Radio Roma Capitale

In August, I moved to Rome to do graduate work.  It's been great for improving my Italian -- it's also the reason that I haven't updated the blog in a while.  Radio Rome Capitale is an interesting radio station that is about Rome and the happenings in Rome.  Founded in 2012, this station aims to bring the news of Rome to those who live in the city.  There are often lively debates about public transport, strikes, local government issues as well as election coverage.

If you're a fan of Rome and want to learn what goes on in the city while practicing your Italian, definitely give this station a listen.  It's often amusing and enlightening to hear locals call in to voice their concerns and opinions of what goes on in the city.

You can find the station here:
http://www.radioromacapitale.it

They also have an app!

Radio Chianti and first post of 2012!

Radda in Chianti, 2009

Ciao a tutti!

I'm sorry for not having updated this blog in a while.  The holidays came and went, things got busy...and, well, you know the drill! :)

I wanted to talk about listening to Italian radio stations and how they can help.  I often find myself a little annoyed that so many Italian radio stations play so much English music which is why, when I want to practicing listening to Italian, I head to Radio 24.

The other day I read about Radio Chianti in the July 2011 issue of "In Chianti", an Italian publication about the going's-on in Chianti in Tuscany.  You can read the article here - just head over to the web site, download the latest issue, and the article about the radio is one of the first - you won't have to scroll through it for long.

The radio station is fun to listen to, especially the banter between the various DJ's that host the programs on the show. They also have podcasts and Facebook page.  They play a whole range of music - Italian and English artists - and is fun to listen to during the day.  You can also listen on your mobile device (through your phone/tablet's browser).

ooTunes

Sorry to beat to death the topic of the Ipod Touch and Iphones -- I know that they are not the "be all and end all" of mobile devices, but I know that a lot of people have them so it's why the focus is on that (also, I have an Ipod Touch). So, if you know of other mobile devices that use some cool apps that you think might be useful for improving and learning Italian, let me know so that we can let others know.

With that being said...

I want to bring everyone's attention to one of my favorite apps, ooTunes. ooTunes is a great app that contain over 15,000 radio stations from all over the world. The great thing about this app is that it's reliable, and it works! So many apps in the Itunes store have disappointed, at least in the area of transmitting Italian radio station reliably. You know much of a fan I am of practicing your listening and listening comprehensions skills in Italian. Radio is a great way to do this for many reasons, the most important being is that the Italian spoken will introduce you to a lot of words and expressions as well as get you used to hearing how Italian sounds outside the classroom. Using apps like ooTunes is a great way to connect with Italian content that is current and contemporary.

In a classroom setting, the Italian spoken is not often spontaneous. Listening to the radio with ooTunes (or your favorite radio/listening app) can help your ear process Italian as you might encounter it on the street or while meeting with friends. It's real, it's live, and it's a great way to train yourself. Remember, the point is not to translate every word that is being said but to understand what is being said. It's okay that you don't know every word or every other word. As you listen, pick out the words and phrases you know, and you will see over time that as you practice listening, the words you already know will register immediately allowing you to focus on the words you don't know which will help you understand what is being said. The best part is that there are radio programs and stations for all tastes, from sports to politics to cooking and current events.

ooTunes has a huge list of Italian radio stations! The Rai family of stations, Radio 24, Radio Italia and a host of others are listed, and I'm sure that you'll find many more that you weren't even aware of. You can also search and sort geographically, too, which helps in sorting through the stations. If you enjoy radio, then you can even listen to stations in your home country and around the world, too! There's also a great "buffer bar" that shows you the strength of the connection, and how well the signal is buffering. You can also save your favorite stations, use the app as an alarm clock, record your steam for playback later and a host of other options.

If you see a station that is not listed, send them an email and let them know. They have great customer service and respond pretty quickly to questions.

At only $4.99, you can't really go wrong with this app!

All opinions expressed in this post and about this app are my own.
I was not paid or compensated for my opinions by any party.
Any and all views and opinions that are expressed are my own and
are based on my own experiences.

Radio Deeyjay

With the summer holidays in Italy coming to a close, many of the major radio and TV personalities will be returning to work...

With that in mind, I introduce you to one of my favorite Italian radio station, Radio Deejay.

Located in Milan, this radio station broadcasts all over Italy and has some unique programs and personalities. If you're not in Italy and still want to listen, you can listen to the station live through your PC with streaming audio.

The author/dj/actor Fabio Volo has his own show, Il Volo del mattino, on Radio Deejay that can also be downloaded as a podcast. Deejay chiama Italia is also a fun program, and one of Italy's most listened to radio programs! A full list of the shows is available on their web site, and these shows can be downloaded as podcasts and relistened to at your leisure. Many of the shows often interview important personalities in the Italian cultural and entertainment scene, and you can learn a lot about what is happening in Italy through listening to Italian radio. Also, many of the announcers also have their own blogs which can make for some interesting reading and can also be useful sources of information.

The radio is a good way to practice your listening skills because it's fast and furious. Radio tends to have a strict time schedule so the language, while a bit faster, is a great way to train your ear. Don't be dissuaded by the fact that everyone is "talking fast". Over time, you'll adapt, and the point is not translate what is being said word for word but to understand the jist of what is being said.

If Radio Deejay isn't your cup of tea, check out some of the other radio stations listed in the sidebar to the right.