Four Skills English Courses

English as a Second Language What do you want to talk about?
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This message may contain some new interesting useful information for you.
I have prepared my own list of four skills communicative English courses that may be of interest to you. To find a complete list of such courses you can search on the internet, in particular for Longman English Online.
Let me know your information and opinions on the best four skills English courses (both online and those using other aids).

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Hi Torsten,

What especially matters in effective teaching and learning English is how clearly and easily understandable all theoretical material is explained and whether adequate supportive exercises with real life content are practised to master that material (to develop certain skills efficiently).
As you know there are English courses in English only for learning and practising all four skills in one course in each lesson (listening, speaking, reading and writing alongside pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary). Four skills English courses include textbooks with audio and video recordings for all levels including for beginners and are suitable for self-study as well. Some of the best English courses in this regard in my view are listed below. You may want to explore them thoroughly:

  1. Spectrum: A Communicative Course in English (USA), by Diane Warshawksy and Sandra Costinett (Donald R.H. Byrd, Project Director), is a complete six-level, four skills course for adult and young adult learners of English. Spectrum features a unique “natural” approach to language learning: Rich language input is provided in authentic conversations accompanied by receptive activities that help students absorb new functions, structures, and vocabulary. Real-life language tasks offer both focused practice and opportunities for natural interaction, promoting both fluency and accuracy. Students progress from the beginning to the advanced level as they follow a comprehensive and carefully graded syllabus. Spectrum also features: *Thematically based lessons *Comprehensive coverage of all four skills *Listening activities in both the Student Book and Workbook *An audio program with authentic-sounding conversations, telephone messages, public announcements, and broadcasts *A complete testing package

  2. New Headway (by Liz and John Soars, 3rd edition), one of the best courses for all levels.

  3. The New Cambridge English Course is a four-level course for learners of English.
    The New Cambridge English Course is a course teachers and students can rely on to cover the complete range and depth of language and skills needed from beginner to upper-intermediate level. Each level is designed to provide at least 72 hours of class work using the Student’s Book, with additional self-study material provided in the Practice Book. The course has a proven multi-syllabus approach which integrates work on all the vital aspects of language study: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, skills, notions and functions.

  4. Practical English (3 books by Tim Harris, 1986,1987, 1988, 260 pages+292 p.+333 pages).
    This enjoyable three-level series provides a solid grounding in the structures and communicative functions of English, as well as extensive practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

  5. Everyday English (4 books by Barbara Zaffran, 112+136+112+96 pages, beginning - low intermediate levels).
    Everyday English is a four-book series designed to develop the English language skills of young adults. Students work with content-based unit material with the help of characters representative of a variety of ages and ethnic backgrounds. Dialogues, illustrations, critical-thinking exercises, word games, interesting readings, all enhance the four-skills learning process.

  6. Success (Communicating in English, by Michael Walker, four-level communicative grammar-based course for beginning - high intermediate levels, UK)

  7. Exploring English (by Tim Harris, 6 level communicative four skills practice course, for beginning - advanced levels, USA)

  8. Modern American English (by Robert J. Dixson, 6 levels, all 4 skills practice).
    Complete Course in English (by Robert J. Dixson, 4 levels, all 4 skills practice).

  9. Scott Foresman English (beginning - advanced, four skills practice course, USA).

  10. Matters (by Jan Bell and Roger Gower with Gillie Cunningham, five level English course, elementary - advanced levels, UK).

  11. Language to Go ( elementary - upper intermediate levels, all-in-one course, Longman, UK).

Language to Go is a four-level course with international appeal for adult learners of English. It is available at Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate and Upper Intermediate levels, each offering 40-60 teaching hours. It is the ideal course for the busy student, and can be used on short or intensive courses. At each level the components are the Students’ Book with Phrasebook, Class Cassette/CD, and Teacher’s Resource Book.
Essential grammar practised and revisited regularly throughout the syllabus; students can join the course at any stage and still cover the key language points;
Memorable dialogues at the end of each lesson summarise the main language to go!;
Built-in Practice section, Grammar reference and a FREE Phrasebook in the Students’ Book.

  1. english-to-go.com/index.cfm

  2. Natural English (4 books+audio, Oxford University Press)

ONLINE ENGLISH LEARNING COURSES:

longmanenglishinteractive.com/home.html (Longman English Online: General English, a six-level, video-based integrated skills online course, Michael Rost, beginning - advanced)

pearsonlongman.com/cws/teens-or-adult.html
elt.oup.com/cat/?cc=global&selLa … n&mode=hub
cambridge.org/gb/elt/catalog … cale=en_GB

esolcourses.com/
english-online.org.uk/course.htm
esl.about.com/cs/onlinecourses/a/a_ecourses.htm
1-language.com/englishcourse/index.htm
real-english.com/new-lessons.asp
word2word.com/course.html (free online language courses: English)
gettheskill.com/language-courses/english.php (free online English courses)
ats-group.net/language-courses.html
sites.google.com/site/marysenglishcourse/
englishclass101.com/