Cookery and YouTube

Ciao a tutti

Was watching YouTube videos yesterday. Found some great ones for cookery all in Italian. Some did have English subtitles, majority not. Was great to practice listening and increasing vocabulary. Some was a bit fast, it yu do get the general gist. Was one on “cacio e pepe pasta” . He demonstrated one cooked in a pig's bladder too. That was a bit weird I have to confess. Also had never heard of a “Lievito Madre” basically a type of sour dough starter for panettone and other breads.  

One learns something new every day. Love it!

Sebongela

Sebongela,

I haven't looked at the Forum in a while. I'm glad I read this post. I'll check it out, thanks. I was looking on-line on YouTube at some italian lessons. One instructor recommended that when learning a new language, spend about a third of your time studying, learning vocabular, grammar, sentence structure, et.  He said to spend the other two thirds of your time just listening to Italian, not trying to understand it all, but having it playing to get used to the sound of Italian. He likened it to the way babies learn a language. They are surrounded by it, don't understand it at first, but gradually start picking up words, and eventually sentences. So a YouTube cooking class sounds great to me for two reasons. One, I love to cook. Two, I can listen to Italian and even if I can't follow it all, I can hear the language.

Would you ever be interested in going to Italy and living there for a few weeks, taking language classes and visiting some of the sights?  I am looking at Road Scholar and Smithsonian. Both offer 3-week immersive stays that include an apartment, lots of tours and language instruction. Smithsonian also offers cooking classes as an option.  

They are quite expensive. I'm not sure I would do it because of the cost, about $10K for the 3 weeks. But if I did I would love to have a travel companian.  I am also looking at apartment rentals and language classes that I could do on my own, not through Road Scholar of Smithsonian.  

I'd like to know if you have any interest. You can write me at [redacted].  I live in Ohio,  

Catherine Hartman

Hi CEHartman

I have been wondering how you are doing. Hope well and that your hearing is good too. I would love to go to Italy at some stage, but have no inclination to travel at the moment or the near future. Too many airport hassles with Covid tests etc. Not sure about the Italian tour thing, pretty steep pricing and I could do a lot with that amount for travelling. It does sound wonderful though. 

We live on Vancouver Island, but have EU passports and at some stage I need to go to Portugal to see about some things. So that will probably be our trip out of Canada. Currently I am learning German and found a German penfriend. The site I used was called “Global Penfriends” I am very much a beginner, and thank goodness her English is amazing. We eventually exchanged private emails and now we correspond via email regularly. It has been amazing and as my German has improved I am now able to write snippets and she is adding more German in her emails. Tried to find an Italian one, but it just didn't work. The great thing about the German lady is I get so many insights into everyday life and everyday expressions. You may want to try that if you enjoy corresponding with people. 

Another site I have been using is Coffee Break Languages. You may want to look at them too. I subscribed to German and Swedish, as you get extras with those. Italian I signed up for some of their more advanced stuff. Italian season 3, Magazine and Travel Diaries. All their podcasts are free. They also have a weekly reading Club which can be a subscription, but I get a free one every week. I have no need to subscribe to that one either. No speaking for you like in Rocket, but I have enjoyed the conversations and my grammar and vocab have improved a tremendous amount. I find with the German it fits in well with Rocket and reinforces and adds to learning. I also find that it adds variety. Should you have any interest in trying them let me know what you think. I find the Travel Diaries and Magazine  delightful! 

Take care and happy learning

Sharon (Sebongela)

Sharon,

Yes, due to Covid, I was thinking of travel a while out in the future.  I am also looking at perhaps doing some of it on my own: rent my own apartment, sign up for language courses and then do the tourist stuff on my own too.  It's much cheaper, about half of what the big companies charge. But it's a year or maybe even two years out for me. Just a thought.  

Catherine

Hi Catherine, Hi Sharon, 

I'm really glad to hear about your plans! :) Should you ever need advice, tips, or just some extra support about visiting Italy, feel free to let me know and I'll be happy to help.

Ciao Caterina

Thank you for all the feedback as well as the offer to help if we ever get to Italy. Was watching a program on Cinque Terre. Am really looking to explore that region. Well in actual fact tutte le regione.

Luckily we live in a beautiful part of the world. A place on Vancouver Island called the Comox Valley. Lots of space to explore, sea and forests. Also a ski destination a 45 minute drive from us. Have a look. Called Mount Washington. Should you ever visit here will be happy to help out as well. Has made life a lot easier due to Covid, as we had lots of open space to explore and hike.

Ciao Sharon

Caterina,

I will take you up on your offer to help plan a trip to Italy, maybe two years out. I have been to Italy twice already. Once was in 1981 (that was a long time ago!)  I visited mostly Rome and then went to Brendisi to catch an overnight ferry to Greece, where I spent a lovely week. The second trip to Italy was just a few years ago. I started learning just a bit of Italian then so I could at least read street signs and maybe menus. I spent three weeks there, mostly in Umbria and Tuscany. I love it there!  That's when I decided to learn Italian in earnest. But I still need to talk to people. With Covid, it has been much harder to connect. But it will get better.

In the meantime I am doing all the relatively new lessons in the course, over 50 of them are new. And every one is a significant improvement in the previous lessons they replaced.  I use it to keep learning and I mostly use it to practice hearing with my cochlear implant. It is great auditory rehabilitation for me.

Catherine  

(I guess your name is the Italian version of my name!)

Ciao Sharon, 

I've recently checked out Mount Washington online since you mentioned it (unfortunately, I wasn't familiar with it yet)…what a stunning place! Indeed, you are so lucky to be surrounded by nature, open space can really allow us to feel grounded again :) Thank you so much for sharing and for your kindness - I won't hesitate to let you know when I will manage to plan a trip to those amazing locations! :) 

 

Ciao Catherine (or “Caterina” in Italian! :D),

What a great news that your intention is to plan another trip to Italy in the next future, that's exciting! I'll be absolutely happy to help as needed :)

I'm sure that with the recent progress, you'll find your next trip even more memorable. I believe that the more you know a foreign language, the more you can find your way in the world, connect with people at a deeper level, appreciate the small things, and really take in all the beautiful things that another culture has to offer. And this is true for any language of the world, of course.

Do you already know what you would like to visit next? :)

Hi Caterina

As I said, anytime you plan a visit. This has a hidden agenda, I get to speak in Italian(smile). Mount Washington is small, doesn't have the glitz and glamour of Banff and Whistler. I prefer it, as it is quieter. Unfortunately due to health reasons I don't hike anymore. But my kids do and they would be happy to go up there with you summer or winter. The summers are amazing up there. Lots of lakes to swim in. The mosquitos can be horrendous though. 

A presto

Sebongela

Hi all

Nice to read of the desire to meet up.  Although unlikely, it would be cool to meet fellow Rocket students.

Sebongela - I saw a YouTube video the other day about traditional Sardinian lifestyle and diet, and one woman had a sourdough culture that had been kept going in her family for over 300 years.  Living history!  How do you access all the Coffee Break stuff for free?  When I log on, the majority of it has a cost.  That's fair enough, but if it can be accessed for free, that would be even better!

Caterina - Like others, I really appreciate your great grammar explanations, as they really help.  I read all of them I can find on the forum, as they really make sense of the grammar.  Thanks.

Catherine - I keep reading of the importance of immersing oneself in the sounds of a language, but only do it in bits.  The two thirds approach sounds interesting!

Salute, all

Chris

Buongiorno ChrisM108

I looked at Coffeebreak Italian while logged out of my account. (I have subscribed to their more advanced ones in Italian. Magazine, Travel Diaries and Level 3. For me the notes are invaluable and for me personally have been worth the investment. 

So I tried , I went to Podcasts, then into the Italian, then clicked on level 3 Italian. Scrolled down and there is episode 1 and clicked on the start arrow of the podcasts. Not sure if I am missing something here, but see if you can work it out logged out. 

We have watched some facinating You Tube videos. Philip loves baking, so watched countless Panettone ones. He bakes amazing Panettone now. I like to watch to improve my Italian, but some speak super fast and I get a bit lost. Some of those bakeries go back eons.

Let me know how you go with Coffee Break.

I am trying to hide the point system, but am finding it stressful . I think I am too competitive, I wish they would give you the option of climbing off that bus individually. Those who want to stay well and good. I find with the point system, I then concentrate my time on Rocket and ignore other resources, (my fault I know). I have benefitted tremendously from Rocket and still do, but using other resources break monotony and bring other learning to the table. 

A presto and buona giornata

Sebongela

Hi again Sebongela

All the main options are still paid for only, and that's fair enough, as they produce valuable material.  As they say, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Like you, my focus on Rocket comes at the cost of time not spent on a number of my other Italian resources, but that's just a reflection of the value I am getting from Rocket, including the grammar.

A presto

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

It is complex, but you can access them and I know for a fact you are more technically able. I used the free podcasts before I bought anything. I suggest you contact them. They are a responsive and helpful company. I use those courses while doing chores, gardening and crafts. I just don't understand why you can't get them, they even advertise free podcasts on their paid courses. 

I use the Rocket grammar, but use text books for better explanations and more practise. I often have an epiphany when going through a book, and have that aha moment

Sebongela

Ciao Sebongela

Grazie. Ho fatto!  There are loads of podcasts there, and I've already listened to one.

A presto

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

Am curious to know how you have found them. From a learning/ vocabulary point of view. I have found the German season 1 quite enjoyable as well as a good learning tool. They teach you the basics and a bit of grammar. Not nearly as intensive as Rocket, but good enough to help yourself as a tourist. I have found in the German it reinforces and increases my vocabulary which is great. As for the Italian am only doing the more advanced ones and have learnt a lot from those too. 

Sebongela

I liked it, Sebongela. It has a similar technique as Language Transfer in that there is a ‘student’ answering questions posed by the host and corrected by the native soeaker.  It's not as novel a technique as Language Transfer (I'd grade an A), but it's a comprehensive and valuable resource (I'd grade B/B+).  I'm definitely going to incorporate it into my daily learning routine.

Ciao

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

Found an interesting book at our local library. Similar to the take in language transfer. “Instant Vocabulary builder” Revised Edition Tom Means.

I think it helps in expanding vocbulary. Eg words in English that end in “Al are Ale in Italian"  I find those connections facinating and I hope it will expand my vocabulary even more.

Ciao

Sebongela

Molto grazie, Sebongela. Sembra molto utile. How's things?  I'm busy these days, so am not doing as much Italian each day as I would like.  

A presto

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

All well here and the weather is still awful most days so getting lots of language done. Once gardening starts  will be listen to coffee break podcasts while trying to subdue weeds. Not sure how the snow killed so many plants, but the weeds thrive regardless.

It is a constant juggling act to try and get variety in. Rocket takes priority though. 

What is keeping you busy? Hope something good.

Ciao

Sharon

Hi ChrisM108

Another thought. How do people get thousands of point every day? When I was striving for my German black badge I was doing a few hours a day. Granted learning has slowed down now, but have more balance between German and Italian again. I was surprised to see how hard it was to get Italian flowing again naturally. The speaking and pronunciation was really difficult at first, but flows naturally again. So regular practice does work.

Sharon

I really wish they would get rid of the points, as still battle with that. Stupid I know.

Hi Sharon

It's a mystery for sure. I know that on various platforms, some people game the system to accumulate points, but they're not learning languages, that's for sure.  On Rocket, Jason mentioned they're planning to look at the system again.

It occurred to me that we could exchange in Italian via https://www.conversationexchange.com where my user name is ChrisM.  Just an idea.

I'm pretty busy at the moment because of gardening.  We're revamping the whole setup, which takes more time than usual.  It impacts on my extra Italian resources, but not too much on Rocket time, thankfully.

Cheers

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

I will look into conversation exchange. The thought of having to actually talk makes me break out in a rash. I really find that the most difficult part of any language. It is all in my head and I can have conversations in my head, but to actually speak just makes me clam up. I also know that it would be good for me. With my Portuguese am never shy, basically I think because I have spoken it forever. So when I make mistakes there am oblivious to them to a large extent. I need to keep that in mind when I speak other languages too. I have found an excellent German teacher in Berlin, but need to think about it, as expensive. He has speaking, but amazing notes and homework too, so you basically prepare for the next lesson too. I think it is more in my head that I will just freeze and go blank. 

That said when we were in Germany a few years back and my skills were basically zero, I could get some basic phrases out even though they were gramatically all topsy turvy.

Happy gardening, No gardening this week, been raining cats and dogs all week. We do live in a rain forest on Vancouver island, so not unusual

A presto

Sebongela

No problem.  Conversation Exchange is a bit of a misnomer, as it's also a penpal site as well.  I agree that speaking seems to freeze my languages learning up!