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.
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Full transcripts are shared through the Companion Series on Substack, where supporters can access episode texts and study materials:
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🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency - one episode at a time!
We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Episode 25 - The Gerund and Reflexive Verbs: Putting It All Together
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In this episode, we take another important step forward… piano piano.
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We bring together two key ideas you’ve already started to explore:
reflexive verbs and the gerundio.
You’ll learn:
- how reflexive verbs work in the passato prossimo (and why they always use essere)
- how to form and use the reflexive gerund (svegliandosi, vestendosi…)
- what changes when the gerund stands alone
- how reflexive verbs behave with stare + gerundio
- and how combined pronouns come together and attach
(preparandoselo, comprandoselo…)
We build step by step, moving from familiar structures into more complex combinations, always grounded in clear examples from the story.
Then we return to Le Pagine del Passato with Capitolo 3, Parte 3: Collegamenti, where you’ll hear these structures in context.
As you listen, try to notice:
- reflexive verbs in action
- moments where the gerund appears
- and how pronouns interact within the sentence
You may also hear a few new forms such as the trapassato prossimo and the congiuntivo. Don’t worry about producing them yet. This is your first exposure.
Just listen… and let the language settle in.
If you’d like extra support:
- full transcripts are available on Substack to show supporters
- vocabulary episodes are available for supporters
- and chapter markers will help you return to any section
And as always,
thank you for learning Italian with me…
piano piano.
⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:56 Quick Review – Reflexive Pronouns
3:21 Passato Prossimo and the Reflexive Auxiliary
4:42 Reflexive Actions from Chapter 3
6:36 Reflexive Verbs with Il Gerundio
8:12 Reflexive Verbs as Stand-alone Gerund
9:22 Reflexive Verbs with Stare + Gerundio
10:32 Practice with Reflexive Gerundio Standing Alone
13:00 Combined Pronouns with Reflexive Verbs and the Gerund
15:50 Story Listening Instructions
17:58 Capitolo 3, Parte 3 – Italian Only Slow Speed
22:51 A Quick Note on Some Forms You May Have Heard
23:55 Comprehension Questions
24:28 Chapter 3, Part 3 – Normal Speed
28:56 Wrap-up
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- Read my blog here
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📄 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?
The comprehensive study guide covering this topic
(simple gerundio, stare + gerundio, and pronouns)
will be released once these episode topics have been completed.
Arriverà presto, lo prometto!
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.
