Review by Sydney Nyamasoka -- Compelling American Conver...

[Sydney Nyamasoka]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Compelling American Conversations" by Eric H. Roth and Toni Aberson and Hal Bogotch.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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If English is not your first language, conversing in this global language can be an extreme challenge. How do you naturally and effectively converse? This question becomes more important for students, workers, or ordinary immigrants looking to settle, study, work, and prosper in the USA.

Compelling American Conversations is an interactive English language book written by Eric H. Roth and Toni Aberson with Hal Bogotch. This book makes the learning of American English easier, fun, and engaging for intermediate learners. It is the third book in the series of conversation textbooks written by the authors.

This book has a total of 162 pages divided into 15 chapters of learning content. The teaching approach encourages critical thinking through questions for every suggested topic. The suggested topics are natural and common to most, if not all, learners. For instance, topic number 5 focuses on, ‘BEING YOURSELF’. The topic engages the learner, suggests appropriate vocabulary usage, and self-expression.

The core elements of learning in each chapter are; 1. Suggested topic, 2. Vocabulary expansion, 3. Asking and answering questions, 4. Paraphrasing Proverbs, 5. Discussing quotations, and 6. Searching and sharing your findings about the suggested topic. To fully benefit from this book, the learner should have a conversation partner or group, notebook, and a strong desire to excel.

The targeted learners are the newcomers in the United States of America, and immigrants who may be studying at an American high school, adult school, community college, or university. The authors strongly believe that all immigrants deserve a quality education that allows them to express themselves, develop their English language skills, and deepen their critical thinking skills.

I found this book very effective in its delivery and layout of the skills necessary for initiating and maintaining interesting conversations. The learning content is well structured. I only found a few errors which were not destructive at all. The format of the book is in Word document and I did not find this ideal because the text can be easily deleted or altered by mistake as the learner scrolls through the document. The learner will benefit from exploring and comparing aspects of culture, social norms, and a variety of other exciting topics. I also appreciated the suggested websites and YouTube channels meant to make the learning wholesome and convenient.

I strongly recommend this book to new USA immigrants with intermediate English skills. Those with lower-level skills should consider the first and second editions. The book could also benefit other non-native English readers who would like to sharpen their skills in this language. The learner will get maximum benefits if they learn along with a willing and enthusiastic conversational partner or group. Otherwise, learning alone is not very beneficial considering the suggested approach in this book.

I rate this book with a deserved 4 out of 4 stars. The overall editing of the book is excellent.

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Compelling American Conversations
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[Chipochashe]

Thanks for the great review. US immigrants will find it useful.

[Sydney Nyamasoka]

Thanks for the great review. US immigrants will find it useful.

Indeed. Thanks for the comment.