The first step is to familiarize yourself with the new language through daily sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes. That’s the Passive Phase. You listen and you read – and you will understand what is being said through the translation provided. You repeat each sentence aloud to practice your pronunciation, with the help of an easy-to-read  phonetic transcription and, better still, recordings. During the Passive Phase you shouldn't try to form sentences. Just immerse yourself in the language.In every seventh lesson you'll find a review of all the points covered in the previous six lessons and a summary of the main grammar points. The key to success is the daily routine. The first 14 lessons are crucial. The rest will come naturally.

The Active Phase starts when you have acquired enough passive knowledge – around Lesson 50.

This phase continues alongside passive learning, and involves revising Lesson 1, then Lesson 2 and so on, completing one "active" lesson and one "passive" lesson each day.

In the Active Phase, you cover up the text in the target language and, using the translation on the opposite page, try to say it out loud – or in writing if you wish. The Active Phase continues throughout the entire second half of the book. For most major languages, it takes about five months to assimilate a course of 100 lessons.

You'll be amazed by your results! During this second phase, you will be building sentences with ease, which will encourage you to go on and complete your course.