Criterion

Grade: 5/4/3/2/1

Comments (5 being the highest grade and 1 the lowest)

Originality

         5

Is it a General English coursebook? Is it a Business English coursebook? No, it’s a General English in a professional context coursebook. And so goes the premise of the latest edition of the previously Business English focussed International Express, as it seeks to eke out its own niche in the market by “linking life and work”.

While trading on the International Express brand, this Third Edition is in reality a totally new coursebook with a sizeable shift in focus away from being an outright business coursebook to one which caters for adult professional learners in a more general environment. In doing so, it takes a brave step into previously unexplored territory as it takes on the challenge of balancing the two genres and in this respect it is certainly being original. For this it should be commended.

In line with this new direction the syllabus has been fully updated, though it remains student-centred and with a focus on communication in both general and work situations. Units range in topic, from social media (unit 1) and art (unit 7) to careers (unit 6) and USPs (unit 8). Unsurprisingly there is a unit on work-life balance (unit 3), which epitomises what the course is trying to achieve.  The articles are modern, up-to-date and interesting (including articles on language barriers (p.9), art forgery (p.78) and multisensory advertising (p.94), while the grammar and vocabulary is presented in such a way as to show its practical use through communicative tasks. Certainly the material is of a good quality and it is presented well.

Other notable features are the inclusion of a DVD and a Pocket Book. The DVD has videos for each unit, covering a wide range of topics, while the Pocket Book reviews the grammar, vocab, work skills and functional language from the book, in bite-sized chunks. With all of this in mind, it would be fair to say that International Express Third Edition succeeds in its aims of linking life and work.

Practicality

         3

Each of the 10 units is split into four distinct lessons – grammar, vocabulary, work skills and functions, plus a four page review section – with the structure of the units going from input to production. Generally speaking the grammar and vocabulary sections are tailored to a slightly more General English context while the work skills and function sections focus are very much business focussed. Areas covered include report writing (unit 2), giving dynamic presentations (unit 3), effective meetings (unit 7) and negotiating (unit 10) - classic business English content. As such it is very clear in what each lesson is trying to achieve with aims clearly stated, and in this respect it is well organised and easy to follow.

Both the grammar and functions lessons follow a clear four stage process of introduction, focus, practice and task. This process works well and ensures that students get sufficient input to be able to perform the final task to an appropriate standard. They are doing, rather than just learning. This formula also means that it’s easy for both students to follow and for teachers to implement, with progress being easily discernible as a result. From a practical point of view, the extended review section at the end of each unit is helpful and well-integrated. It gives plenty of opportunities for further controlled practice and is exactly the kind of thing that students and teachers want to cement understanding, incorporating features traditionally seen in workbooks.

In regards the DVD, the videos cover a range of topics and provide good extended listening practice with accompanying tasks. With the option of watching as part of a self-study programme or in class, it offers flexibility too and so is a welcome addition to the course.

However, in determining just how practical a coursebook is you need to consider the context in which it will be taught and unfortunately you can’t help but feel that in trying to cater for what are essentially two markets, it ends up in no-man’s land, despite the obvious quality of the material.

Presentation

         4

Another plus point of International Express is the overall design of the book. It’s presented really nicely, with good design and with a definite adult feel to it. Good use is made of photos, boxes and tables to split the pages up, and there is plenty of colour shading, which makes the information on the pages accessible and user-friendly.

Overall rating

    3.5

What outstanding strengths/ weaknesses do you feel this title possesses?

While there is plenty of good content throughout the course, identifying exactly who it is aimed at is a problem it cannot hide from.

On which courses do you envisage being able to use this material?

While trying to please everyone, you get the feeling it ends up satisfying neither camp totally. Business English students might feel that they are not getting as much focussed business input as they would like, while General English students might feel it is not general enough. So, in attempting to bridge this divide it kind of gets caught in the middle.