Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for anyone who likes to study language & culture, August 15, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Speak American: A Survival Guide to the Language and Culture of the U.S.A. (Paperback)
I bought this book as a gift for an ESL student I am tutoring. My student had a lot of fun browsing though it. The book is small, but packs a lot of information into its pages. And it's the perfect size for carrying around. There's lots of detail in the information the author provides too, particularly cultural things. For example, the author goes extensively into how to order food at a restaurant and what is considered appropriate (eg sending food back if it's not to your liking). There's also lots of information about the US school system and other topics as well. There are example phrases throughout that the English use but Americans don't. And the author even gives the reader grammar tips and explains why it doesn't sound right in American English. There's also a huge word list in the back of the book listing American/English equivalents and the American pronunciations. I think this would also be a good book for Americans travelling to England.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Informative Book !, April 2, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Speak American: A Survival Guide to the Language and Culture of the U.S.A. (Paperback)
I'm a Japanese English learner. I often see past perfects and simple pasts on many text books. Sadly they are not consistantly used. But this book taught me that's because sometimes they were written by American style. There were much more things this book cleared away ambiguity for me. If you are Japanese, I strongly recommend this instructive book for your further English study. nakamimo mirerukara douzo check site mite kudasai, koukou eigo de aimaina tokoromo wakattari simasuyo.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An invaluable toolkit to understand the culture and language better and faster, November 17, 2006
This review is from: Speak American: A Survival Guide to the Language and Culture of the U.S.A. (Paperback)
I got this book from our ISS (International Student Service) office and at first, I only treat it as some reading materials while I am waiting for my laundry.
However, after I really went into the book, I realized it was the book I have been long seeking for: brief, clear and ultimately helpful. Yes, it is short, but since I have no intention to be a sociologist about American society, the simple and everyday facts and words are what I need to know.
The book covers many categories of American society like food, sports, education, transportation, etc., very comprehensively. The best of all is there is a list of frequently encountered words and phrases within this category at the end of each chapter.
After reading the book, I can now fully understand what the person said when I called in to order my pancake with eggs. This is the book you can finish in two weeks while still getting to know the essentials, not an enclyclopedia that takes forever. Actually, I finished it in 1 week and I no longer stutter while I am ordering food because I just didn't know which word I should use.
My suggestion to INS: include this nice booklet in your brochure to the new immigrants.
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