A Review of Open Forum 2 Student Book: Academic Listening and Speaking with 2 CD Answer Key.169

## Introduction If you are looking for a comprehensive and engaging textbook to improve your academic listening and speaking skills, you might want to check out Open Forum 2 Student Book: Academic Listening and Speaking with 2 CD Answer Key.169. This book is part of a three-level series that covers a wide range of topics and skills for intermediate to advanced learners of English. In this article, I will give you an overview of the book's features, benefits, and drawbacks, and help you decide if it is the right choice for you. ## Features of the Book The book consists of 12 units, each focusing on a different theme and skill. The themes include: - Unit 1: The Environment - Unit 2: Health - Unit 3: Education - Unit 4: Technology - Unit 5: Business - Unit 6: Culture - Unit 7: Psychology - Unit 8: Travel - Unit 9: Art - Unit 10: Science - Unit 11: Sports - Unit 12: Media Each unit has four main sections: - Listening: This section introduces the topic and provides authentic listening texts from various sources, such as lectures, interviews, podcasts, documentaries, etc. The listening texts are accompanied by pre-listening, while-listening, and post-listening activities that help you develop your comprehension, vocabulary, note-taking, and critical thinking skills. The listening texts are also available on two CDs that come with the book. - Speaking: This section helps you practice your speaking skills in various academic contexts, such as discussions, presentations, debates, etc. The speaking activities are based on the listening texts and the unit theme, and they encourage you to express your opinions, arguments, experiences, and suggestions. The speaking section also provides useful language tips, such as how to agree and disagree politely, how to interrupt effectively, how to use transitions and signposts, etc. - Pronunciation: This section focuses on a specific aspect of pronunciation that is relevant to the unit theme and skill. For example, in Unit 1, you will learn how to pronounce words with silent letters; in Unit 4, you will learn how to stress compound nouns; in Unit 7, you will learn how to use intonation to show emotion; etc. The pronunciation section includes clear explanations, examples, exercises, and audio recordings to help you improve your pronunciation. - Review: This section provides a summary of the main points and skills covered in the unit. It also includes a self-assessment checklist that helps you evaluate your progress and identify your strengths and weaknesses. The book also has some additional features that enhance your learning experience: - Glossary: At the end of each unit, there is a glossary that lists and defines the key vocabulary words from the listening texts. The glossary also includes example sentences that show how to use the words in context. - Answer Key: At the end of the book, there is an answer key that provides the correct answers for all the exercises in the book. The answer key also includes transcripts for all the listening texts and explanations for some of the answers. - Test Booklet: Along with the book and the CDs, you will also get a test booklet that contains two tests for each unit. The tests are designed to assess your listening and speaking skills in relation to the unit theme and objectives. The test booklet also includes an answer key and transcripts for the test listening texts. ## Benefits of the Book The book has many benefits that make it a valuable resource for academic listening and speaking: - It covers a variety of interesting and relevant topics that appeal to different interests and backgrounds. The topics are also related to other academic disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, biology, etc., which can help you expand your knowledge and prepare for other courses. - It provides authentic and engaging listening texts that expose you to different accents, styles, genres, and perspectives. The listening texts are also challenging enough to stimulate your curiosity and critical thinking skills. - It offers ample opportunities for speaking practice that help you develop your fluency, accuracy, confidence, and communication skills. The speaking activities are interactive and collaborative, and they allow you to express yourself freely and creatively. - It focuses on specific pronunciation features that are essential for clear and effective speech. The pronunciation section helps you overcome common difficulties and improve your intelligibility and comprehension. - It includes useful tips and strategies that help you improve your listening and speaking skills in general, such as how to infer meaning from context, how to paraphrase and summarize, how to use body language and gestures, etc. - It provides regular feedback and self-assessment that help you monitor your progress and identify your areas of improvement. The review section, the answer key, the test booklet, and the self-assessment checklist are all useful tools that help you evaluate your performance and set your goals. ## Drawbacks of the Book The book is not without some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it: - It requires a lot of time and effort to complete all the sections and activities in each unit. The book is not suitable for learners who are looking for a quick and easy way to improve their listening and speaking skills. The book is designed for learners who are serious and committed to their studies, and who are willing to invest a lot of time and effort in their learning. - It may not suit all levels and needs of learners. The book is intended for intermediate to advanced learners of English, and it may be too difficult or too easy for some learners. The book is also focused on academic listening and speaking, and it may not cover some other aspects or contexts of listening and speaking, such as informal or social situations. - It may not be compatible with some devices or formats. The book comes with two CDs that contain the listening texts, but some learners may not have access to a CD player or a computer that can play CDs. The book also uses PDF files for the worksheets and tests, which may not be compatible with some devices or formats. ## Conclusion In conclusion, Open Forum 2 Student Book: Academic Listening and Speaking with 2 CD Answer Key.169 is a comprehensive and engaging textbook that can help you improve your academic listening and speaking skills. The book covers a wide range of topics and skills, provides authentic and engaging listening texts, offers ample opportunities for speaking practice, focuses on specific pronunciation features, includes useful tips and strategies, and provides regular feedback and self-assessment. However, the book also requires a lot of time and effort, may not suit all levels and needs of learners, and may not be compatible with some devices or formats. Therefore, you should consider your own goals, preferences, level, and resources before using this book. ## FAQs Here are some frequently asked questions about the book: - Q: How much does the book cost? - A: The book costs $49.95 on the Oxford University Press website. - Q: How can I get the book? - A: You can order the book online from the Oxford University Press website or from other online retailers. You can also check if your local library or bookstore has a copy of the book. - Q: How long does it take to finish the book? - A: It depends on your pace and schedule, but it may take you several weeks or months to finish the book. Each unit has about 20 pages of content, plus the worksheets, tests, glossary, answer key, etc. - Q: Do I need a teacher or a partner to use the book? - A: You can use the book by yourself or with a teacher or a partner. The book provides clear instructions and explanations for all the sections and activities, but you may benefit from having someone to guide you, correct you, or practice with you. - Q: Is there an online version of the book? - A: No, there is no online version of the book. However, you can access some online resources for the book on the Oxford University Press website, such as extra listening selections and worksheets.

Open Forum 2 Student Book Academic Listening and Speaking with 2 CD answer key.169

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