Book Description

AmCES is based on the popular British English course Cambridge English for Schools. Student's Book 1 American Cambridge English for Schools, Student's Book 1 is a beginning level text for students aged 11-15 who are learning English for the first time. It takes an educational approach to language teaching in that it aims to develop the student's wider abilities including critical thinking, autonomy, value judgments, and problem solving and to offer rich, cross-curricular content. At the same time, it provides a structured approach to grammar, vocabulary, and the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The cross-curricular content makes a direct connection students' lives, interests, and studies, but in a fresh, innovative way. The tasks in AmCES encourage students to use English creatively, not reproductively; this allows students to learn language through a natural process of acquisition. Communication and personalization exercises give students opportunities to share their experiences and opinions. Student's Book 1 contains eight sixteen-page themes, each with two units. Each unit begins with two pages of language presentation in which students read, write, listen, and talk about the topic. This is followed by two pages of grammar study and practice, personalized exercises, and writing practice. The first unit concludes with a two-page Communication, which presents and practices functional and social English. The second unit concludes with an Exploration, which is either a topically-linked cultural reading or a project-based activity. In addition, each theme begins with a one-page theme opener that allows students to access their prior knowledge. This page also clearly presents the content and objectives of the theme. Each theme concludes with a two-page review and a one-page Language Record. The review gives students an opportunity to assess their progress. The Language Record provides a convenient reference of the material studied. The Student's Book also contains additional material, including grammar summaries, word lists, maps, useful sets of words, an ideas lists, and Extra Time activities for mixed-ability classes."