Enhanced English Listening and Speaking Course (1)

Author: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Strengthening English Listening and Speaking Course (1) is one book in the Strengthening English Listening and Speaking Course series. This series was developed to meet the needs of many English enthusiasts in society who are eager to improve their English listening and speaking skills. After several years of use in the intensive English listening and speaking short-term training courses at Beijing Foreign Studies University, it has been well-received and highly praised by the participants. It is now officially published and dedicated to all English learners. This series consists of four books, divided into Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. After completing the first two books, learners can surpass the listening and speaking proficiency of non-English majors at the CET-4 level. After completing the second two books, their listening and speaking skills can reach the CET-6 level, or be equivalent to the level of an English major at the junior college level. This is designed with the consideration that many Chinese English learners often have a stronger grasp of English language knowledge (grammar, vocabulary) than their language application skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), resulting in a lack of communicative competence. The reasons for this are as follows: 1. English teaching in China tends to focus on imparting language knowledge (usage) while neglecting the development of language skills (use). 2. Most Chinese English learners lack an English-speaking environment and rarely hear native English speakers (English native speakers). Therefore, when using English, they have little reaction to "living" English and are left with "dead" knowledge. The development of this series was precisely to address these shortcomings, strengthen listening and speaking skills, and cultivate communicative competence. It is suitable for English learners who already have a certain level of proficiency, as well as for beginners. Those with some English skills can choose a course slightly below their current knowledge level to start, taking a "step back" in textbook selection to achieve a "two-step forward" improvement in practical listening and speaking skills, overcoming the pitfalls of haste. For example, if you are at an elementary level, you can choose the pre-elementary level course, and so on. This approach helps overcome the psychological barrier of being afraid to speak English, boosts confidence and a sense of achievement, and allows learners to progress step by step, gradually transforming "dead" knowledge into "living" English application skills. For beginners starting from zero, this series begins with listening and speaking, fostering the awareness of using English and encouraging bold practice. It scientifically combines language knowledge and skills, guiding learners to enter the right path from the beginning, avoiding the old trap of "deaf-mute" English. This series is not only suitable for short-term training courses but also for middle school students, college students, and self-learners. The following are the key features of this series: 1. Emphasizes the learning and training of English pronunciation, intonation, sentence stress, and rhythm. The part of the textbook is designed as listening and speaking exercises to address this issue. The audio cassettes are recorded by foreign scholars and experts, offering authentic English. Through repeated imitation and practice, learners can master native-like English and reduce the tendency to sound like their mother tongue when learning a second language. 2. Focuses on developing language application skills. The second part of the textbook is dedicated to communicative English. Learners will engage in listening to everyday conversations of native English speakers and then imitate similar scenarios with their partners. This approach allows learners to absorb a large amount of language through listening and actively apply it, completing the cycle of input and output—the key to mastering a language. This transforms "dead" English knowledge into "living" language application skills. 3. Emphasizes multi-purpose listening and speaking training (listening for different purposes) to help learners adapt to English used for various purposes and in different forms. This section includes English stories, serial short dramas, broadcasts, reports, lectures, and English listening test questions, among others. 4. This book contains 16 units accompanied by 3 audio cassettes. The audio materials are fresh, cover a wide range of topics, and include diverse training methods, making them highly practical and engaging. This series is self-contained yet interconnected, progressing systematically and can be used either as a standalone course or in combination with other materials.