How does this sentence work?

The translation of the bolded part of this sentence from Module 12.2 is really confusing to me:

Beh, non è facile perché non c'è solo la lingua ma anche la differenza culturale sia al colloquio che poi durante il lavoro.

Well, (it) is not easy because there's not just the language but also the cultural difference both at the interview and then during the job.

It's the subjunctive “sia” as well as the phrase “che poi” that's throwing me here. I guess a literal translation could be something like “…is at the interview that then during the job”, but how does this work out to the above translation or even work grammatically in general?

Ciao John,

I understand how the constructions involving "sia" and "che poi" could seem perplexing, and I’m here to help clarify them for you.

Understanding "Sia... Che":

In the sentence you’ve referenced, the use of "sia" is part of a correlative conjunction often used in Italian to mean "both... and..." In English, this structure is a way to emphasize that two conditions apply simultaneously. The phrase "sia al colloquio che poi durante il lavoro" directly translates to "both at the interview and then during the job." Here’s a breakdown:

• "Sia" translates to "both."
• "Che" in this context works as "and."
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Role of "Che Poi":

The phrase "che poi" can be a bit tricky. In this context, "poi" means "then," indicating a sequence or continuation from one situation to another. The word "che" is a conjunction linking the two parts of the sentence. So, "che poi" helps transition the discussion from the interview phase to the ongoing experience during the job. It doesn’t need a direct translation in English but serves to maintain the flow and logical sequence of the sentence in Italian.

Grammatical Structure:

In a more direct translation, you might render the sentence as:

• "Well, it's not easy because there isn't just the language but also the cultural difference both in the interview and then during the job."
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Simplified Explanation:

So, while the literal translation might seem convoluted due to different grammatical constructions in Italian versus English, the intended meaning focuses on the persistence of cultural differences both during the initial interview and as one continues in the job setting.

I hope this explanation helps clear up any confusion! If you have more questions or need further clarification on other aspects of Italian grammar, feel free to ask.

Happy learning!

Enxhi

Grazie mille, Enxhi! Such a thorough explanation. I really appreciate it!!

Hi Sandy,

Sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with the pronunciation features on your MacBook. It's crucial for language learning, so let's try to get this resolved quickly.

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If none of these solutions work, please let me know so I can send this to a more specialized assistance.

Hope this helps, and you're back to practicing your pronunciation soon!

Best regards, Enxhi