Do you feel limited by your Italian vocabulary?
Do you want to sound more natural and less robotic?
Are you sick of using the same old basic Italian words over & over again?
Say ‘arrivederci’ to dull conversations and ‘ciao’ to speaking like a native and expressing yourself with ease.
Impress everyone you speak to and show them you're in gamba* (An idiom which means 'to be smart').
Master the most common and expressive Italian idioms with my unique 80/20 method.
Registrations are now open to join the Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms Challenge.
By the end of this challenge, you’ll feel empowered and confident in using a wide range of Italian idioms. You’ll know exactly how to use them, so you can start to truly express yourself with friends and family.
Hurry! Enrolment closes soon and the challenge begins when you join!
Do you sound robotic in your responses and struggle to fully express yourself by using Italian idioms in your everyday conversations?
You’re not alone!
I was once in your position too.
I know what it’s like to feel like you’ve reached the limits of your vocabulary and sound repetitive saying the same old phrases when all you want to do is freely express yourself without feeling like an idiot.
If there was one thing that students struggle with the most, it’s being able to express themselves freely and confidently.
A big part of that comes from their ability to master using idioms!
To Italian speakers, most foreigners sound like robots. Rigid and dull.
And it's not difficult to understand why...
Most students follow the same monotonous path to fluency.
They use the same uninspiring textbooks, learning the same basic words
- Bello
- Bene
- Buono
Che pizza! (This idioms means 'How boring!')
Don’t be dull.
Break free from the monotony!
It’s time to express your unique personality and add flair to your Italian!
Say ‘arrivederci’ to dull conversations and ‘ciao’ to speaking like a native and expressing yourself with ease.
But what makes native Italians sound so…native?
What do they do that’s different?
They use idioms, of course! (Any plenty of them!)
Idioms are the secret-sauce to sounding natural in Italian!
Native Italians pepper all sorts of idioms throughout their everyday conversations.
But, what exactly are idioms?
An idiom is an expression, phrase or groups of words that can't be translated literally. Many idioms are unique to the language and often carry cultural or historical significance. Therefore, if you translate it directly, it won't have the same meaning.
Native speakers naturally understand and use tons of idioms in their everyday conversations to fully communicate what they think and feel.
Without idioms we wouldn’t be able to truly say what you mean.
Expanding your knowledge of idioms directly corresponds to how effectively and accurately you can express yourself.
Here's an example...
Take a look at this very common Italian idiom:
Avere sale in zucca
If you translate this directly into English, it literally means 'to have salt in your pumpkin'.
However, in Italian:
Avere sale in zucca means to be smart, wise, knowledgeable, or have good judgment.
So, if I say:
Non sottovalutare Marco, ha sale in zucca e troverà una soluzione brillante a questo problema.
What I really mean is:
Don't underestimate Marco, he's smart and will come up with a brilliant solution to this problem.
Idioms not only add color and depth to your communication but also connect you on a deeper level with other Italian speakers.
Mastering a wide variety of idioms is your secret weapon that will take you miles closer to fluency.
In the fluency-boosting Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms challenge, you’ll master 200+ expressive Italian idioms, so you can breathe new life into your dull conversations and light up the faces of every Italian speaker you meet!
Typically, students find Italian idioms hard to grasp because…
- They can be complex and illogical and tough to remember
- Without context, it’s difficult to know how to use them
- If you use them incorrectly, it can cause confusion and misunderstandings
Tried and failed to learn idioms in the past?
That’s why I’ve created the Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms challenge!
Using my 80/20 method to pin-point and hardwire the most common and expressive Italian idioms, this challenge will help you master 200+ everyday essential Italian idioms in just 30 days, so you can express naturally yourself confident in Italian in any context!
- No more sounding robotic.
- No more feeling limited by your vocabulary
- No more “basic” responses.
By the end of this challenge, you’ll feel empowered and confident in using a wide range of Italian idioms.
You’ll learn:
- what each idiom means
- how to use them correctly
- a variety of idioms to use in almost any situation
And most importantly...
No more sounding like a boring foreigner when chatting with your Italian-speaking family and friends.
Join the challenge today and start having truly meaningful conversations with Italian family and friends, and other native Italian speakers, wherever you are!
Introducing the Intrepid Italian 30-Day Challenge:
Master 200+ Expressive Italian Idioms
Here’s how the challenge works.
This challenge introduces you to 200+ commonly used Italian idioms over the 30-day duration of the challenge.
You’ll learn how and when to use each Italian idiom in context which is super important for understanding their meaning and use.
You’ll learn loads of fun and commonly used idioms like...
- O la va o la spacca (literally "Either it goes or it breaks")
- In bocca al lupo (literally "‘In the wolf’s mouth")
- Non avere peli sulla lingua (literally "To have no hairs on the tongue")
Do you know what these mean? (You will by the end of the challenge!)
Every day, you’ll receive a short but detailed video lesson and follow along with a short story text so you can see these real-world idioms in action.
Next, I’ll explain each idiom in detail and share their English equivalent and give you some bonus vocabulary notes to help you with the comprehension of the text.
Then it’s time to practice your knowledge with 20 interactive exercises.
It'll take you about 15-20 minutes each day.
All you have to do is show up!
The result?
Over the course of the month, the daily immersion will help you absorb 200+ fluency-boosting Italian idioms naturally, so you can use them instinctively and confidently slip them into your spoken Italian.
You'll begin to feel more confident speaking Italian without worrying about sounding robotic or “boring”.
Imagine what it will feel like when you speak Italian and the most expressive Italian idioms you need are right there, waiting, ready for you to use them! Incredibile!
What you get with the Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms Challenge
This 30-day challenge allows you to learn in your own time at your own pace with no pressure and without needing to attend a class.
But that doesn’t mean you’re on your own…far from it! Here's what's included when you join Intrepid Italian:
✓ A 250-word story text read by a native Italian (full with examples of essential Italian idioms in context
✓ Full lesson and story transcripts in both Italian and English
✓ A short but insightful daily video lesson with me - I introduce the different idioms, how to use them and their English equivalent.
✓ Engaging and interactive exercises to track your progress and consolidate your learning
✓ Fully downloadable material so you can learn faster - anywhere, any time, on any device
✓ Lifetime updates - As my student, you have extensive support from me via email and free lifetime updates.
✓ Support and accountability - Get the support you need from our private community of passionate students to help you make the most of your learning.
I am so happy to be learning Italian through your Intrepid program. The fact that I can go at my own pace, always review and look back at each and every course is so helpful to my study. I started with your 30-day challenge and was hooked on your teaching method. It's exactly what I was looking for and the best way for me to learn!
I am continuously studying, listening and reviewing your courses (you know...because I'm hooked!). Each time, there is something new that I hear or read.
- Theresa. USA
Knowing what to learn -- and having the right method to learn it makes such a big difference.
How my 80/20 method works
To help you learn Italian efficiently, I use the Pareto principle also known as the 80/20 rule. This rule states that 80% of your success or results come from just 20% of your effort. It applies to many areas of our lives without us realising it.
For example:
- 20% of articles on a website account for 80% of its visitors
- 80% of muscle gain is built by 20% of the repetitions
- 20% of words in a language account for 80% of usage
The 80/20 principle was coined by Management consultant, Joseph M. Juran and named after the Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto who in 1896 showed that approximately 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population.
The percentages are sometimes approximate, but what matters is not the exact numbers. The key thing here is that most results come from just a fraction of the effort you put in.
The 80/20 rule is observed in language learning too and can be used for higher efficiency.
This means that most of your success in learning Italian is the result of only about 20% of the effort you make. It also means that only about 20% of the things you learn contribute to most (around 80%) of your development and improvement.
My method and approach is different from traditional methods in that I teach you the most important 20% of the language right from the beginning so you can start to speak straight away.
I don’t waste your time teaching words you'll never use or don't need to know right now.
Instead, I give you building blocks. Each lesson builds upon and revisits what you previously learned, so you constantly learn, review, and progress.
Take a sneak peek inside the challenge
Every day a new lesson will be unlocked with a video lesson, story text, transcripts and exercises.
You won't find this material anywhere else.
Here's a tour of what's included in the Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms Challenge.
Ciao, I'm Michele!
I’m an Italian-Australian language educator and travel journalist and ‘guide’ behind TheIntrepidGuide.com
For over 6 years I’ve been helping my 1,600+ students, readers, and followers learn languages and have unique and authentic travel experiences with the help of my in-depth destinations guides, travel phrase guides, and online language courses so they can enjoy meaningful interactions with the locals and avoid being treated like a tourist.
I have been teaching languages to people from all over the world and have had the pleasure of helping hundreds of students from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy and Germany to reach their language goals.
Initially, I was exclusively offering my travel phrase guides, but I knew I wanted to do more so I could help more people reach a higher level of proficiency. That’s why I started offering online courses, and my students are loving them!
I believe that my Intrepid Italian courses are effective because you can follow the lessons when it’s most convenient for you and you can review the materials as many times as you want. In other words, you learn at your own pace with no pressure and without having to attend a live class.
The best part is that you are not alone either because you will get access to a private support group of like-minded students who want to learn Italian just as much as you do.
Got a question? You can message me with your questions anytime too! I love to help!
Over 1,600 students are learning with my 80/20 method
Here's what Kristy from Florida, USA, says about Intrepid Italian...
Michele from New York, USA, says ...
Sheila from Toronto, Canada, says ...
Mark from Melbourne, Australia, says ...
Marty from Ontario, Canada, says...
Here's an update on Marty's progress...
It certainly exceeded my expectations. The learning methodology is great, and easy to follow and found that I progressed much faster in the last 4 weeks than I ever did on my own or using other language apps. Grazie mille Michele, I can't wait until I can put my new skills into action!
- Roma Small, London, UK
Michele is more than just the guide behind this course, she is a natural teacher and passionate language learner who cares deeply about her students and sharing the Italian language. This shines through as she walks you through learning Italian basics, in small, bite-sized steps. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by learning a new language. But, Intrepid Italian’s short, simple lessons (that include videos, exercises, tips and printables) build on one another, giving you invaluable confidence and momentum.
- Sara, Washington, USA
Enrolling in the Intrepid Italian Bundle (A1, A2 & B1) was definitely my best personal investment of 2021!
As an Australian with Italian heritage, I’m loving my lifetime access to Michele’s compact yet comprehensive Italian lessons and practise resources. In just a couple of months, I’ve been able to refine and expand my Italian language skills, significantly boosting my confidence and competence in daily life when speaking with born and bred Italians.
The course content is exceptionally well-organised and linguistically thorough. What’s more, because Michele has lived in Italy among the locals, she instinctively infuses cultural idioms and scenarios into her lessons… a priceless advantage for us, her lucky students.
The best part of the course structure is that I can follow Michele’s lessons at my own pace, from my home, car, or even walking the dog, and with no time limit, I can adjust my input around life’s changing priorities - I just pick up where I left off and I’m once again learning more of what I believe is the world’s most beautiful language.
I highly recommend Michele’s Intrepid Italian courses to anyone who wants to learn the Italian language in a culturally-rich context. No matter what your skill level on this exciting language journey, Michele has a course suited to you. Her warm, bright, welcoming personality is an added bonus so it’s always a pleasure to progress to the next lesson… complimenti Michele e grazie mille!
- Angela, Sydney, Australia
Michele has a great presentation style and has experience learning and teaching Italian. Her videos are easy to follow and the exercises help consolidate the teaching from the videos. A Facebook group is available to have queries and issues discussed.
- Jeff Brady, Victoria, Australia
I started my quest in learning Italian through a well-known language app. After a year of trying to learn tangible skills on this game platform, I realized I needed to step it up and get serious. Luckily I found Michele and I was drawn to her teaching style. Her videos had a positive energy and exuded such passion for the language. I had to experience more so I purchased the A1, A2, B1 plus the Italian for Travel courses.
I love that the modules are arranged in easily digestible amounts. I have the flexibility to devour a lesson when it fits into my schedule rather than the commitment of a weekly in person lesson.
I was able to test out some of my newfound knowledge recently in Italy. The ability to communicate with locals gave me the extra boost to keep forging ahead!
I love that Michele's technique focuses on what you really need to know (80/20 method!) rather than obscure vocabulary you might never need to use.
The level of communication from Michele is amazing. She's truly invested in her student's success with learning Italian. I think Michele has found her calling in teaching and empowering others. I am grateful to have found Michele and this program!
- Kristy, Florida, USA
I love the course. I've found it easy to follow, stimulating & motivating. You have provided a language course that is enjoyable and achievable in learning conversational Italiano. I would recommend it to others with gusto.
- Lindi, Greater Sydney Area, Australia
Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’ve been trying to learn languages using various language learning apps for years now and although I know random words I feel no more confident in actually speaking the languages than I was when I started.
I’m 5 days into this course and feeling more confident in actually speaking Italian than I am while using the apps.
This course cuts through all the unnecessary stuff the apps were teaching me and focuses on getting me comfortable and confident to put my new-found Italian to use.
The audio and worksheets are my favourite as it gets me to speak and write which is definitely speeding up the learning process for me.
I cannot recommend this course highly enough. Definitely worth every penny.
Thank you Michele. I can’t wait for my next trip to Italy.
- Basil, London, UK
Learning a language is never easy. The Intrepid Guide Italian Language Course has me speaking Italian in a few short modules. Combining written work, video and audio mastering Italian easily and perfecting my accent without even thinking about it.
The Facebook group and Facebook live are perfect to help if you have any difficulties. There are quizzes to mark your progress and help you consolidate what you have learnt.
The perfect course for a beginner or anyone who wants to improve their written and spoken Italian.
- Larch Gauld, Swindon, UK
After following Michele on social media for a while, I decided to sign up for the Intrepid Italian language courses and am so glad that I did!
The courses are easily accessible (a lesson is only a few clicks away), simple to navigate, and include exercises and tips to help reinforce your learning. Each module is a good length - not too long - so are great for accessing when on the move or if you’re short of time, and can be replayed as many times as you wish so you never miss an important point.
I use my Intrepid Italian alongside my face-to-face weekly lessons and have definitely found it useful for revision and for gaining extra confidence.
I would thoroughly recommend Intrepid Italian to anyone wanting to learn Italian or to reinforce their Italian language learning.
- Julie, Suffolk, UK
Course Curriculum
Here's exactly what you'll cover each day.
Hurry! Enrolment closes soon and the challenge begins October 1st.
Your enrollment is protected by my
"Celebrate with a Spritz" Money-Back Guarantee
After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms Challenge, if you don't want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you don’t have to pay a penny! Cheers! 🥂
Join Intrepid Italian 100% risk-free
If you think this 30-day challenge might be the right investment for you, don't be afraid to enrol today. Even if you can’t start straight away, you have a full 30 days to test out the strategies, and make sure this is really working for you.
You must have completed no more than 20% of the lessons.
I’m not asking you to decide yes or no today...I'm asking you to make a fully informed decision, that is all. The only way you can make a fully informed decision is on the inside, not the outside. Once you're inside you can see if everything I've shared with you here is true and valuable to you.
Then, if it is, that’s when you decide to keep it. If it’s not for you, no hard feelings.
You will then, after registering, be able to make a fully informed decision that this isn’t for you.
But you can’t make this decision right now for the same reason you don't buy a house without first looking at the inside of it. And know this...whether it’s 29 min or 29 days from now...if you aren't happy, I'm not happy either.
For any reason whatsoever, if you want your money back you can get it because I only want to keep your money if you’re happy.
Just send me an email to [email protected] by day 30 and with less than 20% completion, and I will quickly and promptly refund your entire payment, no questions asked. It's that simple.
My response time to any support request averages 61 min over a 24/7 time period. You can only make such a guarantee when you're confident that what you have is the real deal and I'm fairly confident that when you join Intrepid Italian you’ll be well on your way to speaking Italian.
I'm so confident in the results you’ll see with my Intrepid Italian 30-Day Idioms Challenge because of so many wonderful success stories I’ve received from my students.
This is why I'm happy to offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
Do you think I'd still be in business if I gave a crazy guarantee like that and wasn't good at what I did?
Now I'm not guaranteeing you’re going to be fluent in 30 days, after all, I can't do the work for you. But I am guaranteeing that you will get tonnes of value from each course you join and service from me to support you. If you don't feel like I gave you that level of service, I’ll write you a check the day you tell me I suck.
The best-case scenario is, you speak Italian like you’ve always dreamed of and I give you your money's worth (and much more) towards staying with me to hit your long-term goal.
The worst case is, you tell me I suck, I write you a check, and you get a few free lessons. Both options are risk-free. But, the only thing guaranteed not to help you is not registering for this 30-day challenge today.
What are you waiting for? Enrol now and let’s learn together!
Pronti?! (Ready!) Cominciamo! (Let’s get started)
I look forward to seeing you on the inside!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about Intrepid Italian? I answer the most common questions below. And if you have a question that I didn't cover, feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Q: "What level is this challenge for?"
The lessons and content in this challenge are aimed at A2 level students and upwards. In other words, advanced beginners to advanced students. This is for you if you've already got a basic understanding the grammar or have been studying Italian for a while and can understand most conversations, but struggle to inject your personality by using Italian idioms in a confident and natural way.
Q: "What will I learn? How will this challenge help me? "
During this challenge, you'll step up your Italian idioms game by learning the 80/20 of most essential and useful Italian idioms via short-form stories, examples and interactive exercises. You'll get daily lessons from me, where you'll learn specifically how and where certain idioms are used in each example. This means you'll develop an intuitive and native-like understanding of how to use them yourself.
Q: "When does the challenge start and finish?"
The challenge starts on October 1, 2023 and ends October 31. (Yup! I've added in a bonus day). Each day new content will be unlocked and you will receive an email reminder to log in and take the lesson. Once all content has been unlocked, you can come back to this challenge and practice as much as you like.
Q: "What if I can't commit to doing a lesson every day?"
Your daily commitment is only 15 minutes (or more if you need it). This is because the core principle of the challenge is to help you form a new habit. This constant exposure to the language will boost the rate at which you learn and improve your Italian. Setting aside just 15 minutes a day is enough to get you real results.
You can learn:
• before breakfast
• during your lunch break
• after dinner
• ...even while waiting for the train!
The power is in consistency. Doing a short lesson each day is infinitely more powerful than cramming once a week.
You'll be amazed at the huge progress you make from simply showing up every day to work on one area of your Italian skills!
Remember, you get downloadable materials, so you can easily take part and keep up wherever you are!
Q: "When do I get access to the challenge?"
As soon as you join, you'll get instant access to Day 1 of the challenge and the private community. Then from October 1st, each day a new lesson will be unlocked.
Q: "How long do I have access to the challenge?"
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this challenge for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Q: "What if I am unhappy with the challenge?"
I would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact me within the first 30 days and I will give you a full refund. You must have completed no more than 20% of the lessons.