The Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 1 – Quaderno degli Esercizi is a high-quality, pedagogically sound workbook that effectively consolidates A1-level Italian. It maintains the strengths of its predecessor while improving layout, audio accessibility, and cultural relevance.
Final Verdict:
⭐ 4.6 / 5 – Highly recommended for structured learners and classrooms.
Best for:
Not ideal for:
The Quaderno degli Esercizi plays a dual role in assessment: formative and summative. nuovissimo progetto italiano 1 quaderno degli esercizi
No resource is perfect. Here are three complaints about the Nuovissimo workbook and solutions:
Criticism 1: "There isn’t enough space to write answers." Solution: Buy a large A4 notebook. Treat the workbook as a prompt booklet, not a writing pad.
Criticism 2: "Some exercises are repetitive (e.g., 20 conjugations of the same verb)." Solution: Repetition is necessary for automaticity. However, if you master a concept early, skip every third exercise and use the time for speaking practice.
Criticism 3: "The answer key doesn’t explain WHY an answer is wrong." Solution: Use ChatGPT or an Italian tutor (via iTalki) for complex sentences. Or join the "Progetto Italiano" Facebook group where teachers answer specific questions. The Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 1 – Quaderno degli
While the Quaderno is primarily skills-focused, it does not ignore culture. Authentic materials are adapted for beginner level: short bios of Italian athletes and singers, simple recipes, train tickets from Trenitalia, or screenshots from Italian social media. The exercises that accompany these texts are not comprehension-heavy but functional: reading a train ticket to find the platform and time, or completing an online hotel booking form.
This approach demystifies “real Italian” and reduces learner anxiety about encountering authentic texts outside the classroom. The Quaderno gently teaches that culture is not an add-on but embedded in everyday language acts.
| Learner Type | Suitability | |----------------|----------------| | Classroom learner (group) | ★★★★★ – Excellent for homework and revision | | Self-study learner | ★★★★☆ – Good, but best paired with student’s book | | Tutor-led one-on-one | ★★★★☆ – Provides ample drill material | | Quick refresher (false beginner) | ★★★☆☆ – May feel repetitive if grammar is already known | | Teenager (15+) | ★★★★☆ – Modern topics appeal, though design is adult-oriented | | Child (under 14) | ★★☆☆☆ – Too text-heavy; better to use Progetto Giovani |
Rating: 9.5/10
The Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 1 Quaderno degli Esercizi is not just a workbook; it is a structured training program. For the price of two espresso coffees in Milan (approx €15-20), you gain hundreds of hours of focused practice.
Cognitive science emphasizes spaced repetition and interleaving for long-term retention. The Nuovissimo Quaderno adheres to this principle. A grammatical structure introduced in Unit 3 (e.g., possessive adjectives) reappears in small, review exercises in Units 4, 5, and 6, but in increasingly complex contexts. For instance, possessives originally practiced with family members later appear alongside partitivo (e.g., “I miei amici hanno comprato del pane”). This interweaving prevents the common problem of “unit memorization” where students forget previous material once tested.
Additionally, every two or three units, there is a “Ripassiamo” (Let’s review) section. These are not simple retests but transformation exercises that combine grammar, vocabulary, and communication from multiple previous units. The result is a spiral curriculum, where knowledge is continually reactivated and deepened.
If you used the old "Nuovo Progetto Italiano 1 Quaderno degli Esercizi," you might wonder if upgrading is worth it. Here is the comparison: Not ideal for:
| Feature | Nuovo (Old) | Nuovissimo (New) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Layout | Black and white, dense text. | Full color, more whitespace, modern infographics. | | Audio | CD only. | Digital download/QR code access. | | Cultural References | Early 2000s Italy (e.g., Berlusconi era, landlines). | Contemporary culture (internet, sustainability, TikTok references). | | Exercises | Traditional drills (repetition). | More communicative and task-based exercises (emails, forms, short stories). | | Self-study support | Answer key separate (often missing). | Integrated answer key or interactive digital version. |
Verdict: If you are a teacher, the Nuovissimo edition is non-negotiable for student engagement. If you are a self-learner, the digital audio and updated answer keys save hours of frustration.