Speak English Like an American: for Native Russian Speakers (Book & Audio CD set)

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This is a fine book for classroom use with intermediate-to-advanced level Russian speakers who are acquiring English. A good selection of idiomatic American expressions is presented and illustrated through an engaging 25-chapter story involving a single family (the Johnsons); the specific situations used-- from the family's daily life, work, school and recreation-- are generally clearly delineated and are often instructive for the students in both linguistic and cultural contexts. The various exercises which accompany the texts are varied and competently assembled, and their completion probably gives the students an important sense an accomplishment (however ephemeral) that rote memorization does not by itself provide.

Some editing still needs to be done: there are too many instances of everyday expressions (which most students already understand) being offered up as "idioms"; conversely, there are also several occasions in which odd/unusual constructions go unglossed. While these are not great impediments, the CD which accompanies the book has several more serious problems: the voice of one principal character (Bob, the father) is poorly enunciated throughout [and also happens to bear an unnerving resemblance to that of Vladimir Pozner...]; and several other characters simply miss the appropriate stresses in a number of words and phrases-- as though they were reading the texts aloud for the first time. The instructor is left to explain that, well, what he/she would *actually* say in this situation sounds more like this: "..." One gets the impression that the roles were voiced by a convenient selection of local volunteers-- whereas hiring real actors for the roles could have made a significant difference.

That said, I recommend this book-- and look forward to a second volume (as well as to the remedial tinkering with the first). My students enjoyed it for the most part, and no doubt learned a great deal from the adventures of the Johnson family.

This book is useful and fun. It teaches American expressions by telling funny stories, and it has amusing pictures.

Easy to understand and written with a great sense of humor, this book is an essential aid to improving English understanding and speech. Learn how to correctly use language of daily life (at an interview, on the job or at the store). The additional CD teaches proper pronunciation. A great help for new immigrants and also for those who want to increase their knowledge of English idioms.

I found this book very useful and helpful; great CD too. One can learn new phrases and listen to the correct prononciation at the same time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve his/her English skills.