Start with the basics in Italian for Travelers (season 2 of our pod) and then move on to more Italian dialogue and grammar for advanced beginners and intermediate students (season 1).
Planning a trip to Italy?
This season is for travelers and total beginners who want to connect more deeply with Italy—without committing to full-on language study.
Get quick, fun lessons in survival Italian, cultural tips, and real-life phrases to help you travel confidently and respectfully.
Sign up and be the first to know when it drops!
For curious travelers, not tourists
A podcast and an online course to learn Italian, the fun way
Speaking Italian is like having an affair with a sexy movie star. (Everybody wants to.)
Italian words are more than the sum of their pronunciations. Sure, you might be able to say “grazie” but can you do it like an Italian, with the gruff tone of an Italian nonna or the suggestive lingering stare of an attractive cameriere at the local trattoria? It’s the closest you’ll get to singing in an opera, but while talking about the weather or what’s for dinner.
I dreamed of speaking Italian confidently for years, but did nothing about it.
When I lived in Italy as an American teenager, I stayed in my little English-speaking bubble and regretted it when I moved to college in the U.S. Decades later, I struggled while trying to learn Italian, even though I had the basics down.
Why? Two reasons:
and
Rosetta Stone made me feel like I was back in high school, in a bad way. Completing Italian workbooks was fine, but boring. There was no spark. It wasn’t sexy, like Italy. I wanted to feel the words in my mouth, use my hands when I talked, and add a little sass to each sentence.
My passion for Italy and the Italian language became a bit of an obsession. And once I became obsessed, I wanted to share our kitchen table chats with everyone.
Born in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Elisa brings 25+ years of experience teaching Italian to English speakers. I lived in Naples as a kid and I bring my innate curiosity about the language and grammar to ask the questions you want to know. Together, we go deeper into Italian than most classes.
This is for the curious traveler, someone who’s as interested in the Italian culture, with its quirks and customs, as they are in learning how to ask for the perfect aperitivo after a long day of museum-hopping.
Story-based dialogues draw you into the action with both native Italian and English spoken, to train your ears and brain to listen for patterns.
As the plot thickens and new situations arise, Elisa and I stop the action to talk about everything, from the vocab to the cultural differences, the food and more.
It’s like Netflix-and-chill with your favorite Italian teacher and friend, but you learn something every episode.
You’ve completed several levels of DuoLingo but ordering a coffee in Italian scares the crap out of you
Rosetta Stone and other language courses bore you to tears
You want to say more than just “ciao” or “grazie”
You like listening to friends chat about all things Italy and Italian
You dream of living or traveling in Italy as a digital nomad or temporary local
You’re obsessed with Italy and want more of La Dolce Vita in your daily life when you’re not traveling
You want an A to Z language course
“Comfort zone” is your middle name
You’d rather eat at McDonald’s in Rome than search for an authentic ristorante
The sound of Sophia Loren or Raoul Bova speaking Italian doesn’t make your pulse quicken
You need to hear the little DuoLingo chime when you get an answer correct
You insist on ordering a cappuccino after 11 am
You want to believe pepperoni is a sausage and not a bell pepper
You’re no longer a tourist; you’re a traveler who loves Italy (and Italy loves you!)
Feeling at home in any Italian village with a few simple conversational skills
Creating connections and friendships with native Italian speakers
Knowing what to expect when traveling in Italy
Ordering your pizza properly (no pineapple!) in Naples
Confidently managing trip details such as hotels and train travel
Shopping for food and clothing – and asking for a discount! – in Italian
A fun and immersive online course that spirits you away from the basic Italian and throws you into the beautiful chaos of Italian culture and language with two friends who love Italy as much as you do.
Buy it here! Compralo qui!
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