English Zone is a multi-level course of study for secondary school International Students for whom English is a Second Language. The English Zone series is built around careful development of the four language skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing, with resources taken from a variety of contexts: books, newspapers, instruction manuals, road signs or the emergency signs at a hospital. Since the students using English Zone are now living in New Zealand, they will benefit from a course that builds and reinforces their English within a New Zealand setting.
English Zone provides at each level a Student Book closely supported by a Work Book, a cassette and a Teacher Book. The Student Book sets out the main course.
The Work Book provides valuable practice for students outside the classroom. It is an ideal homework revision book. While the chapters link very closely to the chapters of the Student Book, the Work Book allows the students extra practice when the teacher is not at hand. There are 40 chapters, one for each week of the school year. Each chapter has approximately 4 pages and is written with the students' needs in mind. The activities are designed to have the student spend 20 minutes per night on their language skills. The exercises are independent of the Student Book but, when used in conjunction with the Student Book, provide greater reinforcement of the work covered at school. Answers to all Work Book questions are included in the Teacher Book. The Work Book can be used in a number of ways: a pretest for each unit, homework which encourages practice, or even a revision tool or assessment before moving on to anew chapter and its associated concepts and skills.
The Teacher Book guides the teacher on how to set up lessons by providing helpful advice based on the classroom experience of the author and those trialling the series. Black Line Masters are included, making easier for the student the task of completing the activities. The Teacher Book also contains all the answers for the Student Book and the Work Book.
A cassette is available for use with the Student Book.
Denny Newburn is Head of Department at Rotorua Boys' High School and has taught ESOL in New Zealand for ten years. She has the RSA, CTEFLA and a Diploma of Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Trinity College, London.
Gary Underwood has a Masters Degree in Education and taught in a wide variety of schools in Australia. He is a now a full-time consultant, writer and publisher who has worked closely with New Zealand schools over the last 4 years.