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deessell2 · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Under the sun

New English File for me too. I am yet to meet a teacher that doesn't like using it. Looks good visually, and covers the four skills. Also has good pronunciation activities. Loads of extra materials too.

Thumbs up!

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:41 am Post subject:

Hay thanks guys for these ideas. I have now started using English Unlimited a bit and I think it is okay but sometimes I can't work out if they accents are a bit fake like they are done by acotrs.. It puts me off a bit. Confused

I also have been looking at one called Speak Out and it uses DVD clips from teh BBC. Have you used this and if so what do people think about it?

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

amisexy · Joined: 24 May 2012 Posts: 78

[i][quote="Cool Teacher"] Hay thanks guys for these ideas. I have now started using English Unlimited a bit and I think it is okay but sometimes I can't work out if they accents are a bit fake like they are done by acotrs.. It puts me off a bit. Confused

I also have been looking at one called Speak Out and it uses DVD clips from teh BBC. Have you used this and if so what do people think about it? [/quote][/i]

I think the accents are generally genuine. I have heard far far far worse. I think I mentioned before, the book is excellent for exposing students to a wide range of native and non-native accents. For me, that is one of the series great strengths.

I have briefly used 'Speak Out' for a few lessons with a class. I'm not really an expert on the book but it looks ok. From what I can tell, each unit covers a section and grammar and vocabulary. Then at the end of each unit, there is a BBC video lesson which brings things together, and promotes students listening, speaking and usually writing skills.
Though the fact very few schools and teachers use it, says to me that the book isn't the best.

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

teacheratlarge · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Japan

It is very hard to grab a text that will please everyone. The Interchange series is okay, I have also used World Link 2 and Fifty-Fifty book 2. More specialized texts are NorthStar Reading and writing 3, Business objectives - International edition, Speaking of Speech, and Speaking of Debate.

I tend to supplement a lot for whatever text I use as some of the book exercises are not that useful and/or too repetitive.