***Let's learn English*** is a series of six books, two in the Beginning Course, two in the Intermediate Course, and two in the Advanced Course. The complete series provides a sound method for learning the essentials of English, one which is based on widely-accepted linguistic principles and on many years of experience in teaching the language. Through a truly oral approach, the student learns to speak and understand English as well as to read and write it. It is believed that these texts will aid both the beginning teacher and the more 'experienced classroom teacher who may or may not be a native speaker of English.
***Let's Learn English***, Book 7, is a text for real beginners at the high school or adult level. It employs the sound system of American English and the basic structure patterns of the language within a small vocabulary of approximately 500 words. The limited vocabulary and structure patterns are carefully controlled throughout the text. The student progresses slowly and systematically from one point to another, with ample opportunity to practice at each stage of learning. While the emphasis is on spoken English, attention is also given to reading and writing, which are important to the adult learner.
An introductory section on pronunciation, The Sounds of American English, precedes the twelve units of the text. Each of these units, except the three reviews, contains the following parts: (1) Questions and Answers, for oral practice; (2) Pronunciation, for drill on individual sounds; (3) Structure, with examples, rules, and exercise material for each point; (4) Picture Practice, for additional structure drill based on the drawings; (5) Conversation, for an oral review of the subject matter; (6) Dictation, for a written review; (7) Vocabulary, for a review of all new words in the unit. The three general reviews (4, 8, 12) are limited to exercise material, especially on the pronunciation, structure, and conversational topics of the preceding three units.
The subject matter of the text is related to the student's everyday life. The classroom, the home, and other familiar places serve as a
background for the people and the objects that are introduced. The numerous drawings which illustrate the units help to teach the vocabulary in context and to stimulate conversation. The words and useful expressions of each unit are listed in the complete vocabulary at the end of the book, followed by a list of the principal grammatical terms that are used.
A feature of the book is the use of intonation lines on the first few pages of each regular unit; as a type of visual aid, they indicate the importance of intonation in spoken English. These basic intonation patterns are explained in The Sounds of American English, page xxii. An additional aid is the use of symbols (based on the International Phonetic Alphabet) to represent individual sounds and the pronunciation of each vocabulary item in the book.
This revision of Book 1, now in its fourth edition, retains the basic subject matter and grammatical content of the earlier editions. However, numerous changes have been made, especially in the presentation and arrangement of the material in each section on structure. Not only are there more exercises, but there is also greater variety in the types of exercises that are used. In addition, the appearance of the text has been altered by the use of larger pages with more space, for better readability; and the use of color serves to highlight the intonation patterns, the structure patterns, and the illustrations throughout the text.
Many teachers have made suggestions for improvements, some of which have been incorporated in the material. Others could not be used without greatly disturbing the general plan and organization of the book. It is hoped that this new edition will be welcomed and that the text will continue to meet the needs of students and teachers around the world
*Audrey L. Wright*
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