Basic Grammar in Action-Text: An Integrated Course in English

Book Description

The New Grammar in Action series is a streamlined, fun-filled course in English that immediately gets students speaking, reading and writing in the language. More than just grammar books, this super popular series ACTIVELY prepares students for success in English outside of class.

The New Grammar in Action 1-Text: An Integrated Course in English

Average customer rating:

A GREAT help in my Multi-Level Classroom
Trusted old friend is gone
I am disappointed
excellent grammar supplement for high school learners

The New Grammar in Action 1-Text: An Integrated Course in English
Barbara H. Foley , and Elizabeth R. Neblett
Manufacturer: International Thomson Publishing Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Basic Grammar in Action-Text: An Integrated Course in English
Composition Practice, Book 1: A Text for English Language Learners, Third Edition
English in Action L2-Student Book

ASIN: 0838467199

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT help in my Multi-Level Classroom.......2002-09-23

I have never seen the older editions mentioned by other reviewers, so I was not at all disappointed with this one. I have about 3 or 4 groups going at once in my adult classroom (NOT MY IDEA). My principle text for my level 1 group is Side-by-Side One. The students buy the Side-by-Side text and Workbook. I keep a class set of Grammar-in-Action in the room, so the students do the exercises on their own paper. After I introduce a chapter in Side-by-Side, I can easily find a chapter in Grammar-in-Action-One that reinforces the vocabulary or grammar topic of choice; the table of contents helps me quickly find a topic. But what I love most about the book is the variety of exercises that my students can work on while I am busy with my other groups. The exercises cover listening (GET THE TAPES, they are great and really help in a multi-level class), speaking (terrific pair exercises: interviews and info-gaps), and plenty of writing (truly reinforces the grammar and vocab). There's just a little bit of reading, but I like using the True Stories series for reading practice, anyway. The exercises in this book teach! Of course, I go over the exercises beforehand and after, but the students really enjoy helping each other and working together. The students who apply themselves really learn a lot, and with relatively little effort on my part.

Trusted old friend is gone.......2000-04-05

I must agree with another reviewer in that I am very disappointed with the 'NEW' Grammar in Action. The wonderful simplicity of the series which made it unique is gone. It appears that in an attempt to hve the book mesh with their other titles, the publisher wanted make it look like every other textbook. And that is what they have done. My trusted old friend of a beginner ESL/EFL book is gone.

I am disappointed.......2000-03-08

I have used the orginal Grammar in Action books, and I am very disappointed in this one. The wonderful, clear simple pictures are missing and have been replaced with tiny crowded ones, or worse, no pictures at all!

excellent grammar supplement for high school learners.......1999-05-15

We found this book to be an excellent compliment to Heinle and Heinle's Voices in Literature and Making Connections. We are using book 1 and book 2 to review grammar and focus on problem areas such as prepositions and personal pronouns. I would recommend these two volumes as supplementary text for use at the high school level for any teacher who feels that students need more focused and concentrated practice in English grammar. Colette Miller, ELD-LEP chair, Cabrillo High School

Gauntlet: Five Friends, 20,000 Enemy Troops, & the Secret That Could Have Changed the Course of the Cold War

Average customer rating:

Proud to be a Masin
Interesting perspective
An inspirational tale of courage, daring, and absolute commitment to ideals of freedom.
Audacity of Youth
The Greatest Cold War Story Ever Told

Gauntlet: Five Friends, 20,000 Enemy Troops, & the Secret That Could Have Changed the Course of the Cold War
Barbara Masin
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Enemies: How America's Foes Steal Our Vital Secrets--and How We Let It Happen

ASIN: 1591145155

Book Description

On 3 October 1953, five young men, armed with four pistols, crossed the border from Czechoslovakia into East Germany. Their mission was to deliver an explosive secret message from a Czechoslovak general to U.S. authorities at all costs. The journey was to take three days. Their ultimate objective was to join the U.S. Army Special Forces, then return to liberate their country. What ensued was the largest manhunt of the Cold War.

This fast-paced book tells the exciting story of their plight as thousands of East German and Soviet troops chased them across swampland, forests, and fields for thirty-one days. After surviving several pitched gun battles, gunshot wounds, starvation, and the bitter cold, three finally reached West Berlin. Prior to their escape, they had formed the nucleus of an anti-Communist resistance group, inspired by the testament of celebrated World War II resistance leader, Czech general Josef Masin, father to two of the young men and grandfather to the author of this book.

As she was growing up, Barbara Masin heard parts of this story. Eager to learn more, she began to investigate. The result of her efforts is this thriller, which makes use of eyewitness interviews and extensive archival research in four countries. Her book places events in their historical context and analyzes the bitter present-day controversy surrounding the group's actions, examining the larger question of individuals making moral choices. It is a dramatic tale of courage and daring against overwhelming odds and a testament to American ideals of freedom.

Customer Reviews:

Proud to be a Masin.......2007-08-21

Wonderful gripping book! I couldn't put it down! So much history and so much strength in the Masin brothers and their group! I am proud to be a Masin (no close relation known). great job on the book!
DeAnn Masin

Interesting perspective.......2007-01-07

Despite her personal connection to the protagonists of the history, the author provides what seems to be a fairly unbiased accounting of events. Her closing notes regarding the impact in the politics and society of today's Czech Republic I found especially interesting. The book should be of interest to anyone looking at the particular events themselves or even more generally in the impact of the communist period on today's Republic.

An inspirational tale of courage, daring, and absolute commitment to ideals of freedom........2006-12-09

Gauntlet is the true story of five dedicated anti-Communist young men whose epic journey and struggle in the 1950's could have altered the course of the Cold War in Europe. Though grounded heavily in historical testimony and evidence, Gauntlet reads like a novel, as it follows the group's fugitive attempt to deliver a message from a Czechoslovak general to U.S. authorities. An inspirational tale of courage, daring, and absolute commitment to ideals of freedom.

Audacity of Youth.......2006-11-12

I could hardly put this book down. A loyal Czech father with a secret message throws down the gauntlet to his sons and they react with breathtaking action. This is a true story of incredibly daring young men who wre chased by the Communist Russian and East German Armies across East Germany. This book is based on five years of research by the daughter of one of the living survivors.

The Greatest Cold War Story Ever Told.......2006-09-23

The Naval Institute Press in Annapolis, Maryland published a dazzling, accomplished book by Barbara Masin called Gauntlet. I was surprised by the title, as I had previously read the older, differently named, version of the manuscript supplied to me by the author. When I hear the word Gauntlet, the Clint Eastwood movie of the same name always pops into my mind specifically the final scene of an old and rugged Clint running the gauntlet (or driving in his case) through the streets of Phoenix, being shot at from all sides, with high hopes and sense of duty, only to arrive on the steps of city hall to find a conclusion that he did not really like. Then it struck me - the finely crafted story told to us by Barbara Masin is in many facets and angles very similar, but very real and with an added epic weight.

It is a story of five young men, brothers Ctirad and Josef Masin (who is to become Barbara Masin's own father), Milan Paumer, Vaclav Sveda and Zbynek Janata, who in October 1953 fled communist Czechoslovakia on foot and shot their way through equally communist East Germany to West Berlin. It was the culmination and grand finale of their anti-Communist resistance activities, going in the footsteps of their legendary father and their families - and that it where the "gauntlet" comes into play. East German StaSi and VoPo mobilized over twenty thousand soldiers and policemen to capture the five young men.

They eventually captured two out of the five and promptly gave them to Czech commies to be executed, with many other relatives - but the Masin brothers and Milan Paumer (with a gunshot wound in the stomach) finished their run of the gauntlet to West Berlin. The book is a gripping thriller that would make Robert Ludlum proud - with one big distinction: this was not fantasy, this was a real life story and even those unfamiliar with the harsh realities of Eastern Europe in the dark ages of the Cold war will be sucked into the action. The realism of the story is chilling and makes it next to impossible to put the book down.

The Masin family was far from ordinary and the book follows the story of several generations in the family. Josef Masin, the father (1896-1942), was a soldier, hero of both world wars, member of Czechoslovak Legions in WWI, which fought their way across Russia and Siberia to the Pacific Ocean and was a member of the underground resistance against the Nazis. His sons, Ctirad (b. 1930), Josef (b. 1932) and daughter Zdena (b. 1933) were the next generation. Their mother, Zdena Masinova, although she did not know about her sons activites and escape plans, was sentenced to 25 years of prison and died in prison soon afterwards in horrific conditions. Their uncle Ctibor Novak was executed together with Vaclav Sveda and Zbynek Janata. Multiple friends and relatives were also executed or imprisoned - even if they knew nothing about the Masin brothers' group's anti-Communist activities.

The Masin brothers still have not set foot back in their native land. Today the Czech Republic is still only marginally free and allegedly democratic, but the majority of its population, after more than fifty years of constant brainwashing, has quite a ridiculous attitude about their own history and the role they themselves played in it. The Masin brothers and Milan Paumer are repeatedly nominated for the highest of Czech awards, only to be rejected by the communist-dominated Czech government. Yet other Czech politicians are afraid to take a clear stance in this case. Poorly educated, brainwashed for multiple generations and generally fearful, the population of today's Czech Republic seems to lack the guts needed to push the issue through. Nevertheless, the Masins and Paumer are held in high regard by the community of Czechs and former-Czechs living abroad, who in contrast to the inhabitants of the Czech and Slovak Republics, are familiar with the experience of fleeing to the West at the risk of one's life, and seem to be Masin's admirers: in 2005, the Czech and Slovak Association of Canada gave the Thomas Masaryk Award to the Masin brothers and Milan Paumer.

The Masin brothers and Milan Paumer were heroes. In this context heroes are individuals, who by example of their own bravery are able to inspire the masses. And inspire they did. Close to 1 million former Czechs and Slovaks now happily live abroad.

Czechoslovakia is from the historic point of view quite an unfortunate country - it was a truly free country for only twenty years (1918-1938) of their 1500 or so year history. By becoming Americans, the Masins and Paumer found - not that they planned it that way - the end of their rainbow. Czechoslovakia probably was not destined to be free, then or now - so those of us - inspired by the Masins - those of us who had freedom embedded in our DNA just had to go and become Americans. Which isn't bad at all, considering where we came from and what most of us have been through.

The Czech translation of the original manuscript was published in the Czech Republic about a year ago under the name "Odkaz". Since then, an additional seven months of research was added to the book for its English edition. It is a fast read and sure to delight anybody from history buffs and thriller aficionados right down to elderly cancelled Czechs who want their English-speaking children and grandchildren to read about their ancestors old country which never came to be free. It serves as a fine introduction for those unfamiliar with the history of that sad part of the world. A must for every library. This intense and amazing story is, without doubt, the greatest Cold war story ever told.

Thank you, Joe, Ray and Milan. And thank you all, who died on the way here. You all were and are our heroes and inspiration.

---------------
Gauntlet. (Five Friends, 20,000 Enemy Troops, and the Secret That Could Have Changed the Course of the Cold War) - by Barbara Masin, Published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, ISBN 1-59114-515-5 384 pages, Printed in the U.S.A.

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable
Stays the Course
boring and slow
Review of "Course of Action" by Cheri Rosenberg
Romance! Drama!

Course of Action
Gun Brooke
Manufacturer: Bold Strokes Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1933110228

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable.......2006-08-01

I had a small bout of interest when I began this book, but once I got into it, I couldn't lay it down.

The characters were well-defined and the plot was good.

This is the first book I've read of Gun Brooke and I look forward to reading more.

Stays the Course.......2006-07-26

Carolyn Black, an actress nearly past her prime according to Hollywood standards, is ruthless in going after what she wants. And, in this book, she wants the role of Maddox in a trilogy of films. No one else is as confident as she that she is right for the role, including the publisher of the books and producer of the films, Annelie Peterson. This is the story of Black's manipulations to get the role.

Brooke excellently portrays the kind of person Black is - ruthless, manipulative, etc. At the same time, she gives the reader an inside glimpse of Black that says that she's not all bad - except when she wants something. So when she falls for Peterson the reader can't be 100% sure whether it's part of her game or the real deal.

This is a well-written book dealing with a difficult personality to portray adequately. But Brooke ably has the reader rooting for Black and hoping that the powers that be give her the part.

The romance between the two women is also well written with just enough angst as to be realistic - she addresses the issues of a lesbian falling for a "straight" woman, etc.

All in all, Brooke has written a fine romance that is hard to put down once begun.

boring and slow.......2006-07-24

I read the other reviews and expected a compelling story, but instead found a book where the character were not sufficiently developed so that you don't really care one way or the other what happens. The book follows the two main characters through a series of events that seem to have no real connection or consequence to the story. The relationship is contrived and the connection between the main characters is superficial at best.
While I didn't expect a great piece of literature, I was hoping for a compelling story. This book doesn't deliver. Save your time/money there are better ones out there...

Review of "Course of Action" by Cheri Rosenberg.......2006-02-24

Award winning, talented, but over thirty, Carolyn Black will go to any lengths to land the role of a lifetime: portraying Diana Maddox, a lesbian criminal investigator. One woman, Annelie Peterson, appears to be keeping her from getting the part she feels is rightfully hers. Peterson, the owner of Key Line Publishing, is also the producer of the Maddox movie, "Dying for Fame."

When sparks fly, Annelie can't help but wonder how far Carolyn is willing to go to get the part. Annelie values honesty, integrity, and loyalty, and her feelings for Carolyn are clouded by rumors that Carolyn is a ruthless, calculating opportunist. And straight. Annelie, while out to her friends, is cautious, and doesn't make a habit of falling for straight women.

Gun Brooke's debut novel, "Course of Action," brings this unlikely pair together in a somewhat unusual setting, thought to be all glamour and glitz, where ambition and greed reign.

Brooke gets to the core of her characters' emotions and vulnerabilities and points out their strengths and weaknesses in very human terms. Carolyn, the Diva, is a far cry from Carolyn, the woman. A consummate actress, Carolyn is adept at concealing her true feelings as she retreats behind her persona at a moment's notice. The commitment that drives her ambition leads the reader to perceive her tough exterior as impenetrable, and it's hard to imagine her letting intimacy in. At the same time, the reader longs for her to take the risk. Living vicariously through Carolyn is easy; her elation is apparent when she impresses her audience, and the reader can't help but feel the excitement right along with her.

Annelie is equally tough on the outside and a softie on the inside. Despite intense desire, Annelie wants to run and hide from Carolyn. With both women, especially Annelie, trying hard to protect their hearts, the development of any relationship seems out of the question. Wondering how events will affect them, and whether their love will be strong enough to overcome their differences, keeps the reader engrossed.

Gun Brooke's debut novel has met the standards that define a good romance with flying colors. Brooke is proficient at tapping into every nuance and emotion, making it easy for the reader to be enamored with the characters while getting wrapped up in the action. With romance, hot sex, characters you care about, and important areas still to be explored, "Course of Action" demands a sequel. Don't miss what I hope will be the first of many Carolyn Black and Annelie Peterson stories. "Course of Action" is a Golden Crown Literary Award 2006 finalist for Debut Author. In addition, Brooke's "Protector of the Realm," is a finalist in the Sci-fi/Fantasy/Speculative/Horror category.

Romance! Drama!.......2006-01-05

Annelie Peterson, the mysterious owner of a publishing company, has something actress Carolyn Black desperately wants. A prime role - the role of a lifetime - in a movie based on a character Carolyn previously played in a series of electronic books. Convinced that no one else can play the character like she would, Carolyn sets out to do whatever it takes to get the part. One big obstacle stands in Carolyn's way - Annelie isn't convinced Carolyn would be the best choice.

When Carolyn and Annelie again meet at a charity function, Annelie - for reasons she can't quite explain - finds herself inviting Carolyn to her home. Something she hasn't done with someone who's virtually a complete stranger. Or is she? It's strictly a nice gesture to let Carolyn use her pool - isn't it? Slowly but surely, as they spend more time around each other, the two women find themselves becoming friends. Carolyn soon suspects that there is more to Annelie than meets the eye. It seems Annelie has secrets. Carolyn can't help but wonder what they could be. And what they would have to do with Annelie's reluctance to offer her the part Carolyn is seeking.

Carolyn's determination and Annelie's hesitation come to a head when, somewhere along the lines, both women begin to notice their feelings for each other are changing. The big question is - are they changing for better or for worse? Annelie wonders if Carolyn's feelings are true or another ploy in her attempt to gain the coveted role. As for Carolyn, she's never thought to question her sexuality so why is she doing so now? To add another obstacles into the mix, a crisis for one of the women threatens to derail any chance of a new love forming. Could fate be trying to tell them something?

Gun Brooke presents the readers with a terrific first book. Filled with drama, and suspense, with just the right touch of romance, Course of Action is a thoroughly intriguing and entertaining read - from the emphatic first line to its heartfelt ending!

French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture, Second Edition: Audio Program , Part 1 (French in Action)

Average customer rating:

C'est vraiment excellent! Great with the books or for practice in the car
French in Action:aourse in Language and Culture, 2nd ed. Audio Program, Part 1
J'aime bien "French in Action."

French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture, Second Edition: Audio Program , Part 1 (French in Action)
Pierre Capretz
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0300101368

Customer Reviews:

C'est vraiment excellent! Great with the books or for practice in the car.......2007-05-16

Used in combination with the audio materials, this course promises so much more than the usual (colors, numbers, basic greetings, etc.), and places a strong emphasis on pronunciation and idioms. You finish with a useful knowledge of French--the kind people actually speak. Comprehension is difficult at first because the speakers talk at a normal pace without overemphasizing the words, but it is this technique that leaves one able to know what people are saying without having them slow down.

As for the method of delivery--it's fun! The textbook follows a narrative structure, specifically a story about Robert, an American student in France, and Mireille, a young and witty student at the famed Sorbonne in Paris. There is love, mystery, and lots of important cultural information on the way, as well as an underlying humor that made our class laugh quite often. I recommend it highly for use in a class, and if you are willing to dish out the cash, for independent study as well. It has everything you need to gain a firm grounding in French language, culture, and idioms.

The audio program complements both text and workbooks and is essential in learning the pronunciation, as well as for practicing hearing and understanding French spoken at full speed. Many of the exercises also work well without the books and can be used in the car.

French in Action:aourse in Language and Culture, 2nd ed. Audio Program, Part 1.......2006-07-02

This is an excellent introduction to French. You will need the textbook that must be ordered separately. I still have not found Part two of this product which would finish off the learning of basic French at about the second year level at a university in the states.

J'aime bien "French in Action.".......2005-03-14

This series is phenomenal.I have used it on my own and made good progress doing so. When I backslid, I hired a native-born French woman as a tutor and used this as our text. Our classes were constantly being broken up by her laughter. "She said what?" "That's so French!" "People say that all the time." She was right, too. I spend a lot of time in Paris now, too much of it eavesdropping on the folks at the next table. I can attest, the conversations are often right out of the book. The cultural insights are dead-on and invaluable. More often than anything else I have used to learn French, I find myself relying on the words, phrases and conversational patterns that I picked up in these lessons. I'm glad the cassettes are available as CDs now, because mine were wearing out!

French in Action : A Beginning Course in Language and Culture : The Capretz Method: Textbook

Average customer rating:

C'est vraiment excellent! BEST language book!
Language Dunce - even have trouble with English
I don't believe the so-called "immersion" method
NOT good for travel prep
Fun, structured, and a great beginning. Needs CD ROM

French in Action : A Beginning Course in Language and Culture : The Capretz Method: Textbook
Pierre Capretz
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Le Petit Nicolas
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ASIN: 0300058217

Customer Reviews:

C'est vraiment excellent! BEST language book!.......2007-05-16

Used in combination with the audio materials, this course promises so much more than the usual (colors, numbers, basic greetings, etc.), and places a strong emphasis on pronunciation and idioms. You finish with a useful knowlege of French--the kind people actually speak. Comprehension is difficult at first because the speakers talk at a normal pace without overemphasizing the words, but it is this technique that leaves one able to know what people are saying without having them slow down.

As for the method of delivery--it's fun! The textbook follows a narrative structure, specifically a story about Robert, an American student in France, and Mireille, a young and witty student at the famed Sorbonne in Paris. There is love, mystery, and lots of important cultural information on the way, as well as an underlying humor that made our class laugh quite often. I recommend it highly for use in a class, and if you are willing to dish out the cash, for independent study as well. It has everything you need to gain a firm grounding in French language, culture, and idioms.

Language Dunce - even have trouble with English.......2006-08-05

I went through the 52 PBS programs first, then went through them again making notes, then I bought the book.

This immersion method I believe is like a child learning their own language for the first time - you watch and over time figure out what people are saying - you do not begin taking courses for 5 years.

If I had, had to take a typical language course to learn my native English - I believe I would never have learned.

The book is the immersion method in writting [and also in French]. You can go back and forth between the book and the 52 programs and everything is in French. You pick a word here and a phrase there and then start putting a few togeather. You learn the situations also.

For a person like me who fails every language course - this has been fun. It makes me want to go through the chapters and tapes over and over again.

So if you think of this method as a way to pick up French as a child would - a word here and a phrase there and a spark to continue to learn - it can be a lot of fun.

So far I recommend the 52 PBS programs and this Book.

I don't believe the so-called "immersion" method.......2006-07-15

An adult needs all the help his mature abilities can bring, including the language he knows to mirror and bridge the language he is learning. The "French only" method seems to me almost idiotic. It didn't work for me and I know I am not alone. I love French and have kept my eyes on all the self-study French courses available in the States.

Besides, French may not change much but the video is around 20 year old.

NOT good for travel prep.......2006-05-09

After reading the reviews I thought I had found the perfect course to learn French before a trip. I had two months to study and am a motivated language learner. That being said this course was practically useless. This a course designed for college classroom study, not independent home study. Also if you need ANY explanation at all for grammar or pronunciation look elsewhere. I think the immersion method works well when coupled with some explanation. But this course gives no instruction on conjugating verbs, subject-noun agreement, etc. It just expects you to absorb this information. This would be fine if you had a year of college class and a teacher to guide you. If you are buying this to prepare for travel find a concise and cheaper guide to learning french.

Fun, structured, and a great beginning. Needs CD ROM.......2006-03-22

I now live in France and am fluent, and I can say French in Action helped me out on my path to learning French. First, the blond girl Mireille is quite pretty and a joy to watch (for males). The guy, Robert, is a little goofy. Anyway, the story is entertaining enough, with some nice scenes of Paris (especially Jardin Luxembourg) and with a grand finale of a visit of many of France's finest sites.

The text book, workbook, and video combination is excellent. As others have noted, it is one of the best self-learning guides available in any language. The workbook has the answers in the back. If you take this in conjunction with a course, so much the better.

However, this will not make you fluent by any means - at most it gets you up to intermediate. Enough for tourism at any rate, but not enough to prepare you for a life in France and working in French. But the books don't claim to do so.

It would be nice if there were CD-ROMs available (if there are, i haven't seen them). These CD ROMS could have games, quizes, etc.

Just one other thing - the book is GIGANTIC! At least when I had it; it was almost too big for my bag, and was the largest of my university books.

The New Grammar in Action 2-Text: An Integrated Course in English

Average customer rating:

The New Grammar in Action 2-Text: An Integrated Course in English
Barbara H. Foley , and Elizabeth R. Neblett
Manufacturer: International Thomson Publishing Services
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0838467237

Book Description

Average customer rating:

Crash Course
One Of The Best
Fast paced action
Thrilling, fun and exciting
Harry Potter meets pod races from Phantom Menace

Crash Course (Hover Car Racer)
Matthew Reilly
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Contest

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Book Description

Imagine twenty fighter jets racing around a twisting, turning aerial track, ducking and weaving and passing at insanely high speeds, and you've just imagined a hover car race.

Fourteen-year-old Jason Chaser is a hover car racing phenom who against the odds has been admitted to the prestigious International Race School. With his kid brother, Bug, who doesn't speak, as his navigator, he's competing against the best of the best, including his hometown rival, the obnoxious Barnaby Becker; the fiercely determined Ariel Piper, the first girl ever admitted to the school; and a mysterious driver in black, who never seems to lose. With tyrannical instructors, sabotaged equipment, and the most intense competition he's ever faced, can Jason prevail?

Customer Reviews:

Crash Course.......2007-07-29

This is Matthew Reilly's foray into an adventure novel series for young people. Large text and few pages, you can tear thru this book in an afternoon. However, it is a fun, early teenager adventure - and is the first in a series. Recommend it for those avid early readers who are into sci phi. :D

One Of The Best.......2006-02-07

This is no copy of other books. It is flat out exciting, a real page turner. I read it and loved it. If you are looking for an exciting book than you should definitely read this book!!! It was awesom

Fast paced action.......2005-06-09

Sure this is a "kids" book, but even adults will get hooked by the fast paced action of MR's latest offering.

Some people have commented that it is just Star Wars: Pod Racing meets Harry Potter, but Hover Car Racer offers much more. It is easy to read, addictive and although predictable, a real page-turner!

Oh, and if you're an Aussie (like me) you'll love the frequent Australianisms throughout the story - especially the names of a couple of the rival racers!!

Thrilling, fun and exciting.......2005-06-05

My son has just turned 9. I bought this book for him and he finished it in one day! He could not put it down ... he found it awesome and hopes there will be more SOON! He did find it quite easy reading - mentioning that the printing has large spaces. He particulary enjoyed the start of the book as the story begins in the middle of a race. A great young boy reader!
Thank you.

Harry Potter meets pod races from Phantom Menace.......2004-12-10

I have read all of Reilly's books and have enjoyed them all. Until now. I felt like I was forcing myself to finish the book simply because it was written by him and I am a fan. But as the previous reviewer mentioned, the story is quite juvenile and I was completely reminded of Harry Potter (racing school for talented kids) and the pod racing scenes from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. If those two properties weren't heavy influences, I would be surprised. Unfortunately, now we have to wait at least another year before we get something new from Reilly here in the States. He wrote on his website that he will now be producing a book every two years rather than one. If you are a die-hard MR fan, then I guess you should read Hover Car Racer. But if you're looking for the hard-edged, gritty, adult action of his earlier books, skip this one.

New Grammar in Action 3: An Integrated Course in English

Average customer rating:

New Grammar in Action 3: An Integrated Course in English
Barbara H. Foley , Elizabeth R. Neblett , and Deborah S. Pires
Manufacturer: International Thomson Publishing Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The New Grammar in Action 2-Text: An Integrated Course in English
The New Grammar in Action 1-Text: An Integrated Course in English
Basic Grammar in Action-Text: An Integrated Course in English
English in Action L3-Student Book
English in Action L2-Student Book

ASIN: 0838467288

Book Description

French in Action : A Beginning Course in Language and Culture, the Capretz Method: Part One

Average customer rating:

C'est vraiment excellent! BEST language book!
Le cours de langues français le plus complet
Good For Review
A wonderful complete immersion in French when used properly
Irrelevant for classroom use

French in Action : A Beginning Course in Language and Culture, the Capretz Method: Part One
Pierre Capretz
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Similar Items:

French in Action: A Beginning Course in language and Culture, Second Edition: Workbook, Part 1 (Yale Language Series)
French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture, Second Edition: Audio Program , Part 1 (French in Action)
French Verb Drills
English Grammar for Students of French: The Study Guide for Those Learning French
Easy French Reader

ASIN: 0300072651

Customer Reviews:

C'est vraiment excellent! BEST language book!.......2007-05-16

Used in combination with the audio materials, this course promises so much more than the usual (colors, numbers, basic greetings, etc.), and places a strong emphasis on pronunciation and idioms. You finish with a useful knowledge of French--the kind people actually speak. Comprehension is difficult at first because the speakers talk at a normal pace without overemphasizing the words, but it is this technique that leaves one able to know what people are saying without having them slow down.

As for the method of delivery--it's fun! The textbook follows a narrative structure, specifically a story about Robert, an American student in France, and Mireille, a young and witty student at the famed Sorbonne in Paris. There is love, mystery, and lots of important cultural information on the way, as well as an underlying humor that made our class laugh quite often. I recommend it highly for use in a class, and if you are willing to dish out the cash, for independent study as well. It has everything you need to gain a firm grounding in French language, culture, and idioms.

You can buy the textbook with both parts together or separately, but either way, you will want to know what happens with the story, so be ready to order both parts, one way or another.

Le cours de langues français le plus complet.......2005-12-13

"French in Action" is a complete, college-level language course intended for students who have aspirations of fluency. The course consists of five components: video tapes (or DVDs), audio tapes (or CDs), textbook, workbook and study guide. All the components work together and are necessary for the course to be effective. The course utilizes an immersion method, meaning that after the first couple of lessons, everything except the study guide is in French. In spite of its high profile and ready access on public television, I don't think it's a good course for beginners. It moves quickly and would probably be best for someone with previous study in the language. The course would be nearly ideal for a college-level student with at least a year of high school French under their belt.

It's a full meal. There are 52 lessons divided into two, 26 lesson parts. Each part can be purchased separately, but any way you slice it, the entire course is a considerable investment in both time and money. Working about an hour per day, it's paced to be handled at the rate of about a lesson a week. At full speed, you might be able to finish it in a year. Because most of the lessons involve some kind of conversational practice, the course is best taken with a partner or the help of a tutor. Self-study students might be tempted to eliminate the conversational and writing exercises, but doing so would be a mistake. Those exercises constitute at least half of the value of the course.

One of the real strengths of "French in Action' is that it puts an emphasis on the French language the way the French actually speak it, which is quite a bit different from the way American phrase books tend to teach it. Right from the start, you're listening to the language at full speed in all its idiomatic glory. If you're anything like me, you'll have the sense of always struggling to catch up. But, I like the fact that the early emphasis is on listening and getting a sense of the rhythm of the language. Younger students will probably like the fact that after the first several lessons, they will have learned at least a dozen ways to insult their friends.

One of the weaknesses of the course is that the audio tapes really need to be used along with the workbook. Hence, it's difficult (though not impossible) to use them in the car during long commutes. Don't expect a standard presentation, because the material isn't handled anything like standard French textbooks. Tenses, for example, are introduced so matter-of-factly that the very first words you utter are in the future tense. And there is no emphasis at all on word-for-word translation. In fact, quite often you're listening to idiomatic phrases in which the individual words when analyzed don't make much sense, but the meaning of the entire phrase when spoken in context is perfectly clear.

"French in Action" is a real grown-up language course for students with mature study skills and sufficient interest to get through it. I, myself, have taken a couple runs at it over the years and have only recently developed a successful study routine. Though the video program is on public television all the time, it's not a casual course at all. Don't believe the promos that suggest that all you have to do is "listen, watch and get involved". Just watching the shows on TV won't get you very far. You will spend at least 350 hours going through the entire course and probably more like 700-1000. That may sound like a lot, but by the end you will doubtless have a better understanding of French than you would have had from any other commercial package.

Good For Review.......2005-09-20

The Capretz method is a wonderful learning device, and it provides great review and enrichment for more advanced speakers. However, it is very flawed for high school and even college use. First the videos are dated, so immature audiences are unlikely to take them seriously. Secondly, the workbook and exercises are targeted at beginning French speakers. Yet it is very difficult for a beginner to follow the dialog. If, however, you skip Part I and go to Part II, you may spend a lot of time trying to orient the students to the Capretz method.

My recommendations for intermediate studens is to use the videos and textbook (no workbooks!) to enhance listening and reading comprehension. Then consider the excellent En Bonne Forme book, CDs and workbook as an alternative or supplement.

En Bonne Forme provides actual literary passages for reading and listening comprehension, extensive vocabulary lists, and grammar that will advance every facet of your French language skills.

If you are an intermediate student with limited funds and time, then try En Bonne Forme.

A wonderful complete immersion in French when used properly.......2004-06-03

This video-audio-workbook course is incredible! I took three semesters of college level French many decades ago in a wonderful native speaker tutorial and found on my infrequent trips to France or Quebec that over the years, my quasi-fluency had faded away. I took an adult education program with a competant native speaker recently and found the traditional high school textbook, CD, testing regime inadequate. In all likelihood, Noelle. the High School student from Atlanta who did not like the book, probably was denied the whole package. In fact, the text relies on the PBS TV video or the free broadband video version (...)-AND the 52 Casette Tapes or CD's and workbooks I and II. In order of importance, I would rate the Audio or CD and workbooks I and II above the text and video. Granted, it is an expensive package (...)but it also the closest thing to an immersion program this side of the Atlantic. So, Yale University Press overcharges. But all textbooks are out of line. This package is a bargain amongst bargains. Incidentally, the two Study Guides do very little and may be skipped altogether. However, the rest of the package MUST BE USED TOGETHER as a whole. Capretz, recently retired from Yale, is a rare master teacher and this program precludes the need of an intermediate teacher.

Irrelevant for classroom use.......2004-06-01

I just finished a year course using the second part of this text as the main curriculum, and although this might have been a useful resource for adults trying to supplement class work back in the 80's when this series was created, I found it pretty ineffective for a high school class. The video that goes with the text seems cheesy and outdated (making it a lot more difficult for students to take it seriously, to be quite honest), and the topics and vocabulary are mostly irrelevant too. Thanks to Mr. Capretz, I can tell you how to start my car and that I used to live in a grass hut, but my conversation skills are actually a little rusty from the inane verbal excercises. This might be a good course for adults looking for supplement and review, but this is not a very good text for classroom use, and especially not well organized or easy to follow if you haven't used it from the very beginning. As for students, there are much better texts out there.

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