Italian In Context Laura's Dram I am Marco and this is a new lesson of the series Italian In Context These lessons will help you improve your Italian In a simple, natural, and fun way Listen to the text Then Follow the explanations In this way, you will learn many useful words and phrases for communicating in Italian. Now listen to the text My name is Laura. Ever since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by the world of sewing.
I used to spend hours beside my grandma, carefully watching how she made clothes or patiently sewed up ruined ones. My grandma was a skilled seamstress, but sewing was not her job. Noticing my interest, she began to teach me how to sew.
I was only 9 years old, when I made my first creation! It was a dress for one of my dolls, made from grandma's cloth scraps. One day my grandma said: “Laura, since you like sewing so much, when I am gone, my sewing machine will be yours.
" Grandma gave me a beautiful gift. Every time I used her sewing machine, I remembered the good times I had together with her. As time passed, I became better and better at sewing.
I made clothes for myself, for my sisters, for my mother, and even for my friends. But I was not completely satisfied. I wanted to turn my passion into a job, a real job.
My life-long dream was to open my own atelier. I knew that in the small town where I lived, I would not be able to realize my dream. I had to go to the city.
So one day I said to my father and mother: "Dad, mom, I have decided to move to Milan". Although concerned, my parents supported my choice. At 18 years old, I left Sicily and went to live in Milan.
I took with me a few savings and my grandma's sewing machine. I rented a small place: It would be both my home and my fashion studio. The first months were not easy at all.
There were few clients, and I was limited to doing only a few darning jobs. At times I was very discouraged. But I didn't give up on myself.
I was sure that things would change I rolled up my sleeves and created a wide selection of women's and men's clothes In those days I worked even at night to finish the clothes as quickly as possible One day a lady stopped to observe the window of my atelier. Then she came in and bought one of my dresses. I was overjoyed!
Gradually, the number of clients increased, to the point where I had to hire an associate to help me. After about a year, I realized that I needed a bigger place. Finally I could see that my dream was coming true!
The new place was very spacy and within walking distance from the Milan Cathedral! Since then, many years have passed, but my passion for sewing has remained the same. Now my atelier is one of the best known in Milan.
Every day I deal with many customers. Some of them, intrigued, ask me about the antique sewing machine in my atelier. For me, it is always very emotional to tell the story of that sewing machine and that girl who brought it with her to Milan many years ago.
Before we continue, I want to remind you to Subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications So you don't miss any lessons Now let's look at the meaning of some words and expressions in this short text. Take note of the ones you don't know yet, this way your Italian will improve! Means Since I was a little girl I have always been fascinated by the world of sewing It is everything regarding sewing, the art of sewing I used to spend hours beside my grandma Means Next to, Beside, At the side of.
Let's see more examples My house is next to the supermarket It means that my house is Alongside the supermarket At the side of the supermarket The child is next to the mother It means that the child is Close to the mother Alongside the mother I watched how grandma darned the clothes. Means to repair a ruined fabric My grandmother was a skilled seamstress Is a very good seamstress A dress made from grandma's cloth scraps They are the pieces of cloth that are leftover i. e.
left over after making something When I am gone, my sewing machine will be yours Means when I die, when I am dead It is a sewing tool for joining pieces of cloth. Grandma gave me a beautiful gift Is the remote past tense of the verb "FARE" (To Do) Let's see the full conjugation I was getting better and better at sewing Means To always get better at something To learn to do something better Let's see another example You are getting better and better at playing the piano! Means You are always getting better I was not completely satisfied Means Completely, Entirely Let's see more examples I'd like to change my car but I'm not entirely convinced Means I am not completely convinced What you are saying is entirely wrong Means what you say is completely wrong A real, Actual job Means Exactly like this, Authentic This expression is often used to reinforce a statement Let's see another example The magic show was a complete disaster means that the magic show was a real disaster "Vero e proprio” reinforces the statement.
My life-long dream was to open my own atelier Is a great desire that a person wants to fulfill An important goal to achieve Another example I have a life-long dream: to become a famous writer "Ho un sogno nel cassetto" means I have a great desire that I would like to fulfill Is a studio where exclusive haute couture dresses are made and sold An atelier of my own Means completely mine Let's see another example I would love to have a house of my own It means I would love to have a house completely mine I decided to move to Milan Means To move to live or move to another place Let's see more examples Next month I will move to Italy It means I'm going to live in Italy The store was moved to Garibaldi street It means the store has been moved to Garibaldi street. Although worried, my parents supported my choice. Means: In spite of/ Although/ Even though Other examples Although it is winter, it is not cold Means Even though it is winter, it is not cold Although she studied hard, Ida did not pass the exam Means Although she studied hard, Ida did not pass the exam My parents supported my choice Means To sustain someone's choice I brought a few savings with me Is the money that a person doesn't spend, that he sets aside to use in the future I rented a small room Means Regularly paying an amount of money to use something that belongs to someone else For example, a person can rent a house A small room/ place “Un locale” is an enclosed place intended for various uses If it is used as a business, it is called “Business premises” Both my home and my fashion studio Means This and this other one, one thing and another Let's see more examples I have been to both Rome and Milan It means I have been to Rome and Milan I like both cats and dogs Means I like cats and dogs The first few months were not at all easy Means Not at all, Absolutely “Affatto” reinforces the negation Let's see another example The waiter was not kind at all It means that the waiter was absolutely not kind The first few months were not easy at all It's the remote past tense of the verb "ESSERE" (To Be) Let's see the full conjugation I was just making some darnings Means I was just doing some darning They are the repairs made to damaged fabrics I was discouraged but I didn't give up Means Surrendering, giving up doing something after trying to do it Let's see another example Peter did not give up and eventually learned Italian very well "Peter non si è dato per vinto" means: Peter did not give up I rolled up my sleeves and created a wide selection of women's and men's clothing Means Preparing to work hard Preparing to do something with a lot of effort It is a big variety, many alternatives available Let's see another example In this store there is a wide selection of shoes It means that there are many kinds of shoes Women's and men's clothes It is a dress made for women or for men The preposition "DA" can indicate the function of something Another example I have to buy sneakers That is, to exercise In the shortest time possible Means As quickly as possible A lady stopped to observe the window display "La vetrina" is the part of a store where some items are displayed behind glass that you can see from the outside, without going inside.
Slowly the number of clients increased It means gradually, little by little Let's see another example Don't worry. You will heal slowly. It means: Gradually you will heal I had to hire an associate Means I had to hire someone to help me "DOVETTI” is the remote past tense of the verb "DOVERE" (Must/Have to) Let's see the whole conjugation After about a year Means: almost, more or less.
It indicates an undefined quantity Let's see more examples This tower is about 15m high It means that this tower is almost more or less 15m high The trip will take about 3 hours It means that the trip will take almost more or less 3 hours I realized that I needed a bigger place It is the remote past tense of the verb "CAPIRE" (To understand) Let's see the whole conjugation I could finally see that my dream was coming true Expresses happiness or satisfaction with something that we have long desired and then it comes true or will come true Let's see another example Finally vacations have started Means I've been waiting for this moment and I'm glad it has arrived The new place was very big and within walking distance from the Cathedral of Milan Means Big, With lots of space Within walking distance from the Cathedral of Milan Means Very close (to a place)/ A stone's throw Let's see another example The supermarket is a stone's throw away It means that the supermarket is very close The Cathedral of Milan It is a large and ancient cathedral located in the center of Milan Since then, many years have passed Means Since that time/ moment Let's see another example In 2021 I went to Rome. Since then I have fallen in love with Italy "Da allora" means from that time Every day I deal with so many customers Means Be in contact with. .
. , Deal with. .
. , Have relations with. .
. Let's see another example I am a computer technician. I always deal with computers that have problems.
Means I always deal with computers that have problems I am always in contact with computers that have problems Some customers, intrigued, ask me for information Means With curiosity, with interest. Let's see another example I heard some people talking loudly. Intrigued, I went out of the house.
"Incuriosito" means driven by curiosity Good, we have seen very useful words and expressions for communicating in Italian Now listen to the text again My name is Laura. Ever since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by the world of sewing. I used to spend hours beside my grandma, carefully watching how she made clothes or patiently sewed up ruined ones.
My grandma was a skilled seamstress, but sewing was not her job. Noticing my interest, she began to teach me how to sew. I was only 9 years old, when I made my first creation!
It was a dress for one of my dolls, made from grandma's cloth scraps. One day my grandma said: “Laura, since you like sewing so much, when I am gone, my sewing machine will be yours" Grandma gave me a beautiful gift. Every time I used her sewing machine, I remembered the good times I had together with her.
As time passed, I became better and better at sewing. I made clothes for myself, for my sisters, for my mother, and even for my friends. But I was not completely satisfied.
I wanted to turn my passion into a job, a real job. My life-long dream was to open my own atelier. I knew that in the small town where I lived, I would not be able to realize my dream.
I had to go to the city. So one day I said to my father and mother: "Dad, mom, I decided to move to Milan" Although concerned, my parents supported my choice. At 18 years old, I left Sicily and went to live in Milan.
I took with me a few savings and my grandma's sewing machine. I rented a small place: it would be both my home and my fashion studio. The first months were not easy at all.
There were few clients and I was limited to doing only a few darning jobs. At times I was very discouraged. But I didn't give up on myself.
I was sure that things would change I rolled up my sleeves and created a wide selection of women's and men's clothes In those days I worked even at night to finish the clothes as quickly as possible One day a lady stopped to observe the window of my atelier. Then she came in and bought one of my dresses. I was overjoyed!
Gradually, the number of clients increased, to the point where I had to hire an associate to help me. After about a year, I realized that I needed a bigger place. Finally, I could see that my dream was coming true!
The new place was very spacy and within walking distance from the Milan Cathedral! Since then, many years have passed, but my passion for sewing has remained the same. Now my atelier is one of the best known in Milan.
Every day I deal with many customers. Some of them, intrigued, ask me about the antique sewing machine in my atelier. For me, it is always very emotional to tell the story of that sewing machine and that girl who brought it with her to Milan many years ago.
Well, that's it for this lesson.
