This course in Italian is designed for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Italian with confidence. Aimed at those with no previous knowledge, it can also be used by anyone wanting to brush up existing knowledge or refresh rusty language skills for a holiday or business trip. Key structures and vocabulary are introduced in 25 thematic units, progressing from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations to using the phone and talking about work. The course covers all structures required for GCSE and beyond. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and tips throughout to help with pronunciation and grammar. Cultural information boxes give advice and information for anyone planning a trip to Italy. This new edition has been updated to reflect changes such as the introduction of the euro. There is also an English-Italian vocabulary to go alongside the existing Italian-English vocabulary and four tests for learners to check their progress. The page design has been improved and section headings given in English to make the course easier to use for the self-access learner. The two accompanying CDs contain 150 minutes of listening material.