Textbook Review Formi

NELI – Jo Doran, ELI Coordinator

In writing your textbook review, please use the prompts below. Fill in your responses in the table and email as an attachment. NOTE: Please insert a hard-page return to avoid any ‘widow’ lines carrying over to the next page. Then save and email to Jo Doran at cdoran@nmu.edu

YOUR NAME Dinara FisherDate 10/18/2013

Course Associated with this text

073A/B

PROMPT YOUR RESPONSETitle Pathways 3 Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking

Author(s) Becky Tarver Chase, Kristine Johannsen

Brief information on the author(s) (degrees, university affiliations, other publications, etc.)

Becky Tarver Chase received her Master`s Degree in English in University of Wisconsin – Madison. She worked as an ESL Director`s Assistant in ESL school. She has been with National Geographic 2003-2013. She has created Pathways Foundations, Pathways 1, 2, 3Kristine Johannsen received her Master`s Degree in Wisconsin – Madison. She published some books and numerous articles. One of the books is Ecotourism in Appalachia: Marketing the Mountains. It received the Caudill award.

Publishing Company Heinle Cengage Learning

Date of Publication 2012, 1st edition

Ultimate goal of author/ textbook: Pay special

attention to the preface (and abstract, if available)

to find reason(s) for writing the textbook and

expectations for readers.

The text book will help learners to develop the language skills needed to achieve academic success. Learners develop academic literacy skills through content, images and video from National Geographic

Does the author do whats/he says s/he will?

Explain.

The goals are clear and they are achieved through the text book. The content is very educational and interesting, images are eye-catching. I have not seen the video yet. However, the topics covered by videos are impressive. I assume that because of the exercises in the text book connected to videos.

Consider the level of theassumed audience. How

well/poorly does the book address specific audience

needs?Explain.

The vocabulary is introduced in the beginning of each unit. It gives an opportunity to practice vocabulary before students do listening. There are pre-listening, post-listening exercises. Two academic lectures are followed by informal context – a conversation between two students. Then two pages include pair work and group activities to practice vocabulary and to develop speaking skills. There

is an end-of-unit presentation project with the tips how to do it.There are tools to master listening skills in each unit. Everything mentioned above helps to develop academic listening and speaking skills excellently. I wish the authors included more advanced academic vocabulary. However, I can supplement the text book with other material

How well/poorly does thebook match the curriculum?

Explain.

I think the text book helps to develop academic listening and speaking skills. It will help students to learn how to make individual and group presentations, which will lead to cooperative representation. They might be able make an oral presentation to university officials. It will help students to get ready for Listening Part in MELAB.

Consider the organization ofthe textbook. How usable is

it,regarding its organization?

Explain

The text book is well organized. Each unit consists of two lessons which include the following sections: building vocabulary, using vocabulary, developing listening skills, exploring spoken English, speaking, strategies for presentations, group or individual project. It teaches students listening and speaking step by step.

Could the textbook easily be broken up into two sections – for A and B

sessions? Explain.

Yes, it can be broken into two sections for A and B sessions. As the book progresses, the assignments become more complicated and listening stories are longer. There is a gradual transition from easier to understand listening assignments to more complicated ones.

How visually appealing isthe textbook? Explain.

It is very visually appealing. It contains lots of pictures taken all over the world. They are very colorful and rise the interest in topics discussed in the text book.

Do you think you would need to use supplements

if using this textbook?Explain.

I will use the websites for listening purposes, such as www.ted.com, npr.com. I might use voanews.com and cnn.com.I might use some listening assignments from other textbooks, such as Q: Skills for Success to supplement information for the topics that are discussed.

Consider the Following – and – Give Details:Clarity and Understanding:

Is the material presented in an

easy-to-understand manner?

Yes. Almost every page contains eye-catching pictures. There are tables, graphs and pictures that illustrate the content of listening, exercises and topics for discussions.

Accuracy:Is the subject matter

complete and correct?

Listening stories are pretty long and actual. That works very well for the level I am choosing this text book.Exercises to practice vocabulary are detailed and correct.

Readability:Are the writing style and

syntaxappropriate to draw and

maintain the reader’s attention?

How interested do you think our ESL students would be

in the subject matter?

Yes, the style and syntax is appropriate to draw and maintain students` attention. The topics for discussions are carefully chosen, thought provoking and interesting. I think, students will be interested. I have learned a lot myself just looking through the textbook. The topics are about problems all over the world and up-to-date. Critical thinking is included in many exercises and assignments, which make students think critically.

Appropriateness of Content:Are there any inappropriate,

I did not find any inappropriate, unprofessional, or ethical problems with the book. Students will learn about culture

unprofessional, and/or ethical problems with the

book/text? Is it culturally appropriate –

for all cultures?

all over the. The approach is very respectful. I believe text book will spark interest in learning world cultures. The stories are informative and very professional. It looks like it is culturally appropriate for allcultures.

Logical Structure:Is the content presented

logically and sequentially? Are there smooth

transitions?

Each unit includes lesson A and B. They are connected to each other logically and through the same topic. There is a transition between them through a video. The content is well organized within units. At the same time a teacher can jump from one unit to another, choose different units or skip some of them.

Usefulness of Content:How useful would this text

be for our ESL students?

Pathways 3 is useful for students because it helps students to build up new vocabulary and practice it in different ways. It gives very useful listening and note-taking strategies. It teaches critical thinking and it gives different tips about making presentations in every unit.

Editing/Errors:Are there any

typographical, grammatical, and/or factual errors in the

text? Are there any missing facts?

I did not find any grammatical errors. I do not think there are any factual errors. It is a very respectful publishing house that has meaningful and authentic content from National Geographic. I did not come across any missing facts.

What are the main strengths of this text?

It stimulates leaners` curiosity and participation, it teachers critical thinking and presentation skills

What are the main weaknesses of this text?

I think that the text book Pathways could include more academic vocabulary in each unit

One of the best ways to create a textbook review is by comparing the textbook with another textbook that is similar in focus and level. Compare the textbook you are reviewing to other textbook (or any other textbooks) you have used. Please be sure to give me basic information on the other textbook(s) (Title, date of publication, etc.).

Similarities I want to compare text book Pathways to a text book Q:Skills for Success 4. They both use critical thinking approach in every unit and every textbook. They both include two lectures for listening and vocabulary for them. There are grammar corners and pronunciation practices in each book. They both include end-of-unit presentation project.

Differences Q: Skills for Success does not include note taking techniques. It does not include Independent Student handbook in the end of text book. It does not include dialogues or videos for each unit. However, I like that it includes real talk shows, program, speeches, interviews which are not adopted. While Pathways includes some adopted versions.Pathways 3 includes the strategies for making both individual and group presentations.

Evaluation The textbook Pathways 3 is a very creative text book. It is thought provoking, it sparks interest and curiosity, it is educational, it leads to discussions, because the subjects are chosen carefully; it teaches critical thinking. Moreover, the vocabulary, texts and listening recordings in text book Pathways 3 are academic and that leads to academic

success

i ESL Coordinator/Textbook Reviews/Textbook Review Form