5 stars (Well worth buying and reading) - This book is aimed at explaining proficiency oriented language teaching, and has very valuable material on proficiency and its importance. This is something many teachers seem to overlook as too obvious to be of concern, but Hadley shows it to be a central issue in teaching. The criticism made by one reviewer that it's tilted too much toward communicative teaching is mistaken. There's a difference between communicative teaching and proficiency oriented teaching, although they are obviously related. This book, like any other, is not sufficient by itself, but needs to be read an compared to others in order to get a range of viewpoints. It is not of instantaneous practical use to classroom teachers, but rather deals with the ideas behind teaching methods. It is a very valuable addition to a teacher's bookshelf and I have no regrets about buying it. 5 stars (Why did I buy this book?) - I remember using it in a course I took a few years ago, and I was thrilled to find so many different aspects of language teaching covered in one volume. When I was thinking of buying the present edition, I asked a friend, someone with a Master's degree in TESL/TEFL, her recommendation, and she said: "Well, Doug Brown recommended it to me." So I bought Teaching Language in Context, and am very glad I did. 5 stars (If I were to choose one book) - No book can cover every aspect of language instruction, but by all means Hadley's work would be right up there with Ellis, Richards and Rodgers among others. This is a solid book, jam packed with historical facts and insights, and I feel has caught the full heart of the profession representing the current state of the profession. I could not disagree with the first reviewer more. I am reading this book through and I love this book. This is not a technique-y book at all but a serious treatise and contribution to educators who want to have a broader scope on theory and instruction. In my mind, the author... Heinle :: Foreign Language Study & General :: Study and teaching :: Study & Teaching :: Professional Development :: Linguistics :: Languages :: Modern :: Language Arts & Ling :: Teaching Language In Context
5 stars (Hodges' Harbrace Handbook) - I've been using this handbook for about 25 years, and recently realized that my edition was the 3rd, published in the 1970s! So I ordered the latest edition (14th edition), and was so pleased with my purchase. This is a handbook that lives in our office, and gets used to death (we do graphic design, copywriting, editing). Any new employee on our staff is required to at least become familiar with the table of contents (in case of emergency!), and very soon they too are heading for Harbrace's to look up something. We love it. 5 stars (The Guide for American English) - It never ceases to amaze me how many times some ... grammarian tries to correct my writing only to review my Harbrace College Handbook to see they're wrong and I'm right. This is the definitive guide to American English grammar. Easy to read, plenty of examples, and more importantly it even covers those gray areas of usage letting the ready know this non-standard without simply cutting you off without explanation. I have purchased the latest edition ever since I purchased my first copy as text to Advanced Composition during my undergraduate days at the University of Maryland University College. Harbrace as served me very well ever since helping me obtain a high GPA in regards to my written assignments. I have a lot of other grammar books that I look at now and then, but Harbrace remains the standard. 5 stars (The Guide for American English) - It never ceases to amaze me how many times some anal grammarian tries to correct my writing only to review my Harbrace College Handbook to see they're wrong and I'm right. This is the definitive guide to American English grammar. Easy to read, plenty of examples, and more importantly it even covers those gray areas of usage letting the ready know this non-standard without simply cutting you off without explanation. I have purchased the latest edition ever since I purchased my first copy as text to Advanced Composition during my ... Heinle :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Writing Skills :: Rhetoric :: Reference :: Handbooks :: manuals :: etc :: Handbooks & Manuals :: Gramm :: Hodges- Harbrace Handbook
5 stars (Sweet, Sweet linguisitcs) - I find it odd that some people didn't like this book, for I thought the action thereof was exceedingly sweet. I guess different strokes for different folks. Anyway I took an Introductory linguistics course that used this textbook, and found myself enjoying the reading assignments. I even read chapters I wasn't assigned to and ended up reading the whole thing. The book was easy to follow, entertaining, and really taught me a lot about linguistics. 4 stars (Horses for courses) - If you're looking for a college-level textbook - look elsewhere! As the 1-star reviews make clear, this is not aimed at you, despite the upmarket cover... On the other hand, if you're looking for a 'Linguistics for Dummies' book without the gaudy yellow-and-black cover to give you away, this book should do the trick nicely :) It's a pleasant stroll through the main areas of linguistics, livened up with cartoons - just enough to give you a taste of the subject without bogging you down in erudition. I don't know enough about linguistics to comment on the criticisms of some readers (though rejecting an entire field of study on the basis of one book seems a little...childish to me!), but any book that can turn a dry academic subject into an entertaining read gets my vote. 5 stars (It's an Introduction book) - As an introduction book this book is perfect; it's written in short chapters(will not make you feel bored) and it has exercises(helps you with understanding) in it. To those who are interested in Linguistics and do not have any prior knowledge this book is The One. ... Heinle :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Linguistics :: Linguistics :: Language and languages :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: L :: An Introduction to Language
4 stars (Not bad, but not great!) - I used this book for two semesters of German language courses in college. While its not a bad book, the memorization of tables and stuff can be daunting. I thought the descriptions were precise and clear, and the grammar exercises were okay. The problem was the application of grammar was too 'precise'. Ie. there was the constant memorization of tables. This book is ideal for an engineer. Overall, its also a good reference book and is well laid out. A nice touch was the culture topics; however, I would have liked to see something focusing a bit more on conversational practice. 1 stars (Not what I'd hoped for) - I've started taking German in college in preparation for graduate school. So far, I am not impressed with Wie geht's?. The charts and diagrams are not clear, the grammar is presented seperately from the culture and vocabulary sections, and the exercises are mindless. I also find it fairly useless to be given anywhere from 20-60 vocab words in one lesson with the grammar as an afterthought. I would much prefer to be presented with the grammar lesson and then the application of it through vocab. I can always look a word up in a dictionary down the road, but more importantly I need to be taught the grammar! 2 stars (Outmoded approach, not at all communicative) - Wie geht's has many strengths--including its use of realia and images of modern Germany. But its over all concept is totally outmoded: no German teacher coming out of an education program will have been trained in this methodology, which is not at all communicative, and most of the language exercises built in are of the "mindless" variety--you don't have to understand what you're doing to perform the task at hand. Ultimately, I think "Na Klar" is the best textbook selection on the market today. ... Heinle :: Foreign Language Study & German :: German :: Foreign Language Study :: Foreign Language - Dictionaries & Phrase Books :: Audio Adult- Language :: Ingrid Sevin :: :: Wie geht-s- Text-Audio CD pkg - An Introductory German Course
5 stars (Good AP Textbook) - My senior AP Literature and Composition class is using this book as a textbook, and I would have to say it is the best high school English book I've ever used. The questions following each included piece really helps you to focus on what is important in the passage, and the introductions to each chapter are brief and to the point. 4 stars (Almost a great resource (that I'd give 3.5 Stars, actually)) - My first exposure to Sound and Sense was in high school, and, at the time, I found the book so valuable a resource that I later purchased a copy. Post-college, my views have changed somewhat. If the tone of the writing was not so condescending, this could be a great book. It defines most of the terms necessary to understand critical texts on poetry, including those analyses related to meter, style, and tone. I find the questions after each poem to be helpful and thought-provoking. That said, it is frustrating to me that the author presents ideas and arguments in absolutes (must, must not, never, always, etc.) and then asserts that the logic that MUST be applied to point A CANNOT be applied to point B (but maybe I have spent too many hours working with lawyers). My suggestion would be to read the text with a grain of salt. Glean the terminology, answer the questions posed at the end of each poem, follow their suggestions of rereading and considering the many facets of poetry, and try to overlook the condescending manner in which the authors display their opinions as fact. 4 stars (a little at a time) - I've been nibbling away at a 20 year old edition of this book for a few years in my spare time, and almost every bite has increased my abitity to appreciate poetry. I like the examples, most of them seem pretty old, Frost is about as modern as he gets, but thats ok with me. You might find this book a little annoying if it was required reading in a course, sometimes it asks more questions than it answers. ... Heinle :: Language Arts & Disciplines & General :: Poetry :: Poetics :: Literature - Classics & Criticism :: Collections :: American - General :: Greg Johnson :: Thomas R Ar :: Perrine-s Sound and Sense - An Introduction to Poetry
5 stars (One of the best English textbooks) - I am currently using this textbook in my AP English Literature class and this is one of the best English text books that I have used so far. It really provides numerous poetry (famous and not-famous) with in-depth questions that I find very helpful for me to study 4 stars (Perrine's Literature : Structure, Sound, and Sense) - Read this book for Freshman English in high school. nice alternative to a textbook. Wouldn't really want to read this outside of class. 5 stars (Excellent) - I have this book for a college level English class, and I absolutely love it! The best part about it is the depth and quality of its selection of poems and stories. I found it to be a comprehensive collection of the best that literature has to offer. ... Heinle :: Language Arts & Disciplines & General :: Literature - Classics & Criticism :: Literature :: Literary Criticism :: General :: Collections :: Greg Johnson :: Thomas R :: Perrine-s Literature- Structure- Sound and Sense
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