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:
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 27 - From “Myself” to “Each Other” | Reciprocal Verbs in Italian
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In this episode of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano, we complete one of our biggest grammar topics yet: reflexive verbs.
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This time, we explore some of the final missing pieces:
✔ reciprocal verbs (ci vediamo, si salutano, ci scriviamo)
✔ how to tell the difference between reflexive and reciprocal verbs
✔ reflexive and reciprocal verbs in the imperfetto
✔ reciprocal verbs in the passato prossimo
✔ how these structures connect to forms you already know, including the gerund
You’ll learn how Italian uses the same pronouns (mi, ti, si, ci, vi) for actions we do to ourselves and actions people do to each other.
Then we put everything into context with a new scene featuring Luca, Sara, and Carlo.
Carlo says he’s “not studying”… but no one seems convinced.
As always, you’ll hear:
- clear grammar explanations
- guided examples
- story-based learning
- a full scene replay without interruptions
🎧 Transcript, study guide, answer key, and bonus resources are available through Support the Show.
Piano piano… si va lontano.
⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Pre-Introduction
1:11 Introduction
2:23 Reciprocal Verbs Introduced
4:31 Reciprocal Verbs & The Gerund
5:16 Reflexive or Reciprocal?
7:06 Plural Subjects
9:47 Il Riflessivo all'Imperfetto
12:05 Il Riflessivo al Passato Prossimo
13:11 Practice - Reciprocal Verbs Across Tenses
16:09 Luca & Sara Scene Setup
16:39 Scene Begins
22:03 Scene Replay - No Interruptions
23:23 Wrap-up
Live Italian practice session
Ready to start using Italian?
In this guided meetup, we’ll work through Episodes 19–23, focusing on the gerundio with examples like camminando and sto leggendo.
You’ll interact with Antonio and practice step by step.
👉 https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/events/314481553
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Email: welearnpianopiano@gmail.com
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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 will be released once these episode topics have been completed.
Arriverà presto, lo prometto!
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