Achieving Competency in English

by Price, Planaria J.

• ISBN13: 9780472030439
• ISBN10: 0472030434
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-15
• Publisher: Univ of Michigan Pr

Summary

Achieving Competency in Englishis a life skills text for newcomers to the United States. A unique feature of the book are the cultural competencies included in this book, such as common courtesies, meeting people, emergencies, community services, getting a job, minding one's money, finding a place to live, staying healthy, food and nutrition, and education. Each of the book's ten chapters begins with a Reading Readiness opener, with pictures that introduce the theme and vocabulary of the chapter in a non-threatening way. Chapters also contain reading passages, real-life situations for discussion, realia and writing components, visual literacy practice, and suggestions for outside study. CASAS correlations are included This is a revised edition from the book titledCompetency in Englishby Planaria J. Price. Planaria J. Price is an instructor, Evans Adult School, Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
Common Courtesy in America	2	(26)
Spoken and Unspoken Language	4	(8)
Polite or Rude?	4	(2)
Body Language	6	(6)
Polite, Acceptable, or Rude?	12	(6)
Cultures in Contrast	18	(2)
Asking for Information	18	(1)
Understanding Euphemisms	18	(1)
Conversation Activity	19	(1)
Bits and Pieces	20	(5)
Observing Body Language	20	(3)
Humor	23	(2)
Understanding Statistics: The Pie Chart	25	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 1	26	(2)
Meeting People	28	(26)
Getting Together	30	(8)
Making New Friends	30	(2)
Formal and Informal Get-Togethers	32	(6)
Polite Behavior in Formal Situations	38	(4)
Informal Get Togethers	42	(4)
Extending Invitations	42	(1)
Introducing Yourself	43	(1)
Starting a Conversation	44	(1)
Expressing Thanks Informally	45	(1)
Bits and Pieces	46	(6)
Formal Written Invitations	46	(2)
Formal Thank-You Notes	48	(1)
Writing an Invitation and Thank-You Note	49	(1)
Humor	50	(1)
Advice from Zenobia	51	(1)
Understanding Statistics: The Bar Chart	52	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 2	53	(1)
Emergencies	54	(22)
Getting Help	56	(8)
What to Do in an Emergency	56	(2)
Emergency Services	58	(6)
Emergency Situations	64	(4)
A Matter of Life or Death	68	(2)
Calling for Help	68	(2)
Bits and Pieces	70	(4)
Preventing Emergencies	70	(1)
Practicing Home Safety	71	(1)
Knowing Your Environment	72	(1)
Personal Safety Discussion Questions	73	(1)
Understanding Statistics: The Bar Chart	74	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 3	75	(1)
Community Services	76	(26)
Transportation and Public Agencies	78	(6)
Transportation	78	(2)
Public Agencies	80	(4)
Using Community Services	84	(4)
The Post Office and The Telephone	88	(3)
Using the Post Office	88	(1)
Using the Telephone	89	(2)
Bits and Pieces	91	(6)
Reading Traffic Citations	91	(1)
Understanding Street Signs	92	(1)
Getting Car Insurance	93	(2)
Reading the Phone Book	95	(1)
Humor	96	(1)
Understanding Statistics: Reading a Map	97	(4)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 4	101	(1)
Getting a Job	102	(30)
Finding Employment	104	(8)
Looking for a Job	104	(3)
Interviewing for a Job	107	(5)
Translating Your Job Experience into English	112	(4)
The Job Interview	116	(6)
Calling for an Interview	116	(1)
Making the Appointment	117	(1)
Talking about Yourself in the Interview	118	(2)
Understanding Help Wanted Ads	120	(2)
Bits and Pieces	122	(8)
Writing Resumes	122	(2)
Writing the Cover Letter	124	(1)
Writing the Thank-You Letter	125	(1)
Filling Out Job Applications	125	(4)
Understanding the Payroll Check	129	(1)
Understanding Statistics: The Bar Chart	130	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 5	131	(1)
Minding Your Money	132	(28)
Your Money	134	(8)
Protecting Your Money	134	(3)
Spending Your Money	137	(5)
Saving and Spending Money	142	(6)
Consumer Rights	148	(3)
Asking for a Refund or Exchange	148	(1)
Making a Complaint	149	(2)
Bits and Pieces	151	(5)
Safety in Banks	151	(1)
Opening a Bank Account	151	(2)
Making a Deposit	153	(1)
Writing Checks	154	(1)
Canceled Checks	155	(1)
Comparison Shopping	155	(1)
Understanding Statistics: Making a Budget	156	(3)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 6	159	(1)
Finding a Place to Live	160	(24)
Renting or Buying	162	(8)
Housing and Your Rights	162	(2)
Housing and Your Finances	164	(6)
Finding a Place to Live... and Staying There	170	(4)
Buying or Renting	174	(4)
Talking to Real-Estate Agents	174	(2)
Talking to Landlords or Managers	176	(2)
Bits and Pieces	178	(4)
Tenants' Rights	178	(1)
Filling Out Rental Applications	178	(2)
Understanding Rental Agreements	180	(1)
Understanding Eviction Notices	181	(1)
Understanding Statistics: Owning Your Own Home	182	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 7	183	(1)
In Sickness and in Health	184	(26)
Staying Healthy	186	(8)
Finding a Doctor	186	(2)
Illnesses	188	(6)
Seeking Medical Advice	194	(5)
Seeing the Doctor	199	(3)
Making an Appointment	199	(1)
Talking to the Doctor	200	(2)
Bits and Pieces	202	(6)
AIDS	202	(1)
Immunizations	203	(1)
Your Personal Check-List of Immunizations	204	(1)
Understanding Hospital Admittance Forms	205	(1)
Filling Out Health Insurance Forms	206	(1)
Understanding Lables on Medicine	207	(1)
Understanding Statistics: The Bar Chart	208	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 8	209	(1)
Food and Nutrition	210	(26)
Food and Health	212	(8)
Eating at Home	212	(3)
Eating Out	215	(5)
Food and Restaurants	220	(5)
Enjoy Your Meal!	225	(4)
Ordering in a Restaurant	225	(2)
Complaining about Your Order	227	(1)
Conversation Activities	228	(1)
Bits and Pieces	229	(5)
Food Poisoning	229	(1)
Milk Allergies	230	(1)
Table Manners	230	(4)
Understanding Food Labels	234	(1)
Understanding Statistics: The Line Graph	234	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 9	235	(1)
Education in the United States	236	(25)
Schools in the United States	238	(6)
General Education	238	(2)
Higher Education	240	(4)
Taking Tests and Reaching Your Goals	244	(4)
Getting the Most out of Your Education	248	(2)
Making Appointments with Instructors	248	(1)
Asking an Instructor for Help	249	(1)
Bits and Pieces	250	(8)
You're Never Too Old to Learn!	250	(1)
Cheating	250	(1)
Taking Tests	251	(6)
Filling Out College Application Forms	257	(1)
Understanding Statistics: Reading a Map	258	(1)
Expansion Activities for Chapter 10	259	(2)
Appendix A Translating Measurements into English	261	(3)
Appendix B Using the Internet: Traveling on the Information Highway	264	(2)
CASAS/SCANS Correlations	266