"ascoltare", I didn't knew quite what to think. Quick go to it.wikipedia: "ascoltare con interesse tutto ciņ che il professore dice"
haha, fica evidente que se trata de "escutar/listen to"...
BTW, it's not difficult either to try to speak either spanish or italian by reading aloud. I have to say I had Roberto Benigni in mind while reading it.wikipedia entries yesterday...
don't know "Guareschi", do you mean the cartoonist for sure?