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!
Episodes
80 episodes
Le piccole parole – Episode 2 – Part 1 - – Di: The Italian Preposition That's Everywhere
What does di really mean?Most learners know it as "of," but di does far more than that. In this episode of Le piccole parole, we explore how di expresses relationships, origin, topic, material, quantit...
👀 Bonus Episode 14 Preview – Vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 1: Il primo indizio
Bonus Episode – Vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 1: Il primo indizioSeason 3 begins here.In this special bonus episode, we open Chapter 3 – Il primo indizio with a rich, story-driven vocabulary journey designed to prep...
🛠️ Bonus Episode 14B - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 1 – Il Primo Indizio (Part 2 of 2)
We continue preparing for Il Primo Indizio, the opening chapter of Season 3 in Le Pagine del Passato.In this second installment of the vocabulary training, we explore the remaining three thematic categories: Colors &...
🛠️ Bonus Episode 14A - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 1 – Il Primo Indizio (Part 1 of 2)
Season 3 of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano opens with the first tangible clue in Mariella’s unfolding mystery. This bonus episode prepares you for that moment by introducing vocabulary from the opening of Chapter 3. In this first ins...
Episode 21 - Il primo indizio - The Simple Gerundio in Action
Episode 21 – Il primo indizio | Five Uses of the Italian Gerundio--> Link to Post for Study Guide and Transcript for this episode <-- (Availab...
Episode 22 - Caught in the Act - Stare + Gerundio
What are you doing right now?In Italian, there’s a beautifully logical way to express actions that are in progress: stare + gerundio, the present progressive.-->
Episode 23 - The Italian Stare + Gerundio with Pronouns
You already know how to use stare + gerundio to describe what's happening right now. And you know how Italian pronouns work. But what happens when you put them together?-->
Episode 24 – Beyond Stare: Keys, Chaos, and the Italian Gerundio
In this episode, we go one step further with the gerundio and explore what happens when things get a little more complex.--> Link to Post for St...
Episode 25 - The Gerund and Reflexive Verbs: Putting It All Together
In this episode, we take another important step forward… piano piano.--> Link to Post for Transcript for this episode <--We bring toget...
🛠️ Bonus Episode 16A - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Setting, Space, and Detail
--> Vocabulary Flashcards for Bonus Episodes 16A and 16B <--In this bonus episode, we begin working through the vocabulary for Ch...
Bonus Epi 16A Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Setting, Space, and Detail
In this preview of Bonus Episode 16A, we begin exploring the vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 3 of our story, a section where the language becomes richer, more detailed, and more immersive.-->
Bonus Episode 15 - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 - Part 2 - Legami di famiglia
There’s something different about this part of the story.It’s not just about what happens… but about what stays with us.--> Link to Post for T...
Bonus Epi 16B Preview - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Actions, Perception & States
In this preview of Bonus Episode 16B, we step into Category 6: Actions, Perception & States from Chapter 3, Part 3 of Le Pagine del Passato.This time, it’s not just about what you see or hear… it’s about what you fe...
Episode 26 - Se lo vs Glielo & Back to the Story
In this episode, we return to Le Pagine del Passato — Chapter 3, Part 3: Collegamenti.Last time, you heard this chapter in Italian only. This time, we work through it together — with both Italian and English — so...
Bonus Epi 16B - Vocabulary for Chapter 3 Part 3 | Movement, Perception, and Position
In this bonus episode, we continue working through the vocabulary for Chapter 3, Part 3 of our story, moving beyond what we can see… and into how the space feels, sounds, and is experienced.-->
Le piccole parole - Epi 1 - Una mini-serie sulle preposizioni italiane
Have you ever learned that di means "of", a means "to", and con means "with" ... only to discover that real Italian doesn't seem to follow those simple rules?Welcome to Le piccole parole, a new mini-seri...
Episode 32 - Behind the Scenes of an Italian Piano Piano Meetup
Meetup event links: Vancouver Chapter / Europea...
Episode 31 - Tra le righe – Capitolo 3 completo - Solo italiano
Tra le righe – Capitolo 3 completo (Solo in italiano)In the previous episode, we listened to the complete bilingual version of Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato. Now it's time to hear it again, this time entirely in Italian.<...
Episode 30 - Tra le righe – Capitolo 3 completo - Italiano e inglese
In this special episode, we bring together the entire Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato in one complete bilingual listening experience.--> ...
Episode 29 - Vivendo e imparando – Everyday Expressions with the Gerundio
Episode 29 closes out the gerundio topic with one more journey through Chapter 3, Part 4 of Le Pagine del Passato; first in Italian only, then together in English and Italian.-->
Episode 28 - Fidati del tuo istinto - Il gerundio composto
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 ar...
👀 Bonus Episode 17 Preview - Hidden Objects, Strange Paths, and Quiet Clues
In this preview of Bonus Episode 17, we step into an outdoor market and begin exploring the vocabulary from the final part of Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato.-->
🛠️ Bonus Episode 17 - Hidden Objects, Strange Paths, and Quiet Clues
In this bonus episode, we prepare for the vocabulary from the final part of Chapter 3 of Le Pagine del Passato.--> Vocabulary F...
Episode 27 - From “Myself” to “Each Other” | Reciprocal Verbs in Italian
In this episode of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano, we complete one of our biggest grammar topics yet: reflexive verbs.--> Link to Post for ...
Bonus Episode 08 Preview - Dove si trova il pacco? – A Neighborly Mystery of Italian Commands
🎧 Bonus Episode 8 Preview - Dove si trova il pacco? – A Neighborly Mystery of Italian Commands Elena’s package has disappeared, and the clock is ticking before her nonna’s birthday! Follow the mystery from the very beginning ...