Cambridge University Press

This book reports on a two-part study: the validation of a test of spoken English for Norwegian secondary school pupils and the corpus-based investigation of the role played by 'smallwords', such as 'well', 'sort of', and 'you know', in bringing about fluency. The first study builds on the Messickian six central aspects of construct validity to produce a practical framework for test validation. It proceeds to use this framework to identify potential sources of invalidity in the test being examined, and concludes that a principal flaw lies in quality of the band-scale descriptors used in assessing test performance, particularly those relating to 'fluency', which was too vaguely described, and which took little regard to the particular language which helps us to keep going, within and across speaking turns, the smallwords. The second study sets about to explore the concept of fluency, and to expose the extent to which it is acknowledged in the literature to be associated with smallwords, albeit under other names. A study of corpora of the transcripts of test takers judged to be at low or high fluency levels, as well as of young native speakers taking the same test, reveals a clear correlation between smallwords use and fluency measured in mechanical ways. In order to investigate how smallwords were used, a framework, based on relevance theory, is drawn up and used to compare the communicative signals sent through smallwords by the learners with those sent by the native speakers. In conclusion, the findings from the corpus study are drawn on to propose new elements to include in descriptors of fluency, and the implications of the study for classroom practices are discussed. The book should, thus, be of interest to those concerned with the design and validation of tests of the spoken language, as well as those interested in what goes into spoken communication and how to help learners acquire fluency.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Student’s Book 1A contains units 1 to 6 from the full Student’s Book 1, which is first level of the innovative Touchstone series designed for beginning students. Drawing on research into the Cambridge International Corpus, a large database of language that includes everyday conversations and texts from newspapers and books, Student's Book 1 presents the vocabulary, grammar, and functions students encounter most often in real life. It also develops the strategies that students need for effective conversations, such as how to start and end a conversation and how to ask questions that are not too direct. The book features an attractive, contemporary design, and beautiful color photos and illustrations. It makes learning fun by maximizing the time students spend on interactive, personalized activities on high-interest topics. Students using Touchstone will soon feel confident in their abilities to express themselves clearly and effectively. A free self-study Audio CD/CD-ROM at the back of the book gives students further practice in listening, speaking, and vocabulary.

Touchstone is an innovative new series for adult and young-adult learners of English. It draws on extensive research into the Cambridge International Corpus of North American English — a large database of everyday conversations and texts that shows how people actually use English. At the core of Touchstone is a brand-new syllabus area of conversation management strategies such as how to start and end conversations, how to show interest, and how to ask questions that are not too direct. The result is a groundbreaking course of language and skills development that helps learners communicate naturally and effectively, even at the very beginning levels.

Touchstone is an innovative new series for adult and young-adult learners of English. It draws on extensive research into the Cambridge International Corpus of North American English — a large database of everyday conversations and texts that shows how people actually use English. At the core of Touchstone is a brand-new syllabus area of conversation management strategies such as how to start and end conversations, how to show interest, and how to ask questions that are not too direct. The result is a groundbreaking course of language and skills development that helps learners communicate naturally and effectively, even at the very beginning levels.

Touchstone is an innovative new series for adult and young-adult learners of English. It draws on extensive research into the Cambridge International Corpus of North American English — a large database of everyday conversations and texts that shows how people actually use English. At the core of Touchstone is a brand-new syllabus area of conversation management strategies such as how to start and end conversations, how to show interest, and how to ask questions that are not too direct. The result is a groundbreaking course of language and skills development that helps learners communicate naturally and effectively, even at the very beginning levels.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Workbook 1A provides follow-up exercises for each two-page lesson of units 1 to 6 in Student's Book 1A, allowing for a thorough practice of new vocabulary, structures, and conversation strategies and providing extra reading and writing activities. A progress chart at the end of each unit helps students evaluate their progress and plan further study.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Workbook 1B provides follow-up exercises for each two-page lesson of units 7 to 12 in Student's Book 1B, allowing for a thorough practice of new vocabulary, structures, and conversation strategies and providing extra reading and writing activities. A progress chart at the end of each unit helps students evaluate their progress and plan further study.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Student's Book 2A contains units 1-6 from the full Student's Book 2. Student's Book 2 is second level of the innovative Touchstone series designed for high-beginning students and it expands on the fundamental concepts established in Student's Book 1. Drawing on research into the Cambridge International Corpus, Student's Book 2 presents the vocabulary, grammar, and functions students encounter most often in real life. It also develops the conversation strategies that students need for effective conversations, such as how to say no in a friendly way or how to respond to suggestions you are not sure about. The book features an attractive, contemporary design, and beautiful color photos and illustrations. It makes learning fun by maximizing the time students spend on interactive, personalized activities on high-interest topics. Students using Touchstone will soon feel confident in their abilities to express themselves clearly and effectively.A free self-study Audio CD/CD-ROM at the back of the book gives students further practice in listening, speaking, and vocabulary.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. The Student's Book 2B contains units 7-12 from the full Student's Book 2. Student's Book 2 is second level of the innovative Touchstone series designed for high-beginning students and it expands on the fundamental concepts established in Student's Book 1. Drawing on research into the Cambridge International Corpus, Student's Book 2 presents the vocabulary, grammar, and functions students encounter most often in real life. It also develops the conversation strategies that students need for effective conversations, such as how to say no in a friendly way or how to respond to suggestions you are not sure about. The book features an attractive, contemporary design, and beautiful color photos and illustrations. It makes learning fun by maximizing the time students spend on interactive, personalized activities on high-interest topics. Students using Touchstone will soon feel confident in their abilities to express themselves clearly and effectively. A free self-study Audio CD/CD-ROM at the back of the book gives students further practice in listening, speaking, and vocabulary

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Teacher’s Edition 2 is fully interleaved and contains practical teaching notes, along with a wealth of optional activities. Detailed language notes based on corpus research give teachers special insights into English usage Audio scripts, answer keys, and tests are also provided. Teachers can go into the classroom confident that they are fully equipped to teach students to be effective communicators.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Workbook 2 provides follow-up exercises for each two-page lesson in Student’s Book 2, allowing for a thorough practice of new vocabulary, structures, and conversation strategies and providing extra reading and writing activities. A progress chart at the end of each unit helps students evaluate their progress and plan further study.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Workbook 2A provides follow-up exercises for each two-page lesson of units 1 — 6 in Student's Book 2A, allowing for a thorough practice of new vocabulary, structures, and conversation strategies and providing extra reading and writing activities. A progress chart at the end of each unit helps students evaluate their progress and plan further study.

Easy and enjoyable to teach, Touchstone is packed with new and exciting ideas, offering a fresh approach to the teaching and learning of English. Workbook 2B provides follow-up exercises for each two-page lesson of units 7 — 12 in Student's Book 2B, allowing for a thorough practice of new vocabulary, structures, and conversation strategies and providing extra reading and writing activities. A progress chart at the end of each unit helps students evaluate their progress and plan further study.

Offering plenty of self-study practice for beginner to upper-intermediate learners, these small and easy-to-carry books are ideal for busy people to use outside the classroom. Vocabulary in Practice 5 covers about 600 useful words for intermediate to upper-intermediate students. Contains 40 short units, regular tests, an answer key and a word list with pronunciation. It is ideal for self-study.

Offering plenty of self-study practice for beginner to upper-intermediate learners, these small and easy-to-carry books are ideal for busy people to use outside the classroom. Vocabulary in Practice 6 covers about 600 useful words for upper-intermediate students. Contains 40 short units, regular tests, an answer key and a word list with pronunciation. It is ideal for self-study.

A series of ELT readers for young learners of English. Can Big Raven's magic stop the storm?

Welcome! is for people working or planning to work in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries. The core language skills are developed through a wide range of work-related tasks. Particular emphasis is placed on realistic and integrated communication tasks which give students the opportunity to build confidence and improve fluency. The second edition includes updated content, extensive practice in writing emails and further communication activities aimed specifically at busy professionals.

Welcome! is for people working or planning to work in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries. The core language skills are developed through a wide range of work-related tasks. Particular emphasis is placed on realistic and integrated communication tasks which give students the opportunity to build confidence and improve fluency. The second edition includes updated content, extensive practice in writing emails and further communication activities aimed specifically at busy professionals.

Write to be Read helps students develop their academic writing skills. Using thought-provoking authentic readings that challenge students to think critically and clearly, Write to be Read guides students through the processes of reading, reflection, writing and revision. This second edition includes new readings, greater vocabulary support and an improved design. Reading selections in Write to be Read include short stories, magazine articles, and essays. The writing instruction in the first two chapters concentrates on writing clear and well-constructed paragraphs, the remaining five chapters focus on the academic essay. Each chapter includes: • Two authentic readings on closely related topics. • Practice in writing both personal and academic responses to the readings. • Opportunities for reflection and discussion on the chapter topic. • Opportunities for peer feedback on writing. • Instruction in academic writing skills such as paraphrasing, summarizing, writing topic sentences, and organizing an essay. • Exercises to help students expand their knowledge of English grammar. • Practice in editing and revision.

Write to be Read helps students develop their academic writing skills. Using thought-provoking authentic readings that challenge students to think critically and clearly, Write to be Read guides students through the processes of reading, reflection, writing and revision. This second edition includes new readings, greater vocabulary support and an improved design. Reading selections in Write to be Read include short stories, magazine articles, and essays. The writing instruction in the first two chapters concentrates on writing clear and well-constructed paragraphs, the remaining five chapters focus on the academic essay. Each chapter includes: • Two authentic readings on closely related topics. • Practice in writing both personal and academic responses to the readings. • Opportunities for reflection and discussion on the chapter topic. • Opportunities for peer feedback on writing. • Instruction in academic writing skills such as paraphrasing, summarizing, writing topic sentences, and organizing an essay. • Exercises to help students expand their knowledge of English grammar. • Practice in editing and revision.

An updated and revised edition of Trudy Smoke's classic comprehensive writing skills book. Trudy Smoke's classic comprehensive writing text takes students step-by-step through the writing process and contains instruction in grammar, mechanics, and rhetorical forms. It prepares students for the reading and writing assignments they will encounter in their academic courses. This fourth edition features many new high-interest readings from a variety of genres, including personal, academic, journalistic, and fictional writing.

The revised and updated fourth edition of this classic book contains many new features and new readings. The author has selected seven new high interest pieces and retained five favorites from the third edition. The readings represent a wide variety of genres, with at least one academic reading per unit. A Writer's Workbook takes advanced level writing students systematically from reading to writing. Along the way, students read a high interest text; study the structure of academic essays; grapple with troublesome areas of grammar and writing mechanics; read and analyse student model essays; and write, revise and edit.

Writers at Work: The Short Composition is based on the popular Bridges to Academic Writing, which it now replaces. The book starts where Writers at Work: The Paragraph leaves off. It teaches low intermediate to intermediate level students how to compose multi-paragraph short compositions. Students tap into their personal experience to organize their writing, using academic modes of organization, such as exemplification and cause and effect. In addition, students learn how to write about works of fiction and nonfiction by summarizing and citing sources. The approach in this book assumes that even lower level students can handle a full-blown process approach. In each chapter, students work through a five-step composing process: Getting Started, Preparing the First Draft, Revising Your Writing, Editing Your Writing, and Following Up.

Writers at Work: The Short Composition is based on the popular Bridges to Academic Writing, which it now replaces. The book starts where Writers at Work: The Paragraph leaves off. It teaches low intermediate to intermediate level students how to compose multi-paragraph short compositions. Students tap into their personal experience to organize their writing, using academic modes of organization, such as exemplification and cause and effect. In addition, students learn how to write about works of fiction and nonfiction by summarizing and citing sources. The approach in this book assumes that even lower level students can handle a full-blown process approach. In each chapter, students work through a five-step composing process: Getting Started, Preparing the First Draft, Revising Your Writing, Editing Your Writing, and Following Up.