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Spring Sale 2022: graded materials to build your skills -20%

Everyone learning a foreign language is familiar with the concept of ‘level’.

Some materials are just too hard for where you’re currently at, others might seem just right, whereas the texts you worked on months ago will now, hopefully, feel easy.

We all know that it can be difficult (impossible!) to understand films and so on in the languages we’re learning, or to read an authentic article, say from a newspaper, which is written for educated native-speaker readers.

And yet, clearly, listening to the language as it is really used, and reading articles written in it, are important long-term goals, even if they seem unachievable for the moment.

Plus, it seems likely that the more we read and listen, the more meaningful our studies will be, the more new words we’ll pick up, and the more we’ll feel familiar with the grammar and structures of the languages we’re learning.

Reading and listening to the language you’re studying are unarguably good ways to speed your progress, and in any case, training yourself to listen and to read effectively in the new language is obviously going to be necessary at some point.

But authentic materials are HARD! Often too hard.

The solution to this quandry?

‘Graded’ texts, that is to say materials written by language teachers for learners like you, and designated as suitable for those who have reached or are above a particular level.

The CEFR level system uses six level bands, which are (from easiest to hardest): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.

Assume that students at the C levels should be reading and listening to authentic (real-life) texts and audio without too much difficulty. The graded materials at those levels, then, will approximate texts written for native-speakers.

People at the intermediate stage (the B levels) are not yet ready for ‘real’ or ‘nearly real’ listening and reading, but still need to build their skills in anticipation. So the graded materials will be an in-between step, aimed at challenging students to develop their skills further.

The easiest materials (at A1 and A2 levels) are designed to be unintimidating, which means short chapters and simple or simpler grammar and vocabulary. Their purpose is to encourage learners to get into the HABIT of reading and listening to the language they’re learning as early on in the process as possible.

The more reading & listening you do early on, the easier everything that follows will be. You’ll already be used to, for example, guessing meaning from context in a text, or getting the gist of the spoken language even when you can’t pick out every word.

Graded materials are useful at every language-learning level, but their real power can be seen when they are incorporated as an integral part of our studies right from Day 1 with a new language.

The difference between a learner who regularly reads and listens to graded materials, and one who never or rarely spends time on anything other than grammar and vocabulary exercises, is plain to see, if for no other reason than that a student who has no fear of reading and listening (because she is using materials that have been specifically written for her level, remember) comes across as being more confident and more autonomous.

How to find graded materials for your level? Our Catalog page lists materials by type and in level order, which should help.

But importantly, there’s always a free sample chapter, which you should absolutely look at before deciding to buy a particular title.

Have a look at the first few lines, the first paragraph, the first page, even the whole of the first chapter. Can you manage to figure out what’s going on in the story without too much effort, without constantly reaching for the dictionary?

If not, step down a level, try another free sample chapter, keep looking until you find something that you’re comfortable with. Don’t forget to check out the free online audio, if there is one. Usually the link is at the top of the first chapter…

Then, if the story grabs you, go ahead and buy a copy! Read a chapter a day, perhaps. There are usually eight short chapters, so in not much more than a week, you’ll be done.

At which point, you could check out other titles at the same level, or look at free sample chapters for the next level (or half-level) up, to see if you’re ready for something a little more challenging.

Aim to establish a reading/listening HABIT. Move up to the next level only when you’re comfortable, no need to rush,

Gradually, month by month, your reading/listening skills will improve, as will your knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary of the language you’re learning.

With graded materials, such as ‘easy readers’ and ‘parallel texts’, you’ll master the language you’re studying step-by-step, almost without realising it!

P.S. Spring Sale This Week, Save 20%!

Don’t forget the 2022 Spring Sale is on this week!

Save a fifth on graded material (and online lessons) for learning Italian, Spanish, French, and/or German.

Everything in our TWO online stores (EasyReaders.org for ebooks, NativeSpeakerTeachers.com for online lesson credits) is 20% cheaper until midnight on Sunday 10th April 2022.

But only if you remember to use this coupon code (it works in both stores):

Spring-Sale-2022

Make your selection from the one-to-one online lesson options and/or from our range of ebooks, which have been especially written to keep you interested and making progress.

Apply coupon code Spring-Sale-2022 in your shopping cart to reduce the cart total by 20%!

Stock up on online lesson credits, easy readers, parallel texts and grammar workbooks – at an unbeatable price!

EasyReaders.org (now only ebooks) | NativeSpeakerTeachers.com (online lessons)

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Spring Sale 2022! Save 20% on Online Lessons & Ebooks

Our 2022 Spring Sale has begun!

Which means that students of Italian, Spanish, French or German can save 20% on ebooks and/or online lessons, one to one with a native speaker teacher, via Skype or Zoom.

A reminder – we have recently separated the ebooks from the lessons, so as to make it easier for people to find what they need (and easier for us to organise things!)

Which means we now have two different online stores, NativeSpeakerTeachers.com and EasyReaders.org, named to make it obvious where you should go for what…

Everything in both stores – online lessons with native-speaker teachers, ebooks for learning foreign languages, easy readers, parallel texts – is a fifth cheaper (if you remember to use the coupon code, which you can find below.)

You could buy ten one-to-one language lessons while paying for only eight, so two extra lessons of speaking and listening practice, on us!

Or pop 5 ebooks into your shopping cart (reading and listening practice is essential), yet pay for just four of them!

Use the following coupon code to save £££ on your order:

Spring-Sale-2022

First make your selection from the one-to-one online lesson options and/or from our range of ebooks, which have been especially written to keep you interested and so making progress.

Then go to your shopping cart (carts, if you are stocking up on both lessons and ebooks) and apply coupon code Spring-Sale-2022 to reduce the cart total by 20%. Scroll down to verify that the cart total has been reduced by 20% BEFORE proceeding with your payment…

The coupon code is good until midnight on Sunday 10th April 2022.

You can use it as often as you wish, with no minimum or maximum spend.

Restrictions? Small print?

The coupon code can’t be used together with any other coupon code you may already have.

Besides that, no.

So do find some time this week to stock up on online lesson credits, easy readers, parallel texts and grammar workbooks – at an unbeatable price!

One-to-one lessons via Skype or Zoom | Ebooks for learning languages

P.S.

Here’s that coupon code again:

Spring-Sale-2022

And here’s where you can use it: NativeSpeakerTeachers.comEasyReaders.org

The next sale won’t be until July, so a long way off!

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Colpa della terra, Libro 2, La traversata (B2) -25%

Italian easy readers - Colpa della terra, Libro 2, La traversata - cover image

This week we publish the second in a series of five ‘easy reader’ ebooks which tell the story of three generations of an Italian family that emigrates to the USA.

If you missed Libro 1, you’ll find it here:

Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra, £7.99 | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Libro 2 opens in the chaos of Naple’s port in 1895, moments before the sailing of a ship crammed with emigrants from some of Italy’s most desperate villages. This time the narrator is Giuliano, the family’s disabled eldest child.

Arrivati al porto di Napoli, veniamo inghiottiti dalla folla. Stringo forte la mano di mia madre, i miei due fratelli più piccoli sono aggrappati alla sua gonna. Mio padre sta dietro di me e mi spinge avanti, proteggendo la mia gamba fragile dai colpi che dà la gente.

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to!
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Colpa della terra, Libro 2, La traversata, just £5.99 this week only! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra, £7.99 | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

But if B2 (upper-intermediate) is too advanced, or too easy for you?

Not to worry! There are plenty of easier, and harder, stories listed, by type and in level order, on our Catalog page.

And they all have free sample chapters, which means you can evaluate the level and format of the material, and check that you know how to open it on the device you plan to use it on, BEFORE buying…

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after payment), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.

P.S.

Tuesday’s bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news (text + audio) was published a few hours ago.

Read/listen to it FOR FREE here.

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Ebook Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra (B2) -25%

Easy Italian readers - Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra - cover image

This week we’ve published the first in a series of five ‘easy reader’ ebooks which tell the story of three generations of an Italian family that emigrates to the USA.

The first is called Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra, so the volume name is also the series name, if you see what I mean.

Its level is B2, which means it’s not suitable for beginners or for those who have not previously read in Italian, but should be OK for others (check the Free Sample Chapter .pdf to be sure!)

Libro 1 begins in 1895, in the village of Siano, Salerno. The narrator is Santo, a father of three who has fallen on hard times. The story opens as Santo welcomes home his childhood friend (and former rival in love), Cristiano, who after nine years has returned from across the ocean with tales of opportunity…

Cristiano sta appoggiato con la schiena a un muro e mastica un paletto. Non è cambiato quasi per nulla fisicamente, ma ha delle occhiaie più profonde, qualche capello grigio e un nuovo taglio, i baffi più sottili e dei vestiti nuovi. Sono contento di vederlo, dopo nove anni che manca dal paese. Mi è quasi preso un infarto quando mio fratello mi ha detto di averlo visto in piazza. “Pensavo che non tornavi più, Cristià!” gli dico correndogli incontro.

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to!
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Colpa della terra, Libro 1, Colpa della terra , just £5.99! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after payment), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.

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NEW EASY READER EBOOK: Don Chisciotte della Mancia, -25%

Easy Italian reader - Don Chisciotte della Mancia - cover image

This week EasyReaders.org is publishing the second in its new ‘World Literature‘ series of ITALIAN ebooks (we also have six Italian literature ‘easy reader’ ebooks…)

The new one is Don Chisciotte della Mancia, and the level is B2/C1, so upper-intermediate/advanced.

Until Sunday 20th March it’s discounted 25% compared to the usual ‘easy reader’ price, so just £5.99 rather than £7.99.

Find out more about Don Chisciotte della Mancia  in our online shop. Check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf), to verify the length, level and format of the ebook.

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at intermediate level and above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

 

Buy Don Chisciotte della Mancia just £5.99! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | World Literature series | Italian literature series | Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment is confirmed), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.

P.S.

Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news (text + online audio) from EasyItalianNews.com is now ready for you to read/listen to.

Why not subscribe (that’s also free), and so receive all future bulletins via email?

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50% Off eBook of the Week / 25% Off History eBooks

This week’s half-price, easy reader ‘eBook of the Week’ is the B1/2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate) -level L’imperatore e i giochi.

What’s it about?

‘The philosopher’, Marco Aurelio (121 – 180 CE), was the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ who ruled during the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability.

Join him and his son as they head off to the Colosseum for an afternoon of ‘entertainment’ – watching gladiators fight to the death.

The boy can’t wait! But his father is less than enthusiastic…

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at low-intermediate level and above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) to verify that the level is or is not appropriate, and that you know how to open the file on the device you intend to use it on.

Normally £7.99, L’imperatore e i giochi is half price this week, so just £3.99!

ALSO THIS WEEK, to go with the history-themed ‘eBook of the Week’ offer, we’re discounting the other TEN ebooks in our ‘history/historical’ section 25%. View them all here.

N.b. Both of these offers end on Sunday night.

L’imperatore e i giochi, just £3.99! | Free Sample Chapter | History-themed ebooks – 25%! | Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’, a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to those who request them.

P.S.

Logo of EasyItalianNews.com

Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news was published this morning – subscribers will have already received their free copy via email. If you didn’t, why don’t you subscribe, too? It’s free!

Enter your email on this page and you’ll receive three Easy Italian News bulletins each and every week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

There’s absolutely no obligation to pay anything. And you can easily unsubscribe if you don’t find the materials useful, or are no longer learning Italian.

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50% OFF Easy-Reader eBook of the Week: ‘Zio Ciro e la pizza’

Easy Italian readers - Zio Ciro e la pizza - cover image

This week’s half-price, easy reader ‘eBook of the Week’ is the B1 (intermediate) -level Zio Ciro e la pizza.

Join Angela as she helps her Neapolitan uncle prepare pizzas for a special lunch, while learning the fascinating history of Napoli’s most famous dish!

This ebook is suitable for students at more or less any level, as it’s relatively short and simple.

But check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) to see for yourself, that way you’ll know what to expect, and how to open the file on the device you intend to use it on.

Normally £7.99, ‘Zio Ciro e la pizza is half price this week, so just £3.99!

For that, you get:

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at any level
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy ‘Zio Ciro e la pizza, just £3.99! | Free Sample Chapter | Or browse our Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’, a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to those who request them.

P.S.

Logo of EasyItalianNews.com

Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news was published a few hours ago – subscribers will have already received their free copy via email. If you didn’t, why don’t you  subscribe, too? It’s free!

Enter your email on this page to receive three Easy Italian News bulletins each and every week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

There’s absolutely no obligation to pay anything. And you can easily unsubscribe if you don’t find the materials useful or are no longer learning Italian.

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Ebook La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Spagna (B2) -25%

Italian easy reader ebook, La diaspora italiana - Italiani in Spagna, cover image

This week we’ve published the second ‘easy Italian reader’ ebook in our new Italian diaspora series. To add to January’s La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Scozia, there’s now La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Spagna (coming up in a few months we’ll have Australia and the USA, don’t worry!)

A ‘diaspora’ is a population that lives somewhere different from their original home, or that of their forebears. Since the late nineteenth century, millions of Italians have emigrated in search of better prospects. By 1980 it was estimated that twenty-five million Italians had made their home outside of Italy, in countries all over the world…

From the Roman empire to the European Union, read about Italians who have made their homes in a land which isn’t so dissimilar to their own: Spain! Get an insider’s view of the cultural ties, the similarities, but also the differences between these two peninsulas, situated at opposite ends of the Mediterranean Sea (the author is an Italian teacher, based in Madrid!)

Find out more about La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Spagna in our online shop and/or check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf), to verify the length, level and format of the ebook.

The level of this one is B2 (upper-intermediate), which means it should be suitable for students at intermediate level and above.

As always, at the top of Chapter 1 in the free sample chapter download (.pdf) there’s a link to the online audio. The audio version of the entire story is available to listen to, FREE, even if you don’t buy the ebook (though having the full text will make understanding the story easier.)

This first week only,  La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Spagna is 25% off – so just £5.99 rather than the usual ‘easy reader’ price of £7.99!

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at intermediate level and above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment is confirmed), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.

Buy La diaspora italiana – Italiani in Spagna, just £5.99! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

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50% OFF Easy-Reader eBook of the Week: ‘Il giocoliere’

Italian easy readers: il giocoliere

This week’s half-price, easy reader ‘eBook of the Week’ is the A1/A2 (elementary/pre-intermediate) level Il giocoliere.

A student has her purse stolen on a crowded bus in Bologna. It contains little of value, except a photograph which is precious to her…

This ebook is suitable for students at more or less any level, as it’s very short and simple. But check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) to see for yourself, that way you’ll know what to expect, and how to open the file on the device you intend to use it on.

Normally £7.99, Il giocoliere is half price this week, so just £3.99!

For that, you get:

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at any level
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Il giocoliere, just £3.99! | Free Sample Chapter | Or browse our Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’, a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to those who request them.

P.S.

Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news has just been published – subscribers will have just received their free copy via email. If you didn’t, why not subscribe, too? It’s free!

Just enter your email on this page and we’ll send you three Easy Italian News bulletins each and every week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

There’s absolutely no obligation, and you can easily unsubscribe if you don’t find the materials useful.

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NEW: I racconti di Canterbury -25% / Italian literature -15%

Easy Italian reader - I racconti di Canterbury - cover image

EasyReaders.org is publishing a new ‘World Literature’ series of ITALIAN ebooks this year, and the first title is ‘I racconti di Canterbury‘.

Chaucer? In Italian? Well, Italian kids do masses of English literature at school, mostly in translation I’m sure, so why shouldn’t you?

Besides, until Sunday 7th of February it’s discounted 25% compared to the usual ‘easy reader’ price, so just £5.99 rather than £7.99.

Find out more about I racconti di Canterbury  in our online shop. Check out the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf), to verify the length, level and format of the ebook.

This one is B2/C1 (upper-intermediate/advanced), which means it should be suitable for confident readers from a level or two lower, say B1 and above, but not really for beginners.

  • .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
  • .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
  • 8 chapters to read and listen to
  • Comprehension questions to check your understanding
  • Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
  • Suitable for students at intermediate level and above
  • Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Huff, you exclaim, I’d rather read something in ITALIAN!

Actually, we anticipated that.

So, to go with the launch of the World Literature series, we’ve also discounting all six titles in our Italian literature series of ‘easy reader’ ebooks.Italian easy reader - Le avventure di Pinocchio - cover image

Which are easier, too! Below are the titles in level order (the prices shown are already discounted by 15%):

Le avventure di Pinocchio (A1/2), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)
I Malavoglia (B1), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)
La coscienza di Zeno (B1), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)
I promessi sposi (B1/2), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)
Decameron (B1/2), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)
Uno, nessuno e centomila (B2), £6.79, FREE sample (.pdf)

Personally, I particularly liked I MalavogliaLa coscienza di Zeno,  and Decameron, two of which I read during the first lockdown in 2020. Or maybe it was the second… Seems like a long time ago, now!

If you’re up for a challenge, you can find the originals of all of these texts for free on the internet.

For learners of Italian, though, our ‘easy readers’ are both useful reading/listening practice AND a good introduction to the stories. Enough to give you a flavor, anyhow.

Buy I racconti di Canterbury just £5.99! | Free Sample Chapter (.pdf) | Italian literature series – 15% | Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment is confirmed), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook (.mobi/Kindle-compatible, .epub) cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them.

P.S.

Tuesday’s FREE bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news (text + online audio) is ready for you, over at EasyItalianNews.com.

The ‘front page’ story is about Italy’s ‘new’ President of the Republic…

Read/listen now!