( 1 reviews )
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 2 2001
My first impression of the coursebook is very good. The overall publication itself is slick and inviting through the use of good quality materials and a glossy cover with modern colours, graphics and layout. The layout of the units in the coursebook is also very clear and easy to follow. The authors begin with the contents, listing each of the 22 unit titles in bold capital letters. A course overview is then laid out nicely in chart form over two pages with each of the unit headings in bold down the left of the page, and headings across the top of the page indicating Language Focus, Vocabulary, Topics (covered by the unit), and Revision for each unit. Individual units throughout the book are then graphically numbered and headed, with the focus of the unit, and vocabulary to be used, prominently displayed at the top of the first page. This leaves no doubt as to the aims of each particular lesson. The different sections within each unit are also highlighted by colourful subheadings neatly seperating one from the other. The photographs and drawings are up-to-date and interesting, and in a lot of cases cleverly activate the readers schema, inviting the student to read on. The coursebook comes in a series of three levels - Elementary, Pre-intermediate and Intermediate. These books can be used in sequence or independently depending on the course timeframe. Each level provides between 72 and 100 hours of classwork. The Intermediate level consists of a class book, personal study workbook, teacher's book, class cassette set, personal study cassette and personal study CD. Although not essential, the personal study workbook, study cassette and CD are valuable additions to a student's resources, providing many more hours of development if the student is so motivated.. There is a very helpful grammar reference section at the back of the classsbook which covers each point in much greater detail, unit by unit. A tapescript, list of irregular verbs and complete list of phonetic symbols and examples, are also available to the student at the back of the classbook. These are laid out clearly as individual points and are written in simple, easily understood language. The book covers a wide range of topics which are all relevant to the everyday life of most people. This makes the course interesting and stimulating as students are challenged to think about common daily situations while simultaneously learning English grammar and vocabulary. The units all possess a similar theme, however, they are not linked which allows teachers to use the units in any order they choose to. The general nature of the topics, eg. sports, shopping, and employment, makes this book suitable for use in practically any culture, although, the content does have a bias towards developed countries. Examples of different cultures are also used in many of the exercises such as "Weddings around the world" in unit 9, page 63. The authors have also gone to great lengths to avoid stereotypes by using photographs of people from many different cultures and of both men and women in various roles and jobs that might once have been conidered gender specific. The grammar coverage in True to Life is adequate for an elementary learner with at least one different point being studied in each of the 22 units, supported by a more comprehensive explanation of each point at the back of the book. In many units students are asked to express their own ideas, provide examples from personal experiences or to describe life in their own countries. These thought provoking introductions are always followed by twelve to fifteen related exercises which are broken up into three sections. The unit ends with two or three exercises revising a previously studied unit. To avoid repetition and boredom, different exercise formats are employed in each unit adding variety to the lessons. From the course overview at the beginning to the grammar reference section at the end, the layout of this book invites the learner to read and therefore learn english. The topics covered in each unit are relevant and interesting conversation subjects for all adults. For this reason student motivation to learn is practically guaranteed. The learners are given the opportunity to participate and contribute their own life experiences creating an authentic learning experience. I believe that this coursebook is an excellent resource for teaching english to adult learners as a second language.
