Recommended ESL/EFL Books

CLEAR, PRACTICAL, AND AFFORDABLE
What Every ESL Student Should Know: A Guide to College and University Academic Success

What should every ESL student know? Beats me. One size fits all philosophies often seem a bit strange to me. Can anybody really answer this question for every international student and ESL college student? Really? Don't circumstances, needs, and desires differ? On the other hand, administrators, teachers, future college students, and current international ESL students constantly face this common question. What should every ESL student know? Fortunately, braver and more confident souls feel comfortable answering this reasonable question.

 

EXPANDS WORKING VOCABULARY
Collins COBUILD Intermediate Dictionary of American English (Paperback)

Collins Cobuild dictionaries, based on the why that native speakers actually speak English, consistently provide the most practical dictionaries. This Intermediate Dictionary of American English systematically deploys color - and some vivid pictures - to help ESL students navigate words and collocations. Based on the Bank of English, this innovative dictionary allows English language learners to actually use and understand the dictionary to expand their working vocabulary of natural English. It's a winner on multiple levels, especially for adult students planning to go to college.  It's also lighter and more portable than Collins COBUILD Advanced Dictionary of American English that I often recommend to university and graduate students.

 

IMPROVE ACADEMIC WRITING
In Focus: Strategies for Academic Writers
By Myra Ann Shulman

Do you want to improve your academic writing in English?
Featuring clear explanations, short readings, and concise writing activities, In Focus seems almost pitch perfect for intermediate ESL students and IEP programs. This fine University of Michigan textbook gently and systematically introduces English language learners to effective techniques. As a result, ESL students learn academic writing by actually writing - and revising - short, focused pieces.

This relatively new textbook also prepares graduate and international students for more challenging future academic work. I teach two courses using Academic Writing for Graduate Students at USC, and students make clear, significant progress by completing bite-sized writing exercises and analyzing short journal readings. (The teacher's guide, called Commentary for, is also outstanding). Yet sometimes ESL and EFL students sometimes need to take a step back before taking two steps forward. In Focus provides excellent material in those situations too.? If you are going to attend an English language university and your TOEFL scores are under 90, consider this fine textbook.

RELEVANT BUSINESS ENGLISH
Business Vocabulary in Use: Intermediate (Cambridge Professional English)
By Bill Mascull

Business Vocabulary in Use, is a new addition to the best-selling English Vocabulary in Use series aimed specifically at intermediate level learners of business English. The book covers a huge range of business topics including jobs, people and organizations, production, marketing, finance and the economy and business culture. Learners will develop essential business communication skills, focusing on the language used for meetings, negotiations and presentations. 

 

TURNS TOEIC PREPARATION INTO A SATISFYING EXPLORATION OF OUR 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS CULTURE!
Target Score Student's Book with 2 Audio CDs and Test Booklet with Audio CD: A Preparation Course for the TOEIC Test

 Designed to help end the tyranny of standardized tests while preparing international students to dramatically improve their TOEIC scores, this multi-skill textbook provides compelling readings and practical tips. The authors introduce each chapter with illuminating photographs to provoke discussion. The listening statements describing each picture also exposes students to a wider range of realistic descriptions. This segment stands out compared to the usual "drill and kill" TOEIC test preparation books.

 

BUSINESS ENGLISH CLASSIC THAT WORKS
The Business Writer's Handbook, Eighth Edition
By Walter E. Oliu, Charles T. Brusaw, Gerald J. Alred

This business communication classic works, especially for ESL students. The concise entries explain topics, and provide model documents in impressive manner. Skip the fancy 9th edition with orange highlighted text. Buy this one!

SOLID VOCATIONAL ENGLISH TEXTBOOK
Day by Day: English for Employment Communication
By Bill Bliss, Steven J. Molinsky

Although focused on blue collar situations, this simple, communicative textbook can provide a safety net. Weaker Business English students will find the format comfortable. Consider this popular VESL textbook a refresher text for workplace conversations."

PAINLESS GRAMMAR
Communicative Grammar Practice Student's book: Activities for Intermediate Students of English (Paperback)

Clear, systematic and logical, this book provides a practical way to teach grammar in a painless, sometimes even fun way. Each two-page chapter includes 4-6 exercises where students can work together to learn a specific grammar point and improve speaking skills. Best part: the concise grammar summaries in the back - far better than Azar. Better for classroom use than self-study, but several students have used it outside of class too.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR SPANISH-SPEAKERS
Gramatica del ingles: Paso a paso 1 (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)
By Elizabeth Weal

This bilingual English grammar book fills a real void for thousands of English language learners who speak Spanish, but have never studied English or Spanish grammar.

Gramatia del Ingles: Paso a paso (English Grammar: Step by Step) provides clear, simple, and focused grammar lessons that respects immigrants enough to teach them grammar. By focusing on daily topics familiar to working adult students, the author Elizabeth Weal, a dedicated English teacher who has worked with Spanish-speaking adults for years, introduces core grammar points in a logical, practical, and systematic manner. Students learn how to identify nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and basic punctuation. They learn to both ask and answer questions, change statements from positive to negative, and write short sentences and questions. Gramatica del ingles: Paso a paso 2 (Spanish Edition)builds on this knowledge to address many other confusing grammar points such as prepositions and verb tenses. Together, these two bilingual books provide a practical roadmap for adults learning English - even if they have been denied the many advantages of a formal education in their best language.

CONCISE, CLEAR, AND PRACTICAL
Grammar in Use Intermediate With answers: Self-study Reference and Practice for Students of English

Raymond Murphy's "Grammar in Use" series (Cambridge University Press) provides concise exercises, clear examples, a simple format, and a systematic approach to learning English grammar. It's almost ideal for self-study since each lesson (unit) can stand alone and unit answers can be easily found and understood.

ESSAY WRITING
Grammar-Writing Connections: Mastering Structure for Improved Writing
By Tom Cole

Going beyond the writing process, this innovative intermediate textbook includes numerous practical exercises for standardized essay writing.  Grammar-Writing Connections lives up to its title by linking common academic phrases with sentence level grammar.  Students, as a result, learn how to structure short essays and expand their evolving writing skills. 

WITTY, CONCISE, AND CLEAR GRAMMAR GUIDE
Under the Grammar Hammer: The 25 Most Important Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

What do you want in a grammar book, anyway? Under the Grammar Hammer provides clear, concise, and even witty examples of the 25 most common grammar mistakes. Designed for college students and adults seeking practical guidance on grammar rules, this thin and affordable books is almost ideal for intermediate and advanced ESL classes. Forget buying thick, expensive, and often incomprehensible grammar tomes like the Azar series. This book provides vivid examples, short descriptions, and realistic rules that work in the vast, vast majority of writing situations.

IDEAL FOR SELF-STUDY
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced with Answers and CD-ROM
by Michael McCarthy and Felicity O'Dell 

Like the other titles from the “In Use” series, this book provides a systematic approach and is almost ideal for self-study. I recommend the entire series.

THIN, DELIGHTFUL, AND SATISFYING
101 American English Idioms: Understanding and Speaking English Like an American

American idioms can cause confusion and frustrate many English language learners. This thin, delightful collection 101 idioms uses humor, clear drawings, and witty captions to illustrate the real meanings of odd phrases. Many English teachers love the verbal and visual humor, and add it as a supplemental text for intermediate or advanced ESL students. The mocking tone, however, probably annoys the more prudish folks. Other adult educators might also feel that their precious class time is better spent on more practical life skills.

AMERICAN IDIOMS NOW AND FOREVER
Speak English Like an American (Book & Audio CD set)

This excellent ESL textbook provides engaging model dialogs, explains practical American idioms - with solid definitions and examples, and includes a CD with clear articulation. The dialogs, illustrated with pen and ink cartoons, display a healthy sense of humor. Speak English Like an American is almost ideal for adult education students, international visitors seeking to improve their language skills, and young people considering studying in the United States.

A POWERFUL, PRACTICAL PRONUNCIATION BOOK FOR SELF-STUDY
Mastering the American Accent
By Lisa Mojsin, M.A.

Are you sometimes misunderstood by your American co-workers or customers - even though you have lived in the United States for years? Do you sometimes mispronounce words causing needless confusion and sometimes stress? Do you give professional presentations and want the native English speaking audience to clearly understand your words and ideas? Have you been looking for an excellent self-study guide to improve your American English pronunciation?  

SHORT, SENSIBLE EXERCISES
REALISTICALLY SPEAKING - A Practical Approach to American Pronunciation 
By Planaria J. Price

Perhaps you've heard Planaria Price lead an English teacher's workshop at CATESOL or attended her popular pronunciation classes at Evans Adult School? She's energetic, witty, and smiling as she tosses out practical suggestions and shares tips to become more clearly understood. Dismissing arcane terminology and adopting short, sensible exercises, Ms. Price shows how students must physically open their mouths wider and teach their tongues to move in new ways to realistically speak English.

While this product appears to be a copy of the original class notes used by her LAUSD adult education students, I believe Realistically Speaking has also been republished in a second edition with more vivid illustrations. Do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful book of practical pronunciation exercises.

FOLKTALES AND CULTURE
Open Sesame: Understanding American English and Culture Through Folktales and Stories (Paperback)
By Planaria J. Price

Why use folktales and children's stories to teach American culture to both adults and children? How does knowing the Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears help new immigrants and international students develop practical vocabulary and understand our hectic 21st century lives? Why does the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" matter today for English language learners and English teachers?

Author and ESL maven Planaria Price provides surprising and persuasive answers in this magical ESL/EFL textbook. By both retelling classic tales and showing how their themes pervade American culture, Price cajoles English students (and teachers) to become detectives to solve the puzzle of English vocabulary and American culture. Viewing each tale as a piece in a complex puzzle, Price systematically shows how folktales transmit language and culture in short reading selections and concise exercises. Each chapter includes reading, vocabulary, writing, and SPEAKING components as students explore folktales and relate the themes to their own contemporary lives.

FUN AND INFORMATIVE
Eureka! Discovering American English and Culture through Proverbs, Fables, Myths, and Legends
By Planaria J. Price

An excellent reader for high-intermediate and advanced English students curious about classic fables, English legends and the sources of American proverbs.  Part English textbook, part literary anthology and part vocabulary enhancer, this text shows the enduring influence of ancient tales on contemporary American culture. 

AN EXCEPTIONAL, PRACTICAL BOOK
Reading English News on the Internet: A Guide to Connectors, Verbs, Expressions, and Vocabulary for the ESL Student

This outstanding resource, designed for our 21st century English language learners and ESL teachers, fills a critical gap. Providing practical exercises that explain 94 confusing idioms that fill news articles from the BBC, VOA, and CNN, this text helps Japanese ESL students become better news customers, critical readers, and world citizens. As an English teacher who works with international students develop their writing skills, I found these exercises exceptional.

TURNS TOEIC PREPARATION INTO A SATISFYING EXPLORATION  
Target Score Student's Book with 2 Audio CDs and Test Booklet with Audio CD: A Preparation Course for the TOEIC Test
By Graham Tullis, Charles Talcott

Designed to help end the tyranny of standardized tests while preparing international students to dramatically improve their TOEIC scores, this multi-skill textbook provides compelling readings and practical tips. The authors introduce each chapter with illuminating photographs to provoke discussion. The listening statements describing each picture also exposes students to a wider range of realistic descriptions. This segment stands out compared to the usual "drill and kill" TOEIC test preparation books. Of course, this specialized textbook covers each type of question on the traditional TOEIC test, including short and focused grammar exercises embedded in realistic readings for business professionals and magazine readers. A fine example of why I like the book can be found on p.49 (The Jelly Belly Factory Tour) which combines a quick look at an unusual industry with verb tense review. Other grammar checks cover reporting verbs (p.103) and transition words expressing contrast (p.116) which often confuse English students . Teachers in many intermediate and advanced ESL classrooms will appreciate these self-contained, one page exercises. Finally, Target Score engages students with concise, clear articles summarizing trends in our emerging 21st global business culture. Readers learn about effective work spaces, contemporar cultures of communication, exotic trips for eco-tourists, and the hidden cost of virtual world crimes for software companies. Again, these one page readings - which resemble Time Magazine or USA Today feature articles - introduce common TOEIC vocabulary words in context. Consequently, Target Score readers should both improve their TOEIC scores and improve their real-world communication skills in English. Many teachers, and students, will want to supplement this book with a traditional TOEIC test preparation book. I understand their desire, and taking practice TOEIC tests remains a vital technique to prepare for the TOEIC test. The strength and originality of Target Score, however, rests on a deeper insight: the real goal for internation students should be to both achieve an excellent TOEIC score and become effective, worldly communicators in English! Target Score meets the practical and longterm goals of ambitious individuals facing the TOEIC test. Finally, Target Score gives ESL/EFL instructors the ability to transform a dry, dreary test preparation course into a meaningful, satisfying class. What more can you ask for in a test preparation textbook?

PREPARING FOR TOEIC? WORDS MATTER
600 Essential Words for the TOEIC Test
By Lin Lougheed

Do you just want to memorize the most important vocabulary words? If so, this book might meet your desires, if not your needs.

IELTS EXAM PREP
Common Mistakes at IELTS Advanced … and how to avoid them
Cambridge Books for Cambridge Exams

This concise, clear and systematic primer helps English students prepare for the IELTS exam by focusing on common grammatical errors. Perfect for self-study.

A CLASSIC FROM LONGMAN'S
Longman Preparation Series for the New TOEIC(R) Test: Advanced Course (with Answer Key), with Audio CD and Audioscript (4th Edition)

The classic test preparation series for students who want to master the test techniques, learn the core vocabulary, and just collect a solid score to begin their career. Boring, but effective.

WRITING PREP FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition (The Longman Academic Writing Series, Level 4)
By Ann Hogue, Alice Oshima

This text provides practical techniques for students planning to attend community college or university. I've used it in several programs with considerable success.