Cambridge International English Course (2) Teacher's Book

Author: Richards et al. (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: New Interchange, written by English learners from non-English-speaking countries, is one of the most influential English teaching materials internationally and the best-selling published by Cambridge University Press worldwide. New Interchange adopts the "Communicative Language Teaching" approach, emphasizing the development of fluency, flexibility, and accuracy in language use through real-life communication. It focuses on cultivating comprehensive skills, with main activities including: theme discussions, grammar structures, language functions, vocabulary expansion, and pronunciation training, providing students with ample opportunities for practice.
■ Overall Introduction New Interchange is one of the most popular and influential English textbooks globally. It incorporates eight years of classroom teaching experience worldwide and has been extensively improved based on feedback from students and teachers. Major revisions include: new conversation exercises, cultural snapshots, reading passages, more comprehensive grammar explanations and activities, and richer listening materials. Teacher's books, workbooks, and video content have also been significantly revised.
New Interchange is a large-scale English course designed for learners in non-English-speaking countries. It covers listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, along with pronunciation training and vocabulary expansion. It places particular emphasis on listening and speaking skills. The primary goal of this course is to develop English communicative competence—flexibly using English based on communication contexts, purposes, and audiences. The course primarily uses American English but is not limited to any single country, region, or culture. Instead, it reflects the diversity and richness of English as an international language.
The course is divided into four levels: Introductory, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
Introductory Level: Designed for true beginners with no prior English knowledge, this level covers basic grammar structures, vocabulary, and language functions. Upon completion, students will master 1,000 active vocabulary words.
Level 1: Aimed at learners with basic English proficiency, this level further develops grammar, vocabulary, and pragmatic skills, enabling students to reach a low-intermediate level. Upon completion, students will master 2,200 active vocabulary words.
Level 2: Designed for learners with intermediate English proficiency, this level further enhances grammar, vocabulary, and pragmatic skills, aiming to bring students to an intermediate level. Upon completion, students will master 3,400 active vocabulary words.
Level 3: Aimed at learners with intermediate English proficiency, this level focuses on developing the ability to communicate fluently and accurately in English. Upon completion, students will master 4,700 active vocabulary words.
Through a variety of thought-provoking and challenging exercises, the textbook helps students further consolidate and develop their communicative abilities in English. In addition to applied skills practice, the textbook also includes advanced discourse comprehension exercises. Listening activities include: listening to narratives, advertisements, discussions, and interviews. Reading activities include authentic passages on cross-cultural communication, lifestyles, different values, and other themes.
Upon completing all four levels, learners will reach a mid-high level of proficiency.
■ Key Features
■ International Content
Topics are up-to-date and closely related to the lives of teachers and students. Suitable for classes with similar student backgrounds as well as those with diverse backgrounds.
■ Comprehensive Curriculum
The New Interchange curriculum aims to integrate multiple skills, combining topics, communicative functions, and grammar. Grammar, as the foundation of second or foreign language learning, is always explained in a communicative context, accompanied by teacher-guided controlled exercises based on accuracy and communicative activities based on fluency. This approach establishes a connection between grammatical forms and communicative functions. The teaching follows a progressive principle, gradually increasing in difficulty.
■ Practical and Engaging Learning Activities
Lively and interactive activities provide ample practice opportunities for every student, allowing them to apply what they have learned. The textbook includes numerous "information gap" exercises, role-playing activities, pair work, group activities, and class activities. Task-based and information-sharing exercises maximize opportunities for communication practice. The variety of activities not only adjusts the pace of the classroom but also gives each student more opportunities to interact with peers, making the textbook suitable for both large and small classes.
■ Focus on Applied and Cognitive Skills
Application and comprehension are the foundations of language learning. In this textbook, students' applied skills are trained through speaking and writing exercises, while cognitive skills are developed through listening and reading exercises. Through this course, students can learn to understand language slightly above their applied skill level, preparing them for real-world communication outside the classroom.
■ Teacher and Student Roles
The teacher's role is to explain new learning points. During pair work, group activities, and role-playing, the teacher plays a supportive role, primarily helping students prepare for activities and then guiding them to use their language resources to complete them. In these activities, the teacher provides minimal informal guidance, such as brief evaluations. The teacher's main task is to encourage students to participate actively.
The student's role is to actively and creatively engage in the learning process, not only applying classroom language knowledge but also flexibly using knowledge and language resources from other areas of life. Each student should be an individual with independent thinking and insights. They not only learn language through various classroom activities, such as pair work, group activities, and class activities, but also through flexibly applying their knowledge and communicative skills.
■ Easy-to-Teach and Learn Content Design
The textbook is easy to teach, with clear and focused teaching objectives, well-organized units, a logical progression, and a moderate pace that can be adjusted as needed. Additionally, there are creative and engaging learning activities to inspire students.