| If you haven't come across them already in your quest for the Holy Textbook, I strongly recommend (with the caveat that I helped write them) the New Senior English for China (NSEC) for high intermediate learners and the Revised Senior English for China (SEFC) for lower intermediate learners. Both are published by People's Education Press and can be ordered online. I hope what follows doesn't smack of a free ad for the books. All of the units are new and the result of genuine collaboration among Chinese EFL educators, including in-service teachers, editors and foreign experts. Moreover, the graphics are new and improved. The cost, however, is much less than any imported, generic series and it includes translation exercises written by Chinese educators. Topics themselves were selected with input from Chinese students and teachers (such a novel concept!) and compare Chinese to Western culture. The teacher books aren't just glorified answer keys or car manuals but actual resource books, again providing additional optional readings and teaching strategies as well as enrichment activities. Nearly all tasks are integrated naturally and writing is featured. All articles and readings include background materials and Internet links. I'd be curious to know if any of you have tried either of these sets of books and what you and your students thought of them. |