Chat Rooms to Practice Our Italian - Where can I find?
Nov 8th, 2004, 03:10 AM
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Chat Rooms to Practice Our Italian - Where can I find?
I was researching past Fodor messages regarding best ways to learn Italian. I believe it was Rex who suggested going to Italian chat rooms to "speak" with others in Italian. That sounds like a great idea, except I don't want to go to some chat room and find something kinky going on (and not know it because I don't understand what they are saying ;-) )
Does anyone on this forum use a chat room to practice their Italian? Would you share your site with me? Thank you.
Does anyone on this forum use a chat room to practice their Italian? Would you share your site with me? Thank you.
Nov 8th, 2004, 05:44 AM
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Search the slowtrav.com website for this capability. I think it was possible at one time, but I haven't looked for this specifically for a while. I don't think you have to worry about kinky at that site.
Nov 8th, 2004, 05:51 AM
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I signed up on About.com for online Italian lessons. I don't know whether there's a chat room. I had Italian 101 in college and the text book company had a website where you could e-mail back and forth with people in Italian. You may want to try a google search for Italian textbooks.
Nov 8th, 2004, 05:52 AM
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I don't know anything about chat rooms, and have never participated in one, even in English. But here's a message board/forum about Italian language. http://forums.about.com/ab-italian/start/?lgnF=y Messaages are in English or Italian and occasionally in other languages. Certain folders in the forum are strictly for posts in Italian. There are several native Italians on the forum who can answer questions about the language.
Nov 8th, 2004, 10:25 AM
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There are Italian-speaking chat rooms on yahoo (subset "culture and communities", then "by language"
. There aren't many people in them, though.
By the way, note that it isn't very easy to practice a foreign language in a chat room, since a lot of slang and abbreviations are used.
As for "kinky" stuff going on, it would depend on what you call "kinky". If you're thinking about people exchanging child porn files or such things, it extremely unlikely. If you're thinking about sexual content, then it's quite likely you will find some.
. There aren't many people in them, though.By the way, note that it isn't very easy to practice a foreign language in a chat room, since a lot of slang and abbreviations are used.
As for "kinky" stuff going on, it would depend on what you call "kinky". If you're thinking about people exchanging child porn files or such things, it extremely unlikely. If you're thinking about sexual content, then it's quite likely you will find some.
Nov 8th, 2004, 04:06 PM
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<<There are Italian-speaking chat rooms on yahoo (subset "culture and communities", then "by language".>>
Alternatively, ...
http://it.docs.yahoo.com/chat/chat.html
is, I think, a more (likely) productive source for chatting IN Italy - - it's where you'll end up if you click on "chat" on Yahoo! Italia.
And as for inappropriate content... just say no...
Auguri...
Rex
.>>Alternatively, ...
http://it.docs.yahoo.com/chat/chat.html
is, I think, a more (likely) productive source for chatting IN Italy - - it's where you'll end up if you click on "chat" on Yahoo! Italia.
And as for inappropriate content... just say no...
Auguri...
Rex
Nov 8th, 2004, 05:28 PM
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Hi Dog_Mother
I've been studying Italian for almost 4 years now, and, and am always out looking for ways to practice and keep going.
I don't know where you live, but I don't think an online chat room will give you much more than a limited basic chance to write in the language, and in my experience, most people want more of a conversational exchange. But you might have fun with writing anyway!
Where I live, (in a big city) I can find people to talk to, but if you don't have that chance, I think a great way is to rent Italian films, and listen to them without always watching the screen. It really helps you learn the rhythms of Italian speech.
In the beginning when I was even more obsessed than I am now, I would do this on a daily basis, just to be sourrounded by the sound of spoken Itlaian, and it really helped me get beyond the basic level.
Most Americans I meet at language schools have some trouble easing into the thythm and pronunciation, so it takes lots of practice. I do have people I write to in Italy, but without the sounds of the language around, I don't think I would have gotten too far after awhile.
As to your question about something"kinky"
going on, I guess if that's your aim, you could find it easily on the internet.
The word "auguri", btw, (meaning "wishes" is really just used between Italians as a greeting on Special Occasions, like birthdays, or Easter, Christmas, etc.
I'm not sure why Rex used it here, maybe trying to wish you luck? That idiom is "in boca del lupo" or "buona fortuna".
Hope you find whatever you're seeking!
I've been studying Italian for almost 4 years now, and, and am always out looking for ways to practice and keep going.
I don't know where you live, but I don't think an online chat room will give you much more than a limited basic chance to write in the language, and in my experience, most people want more of a conversational exchange. But you might have fun with writing anyway!
Where I live, (in a big city) I can find people to talk to, but if you don't have that chance, I think a great way is to rent Italian films, and listen to them without always watching the screen. It really helps you learn the rhythms of Italian speech.
In the beginning when I was even more obsessed than I am now, I would do this on a daily basis, just to be sourrounded by the sound of spoken Itlaian, and it really helped me get beyond the basic level.
Most Americans I meet at language schools have some trouble easing into the thythm and pronunciation, so it takes lots of practice. I do have people I write to in Italy, but without the sounds of the language around, I don't think I would have gotten too far after awhile.
As to your question about something"kinky"
going on, I guess if that's your aim, you could find it easily on the internet.
The word "auguri", btw, (meaning "wishes"
is really just used between Italians as a greeting on Special Occasions, like birthdays, or Easter, Christmas, etc.I'm not sure why Rex used it here, maybe trying to wish you luck? That idiom is "in boca del lupo" or "buona fortuna".
Hope you find whatever you're seeking!
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Nov 8th, 2004, 06:12 PM
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Sognatrice2, Is your remark about "auguri" a hard-and-fast rule? I have a couple of postcards from friends in Italy, and they sign off with "auguri." Is that because they consider me a close friend?
If that's the case, then I am so flattered that they consider me a good friend.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject.
If that's the case, then I am so flattered that they consider me a good friend.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject.
Nov 8th, 2004, 06:27 PM
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I don't think online chat rooms are the way for a beginner to practice a language. You need to practice hearing it and speaking it, not typing it. Don't worry about the kinky stuff, as any chat room conducted in Italian that is kinky is not going to be for beginners. Fluent or native Italian speakers aren't going to be interested in chatting online with beginners. I sometimes "chat" online in French, but I cut out immediately as soon as it's clear someone doesn't know basic spelling or grammar, even if they are French (and not very well educated).
Nov 8th, 2004, 06:42 PM
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There is some giant leap here - - I never said that chat rooms were among the "best" ways to learn a language. Just one more opportunity to pick up some vocabulary, and get a sense of "conversational" style, which clearly will be as different from "standard" as is English in a chat room.
My signing off with "Auguri" is intended to represent the way I close e4ssentially EVERY post I make (at least the first time on a given thread) with...
Best wishes,
- - I don't know if "Auguri" seems stilted, in this context or not - - and indeed, others have suggested that it is pretty meaningless, even in English. It's a stylized attempt at politeness, nothing more.
My signing off with "Auguri" is intended to represent the way I close e4ssentially EVERY post I make (at least the first time on a given thread) with...
Best wishes,
- - I don't know if "Auguri" seems stilted, in this context or not - - and indeed, others have suggested that it is pretty meaningless, even in English. It's a stylized attempt at politeness, nothing more.
Nov 8th, 2004, 06:50 PM
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In bocca del lupo does mean in the mouth of the wolf. It is their way of saying "break a leg". My Italian teacher told us recently about this...something like this: they said this when they were off to hunt - in the mouth of the wolf and the response would be "let the wolf die"...like be successful on the hunt I guess.
I hope I got her story kind of right.
I too am taking Italian lessons. I also find it hard to chat with people in Italian to practice. I recruited a co-worker to take class and now we try to speak a few things to each other each day in Italian. We also try to write short emails to each other...this has helped, but it would be more fun to get more practice other than my weekly italian class!
Auguri is used by people that don't know you well either. We were married in Italy two months ago and as we walked through the streets that day everyone shouted "auguri" to us.
Ciao!
I hope I got her story kind of right.
I too am taking Italian lessons. I also find it hard to chat with people in Italian to practice. I recruited a co-worker to take class and now we try to speak a few things to each other each day in Italian. We also try to write short emails to each other...this has helped, but it would be more fun to get more practice other than my weekly italian class!
Auguri is used by people that don't know you well either. We were married in Italy two months ago and as we walked through the streets that day everyone shouted "auguri" to us.
Ciao!
Nov 9th, 2004, 09:31 PM
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i_am_kane
I don't know if it's a "hard and fast rule" or just offering an opinion based on my experience so far.
If your italian friends use this greeting, then I'm sure it must be one way to sign a letter! The more I learn Italian, the less I know anything for sure!
My last message (from a close friend) was signed
"bacioni, a prestissimo!" (little kisses, until very soon!)
And this would be for rex too- to me it sounded slightly odd in his usage, but with the way he explained it, seemed well-intentioned.
I have found lots of things that sound right in English, are not used the same way in Italian at all- this comes up all the time in my classses,, even though all of us in my current class are at a more advanced conversational level.
We still make the mistake of trying to translate things in a literal way, and often sound strange and awkward to our italian teachers!
ninasdream, yes, "in the mouth of the wolf" is kind of like "break a leg", another colorful expreesion!
I learned it when I was working once on a theater project for an Italian friend, and the curtain was just about to go up- I tried to wish him luck, and he gave me the right phrase- because "Good luck" spoken literally, would have been a bad luck sign, just as (he said) purple is a bad luck color in Italian theater. (I had tried to design a purple costume for his production and had to revise the color because of this)
msfit- that's wonderful that you are taking classes!
I know it's a challenge to find people to converse with, I am always hunting for this opportunity.
(at the NY Marathon 2 days ago, I met a lovely family from Puglia, and three fellows from Torino!)
It's good if you can find native italian speakers, because with fellow students, it's too easy to fall back on English. Your commitment to a speak a little each day is really on target though, one always hears that 15 minutes a day will help you more than anything else. Congratulations on your recent marriage! E suo marito (o moglie), anche lui frequenta la classe con lei?
I don't know if it's a "hard and fast rule" or just offering an opinion based on my experience so far.
If your italian friends use this greeting, then I'm sure it must be one way to sign a letter! The more I learn Italian, the less I know anything for sure!
My last message (from a close friend) was signed
"bacioni, a prestissimo!" (little kisses, until very soon!)
And this would be for rex too- to me it sounded slightly odd in his usage, but with the way he explained it, seemed well-intentioned.
I have found lots of things that sound right in English, are not used the same way in Italian at all- this comes up all the time in my classses,, even though all of us in my current class are at a more advanced conversational level.
We still make the mistake of trying to translate things in a literal way, and often sound strange and awkward to our italian teachers!
ninasdream, yes, "in the mouth of the wolf" is kind of like "break a leg", another colorful expreesion!
I learned it when I was working once on a theater project for an Italian friend, and the curtain was just about to go up- I tried to wish him luck, and he gave me the right phrase- because "Good luck" spoken literally, would have been a bad luck sign, just as (he said) purple is a bad luck color in Italian theater. (I had tried to design a purple costume for his production and had to revise the color because of this)
msfit- that's wonderful that you are taking classes!
I know it's a challenge to find people to converse with, I am always hunting for this opportunity.
(at the NY Marathon 2 days ago, I met a lovely family from Puglia, and three fellows from Torino!)
It's good if you can find native italian speakers, because with fellow students, it's too easy to fall back on English. Your commitment to a speak a little each day is really on target though, one always hears that 15 minutes a day will help you more than anything else. Congratulations on your recent marriage! E suo marito (o moglie), anche lui frequenta la classe con lei?
Nov 9th, 2004, 10:02 PM
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Allow me just one correction since this thread has started to show some italian idioms:
The form which has appeared in a couple of replies "in bocca DEL lupo" is wrong. The correct form is "in bocca AL lupo", and yes, it can mean "good luck".
The form which has appeared in a couple of replies "in bocca DEL lupo" is wrong. The correct form is "in bocca AL lupo", and yes, it can mean "good luck".
Nov 9th, 2004, 10:12 PM
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'Auguri' means best wishes and is said at Christmas time, New Year's, Easter, etc. It is a bit more of a formal salutation and seems (IMO) more "seasonal" to me. The signed greetings amongst me and my Italian friends are usually 'tanti saluti', 'con affetto' or 'bacioni'.
Grazie, Batuffolina, you beat me to the punch re: correcting the phrase 'in bocca al lupo'.
Grazie, Batuffolina, you beat me to the punch re: correcting the phrase 'in bocca al lupo'.
Nov 10th, 2004, 03:46 AM
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Mnay thanks for the correction of in boca al lupo,, both, and also for the signed greeting 'con affetto', which I didn't know before- Italian seems to have such a wealth of wonderful expressions, I hope to be learning for years to come!
Nov 10th, 2004, 03:50 AM
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And the correct spelling of the first word in my response above is MANY, not MNAY, which is not a word, but a spelling mistake caused by the temporary misplacement of my glasses and lack of early morning coffee.... 
