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Chimayo Press Catalog Spotlight: From Our Friends
Readers and teachers of English: Are you looking to create a more fluency-focused curriculum for your ESL/EFL class this fall? Do you seek new, engaging communicative activities to encourage class discussions? Or perhaps flexible lesson plans with a built-in homework assignment per unit?
Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog is here, featuring four new titles in addition to our previous collection. Featured in this week’s catalog spotlight: two exceptional books by USC Assistant Professor J.J. Polk, my friend and colleague at the American Language Institute.
English in Global Contexts: Proficiency Tasks for Aspiring Learners
Dr. J.J. Polk’s English in Global Contexts: Proficiency Tasks for Aspiring Learners is a 12-unit, task-based course book developed for advanced level learners, featuring content-related activities designed to promote the acquisition of higher-level vocabulary and active, productive language use in a semi-academic context.
English Questions: Practice Drills in All Active Tenses
Polk’s second title, English Questions: Practice Drills in All Active Tenses provides English students with extensive exercises in all the most common types of English questions. Developed for intermediate to pre-advanced students and written in an easy-to-use, easy-to-follow format, this book contains over 2200 sentence-to-question transformations through all active verb tenses. Both aforementioned books also come with a detailed answer key (sold separately here and here) for both ESL/ EFL instructors and ambitious advanced English students working on their own.
You can download Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog, for free, here. For discount codes on class orders for select titles, see here. I am also pleased to announce that the full catalog, along with five featured books, will be at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week. Consider me psyched!
Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
About the Author
Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, has published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book since 2008. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011. Compelling American Conversations came out in 2012, and Compelling Conversations – Japan arrived in 2015. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this #ESL #EFL #ELT blog.
Asking English Questions in a Global Context
How do English language learners develop the ability to ask questions in English? Why do ESL students need so much practice asking questions? What are tag-questions, and why are they so important in spoken English?
The grammar and word order of English questions can be challenging. English Questions: Practice Drills in All Active Tenses provides English students with extensive, focused exercises in all the most common types of English questions. Written in an easy-to-use, easy-to-follow format with clear examples, this thin yet comprehensive ESL/EFL textbook contains 2290+ sentence to question transformations through all active verb tenses. Written by USC Assistant Professor J.J. Polk, my friend and colleague at the American Language Institute, the systematic book includes:
- 500 Wh-questions (Who? What? When? Where? Why?)
- Dozens of How-questions (How much? How many? How often?)
- 1000 Tag-questions – a key feature of spoken English, daily conversations, and academic discussions
- 500 Yes/No questions
Students Need to Ask Questions in English
Our students also need to be encouraged, and sometimes even trained, to ask questions in English. This ESL textbook does that. Developed for intermediate to pre-advanced English students, this rigorous ESL textbook demonstrates how to transform sentences into questions. It also provides hours of invaluable practice in forming questions. These demanding materials have been developed during Dr. Polk’s long career as an English teacher in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East. He now teaches publication and dissertation writing to international graduate students who often still struggle with crafting sentences in English. Yet it’s essential for our international students to ask questions in academic, social, and professional contexts.
English Questions: Practice Drills in All Active Tenses
Practice, as the cliche goes, makes perfect. Yet, as many blog readers know, I prefer the more modest statement that practice makes progress. This 148-page book proves that point. If you are looking for an effective way to help your stronger English students develop their curiosity and writing skills, check out this ESL textbook.
English in Global Contexts: Proficiency Tasks for Aspiring Learners
I’m also a big fan of Dr. J.J. Polk’s English in Global Contexts: Proficiency Tasks for Aspiring Learners. This second ESL textbook establishes a strong foundation for academic success. The 12-unit, task-based ESL course book for advanced level learners emphasizes content-related activities appropriate for higher education. Further, the challenging tasks also promote the acquisition of higher-level vocabulary and active, productive language use in a semi-academic context. Targeting serious students with global ambitions, this EFL textbook helps international students prepare for the CELTA, IELTS, and TOEFL standardized exams. Finally, Intensive English Programs and undergraduate advanced ESL classes can use it too.
This outstanding task-based reader appeals to an elite audience with intellectual interests. Yet many other dedicated EFL students seeking high scores on standardized exams could benefit from this book too. The appendix also provides lucid commentary on the most commonly tested grammar elements. Both ELT textbooks include a detailed answer key (sold separately here and here) for both ESL/ EFL instructors. Advanced English students working on their own can benefit from little-known ESL textbooks.
So I’m very pleased to share the good news about Dr. Polk’s outstanding ESL textbooks. We’re listing them in the Fall 2016 Chimayo Press catalog because they deserve a far larger audience.
Are you looking to create a more fluency-focused curriculum for your ESL/EFL class this fall? Do you seek new, engaging communicative activities to encourage class discussions? Or perhaps flexible lesson plans with a built-in homework assignment per unit? Or are you looking for sophisticated grammar exercises created for ambitious learners? You can download Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog, for free, here. For discount codes on class orders for select titles, see here.
Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
About the Author
Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, has published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book since 2008. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011. Compelling American Conversations came out in 2012, and Compelling Conversations – Japan arrived in 2015. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this #ESL #EFL #ELT blog.
Chimayo Press Catalog Spotlight: Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers
Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog is here, featuring four new titles in addition to our previous collection. Featured in this week’s catalog spotlight: the game-changing Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers.
Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers takes Chimayo Press in a new direction entirely. It is the first in a planned series of books tailored for the workplace, focusing on occupation-specific interactions and conversational etiquette, with versions for call center professionals, international graduate students, and global business professionals anticipated. Written by Janet Levine and Laurie A. Selik, Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers assembles years of first-hand experience from two unique professional perspectives. The authors offer many insights and revealing examples on the art of compelling conversation. Fundraising newcomers and seasoned pros alike will learn proven techniques to help build authentic donor relationships, including savvy conversation strategies for various professional encounters. You can find it on Amazon here.
Praise for Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers
Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers has also gained an enthusiastic response from the philanthropic community. Natalie Rodriguez, director of the College Excellence Program at The Aspen Institute, writes: Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers reminds us that human interests drive philanthropy and encourages fundraisers to weave authenticity through their conversations.”
Connections matter. Branded by Debbie A. Cannon of the Academy for Grassroots Organizations as “a refreshing and profound tool,” Compelling Conversations for Fundraisers, she notes, “reminds us skills such as listening, being direct and simply having a conversation about our shared passions touches our basic need to be heard and make the connection with other like-minded people.”
Meanwhile Gregory Bradbard, President & CEO of Inland Empire United Way, praises the authors’ candor, observing that “Janet and Laurie take the mystery out of asking for money by breaking conversation down to a very easy-to-understand and applicable level.”
You can download Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog, for free, here. For discount codes on class orders for select titles, see here. The full catalog, along with five of the featured books, will also be available at the Frankfurt Book Fair this month for the first time. Consider me psyched!
Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
About the Author
Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, has published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book since 2008. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011. Compelling American Conversations came out in 2012, and Compelling Conversations – Japan arrived in 2015. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this #ESL #EFL #ELT blog.
Chimayo Press Catalog Spotlight: Compelling Convesations – Vietnam
Vietnamese readers and teachers of English: do you wish to create a more fluency-focused curriculum for your ESL/EFL class this fall? Are you seeking new, engaging communicative activities to encourage class discussions? How about flexible lesson plans with a built-in homework assignment per unit?
This year we’ve updated our catalog with two new Compelling Conversations titles, including a second edition of Compelling Conversations – Vietnam.
Become who you want to be – in English!
Compelling Conversations – Vietnam: Speaking Exercises for Vietnamese Learners of English is a major expansion of our first specialized text for Vietnamese English language learners, co-written by myself and Teresa Nguyen, a core faculty member in the American Language Program (ALP) at California State University, Fullerton. Begun as a passion project, this collaboration is what I believe to be our strongest book yet, opening the possibility of revision for other titles in the future. Furthermore, with a much wider variety of fluency-focused, and vocabulary-building communicative exercises, the new Compelling Conversations – Vietnam helps Vietnamese American English language learners survive and thrive in the United States.
You can download Chimayo Press’s Fall 2016 catalog, for free, here. The full catalog, along with five of the featured books, will also be at the Frankfurt Book Fair this month. Consider me psyched!
Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
About the Author
Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, has published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book since 2008. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011. Compelling American Conversations came out in 2012, and Compelling Conversations – Japan arrived in 2015. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this #ESL #EFL #ELT blog.
Teaching Matters: Email Etiquette Part 2
“Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.”
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004), American historian
Reviewing email etiquette in the classroom remains an essential challenge for English teachers. We must prepare English language learners for the professional world. Last week, we discussed how to write a clear, concise subject line, and reviewed appropriate methods of greeting teachers and professors.
But what about the actual email? What advice should we share with our English students? Let’s stick to the principles of effective communication: keep it accurate, brief, and clear.
Greet the reader.
Setting the tone with a greeting goes a long way. Beginning with a request outright may seem rude, so first wish the recipient well.
- I hope this email finds you well
- I hope all is well with you..
Second, the sender should introduce themselves if necessary by including their full name, class and meeting time. The instructor may have a large class or may teach multiple sections of the same class.
Third, students should state the purpose of the email. For example:
- My name is Hào Nguyễn from your 10:00 a.m. class. I’m contacting you about my absence yesterday.
- This is Hào Nguyễn from Oral Language class. I am writing about the test we took last week. Can I schedule an office visit to discuss my score?
Write the actual message.
Emphasize to the class to focus on the main point of the message. Going on and on and on and on doesn’t address your concern any quicker. English teachers and professional tutors often have to read many emails each day, so getting swiftly and politely to the point is best. “Please” and “thank you” should be used to show respect. Advise your students to never send emails while angry to maintain professionality and composure.
Formatting the message into short paragraphs by topics makes the message easier to understand; inserting a line space between paragraphs or, alternatively, indenting them, is clean and efficient. Last but not least, informal writing (e.g. I don’t wanna miss your class but…), slang words, and emoticons should be avoided.
Use an appropriate closing.
Endings matter! Guide your English language learners toward simple, polite closing sentiments like “Thank you for your time and consideration,” or “Have a great afternoon.”
Sample Activity: Have your students put a check next to each of the appropriate closings to use to your teacher
____Love,
____Thinking of you,
____Sincerely,
____Regards,
____Yours cordially,
____See you in class,
____Thanks,
____Dreaming of you,
____Hugs and kisses,
____Respectfully,
____ Later,
____ That’s all
Sign with your full name.
Additionally, the school and/or major of the sender may be necessary. Emoticons should be, once again, strictly avoided. Stress to your students that they are future professionals. Read some common mistakes that other college students make in signing their emails.
Signatures to avoid:
Hào Nguyễn 🙂
Hào Nguyễn ^^
Hào Nguyễn (^^)”
Grammar and spellcheck.
Emphasize the importance of proofreading for spelling and grammar mistakes.
Sample Activity: Have your students write a professional email to you or another instructor, and send it before the next class.
Do you go over the importance of email etiquette in your English classroom? What are your do’s and taboos for student emails? Please share your teaching tips!
This blog post uses material from the upcoming second edition of Compelling Conversations – Vietnam, which will be released this fall! For more information, including sample content, from the first edition of Compelling Conversations – Vietnam, click here.
Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
