Everyday English


Book Description

There is no time like the present to learn English. The world's most widely spoken language permeates many aspects of our daily lives. Internet sites, blockbuster movies, even toothpaste tubes bear English words. But let's be honest, learning to speak American English is not easy. Pronunciation, sentence structures, figures of speech, and idioms are just some of the potential headaches for those who are courageous enough to take up English. One might wonder if there is a way to learn American English with minimum hassle. That is exactly why this book was created.Flipping through the pages of this book will reveal the absence of numbered lessons and regimented exercises. In fact, the majority of the text is written in a format similar to a movie script. There is a cast of characters performing the actions of each scene. The two main characters have different personalities and backgrounds, but they are united by the quest to learn English. Both of the characters drive the storyline by making decisions that are based on their learning goals. You have the opportunity to imagine that you are a character in the story. You can decide which parts of the text to read, and the order, in accordance with your own learning goals.Whether you are going on a cruise or heading to a job interview, this book serves as a practical and entertaining guide to conversational American English. You can also use it as a handy reference while traveling abroad. Although the events in the story take place in the United States, the speaking skills you will gain can be employed in other English-speaking countries.The lines of the characters in the story provide a glimpse into the diversity of dialects and rich vocabulary that American English has to offer. It is a dynamic language that is deeply intertwined with American culture. References to American thought, history, and pop culture enliven the text, making for an enjoyable learning experience. As you make your way through the book, I hope you will come to see, as I have, how wonderful and exhilarating it is to learn English.




Rhetorical Education In America


Book Description

A timely collection of essays by prominent scholars in the field—on the past, present, and future of rhetoric instruction. From Isocrates and Aristotle to the present, rhetorical education has consistently been regarded as the linchpin of a participatory democracy, a tool to foster civic action and social responsibility. Yet, questions of who should receive rhetorical education, in what form, and for what purpose, continue to vex teachers and scholars. The essays in this volume converge to explore the purposes, problems, and possibilities of rhetorical education in America on both the undergraduate and graduate levels and inside and outside the academy. William Denman examines the ancient model of the "citizen-orator" and its value to democratic life. Thomas Miller argues that English departments have embraced a literary-research paradigm and sacrificed the teaching of rhetorical skills for public participation. Susan Kates explores how rhetoric is taught at nontraditional institutions, such as Berea College in Kentucky, where Appalachian dialect is espoused. Nan Johnson looks outside the academy at the parlor movement among women in antebellum America. Michael Halloran examines the rhetorical education provided by historical landmarks, where visitors are encouraged to share a common public discourse. Laura Gurak presents the challenges posed to traditional notions of literacy by the computer, the promises and dangers of internet technology, and the necessity of a critical cyber-literacy for future rhetorical curricula. Collectively, the essays coalesce around timely political and cross-disciplinary issues. Rhetorical Education in America serves to orient scholars and teachers in rhetoric, regardless of their disciplinary home, and help to set an agenda for future classroom practice and curriculum design.




Speak English Like an American


Book Description

The audio CD contains all of the dialogues in the book.




Thinking about Speaking


Book Description

This book is a guide to understanding what defines an accent and how to make changes to increase speech clarity. It is for people who speak English with the influence of another language who want to communicate clearly in American English as well as teachers of English to non-native speakers. It includes definitions and descriptions of accents and examples of who chooses to keep making improvements to their speech after they have already learned and use English in their daily lives. The teaching process is outlined from the consultation stage through the methodology. This book analyzes why traditional teaching methods don't take English as a second language (ESL) speakers to the highest level of speaking skills possible. The description of the author's approach to increasing spoken communication skills goes beyond pronunciation of sounds and involves more cognitive processes than physical behaviors. The method includes techniques to make changes to speech to increase the effectiveness of speaking English as a non-native language.







The Art of Speaking American English


Book Description

This timely handbook will outline the exact methods that will put you on the path to mastering the art of speaking American English - just what you have always dreamed of.







The American Language


Book Description