This week’s idiom is “a mano a mano”.  This expression’s generic form is “poco a poco”, which means “little by little” in English.  Just as in Italian, English also has an idiomatic version of this expression: “step by step.” Both idioms express the progress of little actions leading towards larger… Continue reading

This week’s idiom is “chiocciola”.  Literally this word translates as “snail” in English, but its idiomatic use has no counterpart in English! When saying an email address to someone in italiano, you say “chiocciola” for where the at sign (@) goes in your address.  It’s quite logical really, “@” looks… Continue reading

For those of you who can’t get enough of the Italian language, here’s a resource where you can keep up with Italian news and entertainment.  The RAI network is Italy’s primary broadcasting system, and it has a website where everyone can follow along.  If the spoken Italian is too difficult… Continue reading

The 16th Annual European Film Festival continues through March 2013 at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. Sentieri Italiani has a pair of free tickets to the Italian film “Dormant Beauty” that will be playing at the Festival on March 22 and 24.  These tickets will be raffled off to all up-to-date… Continue reading

This week’s idiom is “Ora Legale” or in English “Daylight Savings Time”.The English idiom of “Daylight Savings Time” emphasizes the benefit of the moving forward of the clocks to have an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. The Italian “Ora Legale” meanwhile simply translates to “legal time”.Tonight, March 9,… Continue reading

This March there are plenty of opportunities to see the newest Italian films in Chicago. Sentieri Italiani, as part of the Cineforum series, will be screening and discussing the film “Good Morning Aman”, directed by Claudio Noce and staring Valerio Mastandrea. The Gene Siskel FIlm Center, as part of the… Continue reading

This week’s idiom is “ne uccide più la penna che la spada”.Although an idiom, it’s better known as a proverb, which is English is “the pen is mightier than the sword”.This proverb has some variants in Italian, for example the word “language/la lingua” can replace “the pen/ la penna”. The… Continue reading

This week’s idiom is “ogni morte di papa”.  In English you would say “every once in a blue moon” to describe something that recurs but not often.The literal translation of the Italian idiom is “every death of a pope”.  The last pontiff to pass away was Pope John Paul II,… Continue reading

The Galleria at Sentieri was a success!  With some sweets and coffee (or wine for some), we spoke in English and Italian as we perused the artistic creations on display.  Thanks and congratulations to all of our presenters:Sharon Banis, personal photographyJill Gaertner, handmade soaps and lotionsRichard Hren, personal photographyRobin McDonald,… Continue reading