🎙 Welcome to  We learn Italian step by step  / Impariamo l’italiano piano piano

🎧 Bonus Episode 01  Preview - Vocabulary for Dreamers - To preceed Episode 02

--> Link to vocabulary flashcards for Chapter 1 Part 2 <--
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Vocabulary Boost for Chapter 1 Part 2 (to be introduced in Podcast Episode 2) 

Introduction

Myra: Benvenuti alla nostra prima puntata bonus! 🎙️ Welcome to our first bonus episode!

Antonio: Una puntata… solo sul vocabolario? Ma dai. Io conosco già tutte le parole.

An entire episode… just for vocabulary? Come on. I already know all the words.

Myra: I know you do, Antonio… but this episode isn't for you. It's for our listeners who are still learning.

Antonio: Uff… va bene. Ma non è emozionante come la grammatica… o una buona storia d'amore.

Fine. But it's not as exciting as grammar… or a good love story.

Myra: Patience, Antonio. Vocabulary is exciting when it helps you understand the next part of the mystery.

Antonio: Se lo dici tu… ma alla fine voglio fare un quiz, capito?

If you say so… but at the end I want to do a quiz, got it?

Myra: Affare fatto. ...Deal.

We will let you quiz us later. But for now… Entriamo nel vivo! 🎧

In Episode 1, we stepped into our story and began our exploration of the imperfetto tense. But before we continue, let's take a moment to prepare for what's coming next.

In this bonus episode, we'll review key vocabulary that will help you better understand the next part of the story.

The words in this vocabulary have been selected from the next part of the story that you will hear in Episode 2, grouped into useful categories, from dreams and goals to places and objects. You'll hear them in natural sentences first, and then you'll have a chance to practice.

And remember, you have interactive flashcards to practice with outside of the podcast and you can use the chapter markers on the podcast to review any sections you want to return to.

During the contextual introduction, there's no need to respond, just listen carefully as I introduce each word in context, using a mix of English and Italian. Then, we'll reinforce your understanding with a short recall exercise and a mini quiz similar to what we did in the introductory episode that preceded Episode 1.

Pronti? / Are you ready? - Let's get started! / Iniziamo!

🌙 Category 1: Dreams And Goals

Contextual Intro
Everyone sognano of a career that soddisfi them and a job that renda them happy. It is not easy, but those who keep working hard believe that, sooner or later, their dreams will realizzeranno.

And here is the contextual introduction again, completely in Italian, slowed down just a bit.

Tutti sognano una carriera che li soddisfi e un lavoro che li renda felici. Non è facile, ma coloro che continuano a impegnarsi credono che, prima o poi, i loro sogni si realizzeranno.

And one more time at regular speed.

contextual introduction repeats at normal speed

Antonio: Un giorno… realizzerò il mio sogno più grande. (One day… I will fulfill my greatest dream.)

Myra: Mmm, and what is that dream exactly, Antonio?

Antonio: Un giorno… ci sarà una statua in mio onore. In una piazza grande. Con una fontana, ovviamente.

One day… there will be a statue in my honour. In a big piazza. With a fountain, of course.

Myra: Really? And what would this statue of you, in a big piazza, look like, exactly?

Antonio: Sarò in posa eroica, con una mano al cielo e l'altra… su un dizionario italiano. Una colomba volerà sopra la mia testa.

I'll be in a heroic pose—one hand to the sky, the other resting on an Italian dictionary. A dove will be flying above my head.

Myra: A dictionary? But I thought you didn't need dictionaries or vocabularies?

Antonio: È solo per scena. Simbolico. Io, ovviamente, conosco già tutte le parole.

It's just for show. Symbolic. I, obviously, already know all the words.

Myra: Naturally. And what would the plaque below the statue say?

Antonio: "L'uomo a cui tutti si rivolgono… per le parole giuste."

Myra: The man everyone turns to… for the right words. There is some truth to that. C'è del vero in questo.

Antonio: No no… per le parole perfette.

No no… for the perfect words.

Myra: Naturally. Anything less would be beneath you and your statue.

Antonio: Esattamente.

Exactly.

🌙 Category 1: Dreams And Goals Active Recall

1. What is the Italian verb for "dreamed"?

→ Sognava.

2. How do you say "satisfies" in Italian?

→ Soddisfi.

3. Which verb means "makes" in phrases like "makes people happy"?

→ Renda.

4. What is the Italian word for "they will come true"?

→ Realizzeranno.

“You may have noticed that in these exercises I used the words soddisfi and renda. If you look them up in a dictionary, you might first find soddisfa and rende. Those are the normal present tense forms of the verbs. But in our story, the sentences are a little different: they use the congiuntivo presente because they come after che. For example, una carriera che le soddisfi or un lavoro che ti renda felice.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to master the subjunctive mood right now. For this episode, I just want you to recognize these words in the form that appears in the story. Later on, we’ll go deeper into when and why Italian uses the congiuntivo. For now, focus on practicing the words just as you’ll hear them in the story.”

📘 Grammar Notes – Dreams & Goals

• sognava – Imperfetto of sognare; 3rd person singular, used for habitual or background actions in the past.
• soddisfi / renda – Congiuntivo presente; used in dependent clauses after expressions of desire or uncertainty (e.g., voglio un lavoro che...).
• realizzeranno – Futuro semplice, 3rd person plural of realizzare = they will achieve/fulfill.

Antonio:
Ehi... voi.
Sì, voi che state ascoltando.

Myra:
Antonio, are you trying to say something to our listeners?

Antonio:
Pensavate di ascoltare tutto gratis, eh?

Myra:
Ahh, you’re asking if they think they can listen to everything for free.

Antonio:
Eh no.
Il resto? È riservato ai veri sostenitori!

Myra:
Right, Antonio. You have a good point.
This is a subscribers-only bonus episode—and I’m afraid this is where the preview ends.

The full version includes four more vocabulary categories, active recall exercises, grammar notes for each section, and interactive flashcards to help you review everything you’ve learned.

And yes—Antonio gets his moment too.
 There’s a quiz coming up, and I think he’s quite proud of it.

Antonio:
Sono Orgogliosissimo.

Myra :
If you haven’t heard that one before—orgoglioso means “I’m proud”…
and when you add -issimo to an adjective in Italian, it makes it even stronger—so Antonio, I think you must be “super proud.”

Antonio:
Giusto.
E non vedo l’ora di fare il mio quiz.

Myra:
All you need to do is click “Support the Show” in the episode notes to unlock the full bonus episode—and all the extras.

Antonio:
Io… vi aspetto nella versione completa.

Myra:
Thanks for listening—and for learning piano piano with us.
We’ll see you in the full version of this bonus episode, spero!