Unit 1 ORIGINS Interviews: How has your family influenced you?

1.1 What's in a name? Grammar/Function: the continuous aspect
Vocabulary: phrases with name
Pronunciation: unstressed auxiliary verbs
Reading: read an article about names
Speaking: talk about names
Writing: write a personal profile

1.2 What are you like?
Grammar/Function: describing habits
Vocabulary: personality; idioms for people
Pronunciation: stressed/unstressed will/would
Reading: read a questionnaire about language learning
Listening: listen to a radio program about a personality test
Speaking: discuss the results of a personality test

1.3 Picture perfect
Grammar/Function: speculating
Vocabulary: images
Pronunciation: connected speech: linking, elision
Reading: read about photographic portraits
Listening: listen to a discussion about photographic portraits
Speaking: speculate about people based on their portraits

1.4 Francesco's Venice
Listening: Francesco's Venice: watch a documentary about Venice
Speaking: describe a treasured possession
Writing: write a description of an object

Unit 2: OPINION
Interviews: What is the best or worst advice you've been given?

2.1 Words of wisdom
Grammar/Function: hypothetical conditional; past
Vocabulary: learning and experience; metaphors
Pronunciation: double contractions
Reading: read an article about good and bad advice
Speaking: talk about words of wisdom

2.2 Changing your mind
Grammar/Function: verb patterns
Vocabulary: collocations; opinions
Pronunciation: word stress
Reading: read an essay about homelessness
Listening: listen to a radio program about a living library event
Speaking: discuss controversial ideas
Writing: write a discursive essay

2.3 Who do you trust?
Grammar/Function: introducing opinions
Vocabulary: idioms of opinion
Pronunciation: intonation for emphasis
Reading: read an article about the most and least trusted professions
Listening: listen to a discussion about trustworthiness
Speaking: discuss dilemmas at work

2.4 Chess master
Listening: The Young Chess Master: watch a program about a young chess prodigy
Speaking: take part in a panel discussion
Writing: write a summary

Unit 3 PLACES
Interviews: What is your favorite place?

3.1 Lonely planet
Grammar/Function: noun phrases
Vocabulary: landscapes
Pronunciation: word stress; compound nouns/adjectives
Reading: read three texts about memorable vacation moments; read a city guide
Speaking: describe a vacation memory
Writing: write a guidebook entry

3.2 Home from home
Grammar/Function: relative clauses
Vocabulary: -y adjectives; prefixes
Pronunciation: long/short vowels
Reading: read about a famous hotel
Listening: listen to an account of homes around the world
Speaking: talk about an "alternative" home

3.3 Welcome to perfect city
Grammar/Function: making a proposal
Vocabulary: city life
Pronunciation: shifting stress: suffixes
Listening: listen to a proposal for a city improvement scheme
Speaking: make a proposal

3.4 London
Listening: One day in London: watch a program about London
Speaking: present a documentary proposal
Writing: write a proposal for a documentary

Unit 4 JUSTICE
Interviews: What legal or social issues concern you?

4.1 Fight for justice
Grammar/Function: introductory it
Vocabulary: crime collocations; lexical chunks
Pronunciation: pauses and chunking
Reading: read an article about a miscarriage of justice
Speaking: talk about criminal justice

4.2 Social issues
Grammar/Function: the perfect aspect
Vocabulary: social issues
Pronunciation: stress patterns
Listening: listen to people describe someone they admire
Speaking: discuss social issues
Writing: write a problem-solution essay

4.3 Do the right thing
Grammar/Function: expressing hypothetical preferences
Vocabulary: decisions
Pronunciation: intonation: adding emphasis
Reading: read about a real-life hero
Listening: listen to a discussion about witnessing a crime
Speaking: discuss moral dilemmas

4.4 The con artist
Listening: The Con Artist: watch a program about a con artist
Speaking: recount a crime story
Writing: write a short article

Unit 5 SECRETS
Interviews: Are you good at keeping secrets?

5.1 Family secrets
Grammar/Function: modal verbs and related phrases
Vocabulary: idioms: secrets
Pronunciation: connected speech: elision
Reading: read a true story
Listening: listen to a radio program about secrets
Speaking: talk about secrets
Writing: write a narrative

5.2 Truth or myth?
Grammar/Function: the passive
Vocabulary: truth or myth; multi-word verbs
Pronunciation: stress: multi-word verbs
Reading: read about everyday myths
Speaking: debunk a myth

5.3 Tell me no lies
Grammar/Function: making a point
Vocabulary: journalism
Pronunciation: intonation: appropriacy
Reading: read about investigative journalism
Listening: listen to a conversation about WikiLeaks
Speaking: discuss freedom of information

5.4 Secret Island
Listening: New York's Abandoned Island: watch a program about a secret island
Speaking: talk about secret places in your city
Writing: write a secrets guide

Unit 6 TRENDS
Interviews: Do you follow trends in music and fashion?

6.1 Future gazing
Grammar/Function: future forms
Vocabulary: predictions
Pronunciation: connected speech: auxiliary verbs
Reading: read about the far future
Speaking: evaluate future inventions

6.2 A global language?
Grammar/Function: concession clauses
Vocabulary: language
Pronunciation: intonation: concession clauses
Reading: read about a radio program
Listening: listen to a program about global English
Speaking: discuss trends in language learning
Writing: complete a report

6.3 Trendsetters
Grammar/Function: describing cause and effect
Vocabulary: trends
Pronunciation: connected speech: swallowed sounds
Reading: read about how trends spread
Listening: listen to descriptions of how trends started
Speaking: describe changes in your country

6.4 Tech Trends
Listening: Technology Trends: watch an extract from a program about technology trends
Speaking: decide which trends to fund
Writing: write about a trend

Unit 7 FREEDOM
Interviews: What makes you feel free?

7.1 The great escape
Grammar/Function: cleft sentences
Vocabulary: collocations
Pronunciation: word stress: suffixes
Reading: read an article about a man who disappeared
Speaking: talk about an escape plan

7.2 Switching off
Grammar/Function: participle clauses
Vocabulary: idioms: relaxing
Pronunciation: word stress: idioms
Reading; read a promotional leaflet
Listening: listen to people describing how they relax
Speaking: discuss ways to escape your routine
Writing: write a promotional leaflet

7.3 Free to make mistakes
Grammar/Function: exchanging opinions
Vocabulary: risk
Pronunciation: polite tone
Reading; read an article about safety and risk
Listening: listen to a discussion about whether children are over-protected
Speaking: talk about personal choice

7.4 Gandhi: The Road to Freedom
Watching: Gandhi: Watch a documentary about Mohandas Ghandi Speaking: talk about freedom Writing: write about what freedom means to you

Unit 8 TIME
Interviews: What is the best time of life?

8.1 History in a box
Grammar/Function: future in the past
Vocabulary: time expressions; proverbs
Pronunciation: rhythm: proverbs
Reading: read about time capsules
Speaking: choose objects that represent you

8.2 I remember...
Grammar/Function: ellipsis and substitution
Vocabulary: memories
Pronunciation: connected speech
Reading: read a personal story
Listening: listen to a program about memory and smell
Speaking: talk about memories
Write: write a personal story

8.3 Time savers
Grammar/Function: discussing ideas
Vocabulary: collocations with time
Pronunciation: word stress: phrases
Reading: read time-saving tips
Listening: listen to an interview about time management
Speaking: discuss ways to save time

8.4 What is time?
Listening: Wonders of the Universe: watch an extract from a documentary about the role of time in the creation of the universe
Speaking: talk about a turning point in your life
Writing: write about a major decision in your life

Unit 9 INSPIRATION
Interviews: Do you do anything creative in your life?

9.1 Icons
Grammar/Function: tenses for unreal situations
Vocabulary: adjectives: the arts
Pronunciation: irregular spellings
Reading: real about living statues Speaking; choose sculptures to suit clients' needs

9.2 Feeling inspired
Grammar/Function: adverbials
Vocabulary: ideas
Pronunciation: pronunciation: "o"
Listening: listen to people talking about where they get their ideas
Speaking: talk about boosting creativity
Writing: write a review

9.3 Love it or hate it
Grammar/Function: ranting/raving
Vocabulary: express yourself
Pronunciation: positive/negative intonation
Reading: read a website extract
Listening: listen to rants/raves
Speaking: rant or rave

9.4 The Philanthropist
Watching: The Vegetable Seller: watch an extract from a program about an unusual philanthropist
Speaking: nominate someone for an award
Writing: write about an inspirational person

Unit 10 HORIZONS
Interviews: What are your goals in life?

10.1 On the road
Grammar/Function: inversion
Vocabulary: collocations
Pronunciation: stress/unstress
Reading: read about an epic car journey
Speaking; plan your dream adventure

10.2 Dreams come true?
Grammar/Function: comparative structures
Vocabulary: ambition
Pronunciation: intonation: emphasis; rhythm
Reading; read an essay about celebrity
Listening: listen to an author reading from his memoirs
Speaking; talk about real-life success stories
Writing: write a "for and against" essay

10.3 Making a plan
Grammar/Function: negotiating
Vocabulary: negotiation
Pronunciation: polite intonation
Reading: read tips for negotiating
Listening: listen to a talk about stages in a negotiation
Speaking: negotiate a plan for a film festival

10.4 Wildest Dreams
Watching: Wildest Dreams: watch a program about budding wildlife filmmakers
Speaking: present ideas about a dream job
Writing: write about your dream job

Irregular Verbs

Language Bank

Vocabulary Bank

Communication Bank

Audio Scripts

"American Speakout is a new, comprehensive six-level General American English Course for adults. The course integrates authentic video from popular BBC programs and real life situations in every unit and builds the skills and knowledge learners need to express themselves confidently in a real English-speaking environment. Adapted from the successful Speakout 2nd Edition and aligned with the Global Scale of English, American Speakout features tips on differences between American English and British English vocabulary, usage, and idioms as well as pointers on global English. While new audio focuses on students' acquisition of American English, a range of international accents in supporting material hones students' listening skills and readiness to communicate in our increasingly global world." (Book Cover)