In order to save time in looking out words, and so quicken the process of learning, the English translation of the third piece is given in parallel columns. Therefore in this piece only the principal words, which might be unfamiliar to English readers, are given in the vocabulary. Word-formation and some points of grammar are explained in the notes.
To get a practical grasp of Esperanto, cover the left-hand (Esperanto) column with a piece of paper after reading it, and re-translate the English into Esperanto, using the notes. After half an hour per day of such exercise for two or three weeks, an ordinary educated person will know Esperanto pretty well.
N.B.—It is very important to acquire a correct pronunciation at the start. Study the pronunciation rules, and practise reading aloud before beginning to translate. Read slowly.
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pronunciation
Vowels
There are no long and short, open and closed, vowels: just five simple, full-sounding vowels, always pronounced the same. English people must be particularly careful to make them sufficiently full.
| a | as | a | in | Engl. | "father." |
| e | " | ey | " | " | "they." |
| i | " | ee | " | " | "eel." |
| o | " | o | " | " | "hole," inclining to o in Engl. "more." (English speakers find it hard to pronounce a true o.) |
| u | " | oo | " | " | "moon." |
In short, the vowels are as in Italian.