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CINQUE COSE BELLE… about the language of gardening.
Ciao, come stai? Perdona la mia lettera in ritardo ma questa settimana tra feste nazionali qui in Victoria e il lavoro sono rimasta un po’ in dietro e non sono riuscita a finire di scrivere in tempo.
Oltre a lavorare ed a festeggiare, questa settimana ho passato molto tempo nell’orto. I pomodori crescono a vista d’occhio, hanno già i fiorellini gialli e le zucchine stanno mettendo nuove foglie.
Adoro stare con le mani nella terra, seminare i semi, aspettare che germoglino, vederli crescere da piantini a piante. Adoro mangiare ciò che coltivo. Come dice nonno Domenico (in piemontese):
“quello che cresce nell’orto è sempre più buono”
Nella foto qui sopra lo vedete con una camicia rossa a quadri lavorare nell’orto con nonna Rita. Sono cresciuta con loro e per anni ho osservato attentamente ciò che facevano, guardandoli e facendogli molte domande ho imparato tutto quello che so ora. Cosi, appena abbiamo comprato questa casa ho deciso che volevo provarci anche io. Piano piano sto imparando a fare l’orto ma soprattutto sto imparando l’arte della pazienza!
Sono convita che il giardinaggio abbia molte similitudini con l’apprendimento di una lingua straniera e cosí, ecco per te la mia collezione di 5 cose belle da leggere, guardare, ascoltare e se vuoi studiare per questa settimana. Le puoi guardare tutte o solo alcune e sei un mio / una mia studente ne possiamo parlare durante la prossima lezione.
Noi ci sentiamo qui, Sabato prossimo!
Un abbraccio grande
Monica
sono rimasta un po’ in dietro = I was a bit behind
a vista d’occhio = at sight
fiorellini = small flowers
foglie = leaves
terra = soil
semi = seeds
germoglino = sprout or germinate (from germogliare, to sprout)
piantini = seedlings
piante = plants
coltivo = I cultivate (from coltivare, to cultivate)
volevo provarci = I wanted to try (to do it)
fare l’orto = growing veggies (not literal)
pazienza = patience
giardinaggio = gardening
+++++++++++
« ENGLISH »
Hi, how are you? Forgive my late letter but this week between national holidays here in Victoria and work I was a bit behind and I was unable to finish writing in time.
In addition to working and celebrating, I spent a lot of time in the garden this week. The tomatoes are growing before my eyes, they already have little yellow flowers, and the zucchini (courgettes) are putting on new leaves.
I love having my hands in the earth, sowing seeds, waiting for them to sprout, watching them grow from seedlings to plants. I love to eat what I grow. As Nonno Domenico says (in piemontese):
“What grows in the vegetable garden always tastes better”
In the photo above, you can see him in a red checkered shirt, working in the kitchen garden with my grandmother Rita. I grew up with them and for years I carefully observed what they were doing; watching them and asking them many questions, I learned everything I know. So, as soon as we bought this house, I decided I wanted to try to start a garden, too. Slowly slowly, I am learning to garden, but above all I am learning the art of patience!
I am convinced that gardening has many similarities with learning a foreign language and so, here is my collection of 5 great things to read, watch, listen to, and maybe (if you want) study for this week. You can watch them all or just some, and if you are a student of mine, we can talk about them during our next class.
We'll hear from each other again soon, next Saturday!
Un abbraccio grande
Monica
COSA BELLA 1: READING OF THE WEEK
Garden Like a Nonno by Jaclyn Crupi
Ho appena finito di leggere un libro troppo carino. Si chiama Garden Like a Nonno. Una collezione di tutti i consigli imparati dai due nonni italiani della scrittrice. Una lettura semplice e divertente in Inglese con qua e la alcune parole di Italiano. Se amate l’orto, ve lo consiglio.
Other 👩🌾 and 🌱 related book:
* All of Paolo Pejrone’s books (here’s an excerpt from one of his books)
* Con le mani nella terra (a children’s book, but very good for language learners)
COSA BELLA 2: TIP OF THE WEEK
The Language of Gardening
I think that many of us will be happiest with learning the Italian language if we treat it like gardening. What are 10 things that gardeners know?
* Prepara il terreno (prepare the soil)
* Semina con cura (seed carefully)
* Passa tempo nell’orto tutti i giorni (spend time in the veggie garden every day)
* Irriga e fertilizza (water and fertilise)
* Osserva cosa succede (look what happens)
* Leggi, studia ed ascolta tutto quello che trovi (read, study and listen to everything you can find)
* Gioisci per i primi germogli (rejoice for the first sprout)
* Non avere fretta (do not rush)
* Impara dagli errori (learn from your mistakes)
* Raccogli i frutti (reap the fruit)
Can you see the similarities with learning a language? What stage are you in at the moment?
You can think about this by listening to my Gardening Playlist↓
…
Click here to learn about these students that come to the Adelaide Secondary School of English from all over the world and how they're using the universal language of gardening to help them settle into their new home.
COSA BELLA 3: DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
Gardening Conversation Cards
IL MIO REGALO PER TE (my gift for you) ↓ download ↓
Click here to download this handy set of cards. They can be used in pairs or groups to help start a conversation. I have prepared them for you, with love.
COSA BELLA 4: STORY OF THE WEEK
Dui Puvrun, La storia di Stefano
Stefano studied Architettura (architecture) in Turin with me. We also worked in a studio di Architettura (architectural firm) together for a few months. Like me, at one point he decided to change la sua carriera (his career) and became a contadino (farmer). You can read this article about his company called Dui Puvrun (in Piedmontese dialect, two capsicum (peppers)), watch this video or follow him on Instagram.
COSA BELLA 5: NEWS OF THE WEEK
New Workshop with Me at Heronswood Gardens: Speaking Confidently
Are you keen to learn more about plants, veggies, gardening?
Join me for a Saturday morning walk in Italiano through Dromana, Heronswood Gardens, & Nursery! (11.30 am, Saturday 27 November)
In this 1.5 hour Italian WALKshop, we will wander through the Heronswood Gardens and Nursery and practice speaking together in Italian all about gardening. As we make our way through the gardens, you will be encouraged to use Italian to describe what you can see and your thoughts along the way.
This ‘walking workshop’ is intended to be a fun, active, and social language learning experience in a real-life context… keep reading & book your spot* at the link.
* Limited spots available
Stay tuned for more stories. Did you enjoy reading the newsletter this week? Leave a comment.
