study-guppy

[study-guppy]

why get a boyfriend when you can get a pack of really nice pens

[study-guppy]

finals season! last one is tonight, media studies, and boy am I cramming. it doesn't hurt to take in my last glimpses of the beauty of my campus, still crazy to me freshman year is over. good news is ill be an RA next semester, free housing here i come!! stay tuned for a tutorial of how I found best to take notes in college lectures

[study-guppy]

How I Study Italian

I’ve been asked a couple of times now how I learned Italian, and the simplest answer is, I didn’t “learn” it, I am learning it. My Italian is by no means perfect and I still have a lot to learn. It is true, however, that I’m reasonably proficient- as of this writing (Sept 2016), I’m straddling the border between intermediate and advanced.

What makes this question difficult to answer is that most of the people who have asked me how I got started in Italian are looking to self-teach, and the reality is that my Italian education didn’t start out at home. It started in high school, where I studied it all the way through to graduation.

I took a two month exchange in Italy where my language skills improved dramatically. I had a strong foundation of basic Italian, and I threw myself wholeheartedly into the experience. My host dad’s strict No English rule certainly helped and encouraged that immersion.

For a few years after coming home, I didn’t really practice or maintain my Italian. A lot was happening that I won’t go into. You’re not still reading this far down because you want my life story- you want to know how I study Italian. Fast forward to this year, when I picked Italian back up and started studying German. This is how I study Italian now:

I speak, read, write and listen to Italian every single day

I have friends who are native speakers of Italian who I talk to almost every day

I watch Youtube videos in Italian

I watch movies/tv in Italian

I talk to myself in Italian

I listen to the radio in Italian

I read books in Italian

I keep a notebook of new vocab, phrases and idioms

I google resources for any new piece of grammar I want to study

I use various online tests to monitor my progress and see what areas I need to work on. (link) (link) (link)

My routine is structured the way it is because I’m not a complete beginner. If you’re just starting out and want to self-teach Italian, I suggest you check out my self study guide.

[study-guppy]

Pet names in Italian [Poll]

I have read a poll about the most common pet names Italians use for their partners. Beside the classic ones like “principessa” (Life Is Beautiful, anyone?), “stellina” (little star), “bambolina” (little doll) and “tesoro” (treasure), there’s the weirdest stuff 😅 And why does not surprise me the fact that most of them are food-related? 😂 🍟 Patata/o [“potato” both in the feminine form - which is the grammatically correct one - and the made-up masculine version “patato”]; 🍫 Cioccolatino [praline, chocolate candy]; 🍬 Zuccherino [sugarplum/sugar cube]; 🍤 Frittella [fritter]; 🍩 Ciambellina [little donut 😂 It sounds better in Italian]; 🍡 Polpetta [meatball]; 🍙 Panzerotto; 🍘 Tortellino/a . . Weirdest stuff (if the previous ones weren’t enough): 🍯 Nutellina [little jar of Nutella 😅😂😂]; 🍆 Melanzana [eggplant 😂😂😅]. . What do you think about them? Would you use some of them with your partner?😜

[study-guppy]

Do you know these times when you’re sitting in front of your textbook, trying to learn these boring af vocabs you’ve seen 1000 times but still can’t remember and just wish to do something different (or hoping that the world explodes so you can at least stop)?

Well, there are more ways to learn a language and I think because we just learned how we “should” learn a language at school, we’re limited in creativity. Thanks to school it’s hard to think outside of this “textbook, vocab lists, tests, etc.” stuff but there are ENDLESS things you can do to learn a language. Remember: everything you do in your native language, you can try to do in your target language!

This is for all the people who are tired and exhausted, who are thinking about quitting or don’t have fun with their target language anymore. DON’T YOU DARE TO GIVE UP! YOU’VE COME SO FAR!

_____________________________________________ Examples for different ways of learning a language:

write a diary

summarise an article about a topic you like (cooking, fitness, etc.)

listen to a podcast/radio

listen to music (while reading the lyrics)

try to sing along with music

read out loud while reading a book/magazine/blog/etc.

watch movies/series/videos

record videos in your target language or about how studying is going (progress, problems, etc.)

write a blog (well hello there :))

use apps that make it more fun (duolingo, memrise, lingodeer)

chat with native speakers

actually talk to native speakers ( I know what a crazy idea)

read websites about things you’re interested in

use social media only available in your target language

change the language of your smartphone

change the language of your pc

change the language of your life

play games in your target language (like not necessarily for learning it, I mean just playing a normal game IN your target language)  

take online lessons with teachers that make you forget you’re learning

do a challenge! (I love this one so much)

find a learning group

be active in forums (no matter about language learning or a forum in your target language)

find a language exchange partner. (You should, seriously.)

watch lessons on youtube

read a (children-)book (with audio)

talk to yourself 

think in your target language (a fun way is to tell a story about your life while it’s happening like “I went down the road with a stranger always behind me, who could it be? What does he want? It got quite… too quite. I tried to keep calm but was it really a coincidence? All in the middle of nowhere?” I know I’m bad at this but I hope you get what I mean, think of it like reading a book.)

learn vocabs with pictures, type in the word you want to know and ONLY look for pictures, try to feel the word. If you google for “strawberry” (in your target language and don’t know what it means) look at the pictures, the colours, how could it smell? Make a sentence with the new word. When was the last time you ate it? How was it?

Write a story/book online or just for yourself.

Make a mindmap

Use a topic jar (a jar where you put in notes with different topics on it, you take one every day and write/talk about it)

use social media to find groups interested in learning a new language or your target language

translate texts and act like you’re a famous translator who’s the only person on earth who can translate your target language (for example if you’re reading articles about historical stuff, act like you’re the only one who can find out what happened back then and the whole world is counting on you!)

try to solve random online tests

listen to a song/audiobook/whatever and write down what you hear

search for words you want to learn and build up (funny!) sentences with them or even whole stories

read comics/mangas/etc.

search for receipts  in your target language and pray to god you’re doing it right… if not, well you won’t forget the vocab again. Win-win situation. :p

search for language learning groups near your living place and actually meet them (stay safe and check everything before)

listen to children songs (I still remember the first children song I learned in English lessons… like… 11 years ago in 5th grade) these songs are supposed to stick… *cough* head shoulders knees and toes knees and toes *cough* sorry where was I?

connect with language learners over Skype (useful groups of course like German trying to learn French, Frenchman trying to learn Turkish, Turk trying to learn German)

write a list (you know… like I do right know so I don’t forget English)

describe things you see (more fun with a partner)

teach your target language to others

listen to audio while sleeping

take notes in your target language (I don’t mean for grammar rules or something like that, I mean notes you would take in your native language anyway)

write a letter (so much better than an e-mail)

write an e-mail (who has time for letters)

learn rimes 

learn jokes (it’s also useful for social interaction)

talk to your pets (at least if they listen to you, if I start to talk to my cat she starts yelling into my face)

translate songs and learn the vocab of it so you have more fun listening to it later

think about a topic and write down every word you can think of and then translate them into your target language

[study-guppy]

list of beautiful flowers in italian

garofano (carnation)

narciso (daffodil)

dalia (dahlia)

margherita (daisy)

dente di leone (dandelion)

giacinto (hyacinth)

ortensia (hydrangea)

gelsomino (jasmine)

lavanda (lavender)

lilla (lilac)

giglio (lily)

calendula (marigold)

orchidea (orchid)

papavero (poppy)

peonia (peony)

primula (primrose)

rosa (rose)

tulipano (tulip)

viola (violet)

[study-guppy]

Vocabularies + Words posts list

All the vocabs posts you can find on our blog! (reblogs and our own posts)

Parole, usi e curiosità:

10 beautiful italian words

Italian words hard to translate | 15 more words

300 basic words

625 words

30 parole “strane”

A naso | A pelle | Di pancia

“most used verbs”

Similar words: one | two

Affetto (parole #10)

Addirittura

Aiuole (parole #8)

Amo (parole #5)

Ancora (parole #6)

Aspetto (parole #11)

Auguri / In bocca al lupo | p2 | tantissimi auguri

Azzurro vs Blu

Banco VS Scrivania

Base

Bathroom

Bisogno (parole #2)

Brano vs Canzone (pezzo)

Bugia

Chiacchierone

Ciao / Salve

Confronti (italian vs english)

Conosco i miei polli

Dai

Dire, Dare, Fare

“Di nulla / di niente” (how to reply to “grazie”) | nulla VS niente

Dimenticare VS Dimenticarsi

Dondolarsi

English words we use

Esca (parole #12)

Essere una frana

“Fare conto”

Ferie Vs Feriale (Festivo)

Figurati

Fiore (common sentences with this word)

Gente

Greetings + Frasi di uso comune

Idioms & fixed expressions | la rava e la fava | More sayings

“Lasciar andare”

Lavanda

Magari: Fun Fact | meanings

Mari & Monti p1 | p2

Mattino/Mattina + Tavolo/Tavola | p2

Mi raccomando | (use)

Mi sento male!

Neanche vs Nemmeno

Pagina (parole #1)

Parola

Piacere (verb) | Piacere (noun)

Pin and needles

Poltrona (parole #3)

Prego (parole #13)

“Proprio” and its meanings

Proverbi X X

“Realizzare”

Regola

Religions

Ribellarsi

Riso (parole #9)

Sale

Sfizio

Sole (parole #4) | Solare

Spina

Svegliare (parole #7)

Swear words

To make up

Tongue Twisters | Some more

Tormentone

“Veramente”

How do you read it (words’ accents and meanings) + Similar words (hot ro write it)

HDRI? (leggere) | 

SW (figlio/foglia/foglio/faglia) | (dire/dare/durare/adirare…) | (cieco/ceco) | (rissa/russa/rossa/ressa/riso/resa/rosa/risa…) | (-ista) | (-uffo) | (-atto) + (-rene,rena,renna) |

Il nostro gioco con le lettere:

X X X X X X X X X X

In your native language posts:

I don’t know

Merry Xmas

Sneezing

Sweden

Third wheel   

Tomato

Rock Scissor Paper

I understand every word you’re saying…

Cute names for lovers

Stare a cuore

50-100 Words Text Compos

About a girl

Pets

Vocabularies:

Animals & Plants:

Animali

Cane & Gatto

Giardini, Orti, Fiori, Piante

Uccelli

Curiosities:

– Piemontese / Inglese –

Basta!

Che noia!

Ho fame

Ho sonno | Buonanotte/ Sleep

Sayings | Slang words/sayings | More 

Tumblr Terms

Opposites words + drawings

Random Vocabs X X X X

Food:

Cibi & Bevande | Dolci

Colazione / Breakfast

Cooking/Baking

Pasti / Meals

Holidays:

Amore / San Valentino

Carnevale

Christmas Vocabulary | NYE

Pasqua/Easter

People & Needs:

Appoinments/Invitations

Body | from head to shoulders | from shoulders to belly | from belly to feet 

Describing people (physical + feelings + emotions)

Complimenting

Emergenze (Emergencies)

Endearment words | Pet names

Hairdresser / Parrucchiere

Introduce yourself

Lgbtqa Vocabulary

People

Period

Pick up lines

Primo Soccorso / Medical Vocab

Refugees

Places:

A casa

Al mare / In spiaggia

Al ristorante

Directions/Ways/Streets (Tourism/Lost in a town)

Dove?

Fly to Italy

Geografia + Astronomia

In montagna

Libreria / Biblioteca

Places

Scuola

Working at the office

Random Stuff:

Astrology

Colori

Driving-related 

Fantasy (genre)

Free time | Hobbies

Internet

Make up

Musical instruments | Music

Quando? | Che giorno è oggi? 

Phone related

Politics

Speaking / Writing

Sport

Things you do in the morning

Verbi

Seasons / Weather:

Autunno | p2

Che tempo fa?

Cold/Freddo

Estate

Winter Vocabulary

Oggi piove

Traduzioni:

X X X X X X

i’m afraid that

to watch a play

to have a meeting

excited | p.2

meriggiare

guagliò

leccaculo / leccare il culo

“one of my friends / some of my friends”

presentation’s intro

ce l’hai

to make up for lost time

essere VS dover essere

A Te by Jovanotti

Sayings | mettere la mano sul fuoco 

I turned into a monster

Don’t worry: preoccupare VS occupare

Sunglasses

They have = essi hanno

Right now = adesso….

sto apprendendo/imparando….

Mal di pancia

Isn’t he / Aren’t they – Question tags

Potrei aver messo VS Avrei potuto mettere

I could have chosen

penso che non sia / non penso che sia

“pane quotidiano”

I have autism

Ti amo VS Ti voglio bene | ti auguro il meglio

Chiccolo

Pietra

Trappola

Vapore

Conquistare

Fatato

Sgranocchiare

DOMANDE

Guardi il calcio?

Colazione

Musica

[study-guppy]

Common words - Parole di uso comune

Hi dears!  Today we want to share few common words we use in italian. Hope you’ll enjoy, and that I won’t forget too many… btw if you want to know more, as always, just ask ;)  Good morning - Buongiorno Good evening - Buonasera Good afternoon - Buon pomeriggio (not very used: we tend to use buongiorno until 3-4 pm max, and then start with buonasera until after dinner - or more easily, use salve/ciao the whole day) Good night - Buonanotte Hi, hello - Ciao (to someone we know or some young/same age people - very informal);               - Salve (to someone we don’t know well but even older than us - more formal)               - Buongiorno or Buonasera are used as formal too (or just to be funny with someone you know or when you wake up, to say hi to your parents) Hello? (on the phone) - Pronto? Bye, goodbye - Ciao (more informal)                        - Addio (if you think/know you are NOT going to see that person again, or rarely just to have fun with friends)                        - Arrivederci (if you think/know you’re going to see that person again)                        - Arrivederla (way formal version of arrivederci, slightly used) See you soon - A presto (Speak to you/see you) next time - Alla prossima Thank you - Grazie Thank you very much - Grazie mille No problem, you’re welcome  - Di nulla, Prego, Nessun problema Please (asking for something) - Per favore, Per piacere I’m sorry (to hear) - Mi dispiace, Mi spiace

Excuse me - Mi scusi, mi perdoni (formal)                    - Scusa, Scusami, Perdonami (informal) How are you? - Come stai? Come va? (informal)                        - Come sta? (formal) I’m good - Sto bene, Bene I’m bad - Sto male, Male

And I think I have wrote the most of them… hopefully. Next time we will try to speak about colours and verbs ;) Ciao!

[study-guppy]

Italian Vocab: 625 Words To Know

Inspired by x and x

I am not a native speaker - please correct me if you see something wrong

Animals: 

dog - il cane 

cat - il gatto  

fish - il pesce  

bird - l’uccello 

cow - la mucca  

pig - il maiale  

mouse - il topo  

horse - il cavallo 

wing - l’ala  

animal - l’animale 

Keep reading

[study-guppy]

looking for a penpal to practice my italian

looking for someone to send letters to or email so I can practice my italian!! currently trying to teach it to myself so I can reconnect with my family and need all the help I can get (lmao college struggles)

[study-guppy]

[sat 5th august, 5:30pm] here’s my recent muji haul !! i was so happy that the washi tapes were in stock, i got the last blue one hehe ♪ door - taemin

my studygram / tag me in your posts with #hizaynah

[study-guppy]

I’m so extra I labeled clear drawers. Does anyone else organize excessively when the new school year is upon them? 🤣

[study-guppy]

muji haul + books from barnes & noble!

should I start a studytube? I have some clips from my trip to santa monica’s muji, but I don’t think I can film very well lol

[study-guppy]

august 14, 2017 // flatlay of some notes i made for my extended essay on british industrialization !

this is literally the most important essay of my entire high school career and i’ve barely started :’)) but like it’s chill

♫: Sorry - The Rose

[study-guppy]

kissing is so underrated, I could just lie in bed and kiss all day

[study-guppy]

last week was just the beginning of hectic-

[study-guppy]

8.17.17// went to the muji in san francisco for the first time despite living so close. it was surreal! i loved it so much; loads of cool school supplies and stationary. i had to stop myself from buying everything, and ended up only getting some new pens and a nice lil notebook.