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List of Learning English as a Foreign Language Books and Audio Visual Materials

(Updated on 7/26/2007)

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The
This collection of classic literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The
This collection of literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

American Life and Institutions
This introduction to the USA and its people, at an intermediate to advanced level of language difficulty, consists of ten chapters and presents an integrative view of American society, history, economics, politics, media, and culture. The volume is suitable both as a classroom reader and as a reference work as a foundation for further study. There are suggested questions for discussion and a glossary of terms.

American Patchwork
This is a collection of American short stories, mostly contemporary, that reflect ways of life in various geographical regions of the United States . Each story is introduced by pre-reading activities followed by cultural notes and exercises for comprehension, vocabulary development and structure. A brief geographical passage introduces each section.

American Perspectives: The United States in the Modern Age
This anthology is a collection of 60 readings from American cultural history, literature and social science which identify pervasive patterns of American attitudes and society. With a focus on the place and values of Middle America in a changing modern world, the texts are concerned with ideas and with emotions, as well as with their results in action. The aim of the collection is to suggest what Americans have been like since the start of the 20th century and what they are like today. (Developed by Department of State Branch for the Study of the U.S. )

Autobiography of Mark Twain
This collection of literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

Bright Ideas – A Teacher's Resource Manual
The twenty-six practical teaching strategies and techniques originally appeared in Ideas Plus, a special ongoing series of publications of the National Council of Teachers of English. The contributions come from instructors of English in elementary, junior, and senior high schools and colleges throughout the US . Text 64 pp

Celebrate Holidays in the USA
Celebrate! is a high-intermediate/advanced level EFL reader on American holidays and the ways that they are commemorated. Historical background notes and glossaries are included. Richly illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, the text can serve as a presentation item and as a text for classroom use or self-study.

Changing Perspectives: A Review of the English Tense System, Book 1 & 2 (with audiocassette)
Changing Perspectives (Book 1 and Book 2) is a review of the English system of time and tenses. It is intended for intermediate and high intermediate level students in non-English speaking countries who have some familiarity with English grammar and who are ready to explore the regularities of the time/tense system in context. The books also present some of the surprises: the irregularities, pragmatic uses, and emotional connotations of the tense system. These books may be used for grammar review, as readers, and as a stimulus for academic discussions.

Changing Times, Changing Tenses: A Review of the English Tense System (with audiotapes )
One of the most popular EFL textbooks, this supplementary text reviews and clarifies special aspects of the English tense system. The vocabulary of the book is based on the 1000-word level. Time lines, challenging reading passages, lively exercises, and illustrations are included in each of the ten chapters .

Children's Response: TPR and Beyond, The
This book is based on James J. Asher's Total Physical Response (TPR) Method. TPR takes into account that people learn best when they are actively involved and understand the language they hear. This is especially true of children who developmentally have shorter attention spans and need to move about. Each of the lessons included in the text provides practice with specific grammatical patterns that are troublesome for young EFL learners. These structures are introduced through TPR activities to give young learners a measure of control over form and function.

Close-Up: A Photomotivational Text, Writing Activities English as a Foreign Language

Creative Classroom Activities
The second of a two-volume anthology of articles from the English Teaching Forum, 1989 - 1993, Creative Classroom Activities is practical in nature, focusing upon teaching techniques and classroom materials developed by teachers around the world. The articles are divided into the following categories: Activating Communication, Developing Materials, Teaching Reading, Teaching Writing, and Teaching Literature.

Day by Day (with audiocassette)
A supplemental text designed to help develop oral skills, with emphasis on formulating and asking questions. The 26 units are based on short readings (averaging 100 words) that supply general information needed for the oral practice. The basic themes of everyday life and activities are illustrated with simple line drawings to provide further context. Glossary included.

Design for Drama: Short Plays from American Literature
The plays in this collection, intended for radio and television, are adaptations in drama form of well-known American short stories and a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson titled Richard Cory. The stories represented are The Marriages by Henry James, The Furnished Room by O. Henry, The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving, The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe, and A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce. The adapter has included a section of guidelines for teachers who may want to produce the plays for public audiences.

Developing Writing
Each of the twenty chapters in this book is introduced by a reading selection incorporating the lesson's model structures, mechanics, and grammar points. Each reading is followed by composition, vocabulary, and spelling activities. An irregular verb list, and grammar rule index, and answer keys are appended.

Dialogs for Everyday Use (with audiocassette)
This is a collection of 30 situational dialogs which focus on a wide variety of communicative and natural encounters in English. Each dialog is accompanied by a contextualized illustration and by language notes that provide useful information on grammar and intonation patterns. See also More Dialogs for Everyday Use.

Dialogue Journal Writing With Nonnative English Speakers: A Handbook for Teachers

Discover America (with audiocassette (set of 3))
This resource textbook is illustrated with more than 180 photographs, illustrations and maps. This four-color textbook combines materials originally written for the "travel" issues of the English Teaching Forum. They have been expanded and adapted in this integrated skills text for advanced learners of EFL. Chapters deal with Washington D.C., Amtrak, the American cowboy, Atlanta, the Mississippi River, Boston, and New York City . A two-hour set of audiocassettes is the basis for the listening comprehension activities in the text, and a variety of vocabulary building and reading comprehension activities are included.

Early American Reader, An
This anthology of early American primary cultural and literary readings and documents is intended as a reader and reference for advanced students, teachers, and scholars. There are six chapters: The American Dream, Religious Traditions in Early America, The Indian and the Frontier, Nature and the World, Slavery and the Black, and The American Revolution. Eighty-seven illustrations from the period complement the text. (Developed by USIA Division for the Study of the US .) Text 736 pp.

Easy Does It (with audiocassette)
A supplemental beginning level text (1,000 word-level) consisting of 12 chapters of very short, simple readings dealing with people and what they do. The visuals reinforce the information given in the present, present progressive, present perfect, and past tenses. In addition, work on the use of going to + infinitive and the modals, can, could, may, might, and will is treated in two chapters.

Economic Considerations – English Through Content: Applied Economics
Intended as a supplementary text for EFL course in Business English, this text combines the content of market economics with language enhancement activities. Collaborating with a partner and frequently interpreting graphs and tables, students are asked to find solutions for a variety of problem situations set forth in case studies and business-related reading selections. This edition has been adapted by editor Thomas Kral from the Junior Achievement text book Applied Economics of Junior Achievement International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A. 136 pp.

Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller (with audiocassette (set of 6))
A re-issue of seven popular Poe stories: The Mask of the Red Death, The Story of William Wilson, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Black Cat, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado. The stories, slightly adapted, are introduced by a section on Poe's life and work. Drawings, photographs, glossary notes and exercises are included in each unit; a verb list and glossary are appended.

Effective Techniques for English Conversation Groups.
Authors: Dobson, Julia M.
This book gathers ideas and practices in teaching English as a second language to serve as a reference for the leader of a conversation group. A variety of tested techniques is included for stimulating conversation among students with a basic command of English. The book begins with a discussion of what is involved in directed conversation sessions: conversation practice at various proficiency levels, challenges of conversation practice, motivational factors, and other topics. Chapter 2, "The Art of Conversation," contains observations on conversation among native English speakers, a discussion of language styles, and comments on the importance of listening. Subsequent chapters deal with specific techniques or devices for stimulating conversation, such as questions and answers, dialogues, plays, speeches, audio and visual aids, television and movies, field trips and games. The book is organized as a clear and practical manual of techniques for the English teacher or group leader. A bibliography and an appendix containing techniques for specific proficiency levels and a vocabulary list of common English phrases are included.

English Grammar and Technical Writing (Grammar)
English Grammar and Technical Writing is a textbook for international students who are studying or have studied science, medicine, or technology. It is a thoroughly revised version of the 1986 text Science, Medicine, and Technology: English Grammar and Technical Writing. The book is divided into six units representing rhetorical patterns in technical writing. The last two, the abrstract and the research report, are considered to be genres. Each unit focuses on both writing and grammar.

Experiencing English (with audiocassette)
Twelve units consisting of very short, simple readings that focus on the people in the illustrations. Exercises are based on a 1,000-word level vocabulary (using present, present progressive, present perfect, and past tenses) and provide for grammar and communicative language practice

From Practice to Performance: A Manual of Teacher Training Workshop Activities (Vol. 1 & 2)
These books, subtitled "A Manual of Teacher Training Workshop Activities", are designed to be used by trainers and participants in teacher training sessions preparing teachers in English as a foreign language. These books are designed to give workshop leaders ample direction and focus in a variety of techniques, without an emphasis on one approach or method.

Functional Approaches to Written Text: Classroom Applications
This book attempts to bridge the gap between theory and practice in applying discourse analysis in the classroom. Leaders in the field introduce 18 approaches to discourse analysis, apply the approach to a sample text, and provide classroom suggestions. Chapters include applications of contrastive rhetoric, pedagogical summaries, information transfer, critical discourse analysis, hedging, the voices of discourse, concordancing, genre analysis, and various functional approaches to grammar such as functional sentence perspective and systemic linguistics. Sufficient sources are provided for those who wish to pursue reading in a particular area, while enough examples of approaches are given so that readers can decide for themselves which methods warrant further consideration. This book is a useful addition for teachers looking for applications of recent research in discourse analysis.

Gift of The Mage and Other Stories, The
This collection of literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

Great Preposition Mystery, Grammar Review for Intermediate/Advanced Students of EFL, The
Using a mystery story as the vehicle, this thoroughly revised edition of The Great Preposition Mystery provides an interesting treatment of the study and review of preposition usage within a contextual setting. Challenging close passages, fill-in-the-blanks, and other problem-solving activities are based on the story line, on the photographs, and on other graphics that illustrate the context. Many exercises may be used separately to supplement other textbook lessons. Answer keys are appended.

Growing Up with English
Designed for elementary and primary teachers and teacher trainers, this book contains suggestions for methods, techniques, and practical worksheets for teaching English to younger learners. Each chapter contains readings by well-known experts in the field which introduce an approach with activities, reading, and writing English in the subject classes, and evaluation.

Highlights of American Literature

How About: Science and Technology Reports (with audiocassette)
Thirty-eight transcripts and lesson plans based on short scientific and technological video reports underwritten by the National Science Foundation and the General Motors Research Laboratories. (This video series was originally developed for U.S. secondary school students.) The selected topics are of high interest, each providing a full hour's language lesson that includes a stimulating variety of previewing, viewing, and follow-up activities.

If You Feel Like Singing (with audiocassette)
This reprint of the popular former Longman text is a collection of 28 American folksongs with a wide variety of accompanying activities. Each song is introduced by a short reading which explains the song's origin and its historical/cultural significance. A 60-minute audiocassette recording of all the songs is available. This is an excellent resource for teacher training seminars as well as for EFL classes.

Illustrated American Idioms
This is a collection of 99 idiomatic expressions, each based on an accompanying illustration. The pedagogic approach is functional/notional, and the expressions in context may be used effectively for generating oral and written language practice.

Internet for English Teaching
Preface
In around the mid-1990's, when we first started integrating the Internet into our instruction and research, the Internet was just being introduced into many countries around the world. Today, the Internet is truly a global phenomenon, with more than half a billion users around the world, only one-third of whom are in North America . And indeed, Internet use is growing fastest outside the United States and Europe, in countries such as China, Brazil, and Egypt .

It is thus extremely timely that the Office of English Language Programs of the U.S. Department of State is now republishing our book, Internet for English Teaching. Pedagogical use of the Internet, like the Internet itself, is now a global phenomenon, bringing together students and teachers from around the world. We hope that the republication and worldwide distribution of this book will help bring together, and give voice to, the many talented teachers around the world who are using the Internet in the English classroom. Indeed, we have tried our best to highlight positive examples and models by many teachers throughout the world.

Whether you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user of the Internet for teaching, we hope you will find something of value in this book. We also hope that you will get in contact with us and share your own ideas about the use of the Internet in the classroom. Working together we can promote and share a vision of using technology and English in the service of cross-cultural understanding and human development.

Kaleidoscope: EFL Activities in Speaking and Writing
This text provides an interesting range of language activities designed for a change of pace in the EFL classroom. The activities are of two major types: functional, and cultural information. The illustrations serve as stimuli to motivate student interest and to stimulate communicative interchanges.

Landmarks of American Language and Linguistics, Volume 1
This is a collection of 27 articles on theoretical and applied linguistics written by noted American linguists and teacher trainers. Volume 1 covers the period from the early twentieth century to the 1960s. Each article is followed by discussion questions and professional development activities. The text is most useful for university linguistic classes and teacher-training courses. Text 266 pp

Landmarks of American Language Linguistics,Volume 2
theoretical, applied linguistics
Noted linguistics and teacher trainers have written this collection of articles on theoretical and applied linguistics. Each article has preview and review sections, with discussion questions and a list of references. This text is an excellent book for teacher trainers and linguists and can be used in courses at postsecondary institutions, universities and teacher training colleges. It is also an excellent addition to library collections. Text 380 pp

Letter Writing
This is a simple collection of 34 sample letters illustrating formats, expressions and vocabulary commonly used for writing social letters (apologies, condolences, congratulations, invitations, thank-yous) and business letters (acknowledgments, applications, complaints, invitations, orders, requests). Most models include both formal and informal styles. Appended are a page of postcard greetings, a glossary, and zip code abbreviations.

Lighter Side of TEFL, The: A Teacher's Resource Book of Fun Activities for Students of EFL
A collection of activities taken from "The Lighter Side" page of the English Teaching Forum and an audiocassette featuring humorous short pieces for listening comprehension. Sections deal with word games, crossword puzzles, idioms, limericks, jokes and riddles, puzzle stories, shaggy dog stories and international folk tales. Each activity is self-contained on a page for easy duplication by the teacher, and includes teaching suggestions and an answer key.

Mind Speaks to Mind
This is a collection of 18 essays, mostly contemporary in nature, by some leading writers and essayists of the United States . It is designed for advanced students who enjoy discussions of ideas, insights, and philosophical concepts. It brings together a stimulating variety of topics to inspire communicative interchange in the EFL classroom.

More Dialogues for Everyday Use (with audiocassette)
The 36 situation-based dialogs aim to present spoken American English in a relatively natural way. It is similar in format and pedagogy to Dialogs for Everyday Use, but with longer conversational episodes. This book includes short language notes. See also Dialogs for Everyday Use.

Nineteenth-Century American Reader, A
This anthology of original nineteenth-century primary cultural and literary readings and documents is intended as a reader and reference for advanced students, teachers, and scholars. There are four major divisions: Geographic Expansion and National Character, Transcendental Inquiry and Individual Conscience, Internal Dissension and Sense of Union, and Industrial Triumph and Confrontation of Reality . One hundred three illustrations from the period complement the text. (Developed by USIA Division for the Study of the US .) Text 579 pp.

Old Favorites for All Ages: songs for Learners of American English (with audiocassette (set of 3))
As the title suggests, this collection of 68 well-loved songs includes children's songs, action and counting songs, general group (ballads and country) songs, rounds, and lullabies. Musical notations and illustrations appear with each song. Notes to the Teacher and References and Resources sections are appended.

Plays for Reading
The title not with standing, Plays for Reading is more a text for speaking and listening than it is for reading comprehension. Students become actors interpreting the written text, and the English classroom becomes a rehearsal hall with the focus placed upon putting on a play. Included are one act plays by William Saroyan, William Inge, Tennessee Williams, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and others. The appendix includes two articles on different approaches for using drama in the EFL classroom.

Red Badge of Courage and other Stories, The
This collection of literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

Reference Guide to English – A Handbook of English as a Second Language
This handy reference can explain points of grammar for the non-native speaker. Material is presented in an alphabetical listing by topic for easy reference. Materials are presented in a graded format, working up to the more difficult levels of complexity. It is comprehensive in nature, using traditional approaches to grammar and written for the non-native speaker. The primary focus is on the written form of American English, although explanations of colloquial forms are common throughout. This book is indexed.

Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World (DVD format, plus the Instructor's Manual)
"Shaping" consists of 14 modules that focus on such topics as learning strategies, integrating skills, managing large classes, critical thinking, assessment, and teaching young learners. The extensive Instructor's Manual guides the teacher trainer in presenting the video, and encourages viewers to adapt the materials to their local context. The CD of Readings and Resources gives viewers a wide variety of material to supplement the video.

Talking English (with audiocassette)
This text consists of 62 short conversations or snippets of talk, featuring a broad range of discussion areas. Accompanying word lists and oral skills development exercises are based on each conversation.

Teacher Development: Making the Right Moves
This is the first of a two-volume anthology of articles from the English Teaching Forum, 1989-1993. Academic both in content and style, Making the Right Moves presents a broad range of approaches to language study and teaching and provides a basis for reflection on the teacher's role in facilitating the learning of English. Subject areas covered in this anthology include: Perspectives on Teaching and Learning EFL; Methodology, English for Specific Purposes; Teaching Children; and Testing.

To Build a Fire and Other Stories
By Jack London
This collection of literature has been simplified for high-beginners and intermediate level readers.

Twelve Famous Americans (with audiocassette)
Biographical essays on Franklin, Thoreau, Blackwell, Cassatt, Bell, Twain, Addams, Cather, Edison, Goddard, Keller, and Owens, with original source material relating to the social and cultural history of the United States . Sequenced activities provide practice in recognizing main ideas, extracting specific information, outlining, note taking, and making inferences. The audiocassette provides additional information regarding the life and works of each individual for a variety of listening tasks.

Twentieth-Century American Reader, Volume 1. 1900-1945, A
This book includes readings and documents from the areas of business and economics, literature, politics, the arts, intellectual and social thought, and popular culture. The readings provide an overview of the development of United States culture during the first half of the twentieth century and reflect the diversity of the American experience. The five sections are organized into themes: the progressive era, World War I, the twenties, the great depression, and World War II. It is primarily for students and scholars interested in United States literature and culture and for teachers who develop curricula on American studies. text 525 pp

Varieties of American English: A Teacher's Handbook (with audiocassette)
This teacher's manual is intended to supplement the three-part videocassette series Varieties of American English, which consists of Regional Dialects, Social and Specialized Groups, and Stylistic Differences. The authors discuss in greater detail the content of the video presentations, and provide suggestions to the teacher for further classroom discussion and study. Prepared primarily for use in teacher-training seminars and workshops, or as introductory material for dialect studies in American English. Text 36 pp; audiocassette; set of 3 videocassettes.

Way It Is, for the Beginning Students of English as a Foreign Language, The (with audiocassette)
Each of the 15 units in this supplementary textbook is introduced by a brief paragraph designed to stimulate speaking and writing practice. Verb tenses emphasized are the present, present progressive, and simple past. Diary type readings are used in many of the chapters to aid students identity with the writer and events depicted. Additional activities include dictation, grammar, and cloze practice exercises.

World English (beginning to advanced; six levels)
Through a special arrangement with Harcourt Brace, the Department of State is now distributing all 6 levels of World English, a general couse of American English. In a clear and direct approach, the students and teachers are presented natural and idomatic language. The lessons are presented through various situations. The teacher's books include all of the student pages and have long explanations and suggestions for the teacher. Student workbooks provide additional practice. The six audiocassettes for each level are especially useful for out-of-classroom practice.
student book 1-6 160 pp each
workbook 1-6 48 pp each
teacher's ed. book. 1-6 186 pp each
audiocassete (set of 6)

 

Videos

NEW ENGLISH TEACHER TRAINING VIDEO "Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World" (including an instructor's manual, A set of DVDs and a CD)

"Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World" is a brand new, cutting edge teacher training resource produced by U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs' Office of English Language Programs.

"Shaping" is a tool for ministries of education, teacher colleges and universities, educational NGOs, and everywhere policymakers and educators are focusing on how best to teach English. Because "Shaping" was filmed in a variety of English language classrooms in Costa Rica, Egypt, Thailand, and the United States and highlights experienced, effective teachers in classrooms ranging from kindergarten to upper-level secondary schools at all levels of English, viewers benefit from the video's very practical and realistic approach.

"Shaping" consists of 14 modules that focus on such topics as learning strategies, integrating skills, managing large classes, critical thinking, assessment, and teaching young learners. The extensive Instructor's Manual guides the teacher trainer in presenting the video, and encourages viewers to adapt the materials to their local context. The CD of Readings and Resources gives viewers a wide variety of material to supplement the video.

CONNECT WITH ENGLISH
50 episodes, Each 15 minutes long.

This series was produced in 1998 by WGBH Boston. It is an Annenberg/CPB program\

Program description: CONNECT WITH ENGLISH was produced for students learning English, who are at the high beginning through low and high intermediate.

Each episode comes in two parts. The first part is a continuing story about Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey across America. Each episode touches on life's important issues: leaving home, parenting, education, work, love, success, and loss.

In the second part of each episode we meet real-life immigrants and students who discuss the similarities between Rebecca's experiences and their own.

Story -

The story begins as we meet Rebecca Casey, a 28-year-old Boston working woman, who dreams of becoming a singer. We also meet her boyfriend Matt who doesn't think much of her dream, and her 17-year-old brother, Kevin, who doesn't think much about the future at all. Rebecca's considers applying for music school and pursuing her career full- time, rather than holding down a factory job and doing her music on the side.

A full story line can be found at Annenberg's web address:
http://www.learner.org/resources/series71.html#program_descriptions

Style of speaking is helpful for learning English:

a. All of the characters use meaningful, natural language that students can put to work immediately in their own lives.
b. Each episode features dialogue that is slightly slowed down and subtly simplified. Key lines are repeated, idioms paraphrased, and important events retold. There are constant visual clues to meaning, such as written signs, notes, and documents.
c. Facial expressions, gestures, and body language also reveal meaning for students. Closed captioning can be used as a teaching and literacy resource.

Teaching Jazz Chants to Young Learners

The video demonstrates a technique for teaching English that focuses on the natural rhythm of spoken English. It is a valuable resource in pedagogical institutes, colleges, universities, educational NGOs, and everywhere that educators are looking for new approaches to teaching English.

"Teaching Jazz Chants to Young Learners" is a 30 minute video that features the originator of Jazz Chants: Ms. Carolyn Graham, a leading teacher of English as a Foreign Language and professional jazz musician. Jazz Chants presents the rhythm, stress, and intonation of natural American English in a unique presentation through rhythmic chanting. Filmed in New York City, the video takes the teacher through a step-by-step process of writing and using jazz chants. The Instructor's Manual guides the teacher trainer in presenting the video, and encourages teachers to write their own jazz chants that relate to the needs and interests of their own students. Though particularly applicable to children, the technique can be used with all ages of English language learners. All teachers of English will benefit from the video's very practical and realistic approach.