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LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

Lezione 6 – Unit 6

In Citta` In the City

Today we will learn the expressions and words you will need to get around in an Italian city. A good way to get around in Italian cities is using their public transport system, which may offer buses, underground trains, tramways (and ferries in cities like Venice). It is also important to know how to ask for directions and to be able to understand the reply. CITY TRANSPORTS

UN TAXI IL POSTEGGIO DEI TAXI L’AUTOBUS IL TRAM LA METRO

UN BIGLIETTO … DELL’ AUTOBUS … DEL TRAM … DELLA METRO

COMMENT

PRONUNCIATION NOTES

Taxis may be a good and reliable way to reach a specific location from the airport or from the main train station. In Italy is not very common to hail taxis: people usually get them from taxi ranks or parking. City buses are usually the most popular form of transport. Many Italian cities have both buses and trams Rome and Milan have a good underground train system. The underground train stations are signalled by a red panel with a white M . City buses, trams and underground trains are usually controlled by a single company, which provides the tickets. It is possible to buy a ticket and use it on different means. Tickets need to be validated once you are on board or inside the underground train station

Use this column to mark the pronunciation of the word. Try to match each Italian sound with an equivalent sound in your language. Example (for English speakers): the group of letters sci in Italian is always pronounced/read as the English word she. 1

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LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

L’ EDICOLA

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS ON A BUS SCUSI, QUESTO AUTOBUS VA … …IN CENTRO? …IN VIA 25 APRILE? …IN PIAZZA MATTEOTTI ? SCUSI, MI PUO’ DIRE QUANDO DEVO SCENDERE? LA FERMATA

and they are generally valid for one hour from the validation time. Newsagents are the places where you can buy buses, trams or underground train tickets. Underground train tickets may also be purchased from self-service machines located inside the station. COMMENT You can use this question to know if the bus goes to a specific place: the city centre, the street 25 Aprile, the square Matteotti

You can use this question if you don’t know at when you have to get off. This indicates a bus stop, a train stop or a tram stops

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS

COMMENT

UNA MAPPA

You may need a map to understand where you are and which are the main streets in the city. If you need to go to a specific place (the bus stop) you can ask for directions saying: excuse me can you tell me where the bus stop is?

SCUSI, MI PUO’ DIRE DOV’E’ LA FERMATA DELL’ AUTOBUS? LA BANCA

LA TABACCHERIA

LA POSTA

LA FARMACIA GIRI A DESTRA GIRI A SINISTRA SEMPRE DRITTO FINO … AL SEMAFORO ALL’INCROCIO ALLA ROTONDA AL SEMAFORO PRENDA LA PRIMA VIA A DESTRA ALL’ INCROCIO PRENDA LA SECONDA VIA A SINISTRA ALLA ROTONDA GIRI NELLA SECONDA VIA VICINO

PRONUNCIATION NOTES

Banks and ATM points are usually one next to the other. At the tobacconist you may get tobacco, cigarrettes , lighters but also stamps, lottery tickets and chewing gums. Many cafés are also tobacconists. When this is the case there will be a blue panel with a white T outside the building. Post offices sell envelopes and boxes but they do not display the items they sell, you need to request them at the counter. They do international money transfer as well as other banking operations. Their symbol is a blue PT sign in a yellow panel. Chemists are signalled with a green cross symbol. If you have to turn right, you will be given this instruction If you have to turn left, you will be given this instruction If you have to go straight, until the lights, the intersection or the roundabout you will be given this instruction.

At the lights take the first street on the right At the intersection take the second street on the left At the roundabout turn into the second street Near

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LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners VICINO A LONTANO

Next to Far away

DAVANTI A…. DI FRONTE A… DI FIANCO A… DIETRO A….

In front of Opposite Besides Behind

DIALOGUES Read and repeat after the teacher. Use the space provided to write an equivalent dialogue/exchange in English. ITALIAN

ENGLISH

NOTES

Sara: Prendiamo un autobus, un taxi o la metro? Giulia Abbiamo ancora due biglietti dell’autobus… Sara: Bene, allora prendiamo l’autobus! Ma, tu sai dove dobbiamo scendere? Giulia: No… Sara: Nemmeno io! Giulia: Scusi, questo autobus va in Centro? Driver: Sì, ferma al Colosseo… Giulia: Bene! Ci può dire quando dobbiamo scendere? Driver: Certo! Giulia/Sara: Grazie! Giulia: Andiamo a piazza di Spagna? Sara Si, prendo la mappa! ... Oh…ho perso la mappa di Roma! Giulia: Noo... Sara: Uffa! Dobbiamo chiedere informazioni a qualcuno..

Giulia and Sara are in Roma. They decide to take a bus to the city centre, but they don’t know which one is their stop…

Sara: Scusi Signora…? Signora: Si..? Sara: Mi può dire dov’e’ Piazza di Spagna? Signora: Certo! E’ vicino..sempre dritto fino all’ incrocio. All’ incrocio giri a destra; poi, prenda la seconda via a sinistra. Lì, si trova la piazza davanti! Sara: Grazie! Giulia: Scusi Signore, mi può dire dov’è la posta più vicina? Signore: Certo! Sempre dritto, fino al semaforo. Poi giri a sinistra. La posta è nella seconda via a destra, vicino a una farmacia e di fronte alla banca. Giulia: Grazie!

Sara asks for directions to go to Piazza di Spagna.

They get on the bus and ask some information to the driver. Once they are on board hey validate their tickets and take a sit.

Giulia and Sara are in the city centre. They have lost the map.

Giulia wants to buy some stamps. She asks for directions.

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LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

A BIT OF GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY 1. The verb POTERE (CAN/COULD/TO BE ABLE TO) This is the present tenses of the Italian verb POTERE which translates the English verbs can, could and to be able to. The subject pronouns are given in brackets because they are not necessary in Italian and they are normally omitted. To understand who performs the action of the verb (that is, who is the subject) the speakers rely on the verb endings. ENGLISH I can You can He can She can We can You can They can

ITALIAN (Io) POSSO (Tu)PUOI (Lui) PUO` (Lei) PUO` (Noi) POSSIAMO (Voi) POTETE (Loro) POSSONO

2. Some numbers, days of the week, months and seasons SEDICI GIUGNO

DICIASSETTE LUGLIO ESTATE VENERDI`

DICIOTTO AGOSTO

EXERCISES 1. Match the clauses 1.

PRENDA LA PRIMA VIA A

LA BANCA E` DAVANTI ALLA

LA FERMATA DELL’AUTOBUS

SEMPRE DRITTO

SCUSI, MI PUO` DIRE

LA TABACCHERIA E’

ALL’ INCROCIO PRENDA

SCUSI, MI PUO’ DIRE QUANDO

VORREI…

10. SCUSI, QUESTO AUTOBUS

A. FARMACIA B.

LA SECONDA VIA A DESTRA

SINISTRA

D. VA IN CENTRO? E.

UN BIGLIETTO DELL’ AUTOBUS

DEVO SCENDERE?

G. FINO AL SEMAFORO H.

DOV’E’ L’EDICOLA?

DI FIANCO ALLA POSTA

K. E` LONTANA

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Created by New Realm Media for La Bella Figura – Experience Italian Culture. September 2012 ©

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

2. Put this dialogue in order. The speaker who asks for directions is marked in bold. 1. 2.

Alla rotonda giri a sinistra in Via Matteotti Oh... mi può dire dov’è la stazione della metro più vicina? 3. Poi, sempre dritto in Via Matteotti, fino alla Stazione che è di fianco alla posta 4. Sì? 5. Questo autobus va in Piazza Duomo? 6. Certo! Adesso giri a destra in Via Cavour; sempre dritto fino alla rotonda. 7. Grazie Mille! Arrivederci... 8. No, questo autobus va in centro, non ferma In Piazza Duomo, prenda la metro! 9. Scusi Signore... 10. Arrivederci!

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3. Speaking Work in pairs or in groups of three people. Choose set 1, set 2, or set 3. Then, use the words and expressions you have learned to create a small conversation in Italian. Write your dialogue, establish the roles, and then practice it! Set 1   

Two tourists They decide to take a bus They need to buy the ticket but they do not know where newsagent is

Set 2   

One passenger on the bus Ask the driver if the bus goes to a specific place Ask the driver to indicate the correct stop

Set 3  

In the city centre Two tourists ask for directions

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

Approaching Italian Culture through the Movie Il Vigile (the Traffic Policeman)

Il Vigile is a 1960 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa.

Otello Celletti is an unemployed ex-soldier from a small town in Latium. Since the end of the war, he has been living with his family and father at the expense of his brother-in-law, Nando. One day he receives a letter that says he has been given a job as carrier in the town's markets, despite his request to join the local police. Unwilling to accept the new job, he manages to meet the town's Mayor and get the position he sought for. As a policeman, Otello can finally take revenge on all who had been teasing him during the post-war period when he was a jobless man, but soon he starts having trouble with his duties. Uncapable of directing the traffic properly at a rather busy crossing, he is moved to a peripheral area where his tasks are much easier and gets here the occasion he has always been waiting for. One day he is told by a man passing by that a car got stuck not far from there and that the car is no less than Sylva Koscina's . He hurries to the spot and makes friends with the actress, managing to invite her for a coffee at a near bar. After repairing her car (he actually only makes the situation worse and is then forced to call his little son who is a mechanic) asks Sylva to greet him on television at that night's broadcasting of the program Il Musichiere (the Italian version of Name That Tune). Although the woman is missing her driving license and car documents, he lets her go, looking forward to the moment when she will make his name in front of 18 million viewers. That same night, at Il Musichiere, Sylva greets Otello publicly and dedicates to him her performance of Adriano Celentano's Il tuo bacio è come un rock, but can't help saying whom Otello is and why she knows him, revealing also how he let her go when he should have fined or even arrested her. Otello is eventually called up by the Mayor and told how grave is what he has done, and that he is at risk of losing his job if he fails to fulfill his duties again: as a policeman, in fact, he must act according to law and make no distinctions. Sometime after, Otello is in his workplace when a car passes by exceeding the 50 km/h speed limit in the area by 15 km/h. The driver of the car is no less than the Mayor himself. Remembering what he had been told the day before and believing he is merely being tested by the Mayor, he gives him a speeding ticket and, as the Mayor drives away, follows him. He thus finds out the Mayor has a secret love story, despite being married. However, when he inspects the house where he thinks he will catch the man he is told by a woman (the Mayor's secret partner) that he is wrong and that there is no Mayor in there. The day after, despite being advised by his superiors not to proceed and fine the Mayor, he does so, confident of being in the right, revealing also about the possible skeletons in the Mayor's closet. The Mayor decides therefore to punish Otello, who soon gets fired, and chooses to go on trial rather than paying the fine. The town is, however, close to elections, and the disappointed policeman, unemployed again, is made the candidate of the Monarchist National Party, which opposes the current Mayor and uses Otello's case as anevidence that the current government does not operate justly. Certain to have the whip hand, he threatens the Mayor, declaring he will cause his government to fall Created by New Realm Media for La Bella Figura – Experience Italian Culture. September 2012 ©

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners and get elected himself. The Mayor replies by showing Otello secret information about him that he and his party have collected. The information concerns his family, specifically his sister, who was thought to be a masseuse living in Milan and is instead a prostitute, his marriage, which is not a legal being his wife's ex-husband still alive, and his father, who shot the King during the war, an action that would be considered an outrage by the monarchists. Fearing for the consequences this information might cause if revealed to the public, Otello decides to finally give up, and on the next day's trial he admits, pretending, that he was wrong in fining the Mayor, a mistake that was caused by a broken Odometer. The final scene goes to show how common people are unable to compete with the powerful, and must, in the end, submit.

4. Listening Watch the scene of the Italian movie Il Vigile (the Traffic Policeman) by Luigi Zampa. Write in the space provided the words you can catch.

A LITTLE STORY TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT TODAY Oggi Pierino va a Roma con il papà e la sorella. Ripeti le parole in grassetto dopo l’insegnante. Pierino va in città E’ giugno, è arrivata l’estate e Pierino e la sorella sono in vacanza. Oggi è venerdì e il papà dice: “Bambini, oggi non vado al lavoro. Se volete vi porto a Roma a visitare il Colosseo”. “Si, che bello!”, rispondono Pierino e la sorella. Quando arrivano in stazione a Roma, il papà guarda la mappa, e dice: “Dobbiamo prendere l’autobus che va in centro; andiamo in edicola per comprare il biglietto”. Il papà compra il biglietto e chiede al negoziante: “Mi può dire dov’è la fermata per l’autobus che va in centro?”. “Certo!”, risponde il negoziante. “E’ vicino. Sempre dritto, fino alla rotonda. La fermata è sulla destra, davanti alla posta”. “Grazie!”, risponde il papà. Adesso, Pierino, la sorella e il papà sono alla fermata dell’autobus. Pierino dice: “Ecco, l’autobus sta arrivando!”. Prima di salire sull’autobus, il papà chiede: “ Scusi, questo autobus dove va?”. Il conducente risponde: “Va in centro, ferma di fianco al Colosseo”. “Benissimo!”, dice il papà. Dopo la visita al Colosseo, il papà porta Pierino e la sorella al Palatino, alla Fontana di Trevi e a Piazza Navona. La sera Pierino chiede: “Come torniamo a casa?”. Il papà dice: “Adesso prendiamo la metro e poi il treno. La fermata della metro e’ vicina: dobbiamo girare a sinistra e siamo arrivati!”. Quando arrivano a casa la mamma chiede: “Allora, vi siete divertiti?”. “Si! Abbiamo visto un sacco di cose bellissime, e abbiamo preso il treno, l’autobus e pure la metro!”, rispondono Pierino e la sorella. Created by New Realm Media for La Bella Figura – Experience Italian Culture. September 2012 ©

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners

TRANSLATION Today Pierino goes to Rome with his dad and sister. Repeat the words in bold, after the teacher. Please consider that this text is to help you understanding the story, but it is not always wordto-word translation. Pierino goes to the city It’s summer and Pierino and his sister are on holiday. Today is Friday, and their dad says: “Today I won’t be at work. If you like we can go to Rome and visit the Colosseum!”. “Yes, that’s great!”, Pierino and his sister reply. When they arrive at the train station, Pierino’s dad has a look at the map and says: “We have to take the bus for the city centre; let’s go to the newsagent to buy the ticket”. He buys the tickets and says to the shop keeper: “Could you tell me where the bus to the city stops?”. “Of course”, answers the shop keeper. “It’s close. Go straight up to the roundabout. The bus stop is on the right-hand side, in front of the post office”. “Thank you!”. Now, Pierino, his dad and his sister are at the bus stop, and Pierino says: “The bus is arriving!”. Before getting on the bus, Pierino’s dad asks: “Excuse me, where does this bus go to?”. The driver answers: “It goes to the city centre. It stops in front of the Colosseum”. “Great!” dad replies. After the visit to the Colosseum, dad takes Pierino and his sister to the Palatino, Fontana di Trevi and to Navona’s square. Evening comes and Pierino asks: “How do we come back home?”. Dad replies: “Now, we’ll take the underground train and then we’ll catch another train. The underground station is close by: we have to turn left and we’ll be there”. When they arrive at home, their mum asks: “Did you enjoy your day?”. “Yes, we saw a lot of beautiful things, and we’ve taken the train, the bus and even the underground train!”, Pierino and his sister answer. HOMEWORK Exercise 1: REVISE THE WORDS YOU HAVE LEARNT. a. Read them loud. b. Explain their meaning. Are they formal or informal? In which context do you use them? IN CITTA' UN TAXI

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners IL POSTEGGIO DEI TAXI L'AUTOBUS IL TRAM LA METRO UN BIGLIETTO DELL'AUTOBUS/DELLA METRO L'EDICOLA SCUSI, QUESTO AUTOBUS VA…? IN CENTRO IN VIA… IN PIAZZA… LA FERMATA MI PUO' DIRE QUANDO DEVO SCENDERE? UNA MAPPA SCUSI, MI PUO' DIRE DOV'E'…? LA POSTA LA FARMACIA LA TABACCHERIA LA BANCA LA FERMATA DELL'AUTOBUS GIRI A DESTRA

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners GIRI A SINISTRA SEMPRE DRITTO, FINO AL SEMAFORO SEMPRE DRITTO, FINO ALL'INCROCIO SEMPRE DRITTO, FINO ALLA ROTONDA PRENDA LA PRIMA VIA A DESTRA PRENDA LA SECONDA VIA A SINISTRA VICINO LONTANO VICINO A… DAVANTI A… DI FRONTE A… DIETRO A… DI FIANCO A… IO POSSO TU PUOI LUI/LEI PUO' NOI POSSIAMO VOI POTETE LORO POSSONO VENERDI'

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners SEDICI DICIASSETTE DICIOTTO ESTATE GIUGNO LUGLIO AGOSTO

Exercise 2 Complete Pierino’s story filling the gaps with the words listed below (you need to repeat some words QUESTO - AUTOBUS (x4) - IN CENTRO (x3) - IL TRENO (x2) - DRITTO - EDICOLA - IL BIGLIETTO – GIRARE - PIAZZA GIUGNO – DOV’E’ – VICINO - POSTA – FERMATA (X2) - ROTONDA – DESTRA - LA MAPPA – ALLA FERMATA - ESTATE – VENERDÌ – DI FIANCO AL - DAVANTI – VICINA – SINISTRA – LA METRO (x2) – DOVE VA Pierino va in città E’ …………, è arrivata l’………… e Pierino e la sorella sono in vacanza. Oggi è ………………. e il papà dice: “Bambini, oggi non vado al lavoro. Se volete vi porto a Roma a visitare il Colosseo”. “Si, che bello!”, rispondono Pierino e la sorella.

Quando arrivano in stazione a Roma, il papà guarda ….. …………., e dice: “Dobbiamo prendere l’…………….. che va …. …………….; andiamo in ……………. per comprare …. ………………...”

Il papà compra il biglietto e chiede al negoziante: “Mi può dire …..…….….. la ………………. dell’autobus che va ….. ……………..?”. “Certo!”, risponde il negoziante. “E’ …………. Sempre ………….., fino alla …………………. La fermata è a ……………., ……………. alla …………….”. “Grazie!”, risponde il papà.

Adesso, Pierino, la sorella e il papà sono ……. ..………….. dell’………………... Pierino dice: “Ecco, l’autobus sta arrivando!”. Prima di salire sull’…………………, il papà chiede: “ Scusi, ………….. autobus ……… ….?”. Il conducente risponde: “Va …. ……………., ferma …. ………….. …. Colosseo”. “Benissimo!”, dice il papà.

LA BELLA FIGURA – EXPERIENCE ITALIAN CULTURE Lesson Material – Level 1 Absolute Beginners Dopo la visita al Colosseo, il papà porta Pierino e la sorella al Palatino, alla Fontana di Trevi e a …………… Navona. La sera Pierino chiede: “Come torniamo a casa?”. Il papà dice: “Adesso prendiamo .. ……… e poi … …………. La …………….. della metro è ……………: dobbiamo …………….. a ………………….. e siamo arrivati!”.

Quando arrivano a casa la mamma chiede: “Allora, vi siete divertiti?”. “Si! Abbiamo visto un sacco di cose bellissime, e abbiamo preso .. ………….., l’…………………… e pure .. ……………..!”, rispondono Pierino e la sorella.