Learn how to ask "What are you doing?"
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| 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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