MORE! 2
Authors: Herbert Puchta & Jeff Stranks, et al. Published by: Cambridge University Press Components reviewed: Student’s book This is a general English textbook using British English designed for Junior High School Students. However, I have used it with a group of older students who are false-beginners. Both the students and I have enjoyed using this […]Authors: Herbert Puchta & Jeff Stranks, et al.
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Components reviewed: Student’s book
This is a general English textbook using British English designed for Junior High School Students. However, I have used it with a group of older students who are false-beginners. Both the students and I have enjoyed using this book.
The units are designed to practise all four language skills. The topics are relevant (especially to teenagers) and are set out in an easily-navigable form. There are numerous examples of the target language and good use of colour photographs, pictures and text make for a visually interesting book. Grammar is presented simply and there are ample opportunities for students to practise the target language through a variety of exercises. There is also a review after every second unit. Additionally, students can practise what they’ve learned by completing special projects based around school subjects such as geography, history, and culture. There are also several sections aimed at encouraging students to read for pleasure. Some of these projects are relevant to adult students and even inspired one student to do extra research in her own time, which she presented to the class – in English – the following week!
My main criticism is that transcripts of the listening activities aren’t in the textbook, so it is impossible to do these activities without the class CD set (which, unfortunately, was the situation I found myself in). Some can be adapted but for others, such as the songs, the CD is necessary.
Another minor point is that some of the special projects direct students to the MORE! website to complete quizzes based on the projects. To date, these quizzes are not online. The website does contain numerous interactive activities for each unit in MORE! 1 and these do include listening activities which could be used in the classroom if the Internet can be accessed and the class isn’t too big. However, MORE! 2, 3 and 4 are not yet online.
In summary, this is a good general English textbook. There is ample opportunity for students to practise the four language skills, both in and out of the classroom, using the book, the accompanying CD-Rom and, to a lesser degree, the MORE! website. Whilst the book is obviously geared towards Junior High school students, it can be used successfully with adults too.