Criterion

Grade: 5/4/3/2/1

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

Originality/

Content

       3.5

With yet another update to the FCE exam (the last one coming in 2008), coursebooks are once again being asked to keep up to speed with the new specifications. However, just as the specifications for the 2015 exam are not exactly a great departure from the current exam, merely a reworking and streamlining, neither is this new edition of Spotlight on First much of departure from the previous edition.

Indeed, while of course the book reflects the changes in the exam the main bulk of the content is virtually the same as the first edition. The unit topics remain unchanged save for a few minor tweaks and while there are a few new readings (Finding A Job Unit 2, Social Media Unit 13 and The Cosplay Craze Unit 14) the vast majority are the same while the listenings remain untouched in the main. The same goes for the grammar, vocabulary input as well as the Use of English parts – it’s just repackaged with a new design. The writing focus also has changed to reflect the change in the exam and again some are the same and some are new. Not that this should be seen as a major issue as the input material was never an issue with Spotlight and so content wise it’s still good, offering plenty of input and exam practice for students delivered through the usual range of topics - Friends & Family (Unit 1), Sport & Free Time (Unit 3), Transport & Travel (Unit 6), Food & Eating Out (Unit 9) and News & Media (Unit 13). It’s also full of tips, delivered by way of the Exam Spotlight boxes which are scattered throughout the book, though again this is not new to this edition.

The biggest addition (and an original feature to any FCE course) is a video element, courtesy of National Geographic, which comes at the end of every other unit (eight in total). These videos range from the extreme sports on offer in Queenstown, New Zealand (Unit 3) and solar cooking in Africa (Unit 7) to the secrets of Stonehenge (Unit 11) and the history of Australia’s Aborigines (Unit 15). While not exactly FCE-task focussed, these lessons aim to develop listening skills, to further build vocabulary and provide input and context to help develop speaking skills. This is done through the Ideas Generator feature, which aims to help students with speaking techniques with regards to forming their own opinions and yes, generate ideas. It’s a nice addition to the course and certainly something different, despite its questionable relevance to the exam.  

Other components of the course include the Exam Booster Workbook which unlike other workbooks is really chunky and which also offers further practicality to the course. It is here that pronunciation is addressed, having been largely overlooked in the main course. Also to be found hidden away is a study techniques feature as well as a spelling syllabus, designed to identify the most common spelling errors. Of course these are the extras, added features designed to supplement the exam practice activities and this, after all, is what students want more of – practice, practice and more practice. Each unit has a couple of Reading and Use of English tasks as well as Listening, Speaking and Writing activities. So, there’s plenty for the students to get their teeth into and as an added sweetener, there’s a further full practice test.

So, while this edition of Spotlight is largely an update rather than something new and original with regards to its content, it retains the features that made it popular first time around. Most importantly it prepares students in all the language and skills required to tackle the exam successfully.

Practicality/

Functionality

        4

The course is well structured and logically organised, with a good balance of skills and systems input within each unit. Most units have explicit exam tasks for each paper developing exam technique, coupled with grammar and vocabulary development, all of which are well signposted. The grammar is further developed through the Grammar Reference section (p.190-211) which, though dense, is a useful resource for students and is supported by some extra short practice tasks. Importantly there’s plenty of input and practice on the areas where students struggle, namely phrasal verbs, collocations (specifically through the Key Word section) and word-building, while there is also plenty of exam practice. This is best embodied by the double page Review and Exam Practice sections at the end of every second unit, but also with the inclusion of a full practice exam at the end of the book (p168-189).

The inclusion of a Writing Guide (p.212-219) is also beneficial for students for reference, supporting the writing input lessons well, providing good models and with plenty of useful language input. Another really useful addition is a Speaking paper video, complete with tasks for students to complete (p.160-163). Being able to show students what to expect in the exam can really benefit them so that they are under no illusion of what is expected of them. You can practise all you like but without witnessing it for themselves, either first hand or through the medium of video, it will remain arguably the most daunting part of the exam for students.

All the while the Teacher’s Book offers the usual teacher support, with plenty of teaching tips (presented through Teaching in Practice boxes) as well as ideas to increase or decrease the difficulty of certain tasks for differentiation purposes. What’s good to see is that despite being a more serious exam course, there is still a place for fun communicative activities. Each unit comes with two of these, ranging from role play activities (Debating Society, Unit 8, Winds of Change, Unit 12) to board games (Introducing Your Town, Unit 6) and vocabulary games (Pelmanism, Unit 1, Phrasal Verb Jigsaw, Unit 4, Word Search, Unit 5). Some are naturally better than others, but all of them, while ostensibly light relief from the demands of another Use of English task, also provide good language practice.

Thus we can say that from a practical point of view the course works well, providing the necessary structure, input and tools for both students and teachers alike.

Presentation

        4

Where this Second Edition differs most from its predecessor is with its presentation. With access to the National Geographic photographic archives and a new design it engages, stimulates, motivates and gets students talking. However, while this helps make the pages more visually appealing, there can still be a lot of information on the pages, especially those spreads without big photos. While this information is clearly laid out, with good use of shaded boxes and colour throughout, some spreads can look quite dense. This, however, is unfortunately the price we must pay for getting so much crammed into the course. Nonetheless, it’s easy enough to follow with each activity and stage of the lesson well sign-posted.

Components

Student’s Book with DVD-ROM

Teacher’s Book with Class Audio CDs

Exam Booster Workbook with Audio CDs (Editions with Answer Key and without Answer Key)

Comparison

When it comes to FCE coursebooks there’s plenty of choice with all of the main publishers offering equally detailed courses. So whether it’s Spotlight on First, First Certificate Expert (Pearson), Complete First Certificate (Cambridge) or Ready for First (Macmillan), they all have their own unique selling point, but in truth there is little to choose between them all. So, as with anything in life, what it comes down to in the end is personal preference.

Overall rating

      4

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

+

Plenty of opportunity for exam practice

Inclusion of video content, especially speaking exam video

Good writing double page spreads

-

Lack of pronunciation focus in main coursebook

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

Naturally Spotlight on First lends itself to any FCE course, though due to the length of the course (15 Units), it’s probably not best used on intensive short summer courses.