Publisher's Synopsis
Designed for FUN English courses! Optimal Levels is an exciting new textbook series for English, ESL, and EFL classrooms. These textbooks have been designed to maximize student thinking and the construction of cognitive skills through the usage of the English language. This series is based upon the author's research in Mind, Brain, and Education at Harvard University and research in TEFL/TESL at the University of Birmingham. Rather than presenting to students what must be learned, this series proposes motivating themes and scaffolded tasks that are designed to build skills dynamically. By doing the theme-based student-centered tasks, students dynamically learn and understand language usage by creating the skills necessary to negotiate meaning and build upon what they already know. Highly motivational and highly effective! The unique and highly student-centered design of this textbook makes it an excellent choice for students from High Beginner to Advanced levels. Works very well with mixed classes and differentiated instruction too! From the Back Cover I must admit, I really like the design. This is a beautifully presented coursebook. Rarely have I seen so much creativity in the design of any teaching material. I am impressed. Zoltán Dörnyei, PhD Professor of Psycholinguistics University of Nottingham --------------------------- It is great to see a textbook series for adults that includes references to sociocultural, emotional, and real-world issues! Students will learn to move beyond memorization and into using English to communicate. Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute Assistant Professor of Education at the Rossier School of Education University of Southern California --------------------------- The approach taken in 'Optimal Levels' is very impressive. It is based on sound constructivist learning theory and should really get the students to think. David Paul Author, Finding Out Bestselling EFL Textbook series -------------------------- "I love it!" The way in which this coursebook smoothly combines cultural knowledge with connotation and encyclopeadic knowledge makes it a highly innovative and useful vocabulary development textbook. Dr Jeannette Littlemore Centre for English Language Studies University of Birmingham -------------------------- If you want to build muscle, you have to lift weights. If you want to learn another language, you have to speak it, write, it discuss it, and engage with it. Optimal Levels! provides a framework that will ensure all students are lifting the weights for successful English language development. Dr. William DeJean Faculty of Human Sciences Macquarie University -------------------------- The activities in these books will engage learners in rich motivated language learning which will stretch them personally in many ways. These unique textbooks ground their language learning in collaboration, inquiry, creativity, and scaffolded writing to generate extensive learning and a sense of personal achievement. Dr Robyn Moloney Department of Education Faculty of Human Sciences Macquarie University
