Hello everybody!
I’m Polly and I’m writing from Italy.
This is truly the most useful forum I’ve run into!
Thank you in advance for your help. In case you’ll ever need any help with Italian, feel free to contact me: I’d be glad to return your favour.
Ciao 
Hi Polly,
Glad you like the site. Welcome. You say you’re writing from Italy. Do you live there or study there?
Alan
i wanna make friend with people around the world , so i can improve my english better. can i become your friend?
Hi Polly,
Welcome to the site. I myself am really enjoying it a lot and have no doubt that you will too.
By the way, in Bulgaria we also use the word “ciao” for goodbye. Small world, isn’t it? As far as I know in Italy you use it both for hello and goodbye. Am I right?
Daniela
Hi Alan,
I live here!
More precisely, I live in Liguria
Of course you can, dear annavn!
I’d be glad to get to know you!
Hi Daniela,
I didn’t know “ciao” was used elsewhere! Thank you very much for letting me know.
Yes, you’re right: we use it both as a greeting and as a leave-taking.
Hello Polly,
In other words, you live under the flap or above the knee of the boot!
I have a question or two for you: Is English taught at school in Italy and from which grade? Can pupils choose another optional language and which? Would you say that English is spreading in your country? Sorry if I’m being too inquiring – if it’s too much, answer the first question only (this sounds like a Groucho Marx line!).
:lol: Hello Conchita,
how are you? You’re a really funny person!
I will be glad to answer any question, so don’t worry about being inquiring!
Up until just a few years ago, we started studying English at 11, from the 6th grade (“prima media”). Now children start studying it at 6, from the 1st grade (“prima elementare”).
As far as I know, starting from the 6th grade, children can choose between English and French (it’s always been like that, even before English was introduced in the elementary school).
Unfortunately, English (as any other foreign language, actually) has always been considered little more than a hobby here. Only in recent times has it been realized that its importance is crucial, but the process of its spread is really slow.
Many thanks for your quick and extensive answer, Polly. It seems that our two countries are more or less in the same situation in regard to learning English. The need for it is more important than the interest, though the latter is awakening…at a Mediterranean pace!
Oh Conchita
And there was me thinking you were mad about English. I’m gutted.
Alan
Oh, but I am! I must be atypical, then.
Sorry to have caused you such hollowing pain (I’m not sure of the exact meaning of ‘gutted’, but it sounds devastating, somehow).
(It’s a good thing I know you’re teasing!)
Dear Conchita, I think we are still much too tied to our own traditions, which is a good thing, but we should learn that there is room enough for other cultures and languages as well… :!:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I think we are still much too tied to our own traditions, which is a good thing, but we should learn that there is room enough for other cultures and languages as .
Hi,
I know you think people slowly but surely will learn and master one international language for example English
and I have thought same way many years ago.
I am afraid it will not happen like this.
English will be spread double so much as today and will
be taken back again the same way as has been happened
with Latin,Norge,Norman French,Portugese,German,Russian etc…
The history or the world haven’t changed so much we are still just at the beginning.
In Italy right after the war many more people were eager to learn English then nowdays and … ??
Today it looks like English is far far away dream.
I remeber in Genova young students approching me just trying to find some occasion for practise and they were unable say even few words ( probably years of education 2/3 hours a week and what was wrong ??)
look the true strait in the eyes
regards
Jan
terra firma syndrom man
:lol: and then :oops:
Now your signature has me wondering if you meant it as a reproach of sorts. Hopefully not. Well, I’m not proud of what I said to you in that post, if it can console you.
Still it seems to be a fact that looking at the world from the sea gives you a whole different perspective on it. It’s the impression I get when I read you, anyway.
Hi Conchita,
of course no, provocation is a temptation of the devil to me.
I like a bit of confrontation I have to say ,you manage this very gentle.
By the way.It is a proof you are up to the bone Spanish or
maybe Southerner.
English would have ignored me most probably ,just have ignored .
regards
Jan
“terra firma” I use it quite often right now I like it.
what’s up Polly i’m i learned italian when i was a kid,i live in Brazil,kisses.Now let’s learn english together.Baci!!