ETJ Member’s Teaching Materials

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Optimal Levels! is an exciting new textbook series for English, ESL, and EFL classrooms. These textbooks have been designed to maximize student thinking and the construction of cognitive skills through the usage of the English language. This series is based upon the author’s research in Mind, Brain, and Education at Harvard University and research in TEFL/TESL at the University of Birmingham. Rather than presenting to students what must be learned, this series proposes motivating themes and scaffolded tasks that are designed to build skills dynamically. By doing the theme-based student-centered tasks, students dynamically learn and understand language usage by creating the skills necessary to negotiate meaning and build upon what they already know. Highly motivational and highly effective! The unique and highly student-centered design of this textbook makes it an excellent choice for students from High Beginner to Advanced levels. Works very well with mixed classes and differentiated instruction.

Optimal Levels! FUN FLAVORS

Designed for FUN English courses!

Six modules designed to foster a deep understanding in: Travel, Shopping, Movies, Cooking, Games, and Driving Around. Six topics chosen to appeal to students from junior high school level and above. For your more mature students choose the ORIGINAL flavor. Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book

Students who complete the Fun flavor Book 1 deserve to move on to Book 2. Book two is designed to be more cognitively challenging than Book 1 and naturally provides a solid boost in student performance.

Topics covered in this Book 2 are: Sports, Music, Fashion, Night LIfe, Eating Out, and Parks. The topics in this book have been chosen to continue motivating young students through their English learning.

By the end of Book 2, your students will gain strong confidence in their English skills and will be able to have discussions on a wide range of appealing topics. Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book 2.

Optimal Levels! ORIGINAL FLAVORS

Designed for your standard English courses with mature students.

Six modules designed to foster a deep understanding in: Family, Hobbies, Food, Dream House, Sickness, and Restaurants. Six topics chosen for mature students interested in a general English conversation. Perfect for standard eikaiwa classes. For younger (or younger at heart) students choose the FUN flavor. Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book.

Students who complete the Original flavor Book 1 deserve to move on to Book 2. Book two is designed to be more cognitively challenging than Book 1 and naturally provides a solid boost in student performance.

Topics covered in this Book 2 are: Dream House, Medical Care, Restaurants, Animals, Religious, Friends. The first module eases the transition into Book 2 by returning to a popular topic from the first book.

By the end of Book 2, your students will have a strong foundation in conversational English. Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book 2.

Optimal Levels! BUSINESS FLAVORS

Designed for BUSINESS English courses!

Six modules designed to foster a deep understanding in: Money, Presentations, Investing, Communication, Marketing, and Management. Six topics chosen for Business students or anyone interesting in learning to talk business! Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book.

Students who complete Business flavor Book 1 deserve to move on to Book 2. Book two is designed to be more cognitively challenging than Book 1 and naturally provided a solid boost in student performance.

Topics covered in this Book 2 are: Leadership, Contracts, Negotiations, Global Marketing, Office Troubles, and Networks.

By the end of Book 2, your students will have a fantastic foundation in Business English that they will be proud of. Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book 2.

Optimal Levels! MEDICAL FLAVORS

Designed for MEDICAL English courses!

Six modules designed to foster a deep understanding in: The Hospital Room, Sicknesses, Care, Personal Talk, Surgery, and Treatments. Six topics chosen for Medical students (doctors and nurses) or anyone interesting in learning medical talk! Works best when combined with Optimal Levels! Project Book.

Optimal Levels! PROJECT BOOKS

PROJECT BOOK

Designed for any ‘flavor’ of Optimal Levels!, or any course that requires deeper understanding and presentation assistance! Optimal Levels! PROJECT BOOK provides students with a wide variety of project choices of differing levels. Some are writing intensive, some are drawing intensive, while others are purely ‘thinking’ intensive. All the projects are designed to help the students culminate their learning into class presentations that can be assessed peer-to-peer and/or by the teacher. Works very well with mixed classes and differentiated instruction too!

PROJECT BOOK 2

Project Book 2 has a strong focus on paragraph writing, five paragraph essay writing, and presentation designing. Choose Project Book 2 if you want to raise academic writing and presentation skills for any subject! This project book is very popular among students and teachers.