Mastering Italian 2: Italian Life and Language

Mastering Italian 2 is intended for students working, with or without a teacher, to extend their command of spoken and written Italian and to learn more about Italy and her people. When Mastering Italian was published in 1983, it was described as 'a carefully planned introduction to the language and . . . a secure foundation for further study'. The present course is a sequel to the first, and will surely be welcomed by thousands who have studied Mastering Italian and by many others who have a good basic knowledge of the language and seek a stimulating and well organised programme to support more advanced work, with or without an examination in view.
In the first Course, the main emphasis was placed on understanding and using the spoken language, although reading and writing were given due attention. In Mastering Italian 2, the ready comprehension and effective use of the written language are important objectives, though listening and responding to spoken Italian are also vital elements. A glance at the table of contents will give a hint of many individual features, though it will not reveal the lively teaching and sensitive understanding that characterise the Course. A selection of authentic passages from contemporary sources gives an insight into aspects of life in present-day Italy. Some of these form the basis for recorded conversations, which provide a further source of information and opinion, and an excellent demonstration of the language as spoken by well-educated Italians. The last chapter contains a small anthology of literary extracts, from Dante to the present day; it is hoped that the student may be stimulated by this glimpse of Italian literature to embark on further reading in this rich field. The authors' most helpful and informative introduction gives an account of the contents of the book and its accompanying cassette, and suggests ways of using them effectively. Helpful notes on each extract should assist the student to develop a measure of linguistic
independence and a sense of style. The grammatical explanations which follow the chosen passages ensure that grammar is learnt in the context of familiar material, not in theoretical isolation. A comprehensive and comprehensible Grammar Section in the Appendix of reference material gives fuller information in an accessible form. Exercises carefully planned to provide practice in all the language-skills are accompanied by a key, placed in the Appendix, which should instil confidence and facilitate self-assessment. To work with this Course is to embark on an enjoyable voyage of discovery which should lead to increased mastery of the Italian language and a deeper understanding of Italy and her people.