Customer Reviews

A Conversation Book 1: English in Everyday Life (4th Edition) (Bk. 1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I use this book in a beginning level English class for Hispanics. I work all day at a computer-related job and volunteer teach ESL two nights a week. I really do not have enough time to think of new conversation starters all the time. I find that this book used in conjunction with other material is ideal for low level adults. It provides a non threatening, informative introduction into American life. It is a fun way to learn the basics.

My M.A. thesis was a comparison of adult, entry-level ESL textbooks; I give _A Conversation Book_ (ACB) a five-star rating.

What is does (that other books do not):

ACB treats learners as intelligent; while it is written for a true beginner, it does not over-simplify the topics that it covers.

ACB provides an above-average amount of pertinent vocabulary for each topic.

Each unit is about 10 pages long, with 6 smaller topics of 2 pages each. Individual topics within the units are independent, each with their own vocabulary list, making it especially helpful if student attendance is sporadic.

ACB draws on the wealth of existing knowledge that students bring with them. Conversation questions often asks students to share about their lives before coming to the U.S., whether it be regarding food, healthcare, or beliefs about gender and housework.

ACB avoids traditional grammar-based instruction.

ACB includes interactive activities: surveys, problem solving, and small group (4) challenges.

The text is colorful, and Andrew Lange does a great job of illustrating ACB, providing a sense of fun in the learning environment.

If you want a pedagogically sound, highly engaging ESL text, you need this book, and the following, ACB II.

More a series of detailed vocabulary lists arranged by topic than an actual conversation book, this ESL book - approximately half of Conversation Book 2 - helps students find the appropriate word for everyday activities. This seems like a better resource for teachers than a book for students - given the price - and should be supplement by a worksheet of at least 10-15 questions. When I taught at a local community college, this was the assigned textbook and few students wanted to buy it. On the other hand, this book forced me to create many conversation worksheets to supplement the text.

I'm using this book to teach an adult high beginner conversation class in a state university IEP (Instensive English Program). This book offers a lot of vocabulary for items that students come across, but it doesn't provide much opportunity for conversation practice aside from having the students discuss their opinions and personal use of the items. An example is the unit on the post office. The book provides some great vocabulary for items at the post office, and it even provides a good example of a conversation of someone shipping a package and buying a book of stamps. But it does not provide any kind of activity to practice that kind of conversation. The conversation practice for this lesson includes a chart that asks: "how often do you go to the post office," "how often do you write letters," and "how often do you receive packages?" While this is valuable, it fails to provide the students with the tools they will need most: the ability to complete transactions at the post office. Simply memorizing the vocabulary and listening to/reading a conversation isn't enough. At this low level, students need the opportunity to practice tasks that they will have to complete in the real world. This publisher has another series called Top Notch that I would recommend over this book. Top Notch offers much more real world task-based role play opportunities, especially if you purchase the Copy and Go supplement for an extra $15 (which will save teachers endless hours in preparation time). The teacher's editions of the Top Notch books also come with printable vocabulary cards for each lesson so you can present images without the words attached for the students to either practice or to create additional role plays with ease. (I have been making my own flash cards for Conversation Book, which adds 30 minutes to an hour of prep time per day in and of itself, and creating the role play activities to accompany the lessons takes even longer.)

I'm teaching a small class, typically three to six students. Since the class is offered free through the public library, there is no textbook or formal structure. While this book has its limitations (the activities are designed with a large class in mind, and each section is basically a vocabulary list with suggested activities) I'm not always able to create a lesson plan, and introducing the vocabulary does get the students talking.

This book is very helpful in providing a ready-made lesson plan when I don't have a good set of ideas. However, to reinforce the vocabulary I need to design other activities. I use it in combination with Expressways, which has good reading selections and more written exercises.

A Conversation Book 1: English in Everyday Life (4th Edition) (Bk. 1). Excellent English conversation book for ESL students. The 3rd edition had more practical learning activities than this 4th edition has.

Humorous drawings; variety of topics; basic, solid, useful vocabulary. I've used this book (and others in same series) for several years as a basis for the ESL classes I teach.

After researching ESL books, I bought this for self-study for my wife, but it is useless without the audio content (CD).
The content itself looked interesting.
I returned the book because I couldn't find the CD, which is hard-to-find or very expensive.

I'm sorry, I actually wrote a review for this book that I emant to write for another one. I really LOVE this text. I can and will use it for my classroom and the seller was polite, quick, and helpful

i think this is something that really works for people who are trying to learn english. it really helps them start communicating effectively.