ReviewsA Look at BooksHelena LustenbergerBook Reviews Editorbookreview@e-tas.chExploring British CultureJo SmithCambridge University Press (2012)ISBN 978-0-521-18642-1128 pages, Book with Audio CDThis recent publication focuses on teaching<strong>English</strong> through lessons which concern variouscultural elements <strong>of</strong> modern Britain. I wasparticularly pleased to see it since I had recentlybeen asked to develop a course based onculture in Britain and I had spent a great deal <strong>of</strong>time finding out facts and figures myself. Thisbook appears to have it all ready-made and<strong>of</strong>fers a more interesting palette <strong>of</strong> activitiesand information than I had managed to puttogether, so I now enhance my own course withactivities from it.The book has photocopiable materials on 18different topics, ranging from an overview <strong>of</strong> theUK, minority groups, finance, the British classsystem, British foods, Britain and the rest <strong>of</strong> theworld, home sweet home, to even how the Britishrelax. The topics are up-to-date and interestingboth for students and teachers alike. The pointI certainly appreciate is that the topics arealways split into three levels: Elementary toPre-intermediate, Intermediate, and Advanced.Thus I did not encounter the problem that I haverun into in the past with some other photocopiablebooks where the activities are <strong>of</strong>ten frustratinglyunsuitable for the level <strong>of</strong> students I want to usethem with. In Exploring British Culture, there doesseem to be something for everyone.The book has a clear layout. Each lessonincludes enough material for 45-60 minutes <strong>of</strong>teaching but also includes an extension activityto use if necessary. These extension activitiesare also interesting if the teacher wants to dosomething more task-based on the same topic.I particularly enjoyed the book because I learntso much from it. Some <strong>of</strong> the reading is fromauthentic newspaper articles and texts. Thelistening activities <strong>of</strong>fer a wide range <strong>of</strong> Britishaccents, with speakers from Liverpool, Glasgow,Ireland, the south <strong>of</strong> England, and so on. I usethe CD to illustrate some <strong>of</strong> the different<strong>English</strong>es and accents in Britain, and studentsseem to enjoy being able to hear the variationsbetween some <strong>of</strong> the stronger accents.This book is evidentlysuitable for a course onBritish culture but it isalso good for slipping alesson on British cultureinto any course, eitherongoing semester-basedcourses or a shortintensive course. I likedit, I certainly look forwardto using it again, andrecommend it highly.Ruth BenvegnenAdvanced TrainerFelicity O’DellSix Practice Tests withAnswers and Audio CDs (3)Cambridge University Press (2012)ISBN 978-0-521-18700-8256 pages and a 24-page colour Speaking appendixIf you are looking for new resource material which <strong>of</strong>fers both an introduction tothe Cambridge Advanced <strong>English</strong> (CAE) exam as well as practice tests, here is abook designed for you. It can either be used as a supplement in a ‘standard’advanced course designed to fulfil the function <strong>of</strong> a CAE preparation course andwhere there is explicit need for practice tests or as the main course material forvery intensive, ‘lean’ CAE courses (spreading only over a few weeks/months),<strong>of</strong>fering advanced learners direct exam practice from the start.Considering the fact that there is exam guidance at the beginning <strong>of</strong> the book aswell as an explanatory answer key including tapescripts, this practice resourcedefinitely also lends itself to any ‘lone rangers’ trying to conquer more ground ontheir own at home, alongside the tutored course.“Do we need another practice test book?” you may ask. CUP has already publishedseveral past exam paper books. Well, rather than just <strong>of</strong>fering a set <strong>of</strong> pastpractice tests, this publication opens with two tests through which the testee isescorted from the beginning to end, thus acquiring important success-guaranteeingstrategies and gaining exam confidence step by step. Tackling each paper thereforebecomes a lot easier and seems less frightening for the candidate. Action plansections, tip and advice boxes, as well as follow-up questions all contributetowards more task transparency for the learner. A regular Cambridge materialswriter, O’Dell has consulted the bank <strong>of</strong> real candidate exam papers (CambridgeLearner Corpus) to ensure that typical learner errors are highlighted in order tohelp exam candidates avoid common mistakes. Therefore the extra training andsupport provided alongside the first two tests are especially valuable if you arean inexperienced Cambridge exams teacher or you simply want to make sure thatall the tips you give in class are not forgotten, but can be reread at home.Looking at the sections <strong>of</strong> the book in more detail, the following facts pop out:• The Introduction section includes a meticulous instruction for the use <strong>of</strong>the book, providing learners background on grading as well as a referenceaddress for further information.• Training sections are extensive in Test 1; in Test 2 they are more condensed,reassessing the given tips and adding more; Tests 3-6 are simply bare, unaidedpractice. However, lots <strong>of</strong> extra help is given even for those tests in the verydetailed and illuminating answer key. The comprehensive explanations clarifywhen options are correct or wrong, <strong>of</strong>fering more instructive information wherenecessary (e.g. underlined sections in tapescripts), and including notes andmodel answers for writing tasks.• There are photocopiable answer sheets to help familiarise potential examcandidates with the layout they would have to cope with in the exam.• The hungry-for-colour-pictures teacher, who occasionally has to play the role <strong>of</strong>the examiner, will certainly appreciate the visual material for six differentSpeaking papers! These provide enough examples for students to see andpractise with. Unfortunately, this book, like so many others, does not providethe learners with Speaking paper model answers <strong>of</strong> any kind.This last point brings me to the main drawback from my perspective – anexperienced CAE teacher – even though this issue is something that has beenneglected not only by this volume but by most other comparable books on themarket. My experience shows that scores <strong>of</strong> students have been craving for goodspeaking sample answers they could listen to, which, regrettably, are rare. Likethe scripting and recording that is done for listening tasks, material writers could‘design’ various answers for the speaking tasks and have actors ‘perform’ themto have different models for each question. Detailed comments in the answer key,similar to the ones otherwise provided in this book for all the other papers, wouldthen highlight the ups (and possibly downs) <strong>of</strong> each ‘performance’. It is, therefore,a pity that this new book, otherwise practically indispensable, has not risen tothe occasion.Nevertheless, Felicity O’Dell’s Advanced Trainer is a valuable addition to any CAEteacher’s or student’s collection <strong>of</strong> materials.Ketrin MurihiahETAS <strong>Journal</strong> 30/2 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2013</strong> 77
ETAS <strong>Journal</strong> Book Review GuidelinesA full book review should be about 500-800 words and should be aconstructive appraisal <strong>of</strong> one book or monograph, or several works.This review is not primarily a summary; rather it is an analytic or criticaldiscussion <strong>of</strong> a book or article, hence it comments on and evaluatesthe author's purpose, thesis, contentions, and methods <strong>of</strong> analysis inan engaging and informative way.A good review may include many or all <strong>of</strong> these themes:• the intended audience for the book and who would find it useful• a brief background <strong>of</strong> the author(s), including the circumstances,context, or impetus <strong>of</strong> the book's creation and publication• the main ideas and major objectives <strong>of</strong> the work and how effectivelythese are accomplished• the theoretical issues, debates, and trends raised by the work• the soundness <strong>of</strong> methods and information sources used• the work’s merit in comparison with others on this subject• relevance <strong>of</strong> the work and its contributions to the field• constructive appraisal <strong>of</strong> the work’s strengths and weaknesses• for edited books: dominant themes with reference to specific chapters• the intended audience for the book and who would find it useful• coherence and clarity <strong>of</strong> the author's/authors' presentation,including effectiveness <strong>of</strong> writing style, organization, and toneThe header <strong>of</strong> the review should include:• the author’s/authors’ or editor’s/editors’ first and last name(s)(please indicate if it is an edited book)• the title <strong>of</strong> the book• the year <strong>of</strong> publication• the place <strong>of</strong> publication• the publisher• the number <strong>of</strong> pages• the price if available (and please indicate if paperback or hard cover)• the ISBNAt the end <strong>of</strong> the review, please include:• the reviewer’s first and last name• institutional affiliationStyle and submission guidelines:The review must be written as MS Word, in Times New Roman, font size 12.Language must be direct and void <strong>of</strong> unnecessary jargon and technicalterms. Use the active voice as much as possible.All references should be made in-text, rather than as footnotes or endnotes.When citing references, use the APA 6th Edition referencing style.The review must include a statement that the submission has not beenpreviously published and is not being considered for publication elsewhere.Reviews should be written within three months <strong>of</strong> receiving the materials.Reviewers are welcome to contact the Book Reviews Editor for help or tosend drafts.The ETAS <strong>Journal</strong> reserves the right to edit reviews for style, conciseness,and consistency. The completed review should be sent as an emailattachment to the Book Reviews Editor: bookreview@e-tas.chTo find the complete list <strong>of</strong> our most recentBooks to Review, visit the Book Reviewpage <strong>of</strong> the ETAS website:http://www.e-tas.ch/services/books-to-reviewIf you would like to write a review forthe ETAS <strong>Journal</strong> and earn the reviewcopy, please contact Helena Lustenbergerat bookreview@e-tas.ch78 ETAS <strong>Journal</strong> 30/2 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2013</strong>
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