Mi chiamo… Piacere.

    Grammar focus
    The alphabet and Italian sounds · mi chiamo, ti chiami
    Vocabulary
    ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, arrivederci, grazie, per favore, mi chiamo, piacere
    Before the class
    Before class, listen to how people say hello in Italian and say your name out loud: «Mi chiamo…»
  2. 2

    Who you are and where you're from

    Mon 7 Dec · 07:00

    Say where you're from and where you live, and ask your classmates the same. You'll say: Sono inglese, abito a Londra.

    Grammar focus
    essere (io sono, tu sei) · nationalities · abitare a
    Vocabulary
    sono, abito, inglese, americano/a, irlandese, il paese, la città, di dove sei?
    Before the class
    Before class, write your nationality and your city: «Sono… Abito a…»
  3. 3

    At the café

    Tue 15 Dec · 07:00

    Order a drink and something to eat, politely, the way people do in a café. You'll say: Un caffè e un cornetto, per favore.

    Grammar focus
    vorrei · un / una
    Vocabulary
    un caffè, un cappuccino, un cornetto, l'acqua, il conto, vorrei, per favore, grazie
    Before the class
    Before class, choose what you'd order and practise: «Vorrei…»
  4. 4

    Numbers, prices and shopping

    Tue 5 Jan · 07:00

    Count, ask how much something costs and understand the answer. You'll say: Quanto costa? Sono dodici euro.

    Grammar focus
    Numbers from 0 to 100 · quanto costa?
    Vocabulary
    uno, due, tre, dieci, venti, cinquanta, cento, l'euro, quanto costa?, sono
    Before the class
    Before class, count from 1 to 20 out loud and write the price of three things you bought this week.
  5. 5

    Time and your day

    Tue 12 Jan · 07:00

    Tell the time and talk about your daily routine, from breakfast to bedtime. You'll say: Mi alzo alle sette.

    Grammar focus
    Telling the time (sono le…) · everyday verbs: mi alzo, lavoro, mangio
    Vocabulary
    l'ora, la mattina, il pomeriggio, la sera, alzarsi, lavorare, mangiare, dormire
    Before the class
    Before class, write three things you do every day and at what time.
  6. 6

    At the market

    Tue 19 Jan · 07:00

    Buy food at the market: quantities, fruit and vegetables, and a friendly chat with the stallholder. You'll say: Un chilo di pomodori, per favore.

    Grammar focus
    Quantities: un chilo di, una bottiglia di · del, della, dei
    Vocabulary
    il mercato, la frutta, la verdura, i pomodori, il formaggio, il pane, un chilo, una bottiglia
    Before the class
    Before class, write a shopping list of five things you'd buy at a market.
  7. 7

    Around town

    Tue 26 Jan · 07:00

    Ask for directions, understand the answer and find your way around town. You'll say: Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

    Grammar focus
    andare (vado) · a sinistra, a destra, dritto · dov'è…?
    Vocabulary
    la stazione, la via, la piazza, il museo, la farmacia, a sinistra, a destra, dritto
    Before the class
    Before class, think of three places in your town and how you'd ask for them: «Dov'è…?»
  8. 8

    Your family

    Tue 2 Feb · 07:00

    Talk about the people in your family and ask about your classmates' families. You'll say: Ho due fratelli e una sorella.

    Grammar focus
    avere (ho, hai) · mio, mia, miei, mie
    Vocabulary
    la famiglia, il padre, la madre, il fratello, la sorella, il figlio, la figlia, i figli
    Before the class
    Before class, think of a family photo and name the people in it.
  9. 9

    What you love

    Tue 9 Feb · 07:00

    Share your tastes and hobbies and find out what your classmates enjoy. You'll say: Adoro il cinema, non mi piace lo sport.

    Grammar focus
    mi piace, adoro, odio · non
    Vocabulary
    mi piace, adoro, odio, il cinema, la musica, la cucina, i viaggi, lo sport
    Before the class
    Before class, write two things you love and one thing you don't: «Adoro… Non mi piace…»
  10. 10

    Final mission: your first conversation

    Tue 16 Feb · 07:00

    Put it all together: a 5-minute conversation, all in Italian, with your classmates and your teacher.

    Grammar focus
    Review of everything: greetings, essere, avere, numbers, likes
    Vocabulary
    Review of the vocabulary from the nine classes
    Before the class
    Before class, prepare three questions to ask a classmate about their life.