Texts must be interesting enough for students to want to read them in their own language. Otherwise, how can we expect students to want to read them in English? This is the authors' golden rule when they choose texts and topics for every level of American English File. It ensures you get material that learners will enjoy reading and will want to talk about. Texts such as 'Could you live without money?' really help to generate opinion and discussion. They create a desire to communicate. Having created the desire, American English File then helps you to develop learners' communication skills. One way it does this is with a strong focus on pronunciation. Research shows that poor pronunciation is a major contributor to breakdowns in communication (Jennifer Jenkins: The Phonology of English as an International Language). American English File integrates pronunciation into every lesson - the 'little and often' approach. But that's not all. The unique English File Sounds Chart puts a picture to each sound in the phonetic alphabet, so learners find it easier to remember the sounds and, ultimately, improve their pronunciation.