This is a group for absolute beginners or for those who may have learnt a little for holidays and wish to develop their knowledge further.
Rather than sticking to one course book we use a number of sources, since a variety of materials and style is good to keep us entertained and motivated and ensure we make progress first in reading, then writing, speaking and listening to Italian.
We use the BBC Talk Italian video and CD series together with tapes from Buongiorno Italia to provide some "survival" vocabulary and develop listening skills for use in a range of practical situations, (introductions, booking hotels, catching trains etc).
We learn grammar, principally from the excellent Italian Grammar drills by Paola Nanni-Tate which provides opportunity to work at home and test ourselves as we go.
We are also using an Easy Reader which both develops new vocabulary and allows us to discuss important grammatical points in context.
We meet "formally" twice a month but in addition a small " homework" group meets with Sheila our convenor in the off-weeks and this has proved invaluable in finding our way through the more difficult stuff.
We have been running for nine months now, (at October 2011), and are making good progress, (we think). There are one or two spaces for those who either already have a little Italian or are very good at catching up!
Sheila Montague October 2011
This new group is now organised. The meetings that have been arranged are as follows:
We meet approx. every 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mondays of the month but that can change occasionally
The meetings will run from 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Bobbi Ginty has agreed to lead the studies and
Linda Baker 9732623 lin.baker@hotmail.com will be the group contact.
We meet for conversation, using simple grammar, with a variety of media.
The group will not meet in the summer months.
ITALIAN INTERMEDIATE_________......
We are a small friendly group and we meet every Tuesday fortnight from 10.00 a.m. - 12 noon in each member's house. We are a mixed ability group and have a basic knowledge of Italian grammar and vocabulary and we aim to improve on these two areas plus to improve our conversation and listening skills. We spend half the lesson conversing (or trying to!) in Italian on any given topic and the other half of the session on grammar, use of verbs, pronouns and adjectives. Our Italian speaker, Romana, is always there to correct us and give advice, she is so patient and helpful, a lovely lady. We aim to keep the sessions lively and light-hearted and often get side-tracked which is all good practice for our Italian.
Many of us go to Italy on our holidays where we can practise our conversation or have a house in Italy and we enjoy listening to the life of the local people.
We have vacancies for new memberes so why not come along one Tuesday, we would love to meet you.
Saluti
Margaret King Tel: 0118 9871630 e-mail: m.king53@tiscali.co.uk
...........
Ciao
tutti!
We start each
meeting with conversation, usually about
what we have each done or seen in the previous week.
We are
currently reading some short stories and the opening chapters of books by
famous Italian authors. Our current interest is i gialli (detective
stories), of Sciascia and Camillieri.
We also read
articles from the websites of Italian newspapers.
We watch
programmes recorded off Italian television, (nature programmes are good because
the presenters delivery is fairly slow paced), and Italian films.
From time to
time we revise our rusty Italian grammar.
Some years of
previous learning of Italian would be necessary to get the most from joining
this group.
At the moment
we are full, with a small waiting list.
Ian Chambers October 2011
Will meet on the 1st Friday of the month starting in September.
Details of the first 2 walks are as follows:
Friday 3
September at 10 am Blackwater Valley and Spout Pond 4 miles from Moor Green
car park on Lower Sandhurst Road, Finchampstead - grid ref. 806628 (south
of the Ridges).
Leader: Caroline Layton.
Optional pub lunch
at The Greyhound P.H., Finchampstead.
Friday 1
October at 10 am Carter's Hill and Barkham Brook 4.5 miles from free car park
at Arborfield Cross, about 200 yards south on the Swallowfield Road - grid
ref. 760670 (shortly before Henry St Garden Centre).
Leader: Caroline Layton.
Optional pub lunch at The Swan P.H., Arborfield on the A327 (Eversley/ Farnborough
direction).
Convenor
Caroline Layton
1A Sewell Avenue
Wokingham RG41 1NT
0118 978 1336
Email: caro-layton@vwclub.net