We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Impariamo l’italiano piano piano is a story-based podcast for B1–B2 Italian learners who want to improve their grammar and vocabulary by following an ongoing mystery, rather than studying isolated lessons. Beginners are welcome too - everything unfolds piano piano, one step at a time.
Each episode advances a serialized story, Le Pagine del Passato, allowing you to experience Italian in context as meaning builds gradually through memory, dialogue, and investigation. Grammar structures such as the imperfetto, passato prossimo, congiuntivo, and object pronouns emerge naturally through the narrative, helping you recognize how Italian works in real situations.
Hosted by Myra, an instructional designer and adult language learner, the show is joined by Antonio - a dramatic, opinionated presence who interrupts, comments, and occasionally derails things, making the learning process both human and entertaining. Together, they guide listeners toward greater confidence in Italian, step by step.
📜 Looking for full episode transcripts?
Full transcripts are shared through the Companion Series on Substack, where supporters can access episode texts and study materials:
https://welearnitalian.substack.com
🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency - one episode at a time!
We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Episode 19 - While It’s Happening – Il Gerundio
In this episode, we reach the end of Chapter 2 of the story and take time to slow things down and notice what Italian is doing beneath the surface.
We focus on the gerundio, the -ando / -endo form that helps describe actions in progress and adds texture to a scene. You’ll hear how it’s formed, see common and irregular examples, and explore how it contrasts with the imperfetto. We also revisit commands as they naturally appear throughout Chapter 2, reviewing the different forms and placements you’ve learned so far.
The episode closes with the Italian-only version of the final part of Chapter 2, inviting you to listen carefully and notice both meaning and form as the story reaches a mysterious pause.
In the next short episode, we’ll listen through the entire Chapter 2 story from beginning to end: In English and Italian together and then in Italian only, as a focused listening exercise to close the chapter before moving on.
Un’ultima passeggiata prima di voltare pagina.
⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
2:15 Understanding the Gerundio
2:56 When to Use the Gerundio
4:27 Welcome
4:43 How to Form the Gerundio
7:47 An Important Difference
10:35 The Gerundio vs. the Imperfetto
14:04 The Key Difference
15:43 Rule of Thumb
16:08 Mini Story Practice
19:08 Chapter 2 – Commands Revisited
22:58 Chapter 2, Part 3 – Italian Only (Slowly, with Pauses)
26:33 Chapter 2, Part 3 – Second Reading at Normal Speed
28:42 Wrap-up
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🎧 Episode 19: While It’s Happening – Il Gerundio
📄 Episode Transcript & Study Materials
For this episode, the full transcript is available on Substack, where it’s easier to read, search, and follow along with the explanations.
👉 Here is a link to all of my posts on Substack.
I’ve moved transcripts there so everything can live in one place: the episode text, examples, and Companion Series materials all together.
📘 Want the Study Guide and Practice Exercises?
You’ll find the study guide for the gerundio with the next regular episode, where we’ll build on what you’ve learned today and explore stare + gerundio as well.
How to access them:
- Click “Support the Show” in any episode description to become a supporter.
- If you’re already a podcast supporter, your substack subscription already includes access to the guides.
