Title: Real Reading 4

Authors: Alice Savage and David Wiese with Series Editor Lynn Bonesteel and Series Consultant Paul Nation

Publisher: Pearson Longman

Focus: Academic

Skills: Reading

Level: Advanced (Though I would consider it high-intermediate.)

Why I would use this book: I absolutely love it. It’s one of the most cohesive ESL Reading books I’ve looked at. As any Reading teacher will tell you, trying to blend authentic passages, vocabulary skills, comprehension checks, and reading strategies into one book is not easy. Almost always, one is favored over the others. This is the equivalent of going to Smoothie King, ordering a strawberry-banana shake, and only being able to taste bananas. After a bite or two, you can’t help but ask, “Where are my strawberries?”

That’s why I’m so excited about the mature balance that Real Reading 4 provides. Each chapter starts with partner and small group discussions about the unit’s topic, and then follows with a pre-reading vocabulary check. Immediately preceding the passage, a reading strategy is introduced. Next, students read. Following each passage, students complete a multiple-choice vocabulary check. The chapter is finally rounded out with short-answer comprehension checks, writing assignments, and small group discussions. Balanced is the word.  

Why I wouldn’t: I’m fairly sure the advanced level is high enough for my Advanced Reading class. This past semester, the students’ vocabulary list has included words like attrition, ecstasy, candid, listless, andobfuscate. Real Reading 4‘s list includes words like ongoing, float, prior, distracted, and channel.

Final word: I’ve been so disappointed in my current Reading textbooks, Reading Matters 4 by Heinle andGaining Word Power by Pearson Longman. I can’t wait until the day I can trade those two texts in for a book likeReal Reading 4. Even better, could you make me a Real Reading 5, Pearson Longman?