English Listening and Speaking Enhancement Course 2

Author: Zhu Weifang, Editor-in-Chief, Zhu Weifang, Niu Shuanghong, Editor
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Strengthening English Listening and Speaking Course (3) is one book in the Strengthening English Listening and Speaking Course series. This series was developed to meet the urgent need of many English enthusiasts in society to improve their English listening and speaking skills. After several years of trial use in the Strengthening 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 volumes, divided into Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. Upon completing the first two volumes, learners' listening and speaking abilities can surpass the level of non-English majors at the CET-4 level. After completing the last two volumes, their listening and speaking abilities can reach the CET-6 level or be equivalent to the level of English majors at the junior college level. This grading system takes into account that many Chinese English learners often have a stronger grasp of English language knowledge (grammar, vocabulary) than their English 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 emphasize the transmission of language knowledge (usage) while neglecting the development of language skills (use).
2. Most English learners in China lack an English-speaking environment and rarely hear native English speakers speaking. As a result, they struggle to respond to "living" English and end up with "dead" knowledge. The development of this series of textbooks is precisely to address these shortcomings, strengthen the training of 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 background can choose a course slightly below their current knowledge level to start, effectively "retreating one step" in textbook selection to achieve "advancing two steps" in practical listening and speaking skills, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of rushing. For example, if you are at an English beginner level (corresponding to the second volume of this course), you can choose a pre-beginner level course (corresponding to the volume of this 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 course begins with listening and speaking, fostering the awareness of using English and encouraging bold practice. It scientifically combines language knowledge with language skills, ensuring a proper start and avoiding the old trap of "deaf-mute" English. This series of textbooks is not only suitable for short-term training courses but also for middle school students, university students, and self-taught English 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 "original flavor." Through repeated imitation and practice, learners can acquire natural English and reduce the tendency to sound too much like their native language when learning a second language.
2. Focuses on the development of language application skills. The second part of the textbook is dedicated to communicative English. Learners will engage in listening to daily-life conversations in English and then practice similar scenarios with their partners. This approach allows learners to absorb language through extensive listening and actively apply it, completing the cycle from input to output in mastering the 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 different goals and formats. This section includes English stories, serial short plays, broadcasts, reports, lectures, and English listening test questions, among others.