The most magical city in the world as seen through the eyes of those who struggle to make a living there. On future visits, you may think twice before dickering over price.

Indefinite pronouns describe nonspecific qualities or quantities, as in "some," "any," or "many" in English. Study how these work in Italian, as you discuss ancient sites, agriculture, and tourism on the scenic island of Sardinia. Also, explore the unique pronouns ci and ne, which replace phrases within sentences. Then, see how the beauties of Sardinia have been depicted in Italian films.

By exploring a version of language that operates in a different modality than speech, you'll develop a wider and deeper appreciation of what language actually is. You'll unveil many myths about sign language, as you learn about its fascinating development and linguistic components. Our relatively recent understanding of neural mechanisms reveals that language is language, regardless of modality.

The imperfetto (the imperfect) describes actions in the past that were ongoing or not completed, as in "I was reading." Read text about the untamed beauty, prehistory, and Greek/Byzantine legacy of Calabria, noting the use of the imperfetto. Learn to conjugate the imperfetto, and practice choosing where to use it, as opposed to the passato prossimo, in text on the treasures of ancient Calabria.

Did the human brain evolve a specialized "mental organ" designed for language? Or was language a product of cultural evolution? Examine our relationship to the human microbiome as an analogy. We aren't born with the bacteria in our microbiome, but our biology is extraordinarily receptive to them. And once combined, the relationship transforms us and our abilities, very similar to language.

Study text describing the rich attractions of the Piedmont region, its alpine geography, the beautiful capital of Torino, and famed artisanal products. Work with the present progressive construction, which describes actions occurring in the present moment, as in "I'm eating lunch." Learn about Italian suffixes, word endings that convey extra meaning, and about expressive Italian hand gestures.

Witness how the arbitrary and abstract elements of language interact with the iconic and concrete expressions of the body. Remembering that language originally evolved within a face-to-face context, the revelation of recent studies is not surprising: The body influences all parts of language and we use the whole body to take meaning from what we hear.

Journey through a series of fascinating experiments developed to determine whether or not language can influence thought independent of culture. Perhaps not unexpectedly (and working with individuals from preverbal infants to adults), these experiments reveal that language and culture both influence thought, often working in tandem.

Filmed in 1979, POTSDAM: GERMANY'S CITY OF GHOSTS documents the compelling past and present of the East German city. Once residence to the Prussian Kings and later on the German emperors, Potsdam is known for its rich history. After serving as the location for the 1945 Potsdam Conference following the conclusion of WW2, the city went on to house the headquarters for both the Soviet army and the East German military. Narrated by seasoned New York Times...

Tuscany is perhaps Italy's most celebrated and popular region, and the cradle of the Renaissance. Learn about its breathtaking medieval cities, beloved food specialties, and its iconic artists and writers. See how the passato prossimo tense is used with the auxiliary verb essere. Study expressions of time, and practice your skills in describing the life of Florentine painter Sandro Botticelli.