This innovative English as a second language textbook helps advanced English language learners develop conversation skills and improve fluency by sharing experiences, reflecting on their lives, and discussing proverbs and quotations. The ESL book includes 45 thematic chapters, over 1400 questions, 500 vocabulary words, 250 proverbs and American idioms, and 500 quotations. Designed for both adult education and intensive English language students, the conversations deepen critical thinking skills and speaking skills essential to success in community college and university programs. Compelling Conversations has been used in classrooms in over 40 countries, recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, and enjoyed by thousands of English students.
Compelling Conversations
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"In my own teaching, I have found questions and quotations to be highly effective in promoting student discussion. Questions are useful in that they require a response from the listener. Asking them also helps students master the tricky rules of the interrogative. Quotations are brilliant flashes of wit expressed in the shortest space possible, often just a sentence or two. The authors have compiled a formidable collection of quotations by famous people from Napoleon and Aristotle to Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone. Some will have the students roaring with laughter "My movies were the kind they show in prisons and airplanes because nobody can leave." - Burt Reynolds), while others require careful introspection ("Love is not just looking at each other; it's looking in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint Exupery). The authors also add some wise proverbs here and there. My two favourites were "Recite `patience' three times and it will spare you a murder" and "When money talks, truth keeps silent", which are from Korea and Russia. In sum, Compelling Conversations is a recommended resource for teachers who want to make their conversation classes more learner-centered. It should be especially appealing to those who wish to escape the confines of the Presentation-Practice-Production approach and do without a formal grammatical or functional syllabus. It reflects the authors' considerable professional experience, and would be a notable addition to any English teacher's bookshelf." -- Hall Houston, English Teaching Professional, January 2009
"This outstanding resource (Compelling Conversations) allows teachers to confidently walk into an advanced ESL classroom with self-contained, engaging conversation lessons. The 45 thematic chapters allow you to both evoke student experience with long lists of practical and savvy questions. The inclusion of global proverbs and classic quotations also provides larger cultural contexts to inspire deeper conversations - or writing assignments. Students should also appreciate the generous amount of authentic language. I wish I would have had that book in my old adult/university classes. A great book for adult education teachers, university instructors, and private tutors!" -- Eric Busch, director/founder, ESLHQ.com, August 2007
"Have you been looking for a good ESL manual? If you have, I think this is one (Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics) to consider. The topics cover: Your Life, The Civic Life, along with the everyday aspects as dating, enjoying money, handling stress. The editors put it together in an easy to use form. You have conversation starters such as, "How much time do you spend each week in cars? Why?" There is a section in each chapter for vocabulary building. A section on common sayings is included, as well. To increase the conversation we have such questions as this: "Do you prefer to drive in the city or the country? Flat or hills?" Each chapter in the book concludes with quotations. An example is this one by Woody Allen, "I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys." This manual helps conversation by giving common subjects to talk about. Since English is one of the confusing, difficult and strange languages for a foreigner to grasp and be comfortable conversing in, the compilers pack in 45 chapters over 30 questions, 10 or more targeted vocabulary words, some proverbs, and quotations per chapter. Each chapter focuses on a promising conversation topic. They start with easy questions and continue on to questions a bit more abstract. Each question is there to allow the speaker to share his life experiences along with his insights. This manual will go best with the advanced ESL student or even at coffee shop conversation clubs. It will bring about authentic, not stilted communication, which should be the purpose of an ESL course. It is easier for a person to learn a language through conversation rather than by a given list of vocabulary words. That is what makes this a welcome addition to the material which can be used for the immigrant who must learn English to advance in the world." -- Dane Robert Swanson, Santa Monica Daily Press, 1/16/2009
"This outstanding resource (Compelling Conversations) allows teachers to confidently walk into an advanced ESL classroom with self-contained, engaging conversation lessons. The 45 thematic chapters allow you to both evoke student experience with long lists of practical and savvy questions. The inclusion of global proverbs and classic quotations also provides larger cultural contexts to inspire deeper conversations - or writing assignments. Students should also appreciate the generous amount of authentic language. I wish I would have had that book in my old adult/university classes. A great book for adult education teachers, university instructors, and private tutors!" -- Eric Busch, director/founder, ESLHQ.com, August 2007
"Have you been looking for a good ESL manual? If you have, I think this is one (Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics) to consider. The topics cover: Your Life, The Civic Life, along with the everyday aspects as dating, enjoying money, handling stress. The editors put it together in an easy to use form. You have conversation starters such as, "How much time do you spend each week in cars? Why?" There is a section in each chapter for vocabulary building. A section on common sayings is included, as well. To increase the conversation we have such questions as this: "Do you prefer to drive in the city or the country? Flat or hills?" Each chapter in the book concludes with quotations. An example is this one by Woody Allen, "I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys." This manual helps conversation by giving common subjects to talk about. Since English is one of the confusing, difficult and strange languages for a foreigner to grasp and be comfortable conversing in, the compilers pack in 45 chapters over 30 questions, 10 or more targeted vocabulary words, some proverbs, and quotations per chapter. Each chapter focuses on a promising conversation topic. They start with easy questions and continue on to questions a bit more abstract. Each question is there to allow the speaker to share his life experiences along with his insights. This manual will go best with the advanced ESL student or even at coffee shop conversation clubs. It will bring about authentic, not stilted communication, which should be the purpose of an ESL course. It is easier for a person to learn a language through conversation rather than by a given list of vocabulary words. That is what makes this a welcome addition to the material which can be used for the immigrant who must learn English to advance in the world." -- Dane Robert Swanson, Santa Monica Daily Press, 1/16/2009
From the Back Cover
Compelling Conversations is perfect for conversation clubs, private tutors, and conversation courses! Compelling Conversations' topics are timely, meaningful, and presented in such a way as to stimulate immediate class participation. Marc Yablonka, Author & ESL Teacher, LAUSD Adult Education
The students I tutor are well-educated adults, rich in culture and experiences. This book allows them to produce natural conversations using what is most intimate to them: their lives and their culture. Patricia Schulz, ESL Tutor
The students I tutor are well-educated adults, rich in culture and experiences. This book allows them to produce natural conversations using what is most intimate to them: their lives and their culture. Patricia Schulz, ESL Tutor
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By loopidiloop
Format:Paperback
These conversation starters are not just for ESL students but for anyone who is a bit shy or has trouble speaking around people. The questions are engaging and interesting and draws people into a variety of diverse subjects ranging from "Does your dog have a personality?" to "Have you ever had to hire/fire someone or work for a crazy boss?" The book also has may jokes, quotes and proverbs that often bring common day improper english into the mix. A must have book!
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Jenny Bruner
Format:Paperback
I first tried this fantastic textbook with a high intermediate student that I tutor. I was amazed from the start at how naturally the conversation flowed. We were only halfway through the first set of questions when she decided to buy her own copy. Each of the 45 chapters includes a vocabulary section and list of around 12 to 15 classic quotations, along with between thirty and forty questions. The chapters can be used in any order, but I recommend starting with chapter one as it orients the students to the textbook and shows them how to get the most out of subsequent chapters. Either in the classroom or one on one, it's accessible to intermediate students and challenges advanced students. The quotations, from Socrates to Shaw and from Picasso to Pete Rose, are all identified by name, when they lived, and what they did. This book is truly a treasure.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a longtime ESL student and medical professional, I wish I had this book when I was preparing for the "English Proficiency Exam" in London.
It goes beyond the boring dialogs of most ESL books and provides great current conversations that fit our crazy modern times.
For instances:
"Are sex, love and marriage linked in your mind?"
"What does your partner do that annoys you?"
"Will your partner love you with wrinkles?"
These are good questions!
I also like the proverbs:"If it's torn it can't be worn." (Persian)
Excellent book, great learning tool, absolutely at the top of the list in its category!
It goes beyond the boring dialogs of most ESL books and provides great current conversations that fit our crazy modern times.
For instances:
"Are sex, love and marriage linked in your mind?"
"What does your partner do that annoys you?"
"Will your partner love you with wrinkles?"
These are good questions!
I also like the proverbs:"If it's torn it can't be worn." (Persian)
Excellent book, great learning tool, absolutely at the top of the list in its category!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful textbook for ESL teachers.
Better than most ESL conversation text books. Lots of good conversation starters for my adult conversation circle. Good as a filler for other classes as well.
Published 18 days ago by Tina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource for conversation class
Contains a wide variety of chapters on personal, leisure, and societal topics. Each unit has dozens of questions and quotations to keep students engaged. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. Barton
3.0 out of 5 stars
a bit boring
I use with a group who need to practice conversation. While there are many questions...it's a bit dry. I would plan to have additional material if you use this for a class.
Published 1 month ago by E. Rodgers
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
A good book for ESL student .It good for your English .But it's too expensive ,Lose one start .Otherwise .great
Published 2 months ago by Tina
1.0 out of 5 stars
bad book
it is about the contest of that book. I could not found useful data that can be in a text book.
Published 2 months ago by fahad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for conversation classes, highly recommended.
As someone who gives ESL conversation classes to adults, sometimes I run out of compelling, relevant topics to discuss with my students. This book is my savior! Read more
Published 4 months ago by knowitall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really good ideas!
This book is a treasure for all sorts of questions created by subjects. It really helps with conversation classes! MUst have for ESL !
Published 4 months ago by Patrycja
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment
Not at all what I expected. Nothing there to help my granddaughter with her English skills are reading comprehension skills
Published 5 months ago by Mamie
5.0 out of 5 stars
very useful produc
very useful product, helps to speak , make a sentence and discussions. I recommend it for immigrants. But sad things is somebody stole my book :(( .
Published 5 months ago by Bekzod Fakhriddinov
4.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Book
There are useful fundamental content for beginning learners, and they help students to clearly understand the usages of words and phrases. Nice to have for learning English.
Published 5 months ago by Kam Man Kit Thomas
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