About the Author:
Chris Gough has taught in the UK and Spain and was involved in teacher training in the UK for a number of years. He now spends all his time writing materials, though he still regularly moderates training courses for Trinity. Chris has written titles for various publishers including supplementary vocabulary and reading resources. He has been writing with Garnet for nearly two years. He lives in Brighton with his wife, Gerry and daughter, Isobel.
Review:
The IELTS Target 5 text was designed with low intermediate learners in mind. It introduces students to general training appropriate to their language needs and abilities and integrates academic materials at appropriate intervals. The initial units introduce basic English and the middle of the text introduces academic texts. By the last five of the twenty units, students are working at an intermediate level. Topics are appropriate for a wide variety of learning streams and cover such topics as health, nature, technology, society and construction. Relevant vocabulary is covered and each unit increases in challenge and scope. The materials provide ample practice for learners in all areas of the IELTS exam. The speaking test is developed fully and vocabulary is developed topically and the pronunciation components involve phoneme, stress and intonation. Writing tasks begin simply and include typical tasks such as e-mail writing, and then expand into essays. There is also reading, writing and listening practice as well as exam preparation tips to assist learners when navigating through the exam for the first time. The workbook expands on each unit and ensures students have ample practice outside of class time. Workbook tasks are referred to in each of the course book units and allow the teacher to direct students to homework tasks relevant to each topic. Gough has also included three practice tests, the final test purported to be the same level as an official exam. The Teacher's book is a wealth of information. Full of tips on how to expand on tasks, teach each skill and provide error correction, IELTS Target 5 is set up in such a way that novice teachers will be able to teach with confidence. All of the questions in the course book are answered fully and the text itself is very easy to navigate. Although some students may complain about having to lug the weight of the book around, it is of good value to teachers and students alike because it moves them from low intermediate to mid-intermediate. Sandee Thompson, CELTA, DELTA, MA TESL Teaching, Canada, December 2010 This is a welcome addition to the good number of books from which to prepare students for the IELTS. It is called 5.0 because it will appeal to teachers who have to prepare students for the IELTS exam when those students are still at fundamental and developmental levels. Students too will welcome a book which is set at their level rather than trying to cope with something too difficult. What the author has done is to break down the skills needed in this four-part examination and produced mini-lessons tackling all of them. He does not allow the students to feel they are being bogged down. So the reading passages and tasks associated are generally shorter than in the exam. It is clearly based on a thorough study and understanding of what [is required for] passing this excellent entry test for further study. John Marshall, Cal State University, Fullerton, USA, September 2012
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