When I used to teach intensive summer courses to my upper intermediate students in Argentina, I would always make sure to use Say it better in English along with my usual grammar books. Many of my students were adult professionals working for well-known international companies. Although many of them had a great level of English, they sometimes had trouble understanding native speakers, especially their American clients. In order to help my students prepare themselves for their business meetings or trips abroad I made sure to expose them to different aspects of the language with the help of this book.
Say it better in English has been a favorite among many of my ESL students, mostly because the book takes a very different approach to teaching common idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. The book is almost like a comic since it tells stories and teaches certain language structures through its illustrations and character dialogue. The cartoons show students how certain English expressions are used in real-life situations in both personal and professional contexts. After working with a specific situation and looking at different idioms and informal English words, the student reviews what they learned in the previous chapter by working on comprehension cross word puzzles.
From personal experience I have noticed that some students tend to get into the habit of learning things through drills, quizzes, and memorization activities but they never learn the language through less conventional methods. When students begin using this book they are sometimes surprised to see how quickly and easily they pick up certain words and phrases. What I enjoyed about the book is that it does not teach students extremely informal expressions, but it teaches a more casual form of English which can be used at the office and with close friends. In certain chapters it also teaches more professional and business related vocabulary which will be very useful for adult students who travel abroad or have clients in English speaking countries.
"From personal experience I have noticed that some students tend to get into the habit of learning things through drills, quizzes, and memorization activities but they never learn the language through less conventional methods."
The book will teach students common phrasal verbs like look into, drop off and head over. It will also teach students phrases like “play it by ear” and “keep in touch” through a series of entertaining examples and illustrations. I believe that when a student has an image or a specific story to relate information to, it is much easier to remember and learn new vocabulary. Having said this, most students will be drawn in by the book’s unique style and will notice their progress as they continue working with each chapter.
Extra Features
There is also a website that students can log into (found in the introduction) in order to print out worksheets and lists of common idiomatic expressions with their definitions. For students and teachers who are more technologically savvy there is now a Say it Better in English iPad application complete with audio exercises. The iPad application comes with a few extra activities such as quizzes, flashcards, games and even a feature that allows you to create your own customized study plan.
This book is perfect for ESL students and it can be used in a classroom or independently. Teachers may also find this book useful, but it’s not a course book I would recommend centering your entire class around. It is perfect to use alongside Speak Business English like an American by Amy Gillet especially if your students are working adults.
