Vocabulary Resource Evaluation Pathways 4

Tina A. Zaurrini Suraci

300293159

TESL 4203

January 31, 2018

Vocabulary Resource Evaluation

Pathways 4 Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking

While this workbook, Pathways 4, focuses on listening, speaking and critical thinking, there is a fair amount of expected reading and a fair amount of writing opportunities. The first four pages of the book clearly introduce the ten units presented. For each unit there is a short description of the learning outcomes for each category presented in each unit. These categories two academic lessons, vocabulary, listening skills, grammar, speaking skills, viewing (video) and critical thinking skills. The listening description also includes a specific sound, or two, being introduced in the particular

The first introduction of the vocabulary words comes bolder in text that students read while listening to an audio version of the text.

The visuals are targeted to a mature audience as is the content and subject matter of the material. For example, charts and graphs are presented in relation to credit card spending or declining grain output worldwide. Other images include windmills and solar cells in relation to energy issues.

Each of the two lessons in every unit introduces ten new vocabulary words. At the beginning of every lesson is a transcription of audio that clearly identifies the ten new vocabulary words that are related to the subject of the unit. At the back of the book there is an index of the 200 vocabulary words presented in the Pathways book. Most of the words are identified by the publisher as words from the Academic Word

21st Century Reading also presents their learning outcomes for each unit in the first few pages of the book. There are two lessons in each of the ten units that discuss modern day issues and topics such as the text generation, cyborg technology and happy planet. The book does not clearly identify vocabulary words, activities or learning outcomes although each lesson contains a section on vocabulary.

This book contains mature text and images and would be relatively useless to children. Teens and adults will find the up-to-date information and mature tone of the book appealing. Covering modern issues and information, the TED Talks are presented in written format. They cover topics such as “Txtng is Killing Language. JK!!”, “Cyborg Tech,” and “What I Learned Going Blind in Space.”

At the end of the book there is a useful section they have called the “Vocabulary Log.” An excellent space that lists every word, divided into the unit in which they were originally presented. Beside the word is a space for students to write a description and/or example of the word. A small asterisk beside most of the words identifies them as from the Academic Words