The purpose of this book is to help ESL learners at the intermediate level with the potentially confusing turns of phrase common to English articles online, in magazines and in newspapers. ESL veterans will appreciate that while many books cover English grammar and vocabulary, there are precious few dealing specifically with idioms, “quirky” verbs, and other compound constructs from a practical perspective. My goal has been to create a workbook systematic enough to integrate easily into a variety of academic contexts, making the learning experience as efficient and painless as possible.
This book actually stems from my experiences as a Japanese translator. Working at an agency in
Applications: On one level, the book functions as a simple guide to the meanings of nearly 200 connectors, phrasal verbs, idiomatic verb-phrases, and expressions. Individual sections can also be introduced a few pages at a time into almost any classroom situation, gradually building English comprehension. To develop full lessons of 40 minutes or more, I would recommend supplementation with materials on mass-media, the internet, and current events. The “tips” sections on website content deal with the typical structure of online articles, and are best covered as part of a writing class with internet access. The mini-quizzes at the end of each unit provide immediate feedback about the progress of the students, and can also serve as a template for the creation of your own tests and exams.
The first chapter is available for free, in pdf format, from 1 chapter free.
