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 28 - Fidati del tuo istinto - Il gerundio composto
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In Episode 28 of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano, we finally arrive at the compound gerundio.
You’ll learn how forms like avendo trovato, essendosi girata, and pur avendo letto are formed, when they are used, and how they differ from the simple gerundio.
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In this episode, we cover:
- how to form the compound gerundio with avendo and essendo
- agreement with reflexive and motion verbs
- pronouns with the compound gerundio
- pur + compound gerundio
- guided practice and comparisons with the simple gerundio
Then we continue Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato with Part 4: Rimettere insieme i pezzi.
At the top of the staircase, Mariella discovers a document containing a message:
"Il messaggio che cerchi è scritto tra le righe. Fidati del tuo istinto."
As the clues begin connecting, Mariella calls Zina, and together they move one step closer to understanding the mystery surrounding the book Le strade percorse da Garibaldi.
The episode includes:
- Italian explanations with English support
- Italian-only story reading at slow speed and normal speed
- comprehension questions for listeners
Piano piano… si va lontano.
⏳ CHAPTERS
0:45 Introduction
0:45 The Story – Capitolo 3, Parte 4 – Rimettere insieme i pezzi
1:53 What Is the Compound Gerundio?
3:10 How the Compound Gerund Is Formed
9:31 When Do You Use the Compound Gerund?
12:48 A Note on Frequency
13:22 Practice with the Compound Gerundio
17:30 Summary
18:48 The Story – Capitolo 3, Parte 4: Rimettere insieme i pezzi – Slow Speed
22:06 The Story – Capitolo 3, Parte 4: Rimettere insieme i pezzi – Normal Speed
24:01 Wrap-up
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📄 Episode Transcript & Study Materials
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