Review by D Churchill -- Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Li...

[D Churchill]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition)" by Peter Liptak.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Idiom Attack 1 - Everyday Living is a book that teaches popular American English idioms. It introduces several phrases that a non-native speaker may misunderstand if taken literally. The book is designed with the Chinese learner in mind, containing helpful Chinese translations following the English text. It is organized in chapters based on themes like everyday conversation, weather, dining, and family matters, to name a few. It includes about 300 practical, useful idioms English learners can impress others within their speaking or comprehension.


The authors Peter N. Liptak, Matt Douma, and Jay Douma, North American-natives with a passion for education and language, know first-hand how much idioms flower the English language. Through their secular experience, they developed an understanding for explaining phrases or sayings the inexperienced English-learner can miss if taken literally. Their backgrounds in American culture lend the book a favorable opportunity to provide English language-learners a guidebook for understanding and using sayings native speakers take for granted.


The book is structured to be used as a personal book, textbook, or supplement to English-learning courses. Each chapter introduces the idiom in sentence form, followed by a simple, accurate definition. They include fill-in-the-blank exercises, a short story, and discussion questions the reader can reflect on personally or in a group. Even a native-speaker reading this book may learn a thing or two about the nature of some common idioms. The short stories give a glimpse into American culture with an easy-to-follow, natural flow. Thoughtful discussion questions invite the reader to practice the expressions and attempt to apply them to his personal life. A crossword puzzle after every five chapters that combine the idioms from that section adds an element of fun to what otherwise could be a challenging experience.


I most disliked that the idiom is first presented in a sentence, then followed by the definition. It felt awkward in that arrangement, but that is just personal preference. Otherwise, the book is well-written, with evidence of professional editing. The idioms are not alphabetical, but the index does so the reader can refer back for reference when needed. I most enjoyed the short stories at the end of the chapters, some of which were quite entertaining.


I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Though the book's intended readers are Asian, I would recommend it to anyone new to the English language with intermediate fluency in English. Every idiom is practical for everyday speaking. The authors selected phrases and expressions most used in casual, business, and academic conversation, ensuring the learner can use them in their daily lives.

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Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition)
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