Teresa L. Picarazzi has a PhD in Italian Literature and has taught Italian at The Hopkins School, Dartmouth College, The University of Arizona, and Wesleyan University.

Introduction 1

About This Audio Set 1

Conventions Used in This Audio Set 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

How This Audio Set Is Organized 2

Where to Go from Here 3

Lesson 1:1: Introduction and Overview of CD1: The Basics 5

Lesson 1:2: Personal Pronouns and Formalities 6

Lesson 1:3: Saying "Hello" and "Goodbye". 8

Lesson 1:4: Saying and Replying to "How are you?". 9

Lesson 1:5: Introducing Yourself and Talking about Where You're From 11

Lesson 1:6: Indispensable Words and Phrases. 12

Everyday words and phrases 12

People 12

Places and directions 13

Useful adjectives 13

Medical terms 13

Lesson 1:7: Useful Expressions and Phrases 14

Lesson 1:8: Introducing Question Words 15

Question words 15

Lesson 1:9: Useful Questions 17

Chapter 1:10: You Can Count on Me: An Overview of Numbers. 18

Numbers 18

Useful number questions (and answers) 20

Lesson 1:11: Telling Time. 21

Answering questions regarding the time 21

Asking and answering "At what time . . .?" 22

The time of day 22

Lesson 1:12: Going through the Calendar and Forming Dates 23

The days of the week (I giorni della settimana) 23

Day-related questions and answers 23

The months (I mesi) 24

Month-related questions and answers 24

Lesson 1:13: Directions 25

Useful words and phrases 25

Direction questions and answers 25

Lesson 2:1: Welcome and Overview of CD2: The Nitty-Gritty: Language Structure 27

Lesson 2:2: Singular Nouns. 28

Locations 28

Transportation 29

Dining 29

Occupations 29

Education 29

Family and friends 30

Lesson 2:3: Plural Nouns 31

Locations 31

Transportation 31

Occupations 32

Lesson 2:4: Demonstrative Pronouns 33

This 33

These 33

That 33

Those 33

Lesson 2:5: Adjectives 34

Common adjectives 35

Colors 35

Example phrases 36

Lesson 2:6: To Be or Not To Be: A Very Important Verb. 37

Lesson 2:7: Verbs. 38

Common regular verbs 38

Common irregular verbs 39

Sentences using avere (to have) 39

Other verbs 40

Lesson 2:8: Verb Tenses and Commands 41

The past 41

The future 42

The progressive 42

The imperative (commands) 42

Lesson 2:9: Prepositions 43

Common prepositions 43

Example phrases 43

Lesson 2:10: Forming Simple Sentences 45

Lesson 2:11: Introducing More Complete Sentences. 46

Lesson 2:12: Negative Sentences 47

Lesson 2:13: Forming Questions. 48

Question words 48

Sample questions 48

Lesson 3:1: Introduction and Overview of CD3: Real-World Situations 51

Lesson 3:2: At the Office 52

Office items 52

People around the office 52

Office departments 53

More office-speak 53

Helpful verbs 53

Example sentences from around the office 54

Lesson 3:3: On the Job 55

Occupations 55

Work-related verbs 56

Job-related example sentences 56

Lesson 3:4: Making Small Talk. 57

Lesson 3:5: Making Appointments. 58

Lesson 3:6: Making Travel Arrangements 59

Traveling by plane 59

Traveling by train 60

Lesson 3:7: Asking for Directions 61

Lesson 3:8: Asking for and Getting Help. 62

At the pharmacy 62

Health emergencies 62

Needing the police 63

Lesson 3:9: At the Bar or Restaurant 64

At the bar 64

At the restaurant 65

Lesson 3:10: At the Hotel 66

Lesson 3:11: At the Bank 67

Lesson 3:12: At the Store 68

Shopping for clothes and personal items 68

Shopping for groceries 68

Mini-Dictionaries 69

Italian-English Mini-Dictionary 69

English-Italian Mini-Dictionary 77