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Le Avventure di Paul a Roma - Short Stories in Simple Italian : Graded Italian Reader (for Beginners A1, A2 CEFR Levels)
Are you looking for a fun and rewarding way to make Italian words and phrases stick?
Reading a short story is a brilliant way to achieve this. When you read a simple Italian story, you get novel exposure to all the words, phrases, and grammar that you've studied, but in different contexts and through an engaging, adult story.
This is not only a way to immerse yourself in Italian but also to improve your Italian sentences, vocabulary, and grammar all at once.
Features of the
Short Go over a chapter in minutes. The vocabulary and grammar used are optimized for beginners and intermediate learners.
Bilingual Useful vocabulary and expressions ready to use for your flashcards.
Test your vocabulary and grammar comprehension at the end of each chapter. The quizzes have been designed to help you retain the information you have gone through in the stories.
Translation At the end of every chapter, you'll find translation exercises. Translating from English to the Italian language is a potent learning activity, as it helps recall from your memory what you have absorbed from the stories.
Speaking Train your spoken Italian alone or with your tutor.
Cultural insights about Learn about some of the prettiest neighborhoods of Rome, alongside things to do on your next trip.
Insights on common Written with the most recurring mistakes Italian beginners and intermediate learners make in my classes in mind.
Modern adult Using the 1000 most common Italian words and real-life dialogues you're most likely to encounter when in Italy.
The Plot
Paul is a Londoner who's visiting Rome on his own for a week. While walking and the iconic roman neighborhood Testaccio, he stumbles upon a flier that will change his vacation forever.
This short novel in Italian has been designed and optimized by a teacher of Italian with over 10 years of teaching experience, specialized in teaching adult Italian language learners.
Reading a short story is a brilliant way to achieve this. When you read a simple Italian story, you get novel exposure to all the words, phrases, and grammar that you've studied, but in different contexts and through an engaging, adult story.
This is not only a way to immerse yourself in Italian but also to improve your Italian sentences, vocabulary, and grammar all at once.
Features of the
Short Go over a chapter in minutes. The vocabulary and grammar used are optimized for beginners and intermediate learners.
Bilingual Useful vocabulary and expressions ready to use for your flashcards.
Test your vocabulary and grammar comprehension at the end of each chapter. The quizzes have been designed to help you retain the information you have gone through in the stories.
Translation At the end of every chapter, you'll find translation exercises. Translating from English to the Italian language is a potent learning activity, as it helps recall from your memory what you have absorbed from the stories.
Speaking Train your spoken Italian alone or with your tutor.
Cultural insights about Learn about some of the prettiest neighborhoods of Rome, alongside things to do on your next trip.
Insights on common Written with the most recurring mistakes Italian beginners and intermediate learners make in my classes in mind.
Modern adult Using the 1000 most common Italian words and real-life dialogues you're most likely to encounter when in Italy.
The Plot
Paul is a Londoner who's visiting Rome on his own for a week. While walking and the iconic roman neighborhood Testaccio, he stumbles upon a flier that will change his vacation forever.
This short novel in Italian has been designed and optimized by a teacher of Italian with over 10 years of teaching experience, specialized in teaching adult Italian language learners.
- GenresItalian Literature
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 11, 2023
Easy and educational read
As an Canadian of Italian descent, I learned to speak a dialect from a town in southern Italy. So speaking and reading proper Italian, while easier for me than for a non-italian - was always a challenge. I really enjoyed this book. I was able to read and understand 95% of it but also learned the proper way to say and write so many words and terms. Thank you
As an Canadian of Italian descent, I learned to speak a dialect from a town in southern Italy. So speaking and reading proper Italian, while easier for me than for a non-italian - was always a challenge. I really enjoyed this book. I was able to read and understand 95% of it but also learned the proper way to say and write so many words and terms. Thank you
September 15, 2025
Picked this up to pair with self learning I am doing through Duolingo and some Italian text books.
I really enjoyed the simple stories and the exercises at the end of each chapter. It was fun to stop having to stop to look up every single word/phrase as I built my understanding around tenses and conjugations of irregular verbs. I also appreciated the cultural insights!
I really enjoyed the simple stories and the exercises at the end of each chapter. It was fun to stop having to stop to look up every single word/phrase as I built my understanding around tenses and conjugations of irregular verbs. I also appreciated the cultural insights!
February 10, 2026
Engaging and educational
I tried and failed to read regular Italian fiction written for madrelingua so I was delighted to discover Serena Capilli’s books. The stories are not going to win any Pulitzer Prizes but I find them all quite engaging and I have finished every one I have bought so far and it has helped my Italian a LOT! I hope Serena Capilli keeps writing.
I tried and failed to read regular Italian fiction written for madrelingua so I was delighted to discover Serena Capilli’s books. The stories are not going to win any Pulitzer Prizes but I find them all quite engaging and I have finished every one I have bought so far and it has helped my Italian a LOT! I hope Serena Capilli keeps writing.
February 5, 2023
good practice for intermediate Italian
I really enjoyed the story and the Italian was at the right level for me. The best thing about this book is that it includes explanations of common phrases, has cultural highlights and little nuggets of information about visiting Roma.
I really enjoyed the story and the Italian was at the right level for me. The best thing about this book is that it includes explanations of common phrases, has cultural highlights and little nuggets of information about visiting Roma.
September 12, 2023
I bought this book to read alongside the Italian Duolingo course. I especially enjoyed reading the Italian food and culture notes.
Currently Reading
December 4, 2024I'm using this to supplement my Duolingo app studying Italian.
November 13, 2025
Very good graded reader, I wish it wouldn’t mix different cefr levels but that’s only a detail.
April 18, 2026
4 stars. Interesting information about different neighborhoods in Rome.
September 21, 2023
Helpful in progressing beyond Duolingo Italian
Using language apps helps build vocabulary but this series of short stories strengthens reading and writing skills. Well-designed format.
Having to toggle back to the website for the answer keys was a bit annoying but not overly so.
Using language apps helps build vocabulary but this series of short stories strengthens reading and writing skills. Well-designed format.
Having to toggle back to the website for the answer keys was a bit annoying but not overly so.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews