Archive for October, 2009

Inno alle Marche – Hymn to the Marche

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Thi morning on the regional news they played part of the “Hymn to the Marche”. This workLovers of classical music and pictures of landscape can now see both together on U-tube where “Inno alle Marche” is now available.

The hymn was composed by the pianist Giovanni Allevi in 2007. The composer was, apparently, paid 18 thousand euros plus 84 thousand for work in advertising the region.

The music with pictures of the Marche can be found on U-tube

Salviamo il congiuntivo (Save the subjunctive)

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Students of Italian (including Italians, including me) always battle with the subjunctive – a form of the verb used afted other verbs of doubt, hope etc. Over recent year Italian young people have tended to stop using it. Good news for foreigners trying to master the language and bad news for Italians wanted to maintain the language.

So in response a “Committee for Saving the Subjunctive” was set up a few years ago to attempt to turn back the tide. However, it looks as if the battle might be lost as the last comment on the blog was in January 2008.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

erica german teacher

Having almost mastered Italian I am now moving onto the biggest challenge yet – the German language. Readers of the blog will have seen Erica before – at our local Oktober Beerfest. She has agreed to help teach me German. We meet once a week where she provides coffee and patience as I try to grapple with the grammar and pronunciation.

Mr Berlusconi and Rosie

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Rosie Bindi

Mr Berlusconi is well known for his gaffes and his attitude to women. Last week Rosie Bindi, a member of the Democratic Party was being interviewed on a programme. Mr Berlusconi was then interviewed via a telephone link. He began his comments on Ms Bindi’s views with the statement that she was “more beautiful than intelligent”. He apologised later for the comment.

English through song

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Have restarted the English classes on Wednesdays and I am continuing to teach some students on a one-to-one basis.

In the English class I sometimes use songs. The text we use suggests some well known songs with simple words and well-known tunes. So last year we used “Stevie Wonder and I Just Called to Say I Love You” etc. One of the students brought me the song that they have used in their English class at school. Instead of Stevie Wonder they use Radiohead’s song Creep. The words came as a surprise. Made me wonder which text is closer to spoken English today.

I JUST CALLED… CREEP
No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to youI just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world,
I wish I was special!
You’re so fuckin’ special!
But I’m a creep.
I’m a weirdo.
What the hell and I doing here?
I don’t belong here.

Artists of San Giorgio – Thomas Orthmann

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
orthmann Thomas Orthmann, San Giorgio’s artist in residence has an exhibition of his recent work at “Wasserburg am Inn”, an historic town near Munich. The exhibition begins on the 17th October and continues through until January 17.