Italian preposition "a" (at, to,...)
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The preposition a (at) has a lot of uses in Italian.
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When a expresses a direction, it translates as to.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Andare a Milano | To go to Milan |
Andare al mare | To go to the seaside |
When a expresses location in space:
Italian | English |
---|---|
Abitare a Milano | To live in Milan |
Essere al mare | To be at the seaside |
When a expresses an exact time or moment, it usually translates as at.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Alle sei | At six o'clock |
A sedici anni | At sixteen |
Be careful! Unlike English, some Italian expressions need the article after the preposition (see Italian articulated prepositions)
Alle sei → At six o'clock
Months behave differently. In this case, a translates as in.
Italian | English |
---|---|
A maggio | In May |
A luglio | In July |
When a expresses a distance in terms of space and time, it translates as away (placed after the complement expressing distance).
Italian | English |
---|---|
Lavoro a due chilometri da qui | I work two kilometres away from here |
Roma è a tre ore da Firenze | Rome is three hours away from Florence |
When a expresses an indirect object, it usually translates as to.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Voglio dare questo libro a te | I want to give this book to you (I want to give you this book) |
Tu hai scritto una lettera a Maria | You wrote a letter to Maria |
In the following table you can find a list of typical Italian expressions that are introduced by the preposition "a".
Italian | English |
---|---|
a destra | to the right |
all'oscuro | in the dark (without knowledge) |
a sinistra | to the left |
all'alba | at sunrise |
al mattino | in the morning |
al tramonto | at sunset |
a cominciare da | beginning with, starting from |
a momenti | sporadically, sometimes |
al momento | at present, now |
all'ultimo momento | at the last minute |
a bocca aperta | open-mouthed |
rimanere a bocca asciutta | to be left empty- handed |
a braccia aperte | open-armed |
alla buona | simple, informally |
a malincuore | reluctantly |
fatto a mano | handmade, hand-crafted |
a mano a mano | little by little |
rapina a mano armata | armed robbery |
imparare a memoria | to learn by heart |
a metà | halfway |
ad ogni costo | come hell or high water |
ad ogni modo | in any case, at any rate |
(stare/calzare) a pennello | to a "t" |
a/alla perfezione | perfectly, just right |
a pois | polka-dotted |
a quadri | checked (of material) |
a rovescio | inside out |
a strisce | striped |
a tempo pieno | full time |
a tutta velocità | at full speed |
a vicenda | in turn, each other |
a voce alta | in a loud voice |
a voce bassa | in a soft voice |
all'altezza | up to a task |
a bruciapelo | point break |
a buon mercato | cheap |
a lungo andare | in the long run |
a volontà | at will, as much as you want |
a mio avviso | in my opinion |
a capo | new paragraph (in dictation) |
a posto | tidy |
mettere a posto | to tidy up |
è tutto a posto | everything's fine |
a proposito di | speaking about |
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Hello everyone!
ABOUT ME
I was born and have grown up in Johannesburg, South Africa. I am passionate about football, traveling ( who isn't ! ), and reading books that make me want to stay indoors and read all day! But I have many interests and the most exciting thing is getting a chance to talk to you about all of them and finding out about your interests too. This is one way we will practice your English skills and together we will set goals and aims to make you perfect in English.
ME AS A TEACHER
I have completed the 120 hour CELTA course, including six hours’ assessed teaching practice at two different levels. This is in addition to my Bachelor of Arts and Higher Diploma in Education qualifications.
I have taught student's in classrooms from Johannesburg, to London and Athens from as young as 13 right up to adults. This included business people and corporate individuals such as bankers. I am excellent at teaching from pre-intermediate to proficiency and with my business background, I am ready to help with Business English. In addition, I can greatly help with any exam preparation for IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC.
MY LESSONS & TEACHING STYLE
I teach because it has always been the one thing I am most passionate about. It’s this very feeling and passion that helps me create lessons that are well prepared, with a focus on short term and long terms goals and lessons that we will do as a team. I do believe strongly that any teaching is done as a partnership.
I do this through lessons that are creative, fun, interesting, and engaging - which means I get to hear what your thoughts and opinions are. So I will build a personal course for you based on using your interests, passions, and needs to create our study material. Lessons will always be focused on exactly what you need to learn to improve your skills and learn to speak like a native!
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Angelo is competent, funny and a really good teacher. I totally recommend him to everyone who wants to be taught in English professionally. His lessons are extremely well structured and adjusted individually.
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Hello German learner! I am a dedicated teacher for DaF (German as a foreign language) studying and working in Germany. I have already gained teaching experience with different age groups and nationalities while teaching German in various language schools.
Currently, I'm doing my second studies in German, English, and Teaching at the University of Bonn. (I already got my Master's Degree in German and Literature). Besides, I teach in a local language school as well as tutor students online on Colanguage.
In my free time, I learn French and Dutch and hope to become a true polyglot one day :)
So as you can see, I'm all into languages and love my profession as a teacher!
I can help you learn general German, develop your communicational skills as well as prepare you for language tests (Goethe Zertifikat, Telc, etc).
Just book a trial lesson with me and we'll find out which course is right for you.
See you soon
Anush
PS. IMPORTANT! Currently, I only work with adults aged 18 and over - so NO courses for children, sorry.
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Hranush is a teacher with a lot of experience in teaching German. She has many materials and is well-structured!
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Daniela is an excellent teacher. He has a lot of patience and knowledge. . She is always very attentive to correct your mistakes, so that in each class you improve your speaking and your confidence to express yourself better outside the classroom. 100% the best
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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I asked Daniela to help me with pronunciation. She pays careful attention, and corrects my pronunciation as needed.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Daniela is an excellent teacher. has a lot of patience and you shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes. she is always there to help you. Thanks Daniela
Daniela V.Dear Linda, thank you for your positive feedback. I am very happy that you feel comfortable and this is very important to me. Thanks to you for the great trust :-)
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Ciao! My name is Giorgio, I live few kilometers away from Rome and I am a native speaking Italian tutor, certified with the DITALS Level II (Università per Stranieri di Siena).
Words, their amazing mixture of sounds and ideas, have enchanted me for as long as I can remember, along with their multiple expressive nuances and communicative potential. That is the reason why, after my philosophy degree in 2017, I started my apprenticeship in a renowned institute in Rome while volunteering in a school for immigrants. After getting my teaching certification, in 2019 I worked at an Italian language and culture center in Montpellier (France). When I came back to Italy, I continued teaching at a school and as a freelance, both face-to-face and online.
In my work I aim to teach a language that is authentic and functional to deal with the most common communicative situations for those who travel or live in Italy. How? Firstly, I only speak Italian during classes, since the beginner’s level, and I pay constant attention to pragmatic and intercultural aspects of communication. Secondly, I use all kinds of supports and I gradually introduce more complex structures and specific uses. The choice of the topics is based on the interests and needs of each student. Language is always a mean to convey culture and many people approach Italian driven by curiosity for Italian food, music, fashion, literature, lifestyle, cinema. These all are regular topics of my classes, through which I try to convey a multifaceted image of my country. I have a true passion for metalinguistic reflection and I am happy to answer to students’ questions, but I generally prefer guiding them to the autonomous discovery of grammar rules, through an inductive process. I am very patient and I always try to establish a positive environment, where errors are chances to learn and not something to be ashamed of. I believe in the importance of promoting students’ responsibility in their learning process, stimulating their commitment and valuing their learning styles. Fun and gratification are a more powerful drive than mere obligation.
I provide texts and materials to work on in class and to revise at home. In order to reach the best results in all the communicative skills, I always enrich my classes with visual support, listening activities, videos, games.
If you are looking for a relaxed and friendly environment to learn Italian, contact me for a free trial lesson! We will get to know each other and arrange the work to do together. A presto!
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My Italian lessons with Giorgio have been so worthwhile. Each lesson is very structured and well- prepared. The teaching material is excellent. His friendly demeanor throughout the lesson always inspires interest, encourages and fosters self-confidence. Giorgio is capable of treating his students according to their individual needs. I continuously progress in my studies. He's always willing to go an extra- mile in order to clear any doubts or uncertainties. I highly recommend Giorgio to anyone who wants to learn, improve and master Italian on a high level and who's looking for a teacher out of the ordinary.
Giorgio V.Caro, thank you very much for these gratifying words! I am glad you are so satisfied with our lessons. Thanks to your growing confidence with the language and your natural determination, you can get great results. Keep up the good work!
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Hello my name is Lucia and I am a native Italian speaker.
I have a degree as an interpreter for English and French so I know how hard it may be to learn a foreign language. I work as a free-lance interpreter and private English and French teacher. I have a strong passion for languages which I have been studying for many years. I am studying Spanish now and always trying to improve my English and French knowledge. I am a friendly person and my lessons mainly focus on conversation. As a teacher I am very patient and I always propose tailor-made lessons with respect to your needs. I am really enthusiastic about being a teacher because this activity allows you to share your culture and habits with foreign people. Learning a language is also learning a new culture.
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Lucia, in a friendly and motivating manner, manages to get us, as beginners to Italian, to "speak". New vocabulary and grammar basics are regularly incorporated. Each lesson is different, fun and effective as Lucia is not only a very experienced teacher but also embodies the love for Italy and her language. We are happy to have “found” them, Rita and Connie
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Fabulous teacher. Very clear, very encouraging and very helpful. Also very flexible and accommodating. Cannot recommend Daniela highly enough.
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Hello Everybody
My name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students
Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.
I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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Luisa is a really nice teacher with a lovely personality. She makes you feel very comfortable and will tailor the lessons for you. Thank you Luisa.
Luisa A.Dear Veronica, thank you, thank you so much !! :-))
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Elisabetta is a great teacher! She helpes me to study italian. She takes the time and she knows what is the best pace to evolve! I learn New things in a great tempo.., im on my way for my celi A1 examination whit teacher Elisabetta i'm gonna make it !! Thank you so much!!
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Taking lessons with Daniela was a pleasure. She was always well prepared, she gave all necessary information and materials I needed. The lessons were really good - I could practice grammar, speaking etc. Highly recommended :)
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Hi, I'm Dajana, I'm 31 years old and I come from Naples.
I am graduated in Foreign Languages and Litteratures and I have a II Level Master degree in Teaching Italian as Second Language.
I have teached italian to foreign people, above all adults at any age, in several NGOs and social cooperatives in the last 4 years.
How will I teach you italian? By playing!
I know that studying a language by reading a grammar book and mechanically completing the attached exercises can be boring and above all does not train your mind.
Learning instead should be a pleasure, so I like to use small funny videos, songs, puzzles and so on.
I also prefer the inductive method so that you can understand how Italian works on your own and then fix the grammatical rules together.
That way you’ll learn Italian without even realizing it!
But all this depends on you and how you prefer to study. I will be very happy to adopt the method that suits your case. The most important thing is that you get your goals with pleasure!
Don’t you think studying can be a pleasure? Join me and you’ll find out!
Cheers,
Dajana
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Dajana adapts to the profile of its students and their constraints, while ensuring follow-up between each lesson. The lessons also work very well in groups. I am very satisfied. Dajana adapts to its students and their constraints. She's also keen on ensuring a follow up between lessons. It also works very well in groups. I am fully satisfied
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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She is very calm and always trays to make things easier for you to understand, the material she gives is very helpful and has a lot of tips to remember things
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