"B1+-B2"--Page [4] of cover.

"with DVD/ROM and MP3 audio CD."

"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)

CONTENTS

Unit 1 NEW THINGS
Interviews : What makes a good roommate?

1.1 Time for a Chat
Grammar/Function: direct and indirect questions
Vocabulary: personality
Reading: understanding advice forum messages
Listening: understand informal conversations Speaking: have interesting conversations
Writing: write an advice forum message: edit for accuracy

1.2 Try Something New
Grammar/Function: present perfect
Vocabulary: feelings; word building: nouns
Pronunciation: word stress; connected speech
Reading: read a web article about trying something new
Speaking: talk about new experiences

1.3 I'd like to inquire Grammar/Function: Polite inquiries Vocabulary: ads Pronunciation: Polite intonation Reading: read ads Listening: Handle phone inquiries Speaking: Make phone inquiries

1.4 Great Experiences Listening: 50 things to do before you die: watch a documentary about adventures Speaking: Recommend an experience Writing: Write a forum entry

Unit 2 ISSUES Interviews: Does money make you happy?

2.1 Making a difference Grammar/Function: Present perfect simple and continuous Vocabulary: Word stress; weak forms: auxiliaries Pronunciation: issues; verbs/nouns with the same form Reading: Read an article about small actions with big results Speaking: Talk about different issues

2.2 You're being watched Grammar/Function: The passive Vocabulary: Surveillance Pronunciation: Sentence stress: passives Reading: Read a letter of complaint Listening: listen to opinions about surveillance Speaking: Discuss surveillance Writing: Write a letter of complaint; use formal written language

2.3 Good point! Grammar/Function: opinions Vocabulary: opinion adjectives Pronunciation: Intonation for partially agreeing Reading: read newspaper extracts Listening: listen to people discuss issues Speaking: give and respond to opinions; support your viewpoint

2.4 A Quiet Revolution Listening: A quiet revolution: watch a program about changes in working patterns Speaking: give a presentation about traditional gender roles Writing: write notes for a presentation

Unit 3 STORIES Interviews: What was the last book you read?

3.1 And the moral is... Grammar/Function: narrative tenses Vocabulary: sayings Pronunciation: weak forms: auxiliaries Reading: read stories with a moral: read a humorous story about a saying Speaking: tell anecdotes Writing: write a narrative; use adverbs

3.2 A life in six words Grammar/Function: I wish, if only Vocabulary: adjectives for stories; multi-word verbs Pronunciation: Sentence stress Reading: read about the life of an extraordinary woman Listening: listen to a radio program about very short stories Speaking: talk about life stories

3.3 It's a great read Listening; Tess of the D'urbervilles: watch a drama Speaking: Describe a TV/Movie scene Writing: Describe a TV/Movie scene

Unit 4 DOWNTIME Interviews: What's the perfect way to switch off?

4.1 Out of time Grammar/Function: Present and past habits Vocabulary: free time Pronunciation: connected speech: contractions Reading: read about how our free time is changing; read an opinion essay Speaking: discuss how you use your time Writing: write an opinion essay; use linkers

4.2 Great Getaways Grammar/Function: future forms Vocabulary: positive adjectives; uncountable and plural nouns Pronunciation: word stress; connected speech Reading: read about unusual vacations Listening: listen to people talk about vacations Speaking: plan an alternative vacation

4.3 How does it work? Grammar/Function: describing procedures Vocabulary: abilities Pronunciation: stress and intonation; mirror questions Listening: listen to people describing TV game shows Speaking: describe procedures; use mirror questions

4.4 The happiness formula Listening: The happiness formula: watch a program about happiness Speaking: do a class survey Writing: describe a TV/Movie scene

Unit 5 IDEAS Interviews: If I could start a business, what would it be?

5.1 Bright ideas Grammar/Function: articles Vocabulary: change; compound nouns Pronunciation: weak forms and linking: the Reading: read an article about the worst inventions ever Speaking: talk about inventions

5.2 Consumer crazy Grammar/Function: real and hypothetical conditionals Vocabulary: advertising collocations Pronunciation: sentence stress: conditionals Reading: find out your advertising IQ Listening: listen to a program about advertising Speaking: describe ads Writing: write a report; make written comparisons

5.3 Grammar/Function: suggesting ideas Vocabulary: collocations with ideas Pronunciation: intonation; showing reservations Reading: read about the rules of brainstorming Listening: listen to brainstorming ideas Speaking: take part in brainstorming session

5.4 Genius Listening: Genius: watch a program about presenting ideas Speaking: present a novel idea Writing: write a product review

Unit 6 AGE Interviews: What was the best period of your life?

6.1 The time of my life Grammar/Function: modal verbs and related phrases Vocabulary: age; word building; prefixes Pronunciation: connected speech; elision Reading: read an article about early and late successes Speaking: discuss different ages and generations

6.2 Future me Grammar/Function: future perfect and continuous Vocabulary: optimism/pessimism Pronunciation: weak forms: auxiliaries Reading: read emails making arrangements Listening: listen to a program about letters to your future self Speaking: talk about your future Writing: write an informal email; focus on informal style

6.3 So what you're saying is... Grammar/Function: persuading Vocabulary: collocations Pronunciation: intonations; persuading Listening: listen to a call-in radio show about life's milestones Speaking: discuss the right age for different things

6.4 How to live to 101 Listening: Horizon: How to live to 101: watch a program about living longer Speaking: hold a debtae Writing: write a short news article

Unit 7 MEDIA Interviews: What kind of news stories interest you?

7.1 TV Globetrotters Grammar/Function: quantifiers Vocabulary: television; multi-word verbs Pronunciation: connected speech; weak forms Speaking: talk about TV programs

7.2 The camera never lies Grammar/Function: reported speech Vocabulary: reporting verbs Pronunciation: connected speech; intrusive /w/ Reading: read an essay on celebrities and the media Listening: listen to an expert talking about hoax photographs Speaking: talk about celebrity and media Writing: write a discursive essay; use linkers of purpose

7.3 What's in the news Grammar/Function: adding emphasis Vocabulary: the press Pronunciation: sentence stress and intonation Reading: read about tabloid topics Listening: listen to people talking about recent news stories Speaking: express strong reactions

7.4 News Blunders
Listening: The funny side of the news: watch a program about live news Speaking: retell a news story Writing: write a short news article

Unit 8 BEHAVIOR Interviews: What kind of behavior gets on your nerves?

8.1 It's a tough call Grammar/Function: past and mixed conditions Vocabulary: collocations; decisions; compound adjectives Pronunciation: stress patterns; compound nouns Reading: read three articles about life-changing decisions Speaking: talk about a difficult decision you've made

8.2 Fair share Grammar/Function: -ing form and infinitive Vocabulary: values Pronunciation: pausing for effect Reading: read the instruction for two games Listening: listen to an experiment about fairness Speaking: talk about values and behaviors Writing: write an informal article; use linkers of purpose

8.3 Do you have a minute? Grammar/Function: handling an awkward situation Vocabulary: behavior Pronunciation: linking words Reading: read tips for handling awkward situations Speaking: deal with awkward situations

8.4 The human animal Listening: The human animal; watch a documentary about body language Speaking: give advice on how to behave in your culture Writing: write about behavior in your culture

Unit 9 TROUBLE Interviews: Do you have any phobias?

9.1 Witness Grammar/Function: -ing form and infinitive Vocabulary: crime: dependent prepositions Pronunciation: connected speech; elision Reading: read an article about memory Speaking: discuss how good a witness you are

9.2 Scam Grammar/Function: past modals of deduction Vocabulary: synonyms Pronunciation: connected speech: past modals Reading: read an infographic about scams; read an advice leaflet about avoiding trouble on vacation Listening: listen to people talk about being tricked Speaking: speculate about scams Writing: write a "how to" leaflet; learn to avoid repetition

9.3 It's an emergency Grammar/Function: reporting an incident Vocabulary: incidents Pronunciation: sentence stress Reading: read reasons for calling the emergency services Listening: listen to someone report an incident Speaking: talk about emergency situations

9.4 Survival Listening: Horizon: How to survive a sea disaster: watch a program about a sea rescue Speaking: agree on priorities Writing: write a story about a lucky escape

Unit 10 CULTURE Interviews: What areas of the arts do you enjoy?

10.1 Moving experiences Grammar/Function: relative clauses Vocabulary: adjectives to describe movies Pronunciation: intonation; relative clauses Reading: read a movie review Listening: listen to people talk about movies Speaking: talk about a movie you never get bored with Writing: write a movie review

10.2 Popular culture Grammar/Function: participle clauses Vocabulary: the arts; two-part phrases Pronunciation: word stress; connected speech Reading: read answers to popular culture questions Speaking: talk about popular culture and art experiences

10.3 On your left... Grammar/Function: giving a tour Vocabulary: dimensions Pronunciation: intonation in comments Listening: listen to tours of two very different places Speaking: show a visitor around part of your town

10.4 The people's palace Listening: The culture show: the people's palace: watch a program about an innovative building Speaking: discuss an artistic project for your town Writing: write a competition entry

System requirements for accompanying DVD-ROM, Windows: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10; 1GHz processor; 256 MB RAM, 64 MB graphics, 1025 x 768 screen resolution.

System requirements for accompanying DVD-ROM, Macintosh: OSX 10.5-10.11; 1GHz processor (Intel only for OSX); 256 MB RAM, 64 MB graphics, 1025 x 768 screen resolution.

System requirements for accompanying sound disc: CD/MP3 player or MP3 playback software.

Set includes: 1 book, 2 compact discs, 1 DVDROM.