Italian Facts
Latin America is full of Italian speaking communities, especially in Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay
Italian also has many speaking communities in Africa; especially in Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland and Eritrea
Italian uses the same alphabet as English, without the letters J, K, W, X and Y - though these letters still appear in loan words
Get audio
Il giro d’Italia fa parte del vasto repertorio sportivo che contribuisce ad arricchire il patrimonio culturale nazionale. Questo evento sportivo coinvolge non solo il mondo del ciclismo ma anche tutti i cittadini italiani che aspettano ansiosi di poter seguire le varie tappe del giro in televisione o ancora meglio sotto il balcone di casa. Numerose sono le città che da Nord a Sud dello stivale sono state teatro di questa celebre gara ciclistica.
Sulmona, in Abruzzo, è una di queste città che si fregia dell’onore di aver ospitato fino ad oggi sei edizioni della prestigiosa corsa e di cui si può ben dire abbia ereditato un ruolo di prim’ordine. La prima volta fu nel 1911, anche se in realtà i corridori vi erano già passati nel 1909 in occasione della 3a tappa, da Chieti a Napoli: quella in programma era la Ancona - Sulmona di 218 km. L'arrivo venne posto in Viale Umberto I, l'odierno Viale Roosvelt, e in quell'occasione risultò vincitore Corlaita, davanti all'acclamato Lucien Mazan ("alias" Petit Breton) e a Gerbi: come si può immaginare fu un grande successo di pubblico. Ma anche sportivo, visto che quel Giro risultò durissimo, con al traguardo soli 44 corridori degli 86 partiti!
Napoli e Chieti furono, invece, protagoniste di un leggendario episodio riguardante l’atleta Costante Girardengo. Quest’ultimo dopo aver vinto quattro tappe di seguito, entrò in crisi nella salita da Rionero Sannitico al Piano delle Cinque Miglia. Stravolto dalla fatica tracciò una croce nella polvere della strada giurando di non percorrerla più e abbandò il giro, poi vinto da Brunero. Naturalmente Girardengo non mantenne il giuramento andando a vincere, proprio percorrendo le stesse strade, il giro del 1923.
Dopo alcune città italiane gli indiscussi protagonisti di questa grande gara ciclistica sono Marco Pantani, Gilberto Simoni (il vincitore del Giro 2001) e Filippo Casagrande, che purtoppo nel 2001 si ritirò per una caduta nella discesa di Chieti.
Italian links
Our native speaker qualified Italian language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not suitable, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Course books are provided.
Book now / InquiryItalian courses of this type are aimed towards those that need to learn Italian to aid them with their employment. For those just starting out, it is integral to learn basic greetings and business etiquette; and reading and writing can be adopted once the simple precepts are out of the way. Success has come from students who are involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, those seeking jobs in multinational companies, and those working with foreign colleagues, academia and bureaucracy. Just our most basic beginners course will have the student finishing the course with basic telephone/e-mail skills in Italian, as well as survival Italian should a short stay in the country be needed.
Book now / InquiryThese courses in Italian are wider-ranging in their nature, and are driven towards students who have a variety of differing needs. All beginner students will expect to study enough survival Italian to get them through a short visit to the country, those staying on with the course can progress differently, depending on their individual requests and requirements. Whether you are buying property in a foreign country, married to a foreign national, planning a round-the-world trip, interested in Italian history and culture, or if you simply want to attain a particular level of Italian, this is the choice for you.
Book now / Inquiry2 or more people can benefit studying Italian together as these Italian courses are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Italian Course or Small Group In-Company Italian Course). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Italian Courses can be experienced by up to 12 people.
Book now / Inquiry
Atlanta
The capital and most populated city in Georgia, Atlanta's metropolitan population was the fastest growing in the USA from 2000-2006, and currently stands at over 5 million people. As the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta is often celebrated for its role in the advances in the civil rights movements of the mid 20th century. Over 30 higher education facilities are dotted around the city, making it a perfect place for us to find you a teacher so you can start learning the language of your choice.
Italian Testimonials
"I love going to my Italian lessons. Every week we cover new topics and I get to practice with my Italian friends outside of class. I don't think they can believe how fast I've improved thanks to Listen & Learn, and neither can I!"