Short Book Reviews

Hanna Kryszewska, Poland

Hanna Kryszewska is a teacher, teacher trainer, trainer of trainers. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Gdańsk, Poland. She is co-author of resource books: Learner Based Teaching, OUP, Towards Teaching, Heinemann, The Standby Book, CUP, Language Activities for Teenagers, CUP, The Company Words Keep, DELTA Publishing, and a course book series for secondary schools: ForMat, Macmillan. She is also co-author of a video based teacher training course: Observing English Lessons. Hania is a Pilgrims trainer and editor of HLT Magazine. E-mail: hania.kryszewska@pilgrims.co.uk

Helbling Readers Classics. Helbling Languages (2016). King Arthur. Howard Pyle. ISBN – 978-3-99045-430-7, pp 76, What Katy Did. Susan Coolidge. ISBN – 978-3-99045-414-5, pp 76, Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe ISBN- 978-3-99045-432-1, pp 76. The Turn of The Screw. Henry James. ISBN – 978-3-99045-436-9, pp 80, Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen ISBN- 978-3-99045-418-3, pp 88. Books in this series of graded reading materials for teenagers come at five levels – 3 KET levels (clour coded in red) and at two PET levels (clour coded in blue). The books are adaptations of well-loved classics, so obviously the stories are interesting and a good read. The learners first become familiar with the author and the story behind the book, and then they do some vocabulary activities in the pre-reading tasks. Also as they read the story they can see new words marked with a dot (and explained at the bottom of the page). Readers can also listen to the whole story and do some activities available on an accompanying audio CD. As they read the story they can do some while reading mini tasks. Finally, there are some post-reading activities. The readers are pleasant to the eye thanks to good illustrations and careful page design; each book is illustrated in its own individual style. I am sure the series will be popular among language learners as additional reading and CLIL material. More free online activities are available from www.helbling-ezone.com

Straightforward. Second edition (2016).Macmillan consists of: Straightforward. Starter. L. Clandfield. ISBN 978-1-786-32991-2, pp. 140. Straightforward. Level 1A. L. Clandfield and A. Tennant. ISBN 978-1-786-32038-4, pp. 130. Straightforward. Level 1B. P. Kerr and M. Jones. ISBN 978-1-786-32037-7, pp. 128. Straightforward. Level 2A. P. Kerr and M. Jones. ISBN 978-1-786-32991-2, pp. 140. Straightforward. Level 2A. P. Kerr and M. Jones. ISBN 978-1-786-32048-3, pp. 133. Straightforward. Level 2B. P. Kerr, C. Jones and J. Waterman. ISBN 978-1-786-32047-6, pp. 128. Straightforward. Level 3A. P. Kerr, C. Jones and J. Waterman. ISBN 978-1-786-32958-2, pp. 136. Straightforward. Level 3B. P. Kerr and C. Jones. ISBN 978-1-786-32057-5 pp. 138. Straightforward. Level 4A. P. Kerr and C. Jones. ISBN 978-1-786-32068-1, pp. 136. Straightforward. Level 4B. R. Norris and A. Jeffries. ISBN 978-1-786-32067-4, pp. 146. This is a new edition of a 2008 course which then had fewer parts and separate workbooks. This series has more parts (9), and each student’s book comes along with the workbook as one publication. It is a course aimed at young adults and adults, and it encompasses all levels of language teaching. It is a very well written series with interesting texts and activities. The coursebooks have good progression and the format is easy to follow. The materials are flexible and adaptable. Many of the stories featuring in the course at higher levels are true stories which can be followed up on the Internet, both as authentic texts and YouTube films. Coursebooks at each level are accompanied by inspiring and very informative teacher’s books.

Spotlight on Advanced. Student’s Book. Second edition. F. Mansfield and C. Nuttall (2015). National Geographic Learning and CENGAGE Learning. ISBN 978-1-285-84936-2, pp. 256. This a new edition of a 2005 course, and it takes on board all the changes that have taken place in the revised CAE exam (as of January 2015). The coursebook is aimed at young adult and adult learners who are preparing for the exam. It teaches language and exam skills necessary for passing the exam. The book contains regular exam features, language development sections, grammar revisions, and a review section. The course is accompanied by eight National Geographic video lessons which promote brainstorming, voicing opinions and give ideas what to say and write in the exam content wise. Special spoken exam video helps the students to become familiar with the exam format, and to perform well in the spoken part of the exam. The texts and beautiful photographs motivate the students to learn.

American JETSTREAM. Elementary Student’s Book. J. Revell and M. Tomalin. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-362-9 pp. 158. Elementary Workbook. A. Maris. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-363-6 pp. 88. Pre-intermediate Student’s Book. J. Revell and M. Tomalin. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-365-0 pp. 158. Pre-intermediate Workbook. E. Rawstron. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-366-7 pp. 82. Intermediate Student’s Book. J. Harmer and J. Revell. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-368-1 pp. 174. Intermediate Workbook. I. Wisniewska. Helbling Languages (2016) ISBN 978-3-99045-369-6 pp. 96. This is a new American edition of the innovative six level course for adult learners. Like the British version, it aims at preparing learners to use English effectively in their professional and private lives through motivating topics which foster interest and genuine communication. Language practice, especially speaking, involves personalisation, expressing one’s own opinions and ideas. The activities are engaging, especially thanks to dialogue karaoke videos which offer an exciting way to practise real language. Additionally, teaching speaking is strongly connected with teaching good pronunciation. The four language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing are fully integrated around the given topic of the unit. Extra reading practice comes through lively stories at the end of the book. The authors also include culture, CLIL, critical thinking and memory activities. Vocabulary and grammar are presented and practised in meaningful contexts, with ample practice in the student’s book and workbook. There are additional fully integrated digital components with a lot of opportunities for blended learning. JETSREAM is available on www.helbling-ezone.com with a cloud version of the book and cyber homework.

A Practical Introduction to Teacher Training in ELT. J. Hughes. (2015). Pavilion. ISBN 978-1-910366-99-8, pp. 168. The book comes from an accomplished author who has written many resource book materials for MET and ETp. The book is aimed at teachers who would like to become teacher trainers, and who would like to find out more what the role involves, or practising teacher trainers who would like to revisit their practices and get inspired. The book addresses six key areas: how to get into teacher training, how choose topics and to structure input sessions, how to integrate IT into the training, how to observe and give feedback, and how to plan, manage and coordinate training programmes. An outstanding feature of each chapter is what the author calls ‘Ask yourself’ questions which encourage the reader and user of the book to reflect on issues relevant to them. The book is very inspiring and has a fresh approach. It is well illustrated and, where it is relevant, there are photocopiable sheets to be used in the activities. Highly recommended.

You can view a sample of the book at
www.etprofessional.com and read an author’s review published in HLT at
http://hltmag.co.uk/aug16/pubs01.htm

Big ideas in education. What every teacher should know. R. Grigg. Crown House Publishing (2016) ISBN 978-178583027-3, pp.297. This book is ideal for teachers who would like to step back from day to day teaching or training, and reflect on education, in general, and on our practices, in particular. We need this kind of reflection from time to time as in our profession we encounter various ideas which we might find attractive but are not suitable for our practice or don’t hold water. The book invites the readers to question popular beliefs and reflect on our own experiences. The book is divided into twelve chapters which among others address such issues in education as: healthy childhood, taking on board dispositions to make learning effective, the ethical and moral purpose that drives teachers, feedback as a tool to improve learning, and professional school leadership. The book is very accessible and a very good read. Where appropriate, the book has diagrams, tables and other visual material that clarifies the points the author is making. Finally, the book has very impressive bibliography which will point the readers towards other titles they may find worth consulting or reading.

Understanding Leadership. Challenges and reflections. L. Nicholas and J. West-Burnham. Crown House Publishing (2016) ISBN 978-178583026-6, pp.224. In recent years more and more educators have been saying that in our profession it is not just about being teachers; we also need to become leaders. Leadership in education taps into the nature of human relationships and the way organisations work, among other schools. To understand the theory of leadership, and to become familiar with the ways it can be implemented, is the best way to develop professionally and to undergo a professional if not personal transformation. The eight chapters in the book, among others, touch upon the nature of leadership, how to initiate change through leadership, and how effective learning involves collaboration and cooperation. The book is very accessible and a very good read. Where appropriate the book has bullet points, diagrams, tables, and other visual material that clarify the points the authors are making. The book will certainly help the reader to develop and implement leadership in their roles as teachers.

Women, Men and Language. A Sociolinguistic Account of Gender Differences in Language. Third Edition (reissued). J. Coates. (2016). ISBN 978-1-138-94878-5, pp245. This book has been published in the Routledge Linguistics Classics which features key ground-breaking titles in the publisher’s linguistic series. The titles have been acclaimed by leading academics, educators, teachers and university students alike. The series also includes Language and Creativity, Power and Politeness in the Workplace, Local Literacies, Verbal Hygiene and Authority and Language. The book that is the subject of this review looks at how gender and language meet and intersect. It gives background information on the subject as well as research results and their interpretation. It also provides some historical background, insights into how gender affects linguistic encounters, and how children discover gender differentiation. The book may have no immediate relevance for language teachers and their classroom practice, but will definitely be a fascinating read to those who work with language and want to find out more about pragmatics.

Word of Mouth. A New Introduction to language & Communication. G. Finch. Palgrave Macmillan. (2013). ISBN 978-0-230-27684-0, pp246.The book looks at the research results that have been gathered about language. Never before did we know so much about language, which paradoxically seems to lead to a loss of the sense of identity. But it also shows our uniqueness, and how words shape and influence our lives. The book is divided into seven chapters which look at: the origin of language, language and communication, language and media, language and society, the design and structure of language, language and the brain, and the future, and possible changes in language. The book will be of great interest to those teachers who like to reflect on the role of language historically: human evolution and present day society. Despite the seriousness and heavy weight of the subject matter, the book is very well written and a pleasure to read. It is well supported by references to other publications and sources, and gives ample examples to clarify the points it makes.

Intercultural Dialogue. Questions of research, theory and practice. Eds. P. Holmes, M. Dooly and J. P. P. O’Regan. Routledge. (2016). ISBN 978-1-138-639140, pp246.The book looks at intercultural dialogue which has recently enjoyed a lot of academic presence. Intercultural dialogue is not only an academic concept but also an ideology put forward and promoted by the European Union. It the time of the global European 21st century society, the issues of mutual respect, tolerance and intercultural dialogue are of vital importance. The particular contributions to the book, which all are articles originally published in Language and Intercultural Communication, volume 14 issue 1, February 2014, look at interpretations of this international concept in various national settings. Also, intercultural dialogue becomes of vital importance in times of migration which is characterised by vulnerability, instability and conflict. Finally, the texts also call for sound research on the subject, and remind the readers how context and power affect intercultural communication, especially bearing in mind ‘who speaks for whom, when, how and under what circumstances and conditions’. The book is very serious, heavyweight reading, yet very interesting and illuminating.

Please check the Methodology & Language for Primary course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Methodology & Language for Secondary course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Methodology & Language for Advanced course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the CLIL for Primary course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the CLIL for Secondary course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the English Improvement course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the British Life, Language and Culture course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the How to be a Teacher Trainer course at Pilgrims website.