very helpful book!In January I purchased Collins Easy Learning Italian Conversation as my husband and I had a trip to Italy planned for April. We have just returned from our travels, and I wish to let you know that what I learned from this book was very helpful. The subjects covered in the lessons were useful and practical, (greetings, transportation and getting around, meals, shopping, health concerns, various problem situations etc). Also, the information pertaining to grammar provided a good foundation for understanding the workings of the language and allowed me to communicate more effectively than if I had simply been reciting key tourist phrases. From studying your book, I was very pleased with how much I was able to speak and understand spoken Italian, and with what I was able to read as well. I will add that I speak French, so having this background was very helpful for learning Italian. I also found the Lifestyle Tips at the end of each chapter to be very relevant and informative. On a number of occasions we came across lifestyle/cultural practices which were exactly as had been described in the book, and it was great to have been familiarized with them beforehand. Thank-you for putting together a most useful, current and easy to use basic guide to Italian. Collins Easy Learning Italian Conversation was definitely an asset during our visit to Italy. Willow Edwards