Explorations 1: Grammar for the Experienced Beginner

Reviewed by Kae Bradley, Academic Program Director, Marshall University on 9/12/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book is organized into four chapters, each covering basic grammar points in detail. Each chapter provides comprehensive explanations, examples, and exercises related to the grammar points introduced. Additionally, the chapters include readings that focus on these grammar points, reinforcing their application in context. Although the book covers only four main grammar points, each point is thoroughly explored, offering ample material for beginners to practice and master their learning.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The book is highly accurate in its content. The grammar points are explained with precision, and the sentences used in examples and exercises are correct. Additionally, the readings are written in clear and accurate language, ensuring that the material is appropriate for learners.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book is highly relevant to its title, Explorations 1: Grammar for the Experienced Beginner. The content aligns well with the title, addressing the needs of learners at this level. The explanations, examples, and readings are cohesively related, ensuring that all elements of the book work together effectively to support the learning objectives.

Clarity rating: 4

The book is clear and easy to understand, making it a good resource for both teachers and students. Teachers can effectively use the book in class to explain grammar points and guide students through exercises. Additionally, students can use the book independently to practice and reinforce their English skills on their own.

Consistency rating: 5

The book maintains a high level of consistency in its presentation. It introduces grammar points clearly, provides detailed explanations, and follows up with examples and exercises. The language used throughout the book is appropriate for beginner learners, ensuring that the material is accessible and understandable. The format of the book is also consistent; all exercises use similar language in their instructions, which helps beginners easily understand and follow the directions.

Modularity rating: 5

Some aspects of the book's layout could be adjusted for better readability. The font size is relatively small, and there is excessive space between lines. Additionally, when text is placed in boxes, the boxes are quite large while the font size remains small, making it challenging to review the entire page on one screen. Adjusting the layout to make the content fit better on each page would improve overall readability and ease of use.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The book is well-organized, beginning with simple grammar points and progressively advancing to more complex concepts. This structured approach supports beginners in gradually building their language skills and understanding. The content flows smoothly, starting with shorter, simpler readings and advancing to longer and more complex texts. This gradual progression not only reinforces foundational knowledge but also helps learners develop their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills over time. The logical sequence of topics and readings effectively supports incremental learning and improvement.

Interface rating: 4

The book lacks interactive features or an interface that would facilitate learner engagement. All pages are grouped together under a single chapter or unit, which can make it challenging for beginners to navigate from one lesson to the next. It might be more practical to download the book as a PDF and print the pages, allowing learners to work on one page at a time. This approach can make it easier to focus on specific sections and manage the content more effectively.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I appreciate how the book introduces each grammar point. Each topic is presented separately, with detailed explanations, examples, and exercises. Additionally, grammar points are introduced in context, demonstrating how they can be applied in real-life situations and authentic materials. This approach not only clarifies the grammar rules but also shows their practical usage, enhancing the learning experience.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book’s layout could benefit from adjustments to reduce the number of pages and incorporate more visuals. Adding pictures and additional content would enhance engagement and provide a more dynamic learning experience.

Reviewed by Jacalyn Swink, Part Time Professor, Buena Vista University on 11/17/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text covers the basic reading, writing, speaking, and listening for students learning English.
There is not a glossary or index; however, there are only four chapters in this text and each is set up in a similar manner. The text is set up to be used with a partner or in a small group. The activities all include learning basic English and practicing the language.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The material is not biased nor does it contain errors in grammar.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The material in this text is current. The chapters contain learning goals, activities to practice and apply learning, reading, writing, and speaking in English. The learning activities are easy to understand and follow. There is also a self assessment at the end of each chapter for the learner to reflect.

Clarity rating: 5

The text was very clear and provided clear directions for the learner. The language was very simple and easily understood. Each task was articulated distinctly.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistent throughout each chapter providing opportunities to practice English through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each chapter has a rubric as well as providing examples.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easy to read and understand. The activities were well written and straightforward. The directions were clear and concise.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Each of the chapters in the text were clearly written and in chronological order of learning a language. The chapters were long and had numerous activities.

Interface rating: 5

There were visuals throughout the text, hands on lessons, models, and a variety of lesson formats.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text does not contain any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is not culturally insensitive; it was neutral. It was not offensive.

Comments

This text was geared toward students who have a basic understanding of the English language.

Reviewed by Shelley-Jo Talvacchia Rowell, Instructor Diagnostic Technician Certification, Cape Cod Community College on 6/8/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Though this text did not provide an index or glossary, it did cover many aspects (simple past and present tense sentences as well as pronunciation) to provide a good foundation for first time English speakers.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This book is a process to follow, the lessons contained in it, to be completed alone, on paper or with a partner to practice questions and answers or pronunciations was accurate. In many ways I appreciated it's focus on simple phrases that are often constructed differently in other languages that can "tip off" a person as a beginner and had a process to work through these common mistakes and make a person sound and feel more confident in their English mastery.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

As long as people are arriving in America from other countries this book will be a relevant and important tool for anyone who uses it. As I understand it, if the stories used in the text to provide context for the lessons perhaps become dated over the years, the stories might be updated with this online format so I can't see it becoming stale or uninteresting to the reader.

Clarity rating: 5

Clarity is key in this text. The stories are written to be interesting, relevant and readable without unnecessary information that will be of no service during the lessons for each. The written lessons and speaking exercises are well written to be simple and clear. An ESOL student will be carefully guided through each lesson, becoming more involved in the grammar as each lesson is learned.

Consistency rating: 5

Each lesson in this text begins with a story. Methodically, there after the writing and speaking exercises build on and from the information in the story and the lessons progress in a similar fashion so that from beginning to end a student can feel their confidence in knowing the "flow" of each chapter and the exercise. There are also charts and tables that further demonstrate the use of the verbs being learned in each.
Icons are used to bring quick thoughts to mind, preparing the student for the coming lesson and instilling an idea of the types of lessons and verbs being offered in each of the four sections.
After each lesson, a review and a chance to correct mistakes is allowed, giving the student a chance to speak and write the corrections in the moment. I think this is an important aspect of the text.

Modularity rating: 4

This text contains four chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 whether in the order presented in the text or not could be complete lessons on their own, however Chapter 4 is a comparison of Chapters 2 and 3 and these two should be completed in order.
The individual chapters could be broken up into smaller lessons, given how they are complete, each on their own. The speaking exercises build on the reading and writing assignments and should remain together with their corresponding topics. I believe with some planning and thought the chapters could be easily taken as smaller chunks and still give good instruction in the subject.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This text flows wonderfully with simple but interesting stories into questions and lessons that the student can confidently master. I can imagine it being a joy to use with a willing and excited class looking to improve their English usage. Each story asks questions and requires the student to properly insert verbs in their correct place within the sentence to properly express the thought in English. Each lesson is followed with speaking exercises (with a partner) and then with review and correction.
It's simplicity, the use of icons and repetitive lessons, practice exercises create an organization that marches towards a better understanding of the language.

Interface rating: 5

I experienced no issues with interfacing this text, I also downloaded the PDF for further review and had no problems with pages missing or incomplete.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

As it is a text concentrating on grammar for the beginner I found no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The people in the stories presented in the book are ordinary people from Central American countries. I will not pretend to know if any of the references are insensitive to all of the different cultures and ethnicities in these historically complicated countries, but the stories are about everyday life, portraying modest living conditions and daily mundane chores I can imagine anyone, of any ethnicity performing in their daily lives.

Comments

I teach students looking to become Diagnostic Techs, learning EKG, Phlebotomy and customer service as related to the allied health world. My students come from many different ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds and I chose this book so that I could not only learn more about online learning resources, but so I could recommend it to any of my brave wonderful students (or their family members) who may need such a simple and comprehensive boost into speaking English more confidently. Cape Cod is so diverse, we are so grateful for all those who come here and look to become care givers in so many ways, this text will be forever in my "toolbox" for anyone who may need it.