Italian Facts
Diphthongs (two vowels following each other) in Italian are pronounced as two separate letters
Italian is prevalent in Latin America: the Italian language is spoken abundantly in Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and Argentina
Italian is written using the Roman alphabet, but the letters J, K, W, X and Y are not part of the standard Italian alphabet, appearing only in loan words
Italian
Glossary
La storia del gelato
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Probabilmente pochi si sono chiesti quale origine possa avere la leccornia per eccelenza dell’estate, ovvero il gelato, quantomeno penserebbero che Abramo fosse stato uno dei primi uomini ad avere il piacere di mangiarne uno. La Bibbia narra che Isacco offre ad Abramo latte di capra misto a neve, inaugurando così uno dei primi “mangia e bevi” della storia.
Una succesiva apparizione del gelato si trova nell’ antica Troia, dove in seguito a degli scavi archeologici, sono state portate alla luce delle fosse che gli studiosi considerano destinate a conservare il ghiaccio e la neve. Quest’ultimi pare venissero accumulati in strati ricoperti con foglie e paglia realizzando così delle rudimentali ghiacciaie il cui uso si è protratto, sotto latitudini diverse, fin quasi ai giorni nostri.
Inoltre una tradizione storica racconta che re Salomone era un grande consumatore di bevande ghiacciate e che Alessandro Magno, durante le sue campagne in India, pretendesse un continuo rifornimento di neve da consumare mescolata a miele e frutta durante le marce e le battaglie.
Il gelato fa la sua comparsa anche fra gli Egiziani ed in seguito i Romani. Cleopatra offrì a Cesare ed Antonio qualcosa di molto simile ad una granita moderna mescolando frutta e ghiaccio.
I Romani che, è noto, amavano le gioie della tavola, producevano le “nivatae potiones”. Il generale Quinto Fabio Massimo sembra sia stato il primo ad inventare una ricetta per fare il sorbetto. L’epicureo Quinto Massimo Gorgo afferma che il primo ad introdurre ufficialmente nei banchetti l’uso del gelato fu l’imperatore Nerone, che nell’anno 62 d.C. offrì ai suoi invitati una bevanda consistente in frutta tritata, miele e neve. Questa veniva raccolta alle pendici del Terminillo, dell’Etna e del Vesuvio. Il consumo era tanto alto che questo costituì un fiorente commercio fino alla caduta dell’Impero.
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Italian Courses in Wolverhampton
You and your group can be trained by our native speaker qualified Italian teachers, and can meet at your place of work or home at a time convenient to you. Tutorials can take place any day of the week, including weekends, and can be scheduled for the morning, afternoon or evening. If your home or office is not suitable for you, you can attend the course at the teacher's offices. You will be provided with all relevant course materials.
Book now / EnquiryItalian 1 to 1 Business
Those who would benefit the most from these Italian tutorials are those who feel they need to learn Italian to help them out in their business lives. For starters, learning salutations and business etiquette is integral; once these have been practiced then reading and writing courses can start. Typical studiers have been those involved in international import/export, negotiations and acquisitions, those in multinational companies requiring another language, and those working in any way with international governments and relevant administration. Just our simplest course for beginners will have students finishing the lessons with basic telephone and e-mail Italian, as well as survival Italian should a visit to the country be necessary.
Book now / EnquiryItalian 1 to 1 General
These Italian lessons fit a broader spectrum, and can be useful for those who need different things from the language. Most beginner students will have a handle of survival Italian by the end of their course, which will provide them without enough Italian to communicate at least at a basic level during short trips to the country, but those who require more would benefit greatly from these sessions. Typical students have been those eager to travel all over the world, those buying overseas property, those with foreign spouses, aficionados of Italian culture and those who just wish to pass a particular Italian exam.
Book now / EnquiryItalian Group Lessons
Those wishing to learn Italian in groups of 2 or more together (Two-to-One Italian Courses or Small Group In-Company Italian Courses) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Italian proficiency, must have the same needs from the language, and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn do not propose group sizes or more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Italian Courses can occur with up to 12 people.
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Wolverhampton
A city in the West Midlands, Wolverhampton has a population of around 260,000, making it the 13th largest city in England. Originally a thriving market town specialising in the wool trade, the city eventually became home to numerous metal industries, specifically locksmiths and iron/brass work. Wolverhampton is famous these days for being home to one of the oldest English football clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers; several famous musicians and bands of the last 30 years, as well as its many historical buildings and museums.
Italian Testimonials
"This is just a quick note to say thank you for arranging our Italian classes. We really enjoyed them and we liked Maria very much. We are interested in having some more lessons, perhaps once a week now. We'd like them to focus on conversation so that we can practise what we've learned so far."
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