SMART Communication Textbooks

Teacher Reactions  

Arthur Ford, Instructor at Tokyo-Based Universities

I was very happy when my class preparation was brought down to an absolute minimum. Basically, I just open the book and teach. The topics are appropriate for my students, and this engages them. There are lots of opportunities for pair speaking because the book prioritizes communication over grammar - perfect for Japanese students. The Traffic Light Trainer was my favorite feature, because it works! Students gradually move from reading to speaking without textbooks. The SMART Check tables help students see their progress and with the QR codes students access animated videos and flashcard support games without dealing with website login details.  

Raquel Taniguchi, Instructor at Tokyo-Based Universities

I was looking for a textbook that focused on the interests of my students, so I tried this series. I find that the students keep busy during class while engaging in the 4 language skills. I am also happy that my preparation is minimal. I particularly like the Language Builder, Vocabulary Builder and Extra Activities pages. I use these for short quizzes and to evaluate how much students have learned in the previous lesson. The Speech Builder page is very helpful for lower level students. It helps them feel confident in writing and presenting their ideas to a group. I would recommend this book because the activities engage the students and the topics are fun for the students.

May Nakatsuka, Instructor at Tokyo-Based Universities

I found this textbook to be useful in encouraging all the students to communicate, as most of the activities require students to engage in pair or group work. There was also positive feedback from students. I especially like the Speech Builder feature. I was surprised with students' ability to produce great speeches in a short amount of time, and utilizing the phrases learned in class. I also like the Traffic Light Trainer feature, as it is a great way to encourage students to practice a speech and speak naturally. I always received positive feedback from the students one the communication activities and the speech writing and sharing activities. Another benefit from using this book was low preparation time. I was able to plan each lesson smoothly using the estimated time listed in each section.

Ferghal McTaggart, Instructor at Tokyo-Based Universities

I would absolutely recommend this textbook to other teachers. It really is as easy as just walking into a classroom and starting the class. Although at first sceptical about using a book that is so geared towards interaction, I ended up wondering why I was ever worried at all. The series gives students a clear, useful and entertaining path towards developing and improving their communicative English skills. I was surprised how well the relevant topics and useful speaking structures created an environment where students were keen to talk. Because every two classes repeats a flow, students grew accustomed to what they needed to do and this helped them to see clear improvement. In particular, I like the SMART Check tables. They encapsulate what the book is all about. It helps students see their progress.