Make Your Meaning Clear
You can say single sentences, but when asked "Where do things stand?", "Why?" or "What's still left to do?", you can't find the right order for the information.
Practical English for Adults · Book 1
《把话接下去》
Find your next line, even when you didn't catch it, didn't understand, or can't think of the word.
You may be able to read English, yet get stuck in a conversation over a time, an unfamiliar word or a sudden question. You know which part you missed, but in the moment you can't think how to speak up.
This book starts with these small pauses: if you didn't catch something, ask the person to say it again; if you didn't understand, ask what a word means or ask for an example; if you can't think of a word, describe what it is used for and where it is. First get the information you need, then listen to how the other person responds.
The characters in the books, Lin and Maya, are fictional adult colleagues, and the situations are mostly training, work arrangements, community events and everyday errands. The English is common American usage; you are not expected to imitate any particular accent. The three books build on one another step by step in communication skills and do not correspond to CEFR or other language levels.
Actual pages from the full PDF: a unit opener, all four pages of “Names, numbers, and spelling”, and its answer key. Tap to enlarge.
These pages are also in the free sample PDF.
A continuous dialogue written for the lesson, in English and Chinese side by side. Read it through once and mark where you get stuck.
Four ways to say it, with explanations in Chinese and notes on when to use each.
How to carry on when the other person responds in different ways; exercises ranging from multiple choice to prompted speaking practice.
Say it yourself in a different situation, with a self-check list.
24 lessons in 6 units. Tap a unit to see its lessons.
Also: front matter (starting task with answer check), unit reviews, Integrated task 1: Registering for a training course; Integrated task 2: Sending documents remotely, and at the back the full answer key and expression index.
The text, exercises, Chinese explanations and color illustrations in these books were generated with AI tools and revised through several rounds of AI review; the layout was done by software; the characters and situations are fictional. The books have not yet had a final review by an independent human language editor, and have not yet been tested with target readers.
You can say single sentences, but when asked "Where do things stand?", "Why?" or "What's still left to do?", you can't find the right order for the information.
Even after things have been explained clearly, a conversation can still stall on a disagreement, limited resources or a vague answer.