Criterion

Grade: 5/4/3/2/1

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

Originality

         4

This book enables the student to develop their reading and writing skills in a uniquely presented way. All of the skills practised and knowledge acquired, (including grammar and vocabulary) throughout the Unit, are then used to fulfil the ultimate writing task.  A strong emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills, and this is promoted through the correlation and compounding of the texts and associated authentic tasks provided. The Study Skills section at the end of each Unit, provided by Stella Cottrell, also serves to focus the student regarding the study skills necessary to meet academic requirements and expectations.

Practicality

         3

The Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 3 is accompanied by a Teacher’s Book and a Digibook (available to both the teacher and student.)

• The Teacher’s Book is accompanied by online access to the Digibook. This is accessed through a unique code in the back of the Teacher’s book. Teacher registration lasts for 3 years!

• Students also have free access to the Skillful Reading & Writing Digibook, accessed online. A unique code is provided in the back of every student’s book. Student registration lasts for 18 months.
• Registration for both the Teacher’s and Student’s Digibook is a straightforward and simple process.
• The Digibook contains exactly the same information as the hard copy enabling the student to use it in the classroom. The format is uncomplicated and easy to use.
• The Customer Service Team at Macmillan Education are most helpful, in the event that login difficulties are experienced.
• This book has been classified as B2 within the CEFR (Common European Framework).

Presentation

        4

The Student’s book contains 10 Units.

• The topics used in the Skillful Reading & Writing 3 Student’s Book, are parallel to the Skillful Listening & Speaking 3 Student’s Book.
• Each Unit begins with a discussion to orientate students to the topic. This takes the form of three questions and is accompanied by a large colourful photograph. The aims for the Unit are communicated clearly and concisely, and displayed in a small box on the same page.
• Each Unit within the Student’s book contains two readings: A ‘Global’ reading, and a ‘Close’ reading. The Global reading is slightly shorter in length and orientates the student to the general issues relating to the topic, whilst the Close reading provides an in-depth look at a related-topical issue. The Close reading also provides opportunity for greater critical analysis.

• A variety of macro and micro reading strategies are promoted across the two reading texts presented.
• Prior to the initial reading, there is a ‘Vocabulary preview’. This exercise acknowledges vocabulary to be used across both of the reading texts.
• Three Academic keywords are presented with each reading text.
• There are 5 opportunities for discussion integrated around the two reading texts.
• A strong emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills.
• The Writing section consists of two components: Developing the ‘Writing skill’, followed by the ‘Writing Task’.
• A grammar component is included in the section, ‘Developing the Writing Skill’. This is presented in a ‘grammar box’.
• On each ‘Writing Task’ page, there is a box which outlines the Audience, Context and Purpose of/for the writing.
• At the end of each Unit, an aspect relating to Study Skills is presented by Stella Cottrell. These may take the form of an information sheet or contain points for discussion. Examples of topics include: Am I a smart reader? Plagiarism, Strategies for writing timed essays, Selecting and Evaluating online sources and Developing a Portfolio.
• At the back of the Student’s book there is a page displaying Functional language and a Writing Task Peer Review Checklist.

The Teacher’s Book

• The Teacher’s Book contains a ‘visual walkthrough’ of both the Student’s Book and Digibook (for Teachers and Students).
• Exam tips, Extension Activities and notes on Cultural Awareness are provided throughout.
• The Teacher’s Book contains structured, photocopiable feedback sheets for each Unit assignment.
• An answer Key is provided in the Teacher’s Book.

Overall rating

      4

Other comments

STRENGTHS:

The Student’s Book

The topics provided enable the student to engage with academically-related ideas in a very accessible way. Each Unit topic is considered from the aspect of two different academic disciplines. For example, Identity -Psychology and Sociology; Movement - Zoology and Biology; and Sound-Literary Studies and Science.

The topics bridge aspects of common knowledge to more complex ideas.

The topics are mirrored between the Skillful Reading & Writing and Skillful Listening and Speaking, although the content provided relating to the topic is different.

Information provided on Form and Function also correlates to the grammar points outlined in the corresponding parallel Skillful Listening and Speaking Unit.

Authentic academic tasks and outcomes are simulated. For example, students are asked to write a summary of one of the readings in the Unit and then include this in a short paragraph which they are to write in answer to a question.

The tasks are coherently linked, being inter-related and cross-referenced, throughout the Unit.

The student’s interest is actively maintained in the topic through interspersed discussions and promotion of critical thinking.

Critical thinking skills are strongly promoted throughout each of the Units.

The final writing task is connected to the readings within the same Unit.

The Writing Task Peer Review Checklist also encourages the student to review and revise work carried out in the Unit through ‘noticing’ specific aspects such as the grammar and vocabulary being used.

Writing for different purposes and audiences is both acknowledged and promoted.       

The Study Skills section at the end of each Unit, provided by Stella Cottrell, is informative, instructional and uses scenarios to promote discussion.

The Student’s Digibook

The Student’s Digibook can be annotated for classroom use. 

Using their Digibook, students can work offline, following their initial connection.

Extra activities are provided throughout the Digibook, in accordance with the exercises given. These can be accessed through an interactive icon, and can be utilised following the completion of the exercise.  Alternatively, they can also be found in the Skillful Practice area of the Digibook.

Extra video activities and productive tasks are also provided in connection with the Unit topics. Although, worksheets are not provided with the videos. (These are only available through the Teacher’s Digibook.)

The Mark book provides a visually clear and simple way of enabling the students to evaluate their progress across the 10 Units. It is presented in a table format which is broken down into each of the 7 Unit components, allowing the students to identify specific areas for improvement.

The Teacher’s Book & Digibook

Teacher’s Book

The different sections are clearly defined and the relevant information accessible.

The Teacher’s Digibook:

Extra videos are provided on the Teacher’s Digibook, with worksheets. These can be used to orientate to the topic, as a bridge between the two readings, or developed further as required.

The Digibook could be used to set and mark homework.

The Mark book enables the teacher to monitor the student’s progress.

Additional tests are provided, in both editable and non-editable formats. These can be used for either formative or summative purposes. They can also serve to act as placement tests.

WEAKNESSES:  

Student’s Book

Reading texts are not always factual even though being presented in a biographical way.

The content within the exercises is not always relevant to the topic being considered.

There is no additional grammar reference section provided to either support or extend the grammatical input.

Digibook:

The time taken to resolve online difficulties may be excessive. Once contacted, an instant automatic reply is sent by Macmillan’s Customer Service team signifying a ticket number. However, the length of time then taken to resolve the difficulty may vary, including up to and beyond the hour.

The Digibook videos are not directly connected to or an extension of the work carried out in the associated Unit. Although they are topically related, consideration would need to be given as to how they could be used effectively within the context of the Unit.

Minimal tasks are assigned to the extra video recordings to be found in the Digibook. These do not include a pre-listening vocabulary exercise.

Criterion

Grade: 5/4/3/2/1

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

Originality

         3

This course book enables students to develop their listening and speaking skills in a uniquely creative way. It combines accessible topics with a variety of listening genres. In particular, it promotes the development of critical thinking skills through the contrasting of information provided across the separate listenings. Furthermore, the final speaking task provides the opportunity to utilize ideas developed throughout the Unit.

This multi-media learning resource further provides the student with the opportunity to access and annotate the course book material both on and offline, whilst also giving the students immediate access to the audio for each of the Unit exercises.

One of this course book’s many positive attributes is that it incorporates the development of skills alongside creating student awareness and recognition of academic functions, both at a macro and micro level, whilst providing a rationale for the same. In so doing, it accentuates the importance of: listening for structural markers, cues to distinguish between fact and opinion and identifying and discriminating between problems and solutions, as an example. It also uses examples of academic skills, within the tasks themselves, for instance, two example summaries are contrasted, as a means of assessing listening comprehension.

Provided within this course book are multiple opportunities for the student to both practise and develop their listening, speaking and critical thinking skills. In addition, students could further benefit from a range of academic skills-related extension activities, outside of the classroom.

Finally, the Study Skills section at the end of each Unit, provided by Stella Cottrell, also serves to focus the student regarding the study skills necessary to work autonomously, together with meeting academic requirements and expectations.

Practicality

        2

The Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3 is accompanied by a Teacher’s Book (containing 2 class audio CDs) and a Digibook (available to both the teacher and student.)

• The Teacher’s Book is accompanied by online access to the Digibook. This is accessed through a unique code in the back of the Teacher’s book. Teacher registration lasts for 3 years!

• Students also have free access to the Skillful Listening & Speaking Digibook, accessed online. A unique code is provided in the back of every student’s book. Student registration lasts for 18 months.
• Registration for both the Teacher’s and Student’s Digibook is a straightforward and simple process.
• When registering for Digibook access, if you are previously registered for another title in the series, at any level, your registration can be amalgamated, so that with a single login you can gain access to all of your titles. (This is applicable to both teachers and students.)
• The Student’s Digibook contains exactly the same information as the hard copy enabling the student to use it in the classroom. The format is uncomplicated and easy to use. Additionally, the audio files are embedded for instant student access.
• The Customer Service Team at Macmillan Education are most helpful, in the event that login, or other difficulties are experienced. However, the time taken to resolve an issue could extend to 24hrs.
• This book has been classified as B2 within the CEFR (Common European Framework)

Presentation

         3

This Student’s book contains 10 Units.

• There are stimulating, colourful pictures on each of the pages. All of the information and tasks presented are clearly accessible.

• The topics used in the Skillful Listening & Speaking 3 Student’s Book, are parallel to the Skillful Reading & Writing 3 Student’s Book.
• Each Unit is divided into three succinct sections: Listening 1, Listening 2 and Speaking (Grammar, Speaking Skill, Pronunciation and the final Speaking Task.) There are also additional speaking and listening activities integrated throughout each of the units.
• Every Unit begins with a discussion to orientate students to the topic. This takes the form of three questions and is accompanied by a large colourful photograph. The aims for the Unit are communicated clearly and concisely, and displayed in a small box on the same page.
• There are two key listenings per Unit: A ‘Global’ listening, and a ‘Close’ listening. The Global listening is slightly shorter in length and orientates the student to the general issues relating to the topic, whilst the ‘Close’ listening provides an in-depth look at a more complex, topically-related issue. The ‘Close’ listening also provides opportunity for greater critical analysis. 
• Prior to the initial listening, there is a ‘Vocabulary preview’. This exercise acknowledges vocabulary to be used across both of the Unit’s listening tasks.
• Skills boxes are used to provide information about other listening-related skills, as well as pronunciation advice.
• Grammar boxes provide information on Form and Function.
• Academic key words, used in connection with the two key listenings in a Unit, are highlighted in a small shaded box.
• At the end of each Unit, an aspect relating to Study Skills is presented by Stella Cottrell. These may take the form of an information sheet or contain points for discussion. Examples of topics include: Identifying your current skills; Taking notes effectively; Memory thrives on organisation; Reviewing your notes; Independent study and, Leading a group.
• At the back of the Student’s Book there is a page displaying Functional Language which can be used with the discussion tasks and ‘Developing critical thinking’ activities.

The Teacher’s Book

• The Teacher’s Book contains a ‘visual walkthrough’ of both the Student’s Book and Digibook (for Teachers and Students).
• Exam tips, Extension Activities, notes on Cultural Awareness and ideas for extra research tasks, are provided throughout.
• The Teacher’s Book also contains structured, photocopiable feedback sheets for each Unit’s final speaking task.
• An Answer Key is provided in the Teacher’s Book.
• Audio scripts and CDs are also provided.

Overall rating

      3

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

Strengths:

Student’s Book

Accessibility is gained to the more complex topics through initial personalization of ideas, around the topic. This is particularly useful as the discipline-focused, topical information presented is most likely to be new information.

Skills boxes provide insight into, explanation and a rationale for specific listening and speaking skills. For example, ‘Listening for organisation’, ‘Listening to understand cause and effect relationships’, ‘Listening for problems and solutions’, ‘Listening to interpret the speaker’s attitude’; ‘Interrupting politely’, ‘Using intonation to express feelings and attitudes’ and ‘Making repairs’.  

Specific academic skill development needs are highlighted and reinforced through the listening comprehension tasks. For example, discriminating between summaries. In addition, attention is drawn to why listening for summaries is important.

A variety of mediums are used for the listening tasks, such as a news report, podcast, radio show, presentation and lecture. Predominantly, Listening 1 is one of the former, with Listening 2 being a lecture. The more familiar listening mediums used in Listening 1 may also serve to provide a sense of familiarity whilst listening to a less familiar/unfamiliar topic.

The grammar input is relevant and appropriate to academic-related discussion, such as seminars, and is reviewed and reinforced through the discussion tasks.

Teacher’s Book

Extension activities related to research and developing the use of the academic word list are promoted and suggested throughout the Teacher’s book.

The Student’s Digibook

The Student’s Digibook can be annotated, for classroom use. Additionally, annotations can be shared.

Using their Digibook, students can work offline, following their initial connection.

Extra activities are provided throughout the Digibook, in accordance with the exercises given. These can be accessed through an interactive icon. Alternatively, they can also be found in the Skillful Practice Area of the Digibook.

All audio recordings are embedded for instant access. As students do not have access to the CDs, this is particularly beneficial.

Extra listening activities are provided through videos (transcripts and tasks are available to the Teacher only, via the Teacher’s Digibook)

The Mark Book provides a visually clear and simple way of enabling the students to evaluate their progress across the 10 Units. It is presented in a table format which is broken down into each of the 7 Unit components, allowing the students to identify specific areas for improvement.

The Teacher’s Digibook:

Extra videos are provided on the Teacher’s Digibook, with worksheets and transcripts.

The Digibook could be used to set and mark homework.

The Mark Book enables the teacher to monitor the student’s progress.

Additional tests are provided, in both editable and non-editable formats. These can be used for either formative or summative purposes. They can also serve to act as placement tests.

WEAKNESSES

Student’s Book

Listening recordings 1 and 2 need to be taught in close proximity in order for the student to benefit fully from this material. As an extensive number of tasks can be involved in both the pre and post-listening activities, this is highly unlikely. Realistically, a Unit could potentially be taught across three lessons.

Having an extensive number of tasks, the overall potential benefits to the student can be substantially minimalized. On reaching the final discussion task, the momentum and interest stimulated regarding the topic can be lost.

The way in which the speaking and listening tasks have been integrated can be counter-productive to the promotion of either of the skills, as one can be interruptive of the other.

The inclusion of supplementary, associated reading material/tasks would be beneficial in supporting the topic discussion.

The Student’s Digibook

The time taken to resolve online difficulties may be excessive. Once contacted, an instant automatic reply is sent by Macmillan’s Customer Service team signifying a ticket number. However, the length of time then taken to resolve the difficulty may vary, from an hour to twenty four; that said they are very helpful.