Episode Overview

Podcast: Beginner Italian Podcast | Italiano per principianti con Teacher Stefano
Episode: Ep. 43 | I nostri obiettivi per il 2026 🎉
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Teacher Stefano & Prof. Mascha

This episode welcomes listeners into the new year with a lively discussion about New Year’s resolutions (“buoni propositi”) and goals (“obiettivi”) for 2026. Teacher Stefano and Prof. Mascha share their personal aspirations, reflect on the importance of setting realistic, concrete aims, and offer advice—especially for language learners—on building and maintaining motivation. The tone is engaging, friendly, and supportive, providing both practical advice and personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming the New Year and Setting Context

• [00:00 - 01:34]
  • The episode opens with the hosts greeting listeners and wishing everyone a happy new year.
  • They explain the episode was recorded at the end of 2025 to ensure everyone has a fresh episode at the start of January.
  • They encourage everyone to share how their holidays went in the comments.
  • Main topic preview: “Possiamo parlare dei buoni propositi per l’anno nuovo.” (A: 01:30)

2. Resolutions vs. Goals: The Power of Language

• [02:37 - 03:19]
  • Stefano prefers calling them “obiettivi” (goals) instead of “buoni propositi” (resolutions), seeing goals as more concrete and actionable.
    • “Non li chiamo buoni propositi, ma li chiamo semplicemente obiettivi…” (A: 02:43)
  • Mascha agrees, suggesting that resolutions feel less binding than specific goals.
    • “Buoni propositi sembra qualcosa che tu vorresti fare ma che non è importante raggiungere.” (B: 03:06)

3. Strategies for Effective Goal-Setting

• [03:19 - 03:41]
  • Both hosts write down a limited number of goals to keep them manageable.
    • “Scrivo sull’agenda proprio le cose principali, magari le prime cinque per non farne troppe.” (B: 03:20)

4. Mascha’s Goals for 2026: Maintain & Improve

• [03:41 - 05:13]
  • Mascha’s top goal: maintain and improve in areas where she’s already satisfied—work, sport, and relationships.
    • “Il primo obiettivo è di mantenere quello che già faccio, ma farlo meglio.” (B: 03:49)
  • She points out that keeping up good habits can be harder than starting new ones.
    • “Tante volte mantenere qualcosa è più difficile che effettivamente iniziare a farlo...” (A: 04:21)
  • A concrete example: more sport, especially swimming and returning to running.
    • “Sto facendo allenamento con i pesi... e vado a nuoto una volta a settimana…voglio riprendere anche con la corsa.” (B: 04:39)

5. Stefano’s Goals: Language Learning and Sport

• [05:18 - 09:53]
  • Stefano wants to continue personal progress and focus on mastering Spanish, aiming for fluency by end of 2026.
    • “Il mio obiettivo entro la fine del 2026 è essere fluente in spagnolo.” (A: 05:35)
  • He unpacks what “fluency” means: not just a vague target, but being able to handle specific situations and grammar without overthinking.
    • “Essere fluente... è un obiettivo che significa tutto e significa niente... bisogna avere un piano concreto per raggiungerlo.” (A: 06:23)
  • Stefano outlines SMART goals in language learning, advising learners to set incremental, specific, and realistic objectives.
    • “Se hai appena iniziato a studiare una lingua, inizia con degli obiettivi più piccoli, come può essere ordinare al bar…” (A: 08:56)
  • Mascha underlines the psychological aspect: unrealistic goals can demotivate, so bite-sized milestones help maintain motivation.
    • “Raggiungere l’obiettivo essere fluente è impossibile, non lo raggiungerai mai probabilmente.” (B: 08:59)
    • “Avere dei piccoli obiettivi ci aiuta tanto per la motivazione.” (B: 09:38)

6. Shared Goal: The Half Marathon Challenge

• [09:53 - 10:51]
  • Both decide on a fun and ambitious shared goal: running a half marathon together in 2026.
    • “Magari, Masha, ci possiamo correre una mezza maratona insieme.” (A: 10:36)
    • “Oddio, bellissimo, ci sto, ci sto.” (B: 10:42)
    • “Entro il 2026 Stefano e Masha correranno una mezza maratona insieme.” (A: 10:51)

7. Listener Engagement and Wrap-Up

• [10:58 - End]
  • Listeners are invited to share their own resolutions/goals for 2026 in the comments.
    • “Scriveteci qui sotto nei commenti, ovviamente, quali sono i vostri buoni propositi o obiettivi per il 2026.” (B: 11:01)
  • The hosts promote downloading the episode transcript for further Italian practice and activities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On concrete goals vs. vague intentions:

  • “Non li chiamo buoni propositi, ma li chiamo semplicemente obiettivi...” – Stefano (02:43)
  • “Buoni propositi sembra qualcosa che tu vorresti fare ma che non è importante raggiungere. Mentre obiettivi è un po’ più concreto.” – Mascha (03:06)

• On the challenge of maintaining good habits:

  • “Tante volte mantenere qualcosa è più difficile che effettivamente iniziare a farlo...” – Stefano (04:21)

• Language learning wisdom:

  • “Essere fluente... è un obiettivo che significa tutto e significa niente... bisogna avere un piano concreto per raggiungerlo.” – Stefano (06:23)
  • “Avere dei piccoli obiettivi ci aiuta tanto per la motivazione.” – Mascha (09:38)

• On shared goals and accountability:

  • “Entro il 2026 Stefano e Masha correranno una mezza maratona insieme.” – Stefano (10:51)

Important Timestamps

• 00:29 – New Year greetings and episode context
• 01:34 – Introduction of main topic: goals for 2026
• 02:37 – Distinction between “resolutions” and “goals”
• 03:49 – Mascha’s goal to maintain and improve
• 05:35 – Stefano shares language learning goal
• 06:23 – Discussion on “fluency” and how to set realistic language goals
• 09:38 – The importance of small, attainable objectives
• 10:36 – Proposal and agreement to run a half marathon together
• 11:01 – Call for listener participation

Episode Tone & Style

Warm, supportive, and humorous. The hosts gently poke fun at ambitious resolutions, encourage realistic goal-setting, and weave their language teaching expertise into practical life advice. All insights are accessible for beginner Italian learners, promoting both linguistic and personal development.

Summary Takeaway

Stefano and Mascha use their New Year’s resolutions as a springboard for discussing the process of setting, maintaining, and achieving meaningful goals, especially in language learning. Their message: keep goals specific, realistic, and motivating—whether it’s mastering Italian, picking up Spanish, or running a half marathon. The episode closes by inviting listeners to take part in this spirit of growth and accountability for 2026.