Product Description

Side by Side, Third Edition, by Steven J. Molinsky and Bill Bliss, is a dynamic, all-skills program that integrates conversation practice, reading, writing, and listening -- all in a light-hearted, fun, and easy-to-use format that has been embraced by students and teachers worldwide. This four-level program promotes native communication between students ...practicing speaking together "side by side." Features of the Third Edition *Vocabulary Preview sections in every chapter introduce key words in a lively picture dictionary format. *"How to Say It!" lessons highlight communication strategies. *Pronunciation exercises provide models for practicing authentic pronunciation, stress, and intonation. *Side by Side Gazette "magazine-style" pages offer feature articles, fact files, vocabulary expansion, cross-cultural topics through photos, authentic listening activities, e-mail exchanges, and humorous cartoons for role-playing. *All-new illustrations are lively, light-hearted, and richly detailed to offer students language practice that is contextualized and fun. The core components include Student Books, Teacher's Guides, Activity Workbooks, Activity & Test Prep Workbooks, Communication Games and Activity Masters, audio programs, combined split editions (Student Book and Workbook lessons combined), a testing program, and picture cards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #173819 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback

From the Back Cover

Side by Side, Third Edition, by Steven J. Molinsky and Bill Bliss, is a dynamic, all-skills program that integrates conversation practice, reading, writing, and listening -- all in a light-hearted, fun, and easy-to-use format that has been embraced by students and teachers worldwide. This four-level program promotes native communication between students ... practicing speaking together "side by side."

Features of the Third Edition

• Vocabulary Preview sections in every chapter introduce key words in a lively picture dictionary format.
• "How to Say It!" lessons highlight communication strategies.
• Pronunciation exercises provide models for practicing authentic pronunciation, stress, and intonation.
• Side by Side Gazette "magazine-style" pages offer feature articles, fact files, vocabulary expansion, cross-cultural topics through photos, authentic listening activities, e-mail exchanges, and humorous cartoons for role-playing.
• All-new illustrations are lively, light-hearted, and richly detailed to offer students language practice that is contextualized and fun.

The core components include Student Books, Teacher's Guides, Activity Workbooks, Activity & Test Prep Workbooks, Communication Games and Activity Masters, audio programs, combined split editions (Student Book and Workbook lessons combined), a testing program, and picture cards.

Customer Reviews

The Bet, Yet Most Abused ESL/EFL Text on the Market Ever !
I've taught with this text in three different countries... and have sworn by it and it.

What I love about it is that it really gets down to the basics of speaking English and does so in a systematic manner. A lot of teachers abuse it by having their students read and write through it, then complain what a dry book it is. The same teachers also use it in such a haphazard manner that after a year the students are in book one, when really Volumes 1 2 and 3 (especially) are a jump start English course. This however is often the result of either inadequate training or not reading the teacher's manual, especially in Japan where teachers and students come and go by the bushel.

Overall, while the book might lack the "cuteness" of other programs, trust me... the pedagogy is well thought out - - especially if you know how to expand from the book and have other activities to bring the language to life. The book is for adults for example, but using the Molinsky and Bliss WORD BY WORD flash cards I've actually created games for children based on the activities in the book. And if the students are too used to reading through the book (from former teachers) I actually copy the pictures from the book with the words whited out, cut them into flash cards, team them up for pair work, and then let them engage in the conversation activities from the book.

This is an incredible book, and a new version has just come out... USE IT DON'T ABUSE IT and your students will make incredible progress. Check out the WORD BY WORD PICTURE DICTIONARY as a great supplement to expand the activities with additional (yet practical) vocabulary as well as EXPRESSWAYS (also by the same authors).

The Best Beginning ESL Series
As an English as a Second Language teacher with 19 years' experience, I have used a lot of different programs and texts with my students. Side by Side is by far the best I have ever seen for students from the middle school through adult. It is clear, has an interesting format and appealing illustrations. It covers the different components of English acquisition (speaking, listening, reading and writing) better than any other program I have used, including those designed for use on the computer. One need not have a background in language acquisition to successfully teach someone else English--it's that good. If there were only one tool I could use in my ESL classrooms, or in tutoring one-on-one, without hesitation, my choice would be Side by Side.

A great text for beginners and building accuracy
I have read some other quite critical reviews of this series, but I would like to point out its merits. I have used book 1 & 2 for the last 10 years, and if I could only take one book with me to my next county - that would be it. These books are the best out there for developing accuracy of forms which are necessary for beginning students. It provides realistic dialogues with ample practice through substitution drills. The illustrations are both humourous and clear so that the books are easy to use with real beginners. For students at the pre-intermediate level and above, I would suggest only using this series as a supplement to practice grammar forms (I usually make an overhead and let students practice in pairs).

As for comments about dialogues with social security numbers or talking about San Juan - if something doesn't apply to your situation - skip it!!!! (That information is relevant for some students)