Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Becky: Welcome to ItalianPod101.com. This is 3-Minute Italian Season 1, Lesson 12 - Asking What Someone is Doing. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask and answer the question ‘What are you doing?’ in Italian.
Body
Becky: Here's the informal way to ask 'What are you doing?' in Italian.
Ofelia: [Normal] Cosa stai facendo?
Becky: First is a word meaning 'what'
Ofelia: [Normal] cosa [Slow] cosa
Becky: Next is the word meaning 'you are'
Ofelia: [Normal] stai [Slow] stai
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'doing'
Ofelia: [Normal] facendo [Slow] facendo
Becky: Note the rising intonation. Listen again to the informal question meaning 'What are you doing?'
Ofelia: [Slow] Cosa stai facendo? [Normal] Cosa stai facendo?
Becky: Now, imagine you're speaking to a stranger. Here's the formal way to ask, 'What are you doing?'
Ofelia: [Normal] Cosa sta facendo?
Becky: First is a word meaning 'what'
Ofelia: [Normal] cosa [Slow] cosa
Becky: Next is the word meaning 'you are (polite)'
Ofelia: [Normal] sta [Slow] sta
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'doing'
Ofelia: [Normal] facendo [Slow] facendo
Becky: Note again the rising intonation. Listen again to the formal question meaning 'What are you doing?'
Ofelia: [Slow] Cosa sta facendo? [Normal] Cosa sta facendo?
Becky: Here's a response meaning 'I am studying.'
Ofelia: [Normal] Sto studiando.
Becky: First is a word meaning 'I am'
Ofelia: [Normal] sto [Slow] sto
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'studying'
Ofelia: [Normal] studiando [Slow] studiando
Becky: Listen again to the response, 'I am studying.'
Ofelia: [Slow] Sto studiando. [Normal] Sto studiando.
Becky: Here's a response meaning, 'I'm doing nothing special.'
Ofelia: [Normal] Non sto facendo niente di speciale.
Becky: First is a word meaning 'not'
Ofelia: [Normal] non [Slow] non
Becky: Next is the phrase meaning 'am doing'
Ofelia: [Normal] sto facendo [Slow] sto facendo
Becky: Next is the word meaning 'nothing'
Ofelia: [Normal] niente [Slow] niente
Becky: Last is the phrase meaning 'special'
Ofelia: [Normal] di speciale [Slow] di speciale
Becky: Listen again to the response, 'I'm doing nothing special.'
Ofelia: [Slow] Non sto facendo niente di speciale. [Normal] Non sto facendo niente di speciale.
Cultural Insight
Becky: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Ofelia: This lesson’s question is probably the question Italians ask most on the phone. The more they think of you as a dear friend, the more likely you will be asked it! Please know that it’s used just as an icebreaker to start the conversation.

Outro

Becky: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson!
Ofelia: Ciao!

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