Edmund Donovan recommends learning English quickly by using one's own language. After all, German is closely related to English, making it easy to switch from one language to the other. With his practical and entertaining textbook, which includes an easily understandable grammar section and effective exercises, the author targets both beginners and those returning to the language. His 20:35:45 rule is meant to encourage learners. It states that communication consists of 20 percent grammar and vocabulary, 35 percent word stress, and 45 percent gestures and body language. A well-structured 10-hour plan takes learners from the alphabet through various parts of speech to the innovative core concept of the textbook, the gear-shifting principle. Here, the use of tense is explained through the memorable image of a gear shift.