Background: Since the beginning of the 90s, medical students in Italian Faculties have been required to pass a compulsory English exam. In the light of the growing importance of reasonably fluent spoken and written English at the start of the new millennium, the authors present an English teaching program spanning the 6 years of medical studies leading to a degree in Medicine and Surgery. The program: Features an initial test of basic English proficiency; the specific terminology: macroscopic anatomy, physiology, etc., to be learnt in the 3rd year; the true course in the 4th year, focusing on fluent spoken English, tips for formal correspondence and a knowledge of the typical format and language used in scientific papers; update courses in the form of medical seminars in the 5th and 6th years. Conclusion: No graduate in any field can be considered equipped for his/her chosen career unless he/she possesses an adequate knowledge of spoken and written English. The course presented aims to provide Italian medical students with the necessary skills.