New Grammar in Action 1: An Integrated Course in English

I have never seen the older editions mentioned by other reviewers, so I was not at all disappointed with this one. I have about 3 or 4 groups going at once in my adult classroom (NOT MY IDEA). My principle text for my level 1 group is Side-by-Side One. The students buy the Side-by-Side text and Workbook. I keep a class set of Grammar-in-Action in the room, so the students do the exercises on their own paper. After I introduce a chapter in Side-by-Side, I can easily find a chapter in Grammar-in-Action-One that reinforces the vocabulary or grammar topic of choice; the table of contents helps me quickly find a topic. But what I love most about the book is the variety of exercises that my students can work on while I am busy with my other groups. The exercises cover listening (GET THE TAPES, they are great and really help in a multi-level class), speaking (terrific pair exercises: interviews and info-gaps), and plenty of writing (truly reinforces the grammar and vocab). There's just a little bit of reading, but I like using the True Stories series for reading practice, anyway. The exercises in this book teach! Of course, I go over the exercises beforehand and after, but the students really enjoy helping each other and working together. The students who apply themselves really learn a lot, and with relatively little effort on my part.

We found this book to be an excellent compliment to Heinle and Heinle's Voices in Literature and Making Connections. We are using book 1 and book 2 to review grammar and focus on problem areas such as prepositions and personal pronouns. I would recommend these two volumes as supplementary text for use at the high school level for any teacher who feels that students need more focused and concentrated practice in English grammar. Colette Miller, ELD-LEP chair, Cabrillo High School