Description

Personal Best: American English Edition – A Comprehensive Six-Level General English Course

The Personal Best series, published by Richmond, is a state-of-the-art English language learning program designed to meet the needs of today’s fast-paced, goal-oriented young adults. Whether you’re a beginner or aiming to polish your language skills, this course offers a tailored approach to English learning, integrating modern techniques, digital tools, and a clear focus on practical application. Developed by Jim Scrivener, a globally recognized teacher trainer, Personal Best is a six-level course, providing learners with a comprehensive and engaging experience to master English from level A1 to C1.

A Modern Approach to Language Learning

The Personal Best course has been crafted with an understanding of how today’s young adults learn and engage with language. Whether you’re studying part-time, balancing a job, or looking for a structured yet flexible learning experience, this course provides a practical and engaging solution. Designed for learners who are busy but eager to improve their language skills, Personal Best helps students maximize their learning experience in a manageable, time-efficient way.

Clear Structure Across Six Levels

Personal Best is structured into six levels: A1, A2, B1, B1+, B2, and C1. This progression ensures that learners can begin their journey at a beginner level and continue advancing all the way to an upper-intermediate level. Each level corresponds to a specific language proficiency and offers approximately 90–120 hours of learning per week. This provides a well-rounded language education while ensuring that students can study at their own pace.

Focus on Practical Communication and Skills Development

A major highlight of Personal Best is its focus on practical language use. Each lesson is designed to foster real-world communication skills, helping students feel confident in various social and professional situations. The course places a significant emphasis on speaking and writing, two of the most critical productive skills when it comes to effective language use. With clear task goals, the speaking and writing sections help students build skills that they can immediately apply outside the classroom.

Moreover, students will develop reading and listening skills through carefully crafted activities that not only hone comprehension but also allow learners to enhance their overall understanding of the language. As part of the integrated approach, Personal Best includes a comprehensive skills syllabus, offering a balance of receptive and productive skills through every unit.

Structured Lessons to Maximize Learning

Each unit of Personal Best is organized into lessons that address different aspects of language learning. Lessons A and C are dedicated to language-focused content, specifically addressing grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. These lessons use graded texts or audio to contextualize the language points, making it easier for learners to grasp and apply the concepts. They focus on clear, staged activities, ensuring that learners practice and reinforce the concepts they’ve learned. Furthermore, students can continue their practice through additional resources such as the Personal Best Language App, Workbooks, and the Richmond Learning Platform.

Focus on Grammar and Lexis

One of the standout features of the Personal Best program is the emphasis on grammar and lexis. Grammar is presented in stand-alone lessons, separate from the skills work. This approach allows learners to focus fully on understanding the grammar rules before applying them in speaking or writing. Vocabulary (lexis) is prioritized, with each unit featuring two or more vocabulary sets, integrated into discussions, speaking activities, and other tasks. This ensures that learners are continuously exposed to and practicing new words in different contexts.

Additionally, the pronunciation syllabus focuses specifically on connected speech, helping students recognize and produce language more naturally. The focus on connected speech helps learners develop the ability to listen to native speakers more effectively and to speak in a fluid, authentic manner.

Focused Skills Development in B and D Lessons

The structure of Personal Best is also designed to carefully guide students through the development of the four main language skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

B Lessons: Receptive Skills (Reading and Listening)

Each B lesson focuses on receptive skills, either reading or listening. The listening lessons feature a web-based video show called Learning Curve, which adds an engaging multimedia component to the course. These lessons help students improve their listening comprehension, learn strategies to deal with different types of listening material, and get a closer look at natural English through authentic video content. In addition to the video show, each lesson comes with Skill, Text Builder, and Listening Builder boxes that help break down the learning process into manageable steps, ensuring that students develop a deep understanding of the material.

D Lessons: Productive Skills (Speaking and Writing)

The D lessons focus on productive skills, specifically speaking and writing. These lessons help learners practice their spoken and written English in real-life contexts. The speaking lessons also feature the Learning Curve video show, making these lessons dynamic and engaging. In both the speaking and writing lessons, students benefit from Skill, Text Builder, and Conversation Builder boxes, which provide structured support and guide learners in using language accurately and fluently.

By combining language and skills practice, the D lessons ensure that students are not just learning isolated grammar points but are able to apply them in real-world situations through Personal Best productive tasks. This helps learners gain confidence and fluency in both written and spoken English.

Continuous Review and Practice

The course is designed to reinforce learning at every step. There are six Review and Practice sections spread throughout the course that offer learners the opportunity to revisit previously taught content. These reviews cover grammar, vocabulary, and functional language, ensuring that students have mastered key concepts before moving forward. Each review ends with a fun, engaging Personal Best section, where students are encouraged to recall and apply language in a more productive manner.

The Personal Best App: A Digital Companion

In keeping with the needs of today’s tech-savvy learners, Personal Best offers a Language App that complements the traditional classroom-based learning. The app is a valuable tool for students to practice grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation on the go. Through a combination of interactive exercises, videos, and quizzes, the app provides a personalized learning experience that students can access anytime, anywhere.

Conclusion: Why Choose Personal Best?

Personal Best is more than just a traditional English course; it is a dynamic, multifaceted learning system designed to prepare students for the challenges of the modern world. With a focus on grammar, vocabulary, speaking, writing, and practical communication skills, this course provides learners with the tools they need to excel in their personal and professional lives. Its structured approach, engaging multimedia components, and emphasis on real-world application make it an ideal choice for young adults looking to enhance their English skills. Whether you’re looking to improve your language proficiency for academic purposes, work, or travel, Personal Best offers the ideal framework to help you achieve your goals.

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