Question 2. What are the learning levels of each of the resources? >>
Question 3. Can the resources be used as self-study guides, without a teacher's assistance? >>
Question 4. Which varieties of English accents are used on the audio which accompany the books? >>
Question 5. Which student workbooks have audio CDs/MP3s? >>
Question 1. Difference between the 'Understanding Everyday Australian' and 'Understanding Spoken English' series.
The 'Understanding Everyday Australian' series and 'Understanding Spoken English' have almost the
same topics areas and follow the same step by step format for listening, understanding everyday language and practicing grammar.
However, the focus of the listening activities in the 'Understanding Everyday Australian' series is the everyday language used by Australians in business and social situations, whereas 'Understanding Spoken English' has an international focus. This means the conversations in 'Understanding Spoken English' contain expressions that would be familiar throughout the English speaking world, in the media and in business and social situations.
The audio for the 'Understanding Everyday Australian' series presents Australian accents, whereas in 'Understanding Spoken English' a variety of native speaker accents from around the world are presented including North American, Australian, New Zealand and various British English accents.
None of these are strong regional varieties as the purpose of the resources is to familiarise students with spoken English expressions as they are encountered in English speaking environments around the world.
Question 2. The learning levels of each of the resources:
* Beginner level resources:
‘Word Building Activities for Beginners of English’
’English Language Skills - Level One Student’s Workbook’.
* Intermediate to advanced levels:
’Understanding Everyday Australian’ (series)
’Understanding Spoken English’ (series)
’Understanding English Pronunciation’
'Rhyming Stories'
’Spelling and Pronunciation for English Language Learners’
‘English vowel sound spelling charts’
‘People in Australia’s past 2nd Edition’ - language workbook.
* Note: Learners abilities vary enormously with vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening,
reading and writing skills. However, all our resources can be used as self- access material
at the learners’ own pace as answers and reference lists are included in the student's books.
Question 3. Can the resources be used as self study guides, without a teacher's
assistance?
Yes, all the student's books can be used as self study guides as they have step
by step instructions and answers are included in the books.
Question 4. Which varieties of English accent are used on the audio CDs/MP3s which accompany the books?
‘Understanding Everyday Australian’ audio CDs/MP3s contain Australian accents.
* ‘Understanding Spoken English’ audio CDs/MP3s present a variety of native
speaker accents from around the world - including North American,
Australian, New Zealand and various British English accents. None of
these are strong regional varieties as the purpose of the resources is
to familiarise students with spoken English expressions as they are
encountered in English speaking environments around the world.
* 'Understanding English Pronunciation': Speakers on the audio for
'Understanding English Pronunciation' are predominantly British and Australian,
however the accents presented are not strong regional varieties.
The pronunciation modeled conforms with British English 'dictionary' forms.
We have received positive feedback from around the world from users of
'Understanding English Pronunciation'.
*' English Language Skills - Level One Student’s Workbook’ audio CD/MP3 contains Australian and British accents.
Question 5. Which student workbooks have accompanying audio CDs/MP3s?
* Student workbooks which have accompanying audio CDs/MP3
‘Understanding Everyday Australian’ student books 1, 2 and 3.
‘Understanding Spoken English’ student books 1, 2 and 3.
‘Understanding English Pronunciation’
‘English Language Skills - Level 1 Teacher’s Book’
'Rhyming Stories'
'People in Australia's Past'
* Student workbooks which do not have accompanying audio CDs/MP3:
‘Spelling and Pronunciation for English Language Learners’
‘Word Building Activities for Beginners of English’
Question 1. A more detailed response to UEA and USE differences.:
The following is Susan Boyer's response to a Director of Studies at an Australian university who enquired about UEA and USE.
'Understanding Spoken English' came about as a result of people saying they also wanted something like 'Understanding Everyday Australian' but with 'international' expressions.... So after much research, I developed 'international versions' of the units, in which each conversation contained expressions that are used in the UK, US, NZ as well as Aust. etc.
Some of the units in 'Understanding Spoken English' are quite different to 'Understanding Everyday Australian', some are similar and some units have been omitted completely because they wouldn't be applicable to an international context. For example, 'Politics and Government' in UEA 2 was omitted; 'Socialising at a Barbecue' in UEA which uses expressions such as 'barbie'and 'mozzies' was replaced in 'Understanding Spoken English' with 'At a Social Gathering' which has a completely different conversation but in the language analysis section still focuses on strategies for 'starting a conversation', 'making small talk' & 'appropriate & inappropriate topics'.
The audio recordings for 'Understanding Spoken English' provide a variety of English speaking models, eg. UK, NZ, US, Aust & Sth African English but none are strong accents; 'Understanding Everyday Australian' uses Australian speakers only.
I think the advantage of having both UEA and USE would be seen in a self-access Centre where students could decide to use one or the other (or both) depending on their individual goals. In a classroom situation the teacher would have to decide whether UEA or USE would best suit their students' needs.
My suggestion would be to ask your library to buy them, then you and your staff can compare them at your/their leisure.