What You Need to Know About American English File 1 Second Edition and Third Edition
American English File 1 Teachers Book: A Comprehensive Review
If you are looking for a high-quality coursebook to teach English to adult learners, you might want to consider American English File 1. This book is part of a six-level series that covers all the skills and topics needed for effective communication in English. In this article, we will review the main features, benefits, and components of American English File 1, as well as provide some practical tips on how to use it in the classroom, assess students' progress, and supplement it with other materials.
American English File 1 Teachers Bookl
What is American English File 1?
American English File 1 is a coursebook designed for beginner to elementary level students of English as a second or foreign language. It is published by Oxford University Press and written by Christina Latham-Koenig and Clive Oxenden, two experienced teachers and authors. The book follows the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) guidelines and aims to help students achieve the A2 level of proficiency by the end of the course.
The main features of American English File 1
American English File 1 has several distinctive features that make it an engaging and effective coursebook for learners and teachers alike. Some of these features are:
A balanced approach to the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on communication and fluency.
A clear and systematic presentation of grammar and vocabulary, with plenty of practice exercises and review sections.
A variety of authentic texts and audio materials that expose students to different genres, registers, and accents of English.
A focus on pronunciation and intonation, with specific tips and exercises to help students improve their accuracy and confidence.
A fun and motivating design, with colorful illustrations, photos, cartoons, and icons that support learning and retention.
The benefits of using American English File 1
Using American English File 1 as your coursebook can bring many benefits to your teaching and learning outcomes. Some of these benefits are:
It can help you save time and effort in planning your lessons, as the book provides a clear and coherent syllabus that covers all the essential topics and skills for your level.
It can help you cater to different learning styles and preferences, as the book offers a range of activities that appeal to visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and analytical learners.
It can help you create a positive and interactive classroom atmosphere, as the book encourages students to work in pairs or groups, share their opinions and experiences, and use humor and creativity.
It can help you monitor and measure your students' progress, as the book includes regular tests, self-checks, and portfolios that allow you to assess their strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback and remediation.
It can help you prepare your students for real-life situations, as the book exposes them to natural and relevant language that they can use in various contexts and scenarios.
How to use American English File 1 in the classroom
Now that you know what American English File 1 is and what it can do for you and your students, let's see how you can use it in the classroom. Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of the components, resources, and practices that the book offers.
The components of American English File 1
American English File 1 consists of several components that work together to provide a comprehensive and flexible course. These components are:
The Student Book, which contains 12 units, each with four lessons that cover grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and video. Each unit also has a Practical English section that teaches functional language for everyday situations, a Revise and Check section that reviews the main points of the unit, and a More Words to Learn section that expands the vocabulary range. The Student Book also has a Grammar Bank, a Vocabulary Bank, a Sound Bank, and a Communication Bank at the end of the book that provide extra reference and practice materials.
The Workbook, which provides additional exercises for each lesson of the Student Book, as well as six Progress Tests that assess the students' knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and skills. The Workbook also has a MultiROM that contains interactive activities and audio files that students can use for self-study or homework.
The Teacher's Book, which gives detailed instructions and tips on how to teach each lesson of the Student Book, as well as answer keys, transcripts, photocopiable activities, tests, and video worksheets. The Teacher's Book also has a Test and Assessment CD-ROM that contains editable tests for each File of the Student Book, as well as mid-term and end-of-term tests.
The Class Audio CDs, which contain all the listening materials for the Student Book and the Workbook.
The DVD, which contains short videos for each unit of the Student Book that illustrate the language and topics of the unit. The videos are accompanied by worksheets that provide before-watching, while-watching, and after-watching activities.
The teaching resources available for American English File 1
In addition to the components mentioned above, American English File 1 also offers a variety of online and offline resources that can enhance your teaching experience. These resources are:
The Teacher's Resource Center, which is an online platform where you can access and download all the materials from the Teacher's Book and the Test and Assessment CD-ROM, as well as extra resources such as wordlists, mind maps, syllabus checklists, end-of-lesson coolers, study link guides, cloze makers, and more.
The Classroom Presentation Tool (CPT), which is an interactive whiteboard software that allows you to display and annotate the pages of the Student Book on your computer or projector screen. The CPT also has embedded audio and video files that you can play directly from the software.
The Online Practice (OP), which is an online platform where your students can access interactive activities and tests for each lesson of the Student Book. The OP also allows you to assign homework, track your students' progress, and communicate with them via messages or forums.
The best practices for teaching with American English File 1
To make sure that you use American English File 1 effectively in your classroom, here are some best practices that you should follow:
Before you start teaching with American English File 1, familiarize yourself with the book's structure, content, objectives, and methodology. Read the introduction to the Teacher's Book and visit the Teacher's Site to get started with American English File 1.
Plan your lessons according to your students' needs, interests, goals, and level. Use the syllabus checklist to see what each unit covers and how it relates to the CEFR descriptors. Adapt or supplement the materials as necessary to suit your teaching context and style.
Follow the lesson plan provided in the Teacher's Book or create your own based on the suggested stages: lead-in/warm-up, How to assess students' progress with American English File 1
One of the most important aspects of teaching with American English File 1 is to assess your students' progress and provide them with feedback and support. This will help you and your students to identify their strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, and measure their achievement. Here are some suggestions on how to use the assessment tools included in American English File 1, as well as some tips for preparing students for exams and giving feedback and remediation.
The assessment tools included in American English File 1
American English File 1 provides you with various assessment tools that you can use throughout the course to evaluate your students' knowledge and skills. These tools are:
The Progress Checks, which are short tests that cover the grammar, vocabulary, and skills of each File of the Student Book. You can find them in the Workbook or online on the Student's Site. You can use them at the end of each File or at regular intervals to check your students' understanding and retention.
The Self-checks, which are self-evaluation forms that allow students to reflect on their own progress and performance. You can find them in the Student Book at the end of each Revise and Check section. You can use them as a way to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning and set their own goals.
The Portfolios, which are collections of students' work that demonstrate their achievements and improvement. You can find them in the Student Book at the end of each More Words to Learn section. You can use them as a way to showcase students' creativity and personalization, as well as to provide feedback and guidance.
The Tests, which are comprehensive exams that cover all the content and skills of each File or Term of the Student Book. You can find them in the Teacher's Book or on the Test and Assessment CD-ROM. You can use them as a way to measure students' overall progress and readiness for external exams.
The tips for preparing students for exams with American English File 1
If you are teaching with American English File 1 with the aim of preparing your students for external exams, such as Cambridge English Qualifications or IELTS, you will need to familiarize yourself and your students with the format, content, and criteria of these exams. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Use the CEFR correlation documents that show how American English File 1 relates to the CEFR levels and descriptors. You can find them on the Teacher's Site or in the Teacher's Book. You can use them as a way to inform your students about their current level and what they need to do to reach the next level.
Use the exam practice materials that simulate the tasks and questions of various external exams. You can find them in the Student Book or on the Online Practice platform. You can use them as a way to familiarize your students with the exam format and expectations, as well as to practice their exam techniques and strategies.
Use the exam tips and advice that provide useful information and suggestions for taking external exams. You can find them in the Student Book or on the Online Practice platform. You can use them as a way to motivate your students and boost their confidence before taking an exam.
The feedback and remediation strategies for American English File 1
Another important aspect of teaching with American English File 1 is to provide your students with feedback and remediation based on their assessment results. This will help you and your students to address their errors and gaps, reinforce their learning, and improve their performance. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:
How to supplement American English File 1 with other materials
While American English File 1 is a comprehensive and flexible coursebook that covers all the essential topics and skills for your level, you might want to supplement it with other materials to enrich your teaching and learning experience. Here are some suggestions on how to find and use other materials that are compatible with American English File 1.
The online resources compatible with American English File 1
One of the easiest ways to supplement American English File 1 with other materials is to use the online resources that are available on the Oxford University Press website or other reputable websites. Some of these online resources are:
The Student's Site, which is an online platform where your students can access extra activities and tests for each lesson of the Student Book, as well as videos, podcasts, games, and more. You can find it at https://elt.oup.com/student/americanenglishfile/.
The Teacher's Site, which is an online platform where you can access and download extra resources for teaching with American English File 1, such as wordlists, mind maps, syllabus checklists, end-of-lesson coolers, study link guides, cloze makers, and more. You can find it at https://elt.oup.com/teachers/americanenglishfile/.
The Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, which are online dictionaries that provide definitions, examples, synonyms, antonyms, collocations, pronunciation, and more for thousands of words and phrases in English. You can find them at https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/.
The Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT), which is an online test that assesses your students' level of English and provides them with a score and a CEFR level. You can find it at https://www.oxfordenglishtesting.com/.
The LearnEnglish website, which is an online platform that provides free resources for learning English from the British Council. You can find it at https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/.
The recommended books and websites for American English File 1
Another way to supplement American English File 1 with other materials is to use the recommended books and websites that are listed in the Student Book or on the Online Practice platform. Some of these books and websites are:
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (OALD), which is a comprehensive dictionary that provides definitions, examples, synonyms, antonyms, collocations, pronunciation, and more for thousands of words and phrases in English. You can find it at https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/.
The Oxford Word Skills series, which are books that help students improve their vocabulary by teaching them how to use words effectively in different contexts and situations. You can find them at https://elt.oup.com/catalogue/items/global/vocabulary/oxford_word_skills/?cc=global&selLanguage=en.
The Oxford Grammar for Schools series, which are books that help students learn and practice grammar rules and structures in a clear and simple way. You can find them at https://elt.oup.com/catalogue/items/global/grammar_and_vocabulary/oxford_grammar_for_schools/?cc=global&selLanguage=en.
The TED website, which is an online platform that features inspiring and informative talks by experts and innovators from various fields and disciplines. You can find it at https://www.ted.com/.
The BBC Learning English website, which is an online platform that provides free resources for learning English from the BBC. You can find it at https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish.
The creative activities and projects for American English File 1
A third way to supplement American English File 1 with other materials is to use your own creativity and imagination to design activities and projects that suit your students' needs, interests, goals, and level. Here are some examples of creative activities and projects that you can use with American English File 1:
Create a poster or a brochure about a topic or a place that you have learned in American English File 1. Use pictures, words, and phrases from the book or from other sources. Present your poster or brochure to the class and explain why you chose that topic or place.
Write a short story or a comic strip based on a situation or a character that you have encountered in American English File 1. Use dialogue, description, and action to make your story or comic strip interesting and engaging. Share your story or comic strip with the class and get feedback from your peers.
Make a video or a podcast about a skill or a hobby that you have or want to learn. Use language and vocabulary from American English File 1 to explain what you do, how you do it, and why you like it. Upload your video or podcast to a website or a platform and invite your classmates to watch or listen to it and comment on it.
Organize a quiz or a game show based on the content and skills of American English File 1. Use questions, answers, and challenges from the book or from other sources. Divide your class into teams and compete against each other for points and prizes. Have fun and learn at the same time.
Plan a trip or an event with your classmates using the language and information from American English File 1. Decide where you want to go, what you want to do, how much you want to spend, and what you need to prepare. Make a list of tasks and responsibilities for each member of the group. Execute your plan and enjoy your trip or event.
Conclusion
American English File 1 is a great coursebook for teaching English to adult learners at the beginner to elementary level. It offers a balanced approach to the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and video. It also provides a variety of components and resources that make teaching and learning easy and fun. Moreover, it helps you assess your students' progress and prepare them for real-life situations and external exams.
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have reviewed the main features, benefits, and components of American English File 1, as well as provided some practical tips on how to use it in the classroom, assess students' progress, and supplement it with other materials.
Call to action
If you are interested in using American English File 1 as your coursebook, you can visit the Oxford University Press website to find out more information and order your copy. You can also access the online platforms for students and teachers to get extra activities and resources for American English File 1. We hope that this article has helped you understand what American English File 1 is and how it can help you teach English effectively.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about American English File 1:
Q: How many hours of teaching does American English File 1 cover?
A: American English File 1 covers about 80-120 hours of teaching, depending on how fast or slow you go through the book.
Q: What level of English does American English File 1 correspond to?
A: American English File 1 corresponds to the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is equivalent to the KET exam from Cambridge English Qualifications.
Q: What are the main differences between American English File 1 Second Edition and Third Edition?
A: The main differences between American English File 1 Second Edition and Third Edition are that the Third Edition has updated texts and topics, more video content, more online practice activities, more exam practice materials, and more teacher