The copy of the book examined for the present project, available at the Biblioteca Estense Universitaria in Modena, was published in 1949, but it does not report information about the corresponding edition number. A more recent edition was published by Valmartina in 1958.
The book is based on the Author’s experience with teaching English to learners of different ages, coming from a variety of social and professional contexts, and with different learning objectives (taking an exam, applying for a job, travelling abroad). The teaching of English pronunciation is the most important aspect of the book. This is done by comparing and contrasting English with Italian, at times using “pronuncia figurata”, i.e. a transcription system based on the Italian spelling conventions.
The book is divided into six chapters where words and phrases characterised by the same sounds are grouped together. Emphasis is therefore given to pronunciation, but the chapters also include paragraphs focusing on grammar structures (and to particular vocabulary areas.
Italian is used for providing extensive explanations, and the structures considered are translated.
