February 2016 – Volume 19, Number 4
World English 2, Second Edition
|Kristin Johannsen & Rebecca Chase (2015)
|Boston: National Geographic Learning
World English 2 is the third installment of a four-part series by National Geographic which aims to shift the discussion from language learning to “communication building” in the English language classroom. The concept is that practicing and developing communication is of more importance than simply receiving information. As the title suggests, the intention of this book is to connect students to the world. This is done through full page images, personal stories, and video which capture the attention of learners and therefore give them motivation and desire to communicate. This integrated-skills book has an accompanying CD as well as access to an online workbook. The book is divided into twelve units each with clear objectives in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking and pronunciation, reading, and writing. Further, National Geographic video and TEDtalk components are incorporated into each unit with an additional video journal section.
World English 2 is an English language learning textbook intended for low-intermediate students of English. It is to be used in a classroom with technology supporting the use of the audio and videos. Despite the full-page images and bright colors, the appropriate audience seems to be young-adult to adult learners due to some mature topics mentioned. For example, Unit 3 provides an opportunity for students to discuss the good and bad elements of a neighborhood. Also, Unit 6 asks students to reflect on milestones in their lives.
Undoubtedly, the principal highlight of this book is its ability to captivate the attention and imagination of students of other languages learning English. The vibrancy of this book can be attributed to the beautifully vivid images present throughout the book. Readers will be pleased with the page-turning images illuminating fascinatingly diverse people, places, food, and technology from around the world. Various diverse cultures and stories are presented to the students. The unit opens with a two-page vibrant photo to introduce the topic and objectives of the section. The introductory questions ask the students a question such as, “What do you see in the picture?” and a follow-up question related to the first. While many books have listening components to them, this book is innovative in its attempt to incorporate modern, relevant, and popular video into the lessons as an integrated-skills book. TEDtalks and National Geographic videos are integrated throughout the curriculum rather than simply added as an addendum to the material with before you watch, while you watch, and after you watch activities.
In terms of the content, this book’s strength is its practicality. Adult-level students would be appreciative of the writing activities ranging from responding to an e-mail to writing an excuse for a sick child. Speaking and vocabulary sections also include a section on small talk or suggesting remedies to problems. Practicality and interest is one of the common complaints of teachers and students, and this book seems to do well in both of these areas. The patterned organization and systematic nature of this book is appealing as the lessons are organized in a neat and easy to read fashion. Teachers would appreciate each unit’s organization and division as it creates routine and expectations for students. There is an equal balance of skill areas for this integrated-skills book. Most of the sections have less than six items to practice or questions to answer. The principal objective of this book is to draw students out of the book and begin communicating. This practical and well-organized communication based book would be ideal for an English as a Second Language (ESL) setting; however, without the necessary equipment needed to play the videos and audio, using this in your curriculum might pose a challenge. In conclusion, for teachers searching for interest provoking and conversation starting material, this item is a strong choice. World English 2 covers a variety of level appropriate topics and grammatical points. Instructors and students alike will appreciate its effective organization and appealing nature.
University of Central Florida
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"Kristin Johansen & Rebecca Chase, ""Kristin Johansen & Rebecca Chase"" (Kristin Johansen & Rebecca Chase, 2015) ni sehemu ya tatu ya mfululizo wa sehemu nne na National Geographic ambayo inakusudia kuhamisha majadiliano kutoka kwa kujifunza lugha hadi ""ujenzi wa mawasiliano"" katika darasa la lugha ya Kiingereza." Wazo ni kwamba kufanya mazoezi na kukuza mawasiliano ni muhimu zaidi kuliko tu kupokea habari. Kama jina linavyodokeza, lengo la kitabu hiki ni kuunganisha wanafunzi na ulimwengu. Hii hufanywa kupitia picha za ukurasa mzima, hadithi za kibinafsi, na video ambazo huchukua umakini wa wanafunzi na kwa hivyo kuwapa motisha na hamu ya kuwasiliana. Kitabu hiki cha ujuzi wa kuunganishwa kina CD inayoambatana na pia upatikanaji wa kitabu cha kazi mtandaoni. Kitabu hiki kimegawanywa katika vipengele kumi na viwili kila kimoja kikiwa na malengo ya wazi katika maeneo ya sarufi, msamiati, kusikiliza, kuzungumza na matamshi, kusoma, na kuandika. Kwa kuongezea, vipengele vya video vya National Geographic na TEDtalk vimejumuishwa katika kila kitengo na sehemu ya ziada ya jarida la video. World English 2 ni kitabu cha kujifunza lugha ya Kiingereza kilichokusudiwa wanafunzi wa chini wa kati wa Kiingereza. Ni kutumika katika darasa na teknolojia ya kusaidia matumizi ya sauti na video. Licha ya picha za ukurasa mzima na rangi mkali, watazamaji sahihi wanaonekana kuwa vijana-wakubwa kwa wanafunzi wazima kutokana na mada fulani zilizotajwa za kukomaa. Kwa mfano, katika sehemu ya tatu, wanafunzi wanaweza kujadili mambo mazuri na mabaya yanayohusika katika eneo fulani. Katika sehemu ya sita, wanafunzi wanaulizwa kutafakari mambo muhimu katika maisha yao. Bila shaka, jambo kuu la kitabu hiki ni uwezo wake wa kuvutia uangalifu na mawazo ya wanafunzi wa lugha nyingine wanaojifunza Kiingereza. Uwezo wa kitabu hiki waweza kuhusianishwa na picha zenye kuvutia sana zilizo katika kitabu chote. Wasomaji watafurahia picha zenye kuvutia zinazoonyesha watu, maeneo, vyakula, na teknolojia mbalimbali kutoka ulimwenguni pote. Utamaduni na hadithi mbalimbali za aina mbalimbali huonyeshwa kwa wanafunzi. Kitengo hufunguliwa na picha yenye nguvu ya kurasa mbili kuanzisha mada na malengo ya sehemu hiyo. Maswali ya utangulizi huwauliza wanafunzi swali kama vile, "Unaona nini kwenye picha?" na swali la kufuatilia linalohusiana na la kwanza. Ingawa vitabu vingi vina vipengele vya kusikiliza, kitabu hiki ni cha ubunifu katika jaribio lake la kuingiza video ya kisasa, inayofaa, na maarufu katika masomo kama kitabu cha ujuzi wa pamoja. TED Talks na Video za National Geographic zimeunganishwa katika mtaala wote badala ya kuongezwa tu kama nyongeza kwa nyenzo na kabla ya kutazama, wakati wa kutazama, na baada ya kutazama shughuli. Kwa habari ya maudhui, nguvu ya kitabu hiki ni vitendo vyake. Wanafunzi wa kiwango cha watu wazima watathamini shughuli za uandishi kuanzia kujibu barua pepe hadi kuandika udhuru kwa mtoto mgonjwa. Sehemu za kuzungumza na msamiati pia hutia ndani sehemu ya mazungumzo madogo-madogo au kupendekeza suluhisho la matatizo. Ufanisi na maslahi ni moja ya malalamiko ya kawaida ya walimu na wanafunzi, na kitabu hiki inaonekana kufanya vizuri katika maeneo yote mawili. Mpangilio wa kitabu hiki na utaratibu wake unavutia kwa sababu masomo yake yamepangwa kwa njia nzuri na rahisi kusoma. Walimu wangethamini kila shirika la kitengo na mgawanyiko kwani huunda utaratibu na matarajio kwa wanafunzi. Kuna usawa sawa wa maeneo ya ujuzi kwa ajili ya kitabu hiki integrated-ujuzi. Sehemu nyingi zina chini ya vitu sita vya kufanya mazoezi au maswali ya kujibu. Lengo kuu la kitabu hiki ni kuwafanya wanafunzi waondoke kwenye kitabu hicho na kuanza kuwasiliana. Kitabu hiki cha mawasiliano kinachotumika na kilichoandaliwa vizuri kitakuwa bora kwa Kiingereza kama Lugha ya Pili (ESL), hata hivyo, bila vifaa vya kutosha vya kucheza video na sauti, kutumia hii katika mtaala wako inaweza kuwa changamoto. Kwa kumalizia, kwa walimu kutafuta maslahi ya kuchochea na mazungumzo kuanza nyenzo, bidhaa hii ni chaguo nguvu. Kiingereza cha Ulimwengu 2 inashughulikia mada mbalimbali zinazofaa ngazi na pointi za sarufi. Walimu na wanafunzi kwa vilevile watathamini utaratibu wake wenye matokeo na asili yenye kuvutia. Chuo Kikuu cha Florida ya Kati | © Haki za uchapaji zinapatikana kwa waandishi. Tafadhali kutaja TESL-EJ ipasavyo. Mhariri's Kumbuka: Toleo la HTML haina namba ya ukurasa. Tafadhali tumia toleo la PDF la makala hii kwa ajili ya nukuu.