Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for Intermediate American English Language Learners

Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for Intermediate American English Language Learners from Chimayo Press helps American immigrants and international students develop their fluency skills and academic vocabulary through conversation exercises. Each chapter includes two sets of conversation questions, vocabulary review, short writing exercises, paraphrasing exercises with proverbs, a discussion activity around pithy quotations, and an online "Search and Share" activity. Focusing on both daily experiences and American culture through proverbs, quotations, and speaking exercises, the materials help intermediate English language learners explore their lives, learn common American sayings and expressions, and develop vital discussion skills. The 15 topical chapters include: Opening Moves; Going Beyond Hello; Making and Breaking Habits; Studying English; Being Yourself; Choosing and Keeping Friends; Playing and Watching Sports; Talking About American Television; Celebrating American Holidays; Being Stylish; Handling Stress; Practicing Job Interviews; Valuing Money and Finding Bargains; Exploring American Cities and Seeing Our World With Photographs. The "Resources and Notes" appendix includes the academic word list, supplemental worksheets, bibliographical references, author biographies and indices to proverbs and quotations. Designed primarily for community college ESL and adult education students, this flexible ESL textbook can be used by high school English language learners (ELL) and intensive English programs. Compelling American Conversations, is the third title in the Compelling Conversations series, most known for the original fluency-focused advanced ESL textbook, Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics (2006).

Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English.

Highlights of his career include: teaching the first Saturday morning citizenship class in Santa Monica (1994); directing the CES Adult Education Center (1995-1998); working with international students in summer IEP programs at UCLA Extension (1997-2000, 2003-2005); teaching USC engineering students in Madrid, Spain (2007) and Paris, France (2008); and directing the APU International High School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2009).

After 35 years of teaching English and supervising English teachers, co-author, Toni Aberson (M.A. English; M.A. Psychology and Religion) believes that a lively classroom is the optimal learning environment. "If people are thinking, sharing, and laughing, then they're learning," notes Aberson. "The mere fact that those adults are in an English classroom attests to their courage and their determination to learn."

"Adult English students bring a wealth of interesting experiences with them," continues Aberson. "They bring the world into the classroom. The challenge for English teachers is to put students at ease and encourage them to practice English. What better way than to ask students about their lives? I love teaching English."

Co-author, Hal Bogotch, teaches English as a Second Language at Nexon America in El Segundo. He is a proud graduate of U.C. Berkeley. Since 1996, Bogotch has taught ESL to adult immigrants, international high school students, and California middle schoolers. He has also taught Computer Skills to senior citizens, nurses, exceptional/special needs children, and garment industry entrepreneurs.