Dent's first english book [antikvár]

PREFACEDuring the twenty-five years that have passed since the First English Book was issued it has made its way into many countries. Probably it can be said of few books for teaching a foreign language that they have been found equally serviceable in Sweden and in Siam, in Chile and in China, to mention only a few of the countries in which this and the Second English Book have established themselves.How is it that the same book appeals to learners who speak widely different languages? Because it is written entirely in the language to be taught, in accordance with the principles of the " reform method " or " direct method " which have been successfully adopted in other volumes of this " Modern Language Series " for the teaching of French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The gradual introduction of the main facts of English grammar and the careful selection and repetition of the vocabulary have commended themselves to teachers, who realize that later progress is all the more speedy when the foundations have been well laid.The First English Book has been written for those whose mother - tongue is some other language. Most of the books for teaching English, produced in England or America, are written for children who have spoken English from their early childhood, and who possess a considerable practical knowledge of grammar and a good stock of words, acquired by conversation. In their case much can be presupposed that is quite unknown to the foreigner, for whom the usual books are consequently unsuitable.The new version of the First English Book now presented does not differ materially from the old; such changes as have been made are in accordance with the suggestionsv