Speak fluent social English.1 (Includes CD-ROM)

Author: Kaparik
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: American philosopher and writer George Santayana (1863–1952) once famously remarked on the essential characteristics of education: "The real difficulty in education is to get experience from concepts." For English learners, especially those still in the beginner and intermediate stages, Santayana's view is quite apt. Many people study English year after year with unwavering dedication, yet often find themselves stuck in a theoretical mindset, struggling to use English fluently in both professional and personal communication. The common issue lies in consciously or unconsciously focusing on acquiring highly systematic concepts in the English language, such as vocabulary and definitions, syntax, and rhetorical devices, while solely cultivating the ability to understand and appreciate English—like admiring a famous painting or a masterpiece of music—while neglecting interactive experiences and failing to develop practical English skills. This book is a practical textbook for English conversation learning. It starts with simple and very common social activities, gradually increasing in difficulty and scope, covering how to interact with others, how to communicate and negotiate, and how to handle greetings and farewells in accordance with proper etiquette. This book is suitable for English learners as a reference.
About the Author: Betty Kirkpatrick, a graduate of Edinburgh University, has had a long and distinguished career as an editor, publisher, and writer of English reference books. She was the editor of the Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary and the editor of Roget's Thesaurus. She now writes mainly for Learners Publishing.