You can't learn a language without knowing its alphabet. Here's Marika to teach you the Italian one. Pay special attention when she gets to J! It's one of the letters that wasn't in the original alphabet of 21 letters.

Once you know the rules, pronouncing Italian words correctly is not so hard. Some consonants change their pronunciation depending on what vowel follows them. Marika helps you get started.

Marika explains some more rules for pronouncing "C" and "G."

Often, when making a phone reservation for a restaurant, theatre, or museum, you'll be asked to spell your name. Marika gives us an example of how it's done in Italian.

Double letters are taken very seriously in Italian, so pay careful attention as Marika shows us how they work. You'll see why they're so important!

Marika gives us helpful hints for recognising masculine nouns, as well as some important exceptions.

Dealing with gender in Italian can be tricky. Most feminine nouns do end in "a," but not all. If it were only that easy! Marika tells us some of the main types of exceptions, putting them into categories to help us remember.

Marika introduces the three classes of plural nouns. She even has a tiny assignment for you!

Some nouns are the same in the singular and the plural. Marika makes it easy by dividing them into categories. She also gives us some important advice regarding nouns from other languages.

Whether or not you take stock in astrology, Marika gives you plenty of new vocabulary for talking about personality, while describing the characteristics attributed to the first three signs of the zodiac: Aries, Taurus and Gemini.

Marika explains the next three signs of the zodiac, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo. Learn plenty of adjectives that describe people's personalities.

This time Marika talks about Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. There's lots of good vocabulary having to do with personality!

Here are the last three signs of the Zodiac, with new expressions and new vocabulary. The signs Marika talks about are Capricorno (Capricorn), Acquario (Aquarius), and Pesci (Pisces).

Just as in English, you would never say "I and you," there are rules in Italian, too for using these personal pronouns (io (I), tu (you-subject), me (me), te (you-object). Marika explains it all and gives you examples!

Many nouns are formed by adding suffixes to another word. If you know the original word, you can guess the noun. If you know the noun, you can guess the original word. Marika shows you how!