An Effective Langauge Series
The Expressways series of textbooks is designed to accelerate an English student's language mastery through exercises that teach visually through reading, tactilely through writing, and audibly through speaking. The student's abilities mature through practicing these skills for proper mastery of the English language.
My wife is a Chinese native who recently began English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at our local high school. The instructor uses these textbooks as the primary tool for learning. We have found them to be an effective and fun way to learn together as a couple and it has helped her language skills and personal confidence.
The exercises in the textbook are designed for a classroom setting or, if a classroom is not available, for practice with a partner. My wife benefits through classroom interaction twice a week and by working with me.
It is very important the student is able to work with someone to practice the lessons in the book. I would strongly suggest purchasing the companion workbook that accompanies this textbook for added exercises. There is also an audio component to this series that can be helpful, but if the student will be in a classroom or can practice daily with an English-speaking person, the audio is not necessary.
The conversational lessons in the textbook use iteration to teach. The student practices scripted conversations with a partner and phrases are changed to vary the meaning. The conversation remains similar each time, which reinforces the language structure, and the student learns through familiarity and practice. This is a crucial component to the learning process.
In addition to the interactive components are lessons that teach the correct grammatical structure of English sentences. Lessons force the student to think about what they're saying and practice the rules and logic in their mind before selecting the best answer. These grammatical lessons are reinforced through the practice conversations.
I would recommend the Expressways series for anyone who wants to increase their English mastery, but it is vitally important the student has a partner to assist with the lessons. This is best accomplished in a classroom setting at least once a week and/or with a friend or loved one close to the student. This is not a self-study textbook. While some of the lessons are accomplished alone, the real learning comes through verbal interaction and practice.
If you do not have access to a classroom or study partner, purchase the audio component along with the textbook and seek-out English speaking people to talk to.
With time, persistence, and practice, your English skills will increase, and the Expressways series of language textbooks will help you accomplish your goals.
Great for a class or one-on-one teaching.
Real language acquisition comes from receiving comprehensible input in the target language, AND from practicing output.
Expressways gives practice in PRODUCING UNDERSTANDABLE ENGLISH, which is what the student really needs in order to be able to function in the language.
Students generally need this more than they need to practice understanding English.
wonderful
I am very pleased with the book I ordered. I recieved it very quickly and it was in better shape than indicated. Thank you very much.
No evidence to support this approach
Real language acquisition comes from receiving comprehensible input in the target language, not from practicing output. This has been well researched and documented by Krashen, Asher, and others. No valid research has ever contradicted this. Expressways gives practice for output and grammar training, which might help slightly in the performance of the language, but will not at all help in the real acquisition or understanding of the language.
Excellent book for new immigrants
This is a wonderful book, especially geared to the need of non-English speaking learners who are still experiencing cultural shock soon after they stepped on a land totally new to them. It helps them learn not only the target language,but also the culture of the English-speaking people. Matched with cassette recording, it has been well received by my new immigrant students in ESL classroom.The cassette recording is expensive though.
