Introduction:
Bonnie Smetts first fell in love with Italian when she decided to take a few classes before visiting a friend who’d moved to Umbria. Five years later, she’s studied all the grammar, read stacks of classics, and participated in myriad conversation groups. The time has come for her to be fluent in Italian.
Bonnie recently returned from three months of practising to speak Italian in Italy where chasing fluency proved to be harder, and more fun, than she’d imagined.
Today she is plotting her return trip to Italy.
Education:
Bonnie began her Italian studies at the local adult school and she quickly moved to classes at community college, private language school, and the University of California at Berkeley. Today, when she’s not in Italy, she can be found Wednesday mornings chatting with her Italian teacher in a café near her home.
Experience:
Bonnie is a freelance writer whose work regularly appears online and in print including stories in the upcoming anthologies Best Women’s Travel Writing 2006 and Thirty Days in Italy.
From Bonnie:
“I’m a born traveler and ever since I fell in love with Italian, my love of the language has shaped every trip. I search out big cities and small villages and go anywhere I discover few people speak English. Of course, I love pecorino cheese and hand-made shoes but only if I can buy them in Italian—and the language is the best way to connect with Italy’s real treasure: her people.”
Learning To Speak Italian in Italy:
One woman’s twelve-part adventure in fluency.
Being Naïve
Determined to finally speak Italian fluently, the author heads to Rome and is shocked at how little she knows. A trip to the supermarket introduces her to rapid-fire two-word exchanges instead of familiar classroom dialogs.
(Not) Learning Italian
Struggling to understand Italian as spoken in Rome, Bonnie makes mistakes and learns a new language. Little did she know that the Roman dialect chews up familiar words and spits out new ones.
Finding My Bar
Learning to order coffee correctly, the author finally fits in, but not before conquering double consonants.
Taking A Tour
Feeling more confident in her Italian, Bonnie is embarrassed by mistaking Spanish for Italian. Down in the Roman catacombs, she discovers that she's joined a Spanish-speaking tour group and can't decide which language to respond in.
Making Hamburgers
Thinking she has figured out how to shop in the outdoor market, the author ends up with a surprise. When Bonnie discovers that she's actually bought ground meat and buns, she makes hamburgers—not what she expected to be eating in Italy.
Learning To Chat
Ignoring her embarrassing first attempts, the author seizes the chance to talk to her neighbors, and in the process learns everything she ever wanted to know about the weather in Rome.
Fearing Numbers
Avoiding, then confronting, and finally mastering numbers, Bonnie orders theater tickets over the phone. Will she have seats close to the stage, or will she be need binoculars to see the performance?
Xke No-ing? Or Connecting With Friends
Wanting a social life, Bonnie struggles to master her cell phone and text messaging in Italian. It seems as if SMS is the new way of writing and communicating in Italian.
Eavesdropping
Overhearing conversations, the author understands more than she should. Why was that Italian woman greeting her lover good evening at nine o’clock in the morning? And why hadn’t he known she was in Rome?
Immersing Myself
Shopping for lotion in her no-tourist neighborhood, Bonnie discovers the dangers of full-immersion. She becomes immersed in Italian, but not in the way her Italian teachers had in mind.
Getting Beautiful
Emboldened by her language successes and shocked by her shaggy reflection in the salon window, Bonnie decides to brave a haircut. Will the hairdresser slip clients in front of her? Will she sit wet-headed forever?
Getting Limoncello
Enjoying her last night in Rome, Bonnie receives a compliment and makes a promise to return to Italy. Only next time maybe she'll stay a long, long time and finally become fluent.
Bonnie Smetts first fell in love with Italian when she decided to take a few classes before visiting a friend who’d moved to Umbria. Five years later, she’s studied all the grammar, read stacks of classics, and participated in myriad conversation groups. The time has come for her to be fluent in Italian.
Bonnie recently returned from three months of practising to speak Italian in Italy where chasing fluency proved to be harder, and more fun, than she’d imagined.
Today she is plotting her return trip to Italy.
Education:
Bonnie began her Italian studies at the local adult school and she quickly moved to classes at community college, private language school, and the University of California at Berkeley. Today, when she’s not in Italy, she can be found Wednesday mornings chatting with her Italian teacher in a café near her home.
Experience:
Bonnie is a freelance writer whose work regularly appears online and in print including stories in the upcoming anthologies Best Women’s Travel Writing 2006 and Thirty Days in Italy.
From Bonnie:
“I’m a born traveler and ever since I fell in love with Italian, my love of the language has shaped every trip. I search out big cities and small villages and go anywhere I discover few people speak English. Of course, I love pecorino cheese and hand-made shoes but only if I can buy them in Italian—and the language is the best way to connect with Italy’s real treasure: her people.”
Learning To Speak Italian in Italy:
One woman’s twelve-part adventure in fluency.
Being Naïve
Determined to finally speak Italian fluently, the author heads to Rome and is shocked at how little she knows. A trip to the supermarket introduces her to rapid-fire two-word exchanges instead of familiar classroom dialogs.
(Not) Learning Italian
Struggling to understand Italian as spoken in Rome, Bonnie makes mistakes and learns a new language. Little did she know that the Roman dialect chews up familiar words and spits out new ones.
Finding My Bar
Learning to order coffee correctly, the author finally fits in, but not before conquering double consonants.
Taking A Tour
Feeling more confident in her Italian, Bonnie is embarrassed by mistaking Spanish for Italian. Down in the Roman catacombs, she discovers that she's joined a Spanish-speaking tour group and can't decide which language to respond in.
Making Hamburgers
Thinking she has figured out how to shop in the outdoor market, the author ends up with a surprise. When Bonnie discovers that she's actually bought ground meat and buns, she makes hamburgers—not what she expected to be eating in Italy.
Learning To Chat
Ignoring her embarrassing first attempts, the author seizes the chance to talk to her neighbors, and in the process learns everything she ever wanted to know about the weather in Rome.
Fearing Numbers
Avoiding, then confronting, and finally mastering numbers, Bonnie orders theater tickets over the phone. Will she have seats close to the stage, or will she be need binoculars to see the performance?
Xke No-ing? Or Connecting With Friends
Wanting a social life, Bonnie struggles to master her cell phone and text messaging in Italian. It seems as if SMS is the new way of writing and communicating in Italian.
Eavesdropping
Overhearing conversations, the author understands more than she should. Why was that Italian woman greeting her lover good evening at nine o’clock in the morning? And why hadn’t he known she was in Rome?
Immersing Myself
Shopping for lotion in her no-tourist neighborhood, Bonnie discovers the dangers of full-immersion. She becomes immersed in Italian, but not in the way her Italian teachers had in mind.
Getting Beautiful
Emboldened by her language successes and shocked by her shaggy reflection in the salon window, Bonnie decides to brave a haircut. Will the hairdresser slip clients in front of her? Will she sit wet-headed forever?
Getting Limoncello
Enjoying her last night in Rome, Bonnie receives a compliment and makes a promise to return to Italy. Only next time maybe she'll stay a long, long time and finally become fluent.