Review by namine1 -- Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living...
-
namine1
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 19 Jan 2020, 02:03
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-namine1.html
- Latest Review: Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition) by Peter Liptak
Review by namine1 -- Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living...
[Following is a volunteer review of "Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition)" by Peter Liptak.]
Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition) is written by ESL educators Peter Liptak, Matthew Douma, and Jay Douma and proofread by the translator and interpreter Tsai-ti Chen, from Tainan, Taiwan. The book is a non-fiction educational book depicting a three-step system for native Chinese speakers to learn idioms to strengthen their knowledge in the English language, prepare for general tests such as the TOEFL, or understand American culture. The idioms are mainly used for casual and business environments within North America. The book includes clear visual representations of each contextual definitions to help with memorization, interactive games such as crosswords or fill-in-the-blanks, and practical idioms found in common areas within a reader’s daily life. Each idiom has either an antonym or synonym to further fuel the reader’s growing knowledge of idioms to provide a boost of confidence.
The chapters within Idiom Attack are organized into 25 different sections with a pictorial diagram on how to read the book. Each section follows a repetitive format of listing the definition, a fill-in-the-blanks exercise with answers listed on the bottom, a short story with a Q & A section, a discussion portion, and a drawing at the end. After each section, there is a translated Chinese version of the short story which could help native speakers.
I found the book quite educational and informative to readers who enjoy learning American idioms; a lot of the idioms are used in a daily basis while others are used on more rare occasions. There are many commonly well-known idioms, but there were also some that would never be spoken in a casual or formal conversation. One positive example that could be educational would be the idiom of a “garage sale” since it is a cultural difference between America, Taiwan, and China. One uncommon idiom that could be odd to say would be “until the fat lady sings”. Even though it is an English idiom, it is not commonly spoken and could be taken in a negative light. I do enjoy the small illustrations which help depict one chosen idiom per section. It adds a creative statement that can help with memorization. The questions after each short story allow a teacher to quiz their pupils to make sure they understood when and how to use each idiom in a sentence.
One thing that stood out to me was there was a literal Chinese definition of each idiom, which could be helpful for the Chinese-English example phrases. I like how the definition is color-coded in salmon pink to make the idiom stand out. Another positive aspect is that after each short story, there is a discussion section for the reader to ask questions about their social view. It seems to be a method to open discussions as an ice-breaker among a teacher and their students.
Although I found a few errors, the mistakes did not hinder my understanding of the book. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading through each example and the illustrations added a unique touch to the book. It is an enjoyable book for other Chinese speakers, teachers, or students to learn idioms. I hope the author can revisit the minor mistakes and perhaps consult with Tsai-ti Chen further for the Mandarin portions.
******
Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition) is written by ESL educators Peter Liptak, Matthew Douma, and Jay Douma and proofread by the translator and interpreter Tsai-ti Chen, from Tainan, Taiwan. The book is a non-fiction educational book depicting a three-step system for native Chinese speakers to learn idioms to strengthen their knowledge in the English language, prepare for general tests such as the TOEFL, or understand American culture. The idioms are mainly used for casual and business environments within North America. The book includes clear visual representations of each contextual definitions to help with memorization, interactive games such as crosswords or fill-in-the-blanks, and practical idioms found in common areas within a reader’s daily life. Each idiom has either an antonym or synonym to further fuel the reader’s growing knowledge of idioms to provide a boost of confidence.
The chapters within Idiom Attack are organized into 25 different sections with a pictorial diagram on how to read the book. Each section follows a repetitive format of listing the definition, a fill-in-the-blanks exercise with answers listed on the bottom, a short story with a Q & A section, a discussion portion, and a drawing at the end. After each section, there is a translated Chinese version of the short story which could help native speakers.
I found the book quite educational and informative to readers who enjoy learning American idioms; a lot of the idioms are used in a daily basis while others are used on more rare occasions. There are many commonly well-known idioms, but there were also some that would never be spoken in a casual or formal conversation. One positive example that could be educational would be the idiom of a “garage sale” since it is a cultural difference between America, Taiwan, and China. One uncommon idiom that could be odd to say would be “until the fat lady sings”. Even though it is an English idiom, it is not commonly spoken and could be taken in a negative light. I do enjoy the small illustrations which help depict one chosen idiom per section. It adds a creative statement that can help with memorization. The questions after each short story allow a teacher to quiz their pupils to make sure they understood when and how to use each idiom in a sentence.
One thing that stood out to me was there was a literal Chinese definition of each idiom, which could be helpful for the Chinese-English example phrases. I like how the definition is color-coded in salmon pink to make the idiom stand out. Another positive aspect is that after each short story, there is a discussion section for the reader to ask questions about their social view. It seems to be a method to open discussions as an ice-breaker among a teacher and their students.
Although I found a few errors, the mistakes did not hinder my understanding of the book. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading through each example and the illustrations added a unique touch to the book. It is an enjoyable book for other Chinese speakers, teachers, or students to learn idioms. I hope the author can revisit the minor mistakes and perhaps consult with Tsai-ti Chen further for the Mandarin portions.
******
Idiom Attack Vol. 1 Everyday Living (Trad. Chinese Edition)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
