Italian vowels (i vocali) are short, clear–cut, and are never drawn out. The "glide" with which English vowels frequently end should be avoided. It should be noted that a, i, u, are always pronounced the same way; e and o, on the other hand, have an open and a closed sound that may vary from one part of Italy to the other.
The approximate English equivalents are as follows:
a is like a in the English word ah!
Italian English
casa house
antipasto appetizer
ama loves
banana banana
sala hall
Papa Pope
fama fame
pasta pasta; dough; pastry
e is sometimes like e in the English word they (without the final i glide).
Italian English
e and
beve drinks
me me
fede faith
vede sees
mele apples
sete thirst
pepe pepper
e is sometimes like e in the word met. This is the open e.
Italian  English
è
is
lento
slow
bene
well
festa
party; holiday
sedia
chair
presto
soon
vento
wind
tè
tea
i is like i in machine.
Italian
English
libri
books
bimbi
children
vini
wines
violini
violins
tini
vats
pini
pines