English in viaggio (Travel English), by John Peter Sloan

John Peter Sloan definitely understands that learning a language must be enjoyable above all else. That’s why his books are always a huge success, and English in viaggio (Travel English) is no exception, teaching you English through the entertaining story of a couple travelling through England, who can’t seem to do much of anything except quarrel the entire time!

Pros…and some cons of English in Viaggio

Hands-on English

Sloan’s approach to teaching English is very hands-on, and he gives simple, practical examples that allow you to learn plenty of basic concepts, as well as phrases you’ll definitely need to know when you travel abroad. This book is also rich with “extras”, or small details and idiosyncrasies of the English language that are rarely covered in textbooks.

Intuitive

The book is organised based on different needs travellers may encounter. It’s very intuitive, with translations in Italian, examples, and exercises, as well as detailed explanations.

Practical tips

While covering a rather basic level of English, John still provides practical tips and easy-to-remember tricks to help you get by in any situation. He focuses on real-life scenarios you’ll most likely encounter in English, setting it apart from other books which teach an academic form of English you wouldn’t use anywhere outside the classroom!

Not pocket-sized

One less favourable point is the size of Sloan’s book. It’s not exactly pocket-sized, so it may be difficult to access in case of emergency. While the name implies it’s intended to use while traveling, it may perhaps be better to study the book before you actually set off on your journey, since it’s not structured as a phrase book, but rather as an actual textbook (which of course is a really fun and addictive one).

No computer?

If you don’t have access to a computer, you won’t be able to take full advantage of this book’s potential, since quite a few of the exercises are only available online.