Survival English 1: English Through Conversations

This book is great in the sense that it is a basic book to allow a non-English speaker to learn to make conversation. Filled with pictures and sketches, it allows the reader to interpret the scene. Ten chapters break conversation into usable pieces, such as Personal Identification (who you are; how old you are, etc.), family, health, transportation, housing, food, clothing, as well as others. Also, American money is shown in coin and dollar form and allows the student to study the amounts of each. At the start of each chapter, there is a list of essential vocabulary. This is best used with a tutor so that the learner can hear the pronunciation of various words and sounds. What I love the best about this book is that it allows students a sense of autonomy. They can make notes on pictures and words, and it provokes discussion so the student is forced to interpret the scene and then translate it to the tutor. This also allows insight to the teacher to know what to work on and what is no longer a problem for the student.

I agree with the summary below except to say, "there needs to be an instructor or tutor to pronounce the words correctly."

This book is a quick and easy tool for ADULT refugees and immigrants who must learn English to survive in the United States. It incorporates vocabulary, syntax, writing, and culture in each module; and users are practicing simple dialogues from the first lesson. The drawings and exercises are practical and reinforce the principles of the lesson. Unlike other ESL (English as a Second Language) books, this one is geared toward adult learners, rather than children or traditional students. Don't expect a grammar book, this one teaches English exactly as it says in its subtitle: English Through Conversations. Two cautionary notes: Users must be able to recognize and write the letters of the English alphabet to get started on solid footing, and, to get the most out of this book, there needs to be an instructor or tutor to correctly pronounce the words.