Essentials of English for Specific Purposes, Lower Intermediate Level
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,
INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, ESP series designed to
prepare students for college and university-level specialized content. In order to
facilitate academic success, the series combines communicative activities with skill based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. It encompasses
a wide range of college and university specialties: business and office management,
banking, accounting, marketing, tourism, health sciences, and the hotel service
industry. Essentials of English focuses on the real needs of ESP students who
require vocational English in order to help them deal with various majors at college
and university.
To achieve this goal, topics are carefully selected from authentic relevant
materials covering a variety of college and university courses. This exposes students
to the realities of specialized language requirements so they may gauge their own
needs according to their individual stage of language acquisition. The materials are
interwoven and interrelated to create cohesion and homogeneity in terms of themes,
vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking activities. Spiral recycling is also
maintained throughout the book.
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,
INTEGRATED SKILLS is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit
consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate
students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific
information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and
vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce listening
comprehension.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces students to new vocabulary in the
listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase students’ listening
comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for
each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide
scaffolding to help students build an understanding of authentic language. It does so
by assisting them in the identification of main ideas while reinforcing understanding
through the use of comprehension questions. In addition, language-learning strategies
such as making good guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference
provide students with the reading-comprehension tools they require. Students also
have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format through
discussions and writing exercises. Students are encouraged to contribute their own
opinions on subjects related to the various units.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts that provide clear,
easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises
in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as
well as some freer, communicative-based practice.
Writing exercises, in the form of controlled writing practice, develop naturally
from the reading and grammar sections.
Essentials of English for Specific Purposes, Lower Intermediate Level
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,
INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, ESP series designed to
prepare students for college and university-level specialized content. In order to
facilitate academic success, the series combines communicative activities with skill based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. It encompasses
a wide range of college and university specialties: business and office management,
banking, accounting, marketing, tourism, health sciences, and the hotel service
industry. Essentials of English focuses on the real needs of ESP students who
require vocational English in order to help them deal with various majors at college
and university.
To achieve this goal, topics are carefully selected from authentic relevant
materials covering a variety of college and university courses. This exposes students
to the realities of specialized language requirements so they may gauge their own
needs according to their individual stage of language acquisition. The materials are
interwoven and interrelated to create cohesion and homogeneity in terms of themes,
vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking activities. Spiral recycling is also
maintained throughout the book.
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,
INTEGRATED SKILLS is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit
consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate
students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific
information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and
vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce listening
comprehension.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces students to new vocabulary in the
listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase students’ listening
comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for
each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide
scaffolding to help students build an understanding of authentic language. It does so
by assisting them in the identification of main ideas while reinforcing understanding
through the use of comprehension questions. In addition, language-learning strategies
such as making good guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference
provide students with the reading-comprehension tools they require. Students also
have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format through
discussions and writing exercises. Students are encouraged to contribute their own
opinions on subjects related to the various units.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts that provide clear,
easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises
in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as
well as some freer, communicative-based practice.
Writing exercises, in the form of controlled writing practice, develop naturally
from the reading and grammar sections.
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,INTEGRATED SKILLS, ELMENTARY LEVEL, First Edition
ESSENTIALS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,INTEGRATED SKILLS, ELMENTARY LEVEL, First Edition
Foundation 1 Integrated Skills, Low Intermediate
Welcome to the second edition of FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS. This new edition is the product of ongoing revision and evaluation, not only by myself, but also by the many instructors who, along with their students, have used the previous edition and have contributed valuable suggestions and comments. The success of the previous edition has been due, in large measure, to the honest and careful appraisal given by instructors and their students.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, EFL series designed to prepare students for university-level academic content. The series combines communicative activities with skill-based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar in order to facilitate academic success. It focuses on the real needs of Arab students intending to go to university, and prepares them to enter university courses after the completion of this series.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar activities and explanations.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce their listening comprehension.
The speaking activities develop naturally from listening, reading, and grammar exercises and take various forms: comprehension questions answered orally in complete sentences; vocabulary reviews that reinforce understanding and improve learner ability to communicate with the new vocabulary and so on; talking about pictures; and authentic speaking opportunities in a variety of formats such as interviews, surveys, scenarios. All these speaking activities aim at enhancing students’ fluency, building confidence by linking understanding to production, and improving overall ability to communicate effectively.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces the students to new vocabulary appearing in the listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase student listening comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide scaffolding to help students build to understanding authentic language and identifying main ideas, while reinforcing said understanding through comprehension questions. Language-learning strategies such as making reasonable guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference provide students with reading comprehension tools. Students also have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format, with discussion and writing exercises encouraging students to contribute their own opinions on subjects of student interest related to the various unit topics.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts, which provide clear, easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as well as some freer practice with more communicative exercises.
Writing exercises develop naturally from the listening, speaking, reading and grammar sections. They are in the form of guided writing practice.
Foundation 1 Integrated Skills, Low Intermediate
Welcome to the second edition of FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS. This new edition is the product of ongoing revision and evaluation, not only by myself, but also by the many instructors who, along with their students, have used the previous edition and have contributed valuable suggestions and comments. The success of the previous edition has been due, in large measure, to the honest and careful appraisal given by instructors and their students.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, EFL series designed to prepare students for university-level academic content. The series combines communicative activities with skill-based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar in order to facilitate academic success. It focuses on the real needs of Arab students intending to go to university, and prepares them to enter university courses after the completion of this series.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar activities and explanations.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce their listening comprehension.
The speaking activities develop naturally from listening, reading, and grammar exercises and take various forms: comprehension questions answered orally in complete sentences; vocabulary reviews that reinforce understanding and improve learner ability to communicate with the new vocabulary and so on; talking about pictures; and authentic speaking opportunities in a variety of formats such as interviews, surveys, scenarios. All these speaking activities aim at enhancing students’ fluency, building confidence by linking understanding to production, and improving overall ability to communicate effectively.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces the students to new vocabulary appearing in the listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase student listening comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide scaffolding to help students build to understanding authentic language and identifying main ideas, while reinforcing said understanding through comprehension questions. Language-learning strategies such as making reasonable guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference provide students with reading comprehension tools. Students also have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format, with discussion and writing exercises encouraging students to contribute their own opinions on subjects of student interest related to the various unit topics.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts, which provide clear, easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as well as some freer practice with more communicative exercises.
Writing exercises develop naturally from the listening, speaking, reading and grammar sections. They are in the form of guided writing practice.
Foundation 1: Reading Skills, Elementary Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is a four-level-reading textbook for students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who have a basic knowledge of English. It is designed primarily to help students prepare for studying in English–medium academic courses.
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation 1: Reading Skills, Elementary Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is a four-level-reading textbook for students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who have a basic knowledge of English. It is designed primarily to help students prepare for studying in English–medium academic courses.
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation 2: Reading Skills, Intermediate Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation 2: Reading Skills, Intermediate Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation 3: Reading Skills, Upper Intermediate Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is a four-level-reading textbook for students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who have a basic knowledge of English. It is designed primarily to help students prepare for studying in English–medium academic courses.
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation 3: Reading Skills, Upper Intermediate Level, First Edition
Foundations: Reading Skills is a four-level-reading textbook for students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who have a basic knowledge of English. It is designed primarily to help students prepare for studying in English–medium academic courses.
Foundations: Reading Skills is comprised of ten thematically-based units, each of which contains two readings. Skill-building and vocabulary-building activities accompany each reading.
An important goal of Foundations: Reading Skills is to help students become confident readers by increasing their vocabulary base and improving their word-comprehension skills. It engages them in the process of reading thoughtfully and encourages them to move beyond merely passive reading. To accomplish this, the book addresses the reading process in a direct manner, and various reading and vocabulary skills are presented as part of that process. The instruction and practice with reading skills help students increase their reading fluency, and equip them with skills they need for academic achievement. Focus on vocabulary-building promotes their language acquisition and academic advancement. Also, the lexical and syntactic content of the readings has been controlled. The tasks are varied, accessible, and engaging, and they provide stimuli for frequent student-teacher and student student
interaction.
Student awareness of reading and thinking processes is further encouraged in many parts of the book by exercises which require students to work in pairs or small groups. In discussions with others, students formulate and articulate their ideas more precisely, and so they acquire new ways of talking and thinking about a text. These activities present opportunities for real-world contact and real-world use of language. Students are asked to write, and then to read each other’s work so they can experience
the connection between reading and writing.
Traditionally reading classes are based on one of two approaches: in one approach, class time is primarily spent with students doing individual reading and exercise-completion; in the other, class time is devoted to group discussions of the reading and exercise-completion. Because both approaches are important, this book integrates them by alternating reading activities with speaking and/or writing activities.
Within each unit, students will not only practice reading, but they will also receive instruction in various skills and strategies incorporated into the reading process.
The basic format of each unit in Foundations: Reading Skills is as follows:
Before Reading
These pre-reading questions serve to introduce the topic of the reading and get students thinking about that topic. Activating prior knowledge allows students to tap into what they already know and then build on that knowledge, and stirs curiosity. The questions allow students to interact with each other.
Vocabulary Preview
A number of key words which are common in everyday and academic English are explained in simple English. These are followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise to make sure that students understand the words and can use them in context. Understanding is crucial to language acquisition.
Scanning and Skimming
In this section students are asked to scan the reading for specific information, or to skim it for main ideas and other general information.
After Reading
In this section a variety of skill-building and vocabulary-building exercises is introduced: determining the main idea; understanding reading structure; guessing meaning from context; recognizing contextual reference; finding topics and topic sentences; understanding signal terms; making an outline; understanding cause and effect; comparison and contrast; exemplification; classification; understanding parts of speech; understanding antonyms and synonyms, etc. These dynamic skill and vocabulary acquisition exercises ensure that students will develop and acquire the important reading skills and vocabulary needed to make them good readers.
Each unit concludes with discussion questions designed to encourage students to think about, distill, and exchange views about the information they have been presented with throughout the unit.
Following the discussion, the students are sometimes requested to write down answers to the discussion questions, a place for students to reflect in writing on the learning in the unit.
Foundation Access – Integrated Skills, High Begining
Welcome to the second edition of FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS. This new edition is the product of ongoing revision and evaluation, not only by myself, but also by the many instructors who, along with their students, have used the previous edition and have contributed valuable suggestions and comments. The success of the previous edition has been due, in large measure, to the honest and careful appraisal given by instructors and their students.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, EFL series designed to prepare students for university-level academic content. The series combines communicative activities with skill-based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar in order to facilitate academic success. It focuses on the real needs of Arab students intending to go to university, and prepares them to enter university courses after the completion of this series.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar activities and explanations.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce their listening comprehension.
The speaking activities develop naturally from listening, reading, and grammar exercises and take various forms: comprehension questions answered orally in complete sentences; vocabulary reviews that reinforce understanding and improve learner ability to communicate with the new vocabulary and so on; talking about pictures; and authentic speaking opportunities in a variety of formats such as interviews, surveys, scenarios. All these speaking activities aim at enhancing students’ fluency, building confidence by linking understanding to production, and improving overall ability to communicate effectively.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces the students to new vocabulary appearing in the listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase student listening comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide scaffolding to help students build to understanding authentic language and identifying main ideas, while reinforcing said understanding through comprehension questions. Language-learning strategies such as making reasonable guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference provide students with reading comprehension tools. Students also have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format, with discussion and writing exercises encouraging students to contribute their own opinions on subjects of student interest related to the various unit topics.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts, which provide clear, easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as well as some freer practice with more communicative exercises.
Writing exercises develop naturally from the listening, speaking, reading, and grammar sections. They are in the form of guided writing practice.w
Foundation Access – Integrated Skills, High Begining
Welcome to the second edition of FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS. This new edition is the product of ongoing revision and evaluation, not only by myself, but also by the many instructors who, along with their students, have used the previous edition and have contributed valuable suggestions and comments. The success of the previous edition has been due, in large measure, to the honest and careful appraisal given by instructors and their students.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is a theme-based, two-level, EFL series designed to prepare students for university-level academic content. The series combines communicative activities with skill-based exercises in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar in order to facilitate academic success. It focuses on the real needs of Arab students intending to go to university, and prepares them to enter university courses after the completion of this series.
FOUNDATION, INTEGRATED SKILLS, is made up of eight thematically-based units. Each unit consists of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar activities and explanations.
The Before Listening, Listening, and After Listening sections activate students’ prior knowledge, guide them to listen for main ideas and specific information, and increase their understanding through comprehension questions and vocabulary recycling. Various task-based practice exercises reinforce their listening comprehension.
The speaking activities develop naturally from listening, reading, and grammar exercises and take various forms: comprehension questions answered orally in complete sentences; vocabulary reviews that reinforce understanding and improve learner ability to communicate with the new vocabulary and so on; talking about pictures; and authentic speaking opportunities in a variety of formats such as interviews, surveys, scenarios. All these speaking activities aim at enhancing students’ fluency, building confidence by linking understanding to production, and improving overall ability to communicate effectively.
The Vocabulary Preview introduces the students to new vocabulary appearing in the listening and reading sections. The listening sections increase student listening comprehension through task-based practice. Pictures provide valuable context for each topic.
The Before Reading, Reading, and After Reading sections provide scaffolding to help students build to understanding authentic language and identifying main ideas, while reinforcing said understanding through comprehension questions. Language-learning strategies such as making reasonable guesses about vocabulary and understanding pronoun reference provide students with reading comprehension tools. Students also have the opportunity to generate language in a semi-controlled format, with discussion and writing exercises encouraging students to contribute their own opinions on subjects of student interest related to the various unit topics.
The Grammar section contains explanations and charts, which provide clear, easy-to-understand, and visually-appealing grammar presentations. The exercises in this section give students controlled practice of specific grammatical points, as well as some freer practice with more communicative exercises.
Writing exercises develop naturally from the listening, speaking, reading, and grammar sections. They are in the form of guided writing practice.w
Foundation: Beginners
We hope that you will enjoy using this book, and through it become better, more confident learners of English.
Foundation: Beginners
We hope that you will enjoy using this book, and through it become better, more confident learners of English.
Foundations English Grammar 2