Italian Lesson

Teacher: Ah - good evening everyone, and welcome to the second of our Italian language classes, in which we’ll be helping you brush up your Italian. Last week we started at the beginning, and we learnt the Italian for a ’spoon’. Now, I wonder how many of you can remember what it was? (Shout of ’Si, Si, Si,’ from the class whom we see are all Italians.) Teacher: Not all at once ... sit down Mario. Giuseppe! Giuseppe: II cucchiaio. Teacher: Well done Giuseppe, or, as the Italians would say: ’Molto bene, Giuseppe’. Giuseppe: Grazie signor ... grazie di tutta la sua gentilezza. Teacher: Well, now, this week we’re going to learn some useful phrases to help us open a conversation with an Italian. Now first of all try telling him where you come from. For example, I would say: ’Sono Inglese di Gerrard’s Cross’, I am an Englishman from Gerrard’s Cross. Shall we all try that together? All: Sono Inglese di Gerrard’s Cross. Teacher: Not too bad, now let’s try it with somebody else. Er... Mr... ? Mariolini: Mariolini. Teacher: Ah, Mr Mariolini, and where are you from? Mariolini: Napoli, signor. Teacher: Ah ... you’re an Italian. Mariolini: Si, si signor! Teacher: Well in that case you would say: ’Sono Italiano di Napoli’. Mariolini: Ah, capisco, mi!le grazie signor... Francesco: Per favore, signor! Teacher: Yes? Francesco: Non conosgeve parliamente, signor devo me parlo sono Irallano di Napoil quando il habitare de Milano. Teacher: I’m sorry ... I don’t understand! Giuseppe: (pointing to Francesco) My friend say ’Why must he say...’ (Hand goes up at back of room and a Lederhosen Teutonic figure stands up.) Helmut: Bitte mein Herr. Was ist das Won für Mittelschmerz? Teacher: Ah! Helmut - you want the German classes. Helmu: Oh ja! Danke schön.