Four Corners– Jack Richards and David Bohlke

Richards, Jack C., and David Bohlke. Four Corners. Cambridge University Press, 2012. 

“Four Corners is an integrated four-skills English course for adults and young adults. Four Corners Student’s Book A with Self-study CD-ROM, Level 3 is designed for low intermediate students requiring a thorough presentation of basic grammar, vocabulary, and functional language. Units 1-6 cover high-interest topics such as style, interesting lives, our world, personalities, and the environment. In Four Corners, multiple speaking activities in every lesson tied to measurable outcomes help students and teachers see the results of their learning.”

“Four Corners combines effective communicative methodology, a clear design, and a practical “can-do” approach, giving students the language and confidence they need to communicate accurately and fluently in English.”

This textbook offers a very wide range of activities that provides examples of situations that an English learner may encounter.  There are chapters about education, the world, personalities, relationships, etc. With the level being for low intermediate students the book covers many topics that provide the student with a great introduction to a variety of concepts to learn about. The different chapters are organized very well and list the intended goals for that chapter, and interactive and motivating activities.

This textbook would offer the most benefits for students that are in K-5 because it is geared towards lower level learners. Each of the chapters in the textbook provide various activities for vocabulary, listening/pronunciation, reading/writing, and speaking practice. Attached with the textbook is also a CD that will be used for some of the activities. In one of the activities it requires the student to listen to the tape and engage in a conversation with the person recorded on the CD. This is one of the few ways that the textbook makes learning English an enjoyable yet stimulating experience for the student.

For example one of the chapters, reviews organizing your time. In this chapter, students will learn how to ask and talk about weekend plans, makes requests and offers, and discuss ways to manage time effectively. One of the activities consists of allowing the reader to fill in the blanks of a conversation in the workbook with present continuous or the simple present forms of verbs.