The Iceberg Project

How to Talk About Everyday Chores in Italian

Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts.At The Iceberg Project, we’re big believers in incorporating Italian into everyday tasks as a way to further your learning and vocabulary. So, we got to thinking, what is something everyone does every day, but maybe has…

Books to Read for the Beginner Italian Student

We get a lot of readers who check out Cher’s top 10 books she loves in Italian and many who read about how to discuss these beloved (or hated) libri but both of these articles are for the more advanced learner. After seeing emails come through asking for beginner books, we thought it would…

What It’s Like to Move Houses in Italy

Before Friday, 16 March, I will have moved 23 times since I was 17 years old. After March 16, I will have moved 24 times. At this point, I consider myself a bit of an expert in this matter. I pack quickly, unpack quickly, throw away or donate anything even remotely useless to me, and…

Differences in Dating Between Americans and Italians

Ok…First things first…Big shout out to any of my cross cultural couples out there reading this. YOU GUYS ARE ROCK STARS! I know this, because I too am part of a cross-cultural coupling, and while it is AMAZING it also presents its unique challenges. And it can be hard, really hard, to overcome some of…

Love Florence? Make Sure to Do This First.

Every time I tell someone I live in Florence, I’m met with the same reaction. “Oh my gosh, you live there!? I LOVE FLORENCE!” And I’m never surprised to hear it, in fact, I totally get it. I too am absolutely smitten with my city and take a lot of pride in being a Fiorentina….

Merry Christmas: Italian Style

Christmastime is my absolute favorite time to be in Italy. Being a country that is over 96% Catholic, it often seems like the entire country is celebrating. The festivities last for almost a month with the season officially starting on December 8th, with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In Florence, where I live, this…

20 Ways to Make Your Holiday Season More Italian

If you love this time of year and all things Italy, but you’re having trouble finding time to study for Italian during the holidays, this article is for you! Sometimes at this time of year as family, friends and travel obligations distract us, it’s easy to let our commitment to studying fall to the side….

How to Talk About How Awesome (or Horrible) That Movie Was in Italian

One of the most exciting “field trips” I took when I lived in Italy was to a nearby town to watch the riveting final installment of the “Twilight” series: Twilight, Breaking Dawn Part II. Even though I wasn’t Twilight’s number one fan (okay, I admit, I might have read all of the books in high…

What are Pronominal Verbs and How Do You Use Them in Italian?

In Italian, a pronominal verb is basically a verb mixed with pronouns. Pronominal verbs look similar to verbs you already know, making it a little bit easier to take a guess at their meaning. We’re all familiar with the Italian verb ‘andare,’ meaning ‘to go’. The pronominal verb that looks similar to andare is andarsene….

How to Talk About that Book You Loved or Hated in Italian

One of my favorite things to talk about with people is reading, and, in fact, one of the first things I learned to say in Italian was mi piace leggere, I like to read. Similar to talking about music and movies, talking about books is a great way to connect with new friends that might also…

In Tiny Alleyways: Along the Winding Roads of the Amalfi Coast

I’ve always been curious about the driving laws in Italy. According to every Italian I’ve talked to, the laws are similar to those in the United States. You get pulled over if you’re going too fast; it’s important to obey all posted warnings and signs. In my experience, however, Italians like to play a little…

What to Know About the CILS Exam

My mind went blank as I read and re-read the prompt in front of me as the timer counted down for my “thinking time”. “If you could be a famous person, who would you choose to be and why?” That was the prompt in front of me, in Italian, and all I could think…