Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Fantastic Book! April 17, 2007
loopidiloop (carlsbad, california)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
These conversation starters are not just for ESL students but for anyone who is a bit shy or has trouble speaking around people. The questions are engaging and interesting and draws people into a variety of diverse subjects ranging from "Does your dog have a personality?" to "Have you ever had to hire/fire someone or work for a crazy boss?" The book also has may jokes, quotes and proverbs that often bring common day improper english into the mix. A must have book!
Where was this book when I needed it? May 18, 2007
Bea S. Chumley (USA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
As a longtime ESL student and medical professional, I wish I had this book when I was preparing for the "English Proficiency Exam" in London.
It goes beyond the boring dialogs of most ESL books and provides great current conversations that fit our crazy modern times.
For instances:
"Are sex, love and marriage linked in your mind?"
"What does your partner do that annoys you?"
"Will your partner love you with wrinkles?"
These are good questions!
I also like the proverbs:"If it's torn it can't be worn." (Persian)
Excellent book, great learning tool, absolutely at the top of the list in its category!
A gold mine of resources November 12, 2007
Jenny Bruner (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I first tried this fantastic textbook with a high intermediate student that I tutor. I was amazed from the start at how naturally the conversation flowed. We were only halfway through the first set of questions when she decided to buy her own copy. Each of the 45 chapters includes a vocabulary section and list of around 12 to 15 classic quotations, along with between thirty and forty questions. The chapters can be used in any order, but I recommend starting with chapter one as it orients the students to the textbook and shows them how to get the most out of subsequent chapters. Either in the classroom or one on one, it's accessible to intermediate students and challenges advanced students. The quotations, from Socrates to Shaw and from Picasso to Pete Rose, are all identified by name, when they lived, and what they did. This book is truly a treasure.
Get Students Talking March 18, 2007
Laurie Selik (Venice, California)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
What a delight! This conversation book gets ESL students talking. Each chapter poses 25 or so questions and shares a dozen fun quotes. Lots of great conversations starters like "How do you win the game of life?" Superb resource for "multi-level" Intermediate and Advance classes. An abundance of material that can be used both in and out of the classroom.
The recipe for making anyone a great conversationalist! July 11, 2007
Power English Coach (USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
If I had to sum up what I loved about "Compelling Conversations" in one sentence, I would say that it contains the recipe for making anyone a great conversationalist!
In addition to 45 well-selected topics perfectly suited for casual or in-depth conversations, the authors provide excellent resources and guidelines that make a conversation run smoothly in an engaging, informative and thought provoking manner.
Each chapter consists of a list of questions - from specific to more abstract - , as well proverbs, sayings and quotations on a given subject. There is plenty of material appropriate for different levels of proficiency: from intermediate to advanced. I would even say that native speakers of English with somewhat limited social skills could benefit greatly by using this book.
"Compelling Conversations" encourages the reader to examine many different ways of thinking and teaches respect and genuine interest in other people's models of the world. It teaches active listening skills and offers gentle conversation reminders, such as be kind, explore, be open, be supportive, that help the reader set a positive intention for each interaction.
I am glad to have found a book that combines great content, conversational skills and psychology of empowerment.
Natasha Cooper, author of ESL how-to books "Scripts for Winning Jobs" and "The Telephone for Business and Daily Life".
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