Postgraduate English Practical Listening and Speaking Course (Includes 5 audio tapes)

Author: He Fusheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-28
Features: The main characteristics of this textbook series are as follows:
1. Rich listening materials. Each unit includes more than four authentic English dialogues or short passages, especially academic lectures; the materials are up-to-date, with most topics dating from the 1990s onwards; most recording materials are recorded, with natural pacing and strong practicality, covering various English accents; the listening exercises are designed to highlight their practicality while also training students in the common language expressions for specific functions and topics.
2. The oral practice in each unit also emphasizes practicality. Aligned with China's national conditions and students' actual situations, it provides opportunities for students to express their true thoughts. The oral practice also addresses the common vocabulary and expressions needed for listening and speaking training on specific language functions and topics. Additionally, the oral practice is designed to be diverse, including various forms from controlled to free. For example, some oral tasks involve completing a communicative activity using a research form, while others are open-ended topic discussions.
3. Adheres to the principle of integrating listening and speaking training to mutually enhance each other. The oral practice is diverse and engaging, guiding students to understand the listening materials, while the listening materials provide language expressions for subsequent oral activities, significantly improving students' learning efficiency.
4. Follows the principles of Communicative English teaching. It provides teachers with ample pedagogical guidance. The design of each exercise prioritizes convenience, engagement, and motivation to participate, ensuring students have numerous opportunities to practice English in class to improve their communicative competence.
5. The textbook includes English communicative activities in various settings. It covers knowledge about daily life, customs, and cultural backgrounds in countries like the UK and the US, facilitating students' correct use of English in interactions with international individuals. Especially, the textbook incorporates a large number of academic lectures and discussion topics, greatly enhancing students' ability to engage in high-level academic exchanges in English.
6. Considering the varying English proficiency levels in domestic colleges and universities, this book offers a wide range of exercises designed from easy to difficult, suitable for advanced English teaching in various higher education institutions. Teachers can select and use the content based on students' specific situations and class schedules. Each unit in this textbook can be taught in three stages: Lead-in activities – Listening activities – Speaking activities. Lead-in activities are diverse, including listening exercises, oral practice, and simple Q&A, aiming to guide students toward the theme of the unit. These activities also address the vocabulary of the listening materials, which may affect students' comprehension, and thus should help students understand the meaning of these words before listening. Listening activities include playing audio, students discussing answers, replaying audio, and checking answers. Speaking activities are a natural extension and development of listening activities. They require active student participation and necessary guidance from the teacher. Before the activity ends, a few students can demonstrate to enhance engagement.