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Book
Review
December
2000 |
 |
Title: Grammar
In Context - Book One
Editor: Sandra N. Elbaum
Publisher: Heinle
& Heinle
Grammar In Context, Book One is the first part of a
three-part grammar series for adult students of English as a Second
Language. It's designed for the high beginning to low advanced
instructional levels. Grammar in Context is organized as
follows:
- Lesson Focus,overview and brief explanation of the grammar
points covered.
- Pre-Reading Questions, to stimulate students' interest in the
topic.
- Introductory Readings,uses high-interest readings to
illustrate new grammar points about American life with stories of famous
people and events. The stories are written in a simple level to target
the grammar,
- Grammar Boxes & Language Notes. Special attention is
given to common trouble spots with the use of simple language and
examples.
Exercises. There is a great variety of exercise types to
reduce boredom.
- Expansion Activities. These activities, grouped at the end of
each lesson, allow students to use the points covered in more ways. This
includes pair work, group discussions, writing poetry, famous quotes and
sayings.
- Editing Advice. Covered issues presented showing students
common errors and ways to correct them.
- Summary. Overall review of all of the grammar presented in
the chapter,
- Test/Review, allows teacher and students to evaluate the
mastery of the concepts covered.
- Appendices, provide useful information in list or chart form.
They're cross-referenced throughout the text.
Some of the
topics for the high-interest reading are:
| Facts About
Americans |
Disneyland |
| Jobs of the
Future |
Smoking |
| A Healthy
Diet |
The Drug
Problem |
| Medicine |
Halloween |
| Christmas
in the U.S. |
An American
Wedding |
| The Fourth
of July |
Agent
Orange |
| Student
Life |
Names |
| An
Apartment Lease |
Home
Schooling |
| Illegal
Aliens |
Football
and Soccer |
| Job Resumé
and Cover Letter |
| Reviewed by: Janet Coulter,
ESL Instructor GCCC
Finney County Community Learning Center
Garden City, Kansas
Title:
Transitions, An Interactive Reading, Writing and Grammar - Second Edition,
Linda Bates, University of California-Davis, Cambridge University Press,
1999.
Intended Skill Areas/Level: Intermediate to low
advanced ESL students. In our system, it is best suited for grades 11 and
upwards, or Adult Non-tradtional Students
The format is for the student
with advanced Reading Skills. However, it can be easily translated by a
multi-lengual instructor well versed in the use and understanding of other
languages and their cultures.
This book is divided into three
parts, including eleven chapters, plus Appendixes and a
Glossary.
This
text is excellent for use by the advanced student of any language,
learning to write in English for translation into any other language. This
text allows these advanced learners of English to utilize the transitions
of literature to enhance his or her writings and the ability to then
enhance the intricacies of both languages of either their new English or
the languages of their ancestors.
I find that no single language is
the best for writing of literature in any form of prose. The expression of
one's thoughts can have different meanings from one language to another.
This text allows the user to move between languages to express any group
of expressions for the reader'' complete understanding, in whatever
language desired.
This
text would have been of great use to me in years past. I will use the
ideas and techniques from this text for my advanced ESL Adult students in
the future.
Reviewed by:
Donald E. Blackman, USA
Retired, DA
Garden City Community College
Finney County
Community Learning Center
Garden City, Kansas |
