Assignment C - Part 1
An Evaluation of Cutting Edge Advanced
✓ Use the checklist from unit 10 ('Evaluating course book material') to write a general evaluation
of the book.
✓ You won't be able to comment on all items as you only have one unit and the contents, but say
as much as you can.
✓ This must be presented as a coherent essay, not just a list.
✓ Then say whether you personally would like to use the book with an advanced class and why or
why not - this is just your opinion, so there is not a right or a wrong response to this part.
✓ You do not need to refer to the class described for Part 2 of this assignment.
✓ Write 300 - 500 words.
New Cutting Edge Advanced – An Evaluation
The Cutting Edge Advanced Student’s book is well presented and has a vibrant page layout with
lots of pictures interspersed with the exercises. It provides a fairly balanced mix of the four skills,
reading, writing, listening and speaking, even though at first glance the sections appear top heavy
with reading and listening. However, looking through the first chapter there are a lot of occasions
to give students the opportunity to speak, discussing opinions and observations between
themselves, and one or two writing exercises are given.
There are also a good amount of grammar exercises, reinforced with a “grammar extension bank”
further on in the book, although it is not possible to check that with the sample given.
In the opening chapter there is only one pronunciation exercise, which consists of listening to
different English accents from around the world. I am not sure of the usefulness of “mimicking”
different accents, but suffice to say that it does at least encourage the students to concentrate on
pronunciation, and makes them aware that English pronunciation can differ widely depending on
the provenance of the speaker.
However, there does not seem to be a great deal of new vocabulary for C1 level, although plenty in
B2, which being just a step below it is possible that students might not know all of these words,
and if they do then it is a good opportunity to revisit them. I would try to introduce extra new
vocabulary by researching in magazines and online for articles dealing with the same topic.
The topic under discussion in the first chapter is stimulating and engaging. Suitable for anybody, as
it kicks off discussing globalisation, urbanisation and living in cities, which is of interest to most
people seeing as we mostly live in city environments. Exercises are challenging and the topic
gradually changes so that students don’t get bored with concentrating too much on a single
subject.
At the end of the chapter there is a summary of what the students will have achieved upon
completion.
I would gladly choose this book as a course book, provided it could be supplemented with extra
reading materials.
© 2020 The TEFL Academy. All rights reserved. 1
An Evaluation of Cutting Edge Advanced
✓ Use the checklist from unit 10 ('Evaluating course book material') to write a general evaluation
of the book.
✓ You won't be able to comment on all items as you only have one unit and the contents, but say
as much as you can.
✓ This must be presented as a coherent essay, not just a list.
✓ Then say whether you personally would like to use the book with an advanced class and why or
why not - this is just your opinion, so there is not a right or a wrong response to this part.
✓ You do not need to refer to the class described for Part 2 of this assignment.
✓ Write 300 - 500 words.
New Cutting Edge Advanced – An Evaluation
The Cutting Edge Advanced Student’s book is well presented and has a vibrant page layout with
lots of pictures interspersed with the exercises. It provides a fairly balanced mix of the four skills,
reading, writing, listening and speaking, even though at first glance the sections appear top heavy
with reading and listening. However, looking through the first chapter there are a lot of occasions
to give students the opportunity to speak, discussing opinions and observations between
themselves, and one or two writing exercises are given.
There are also a good amount of grammar exercises, reinforced with a “grammar extension bank”
further on in the book, although it is not possible to check that with the sample given.
In the opening chapter there is only one pronunciation exercise, which consists of listening to
different English accents from around the world. I am not sure of the usefulness of “mimicking”
different accents, but suffice to say that it does at least encourage the students to concentrate on
pronunciation, and makes them aware that English pronunciation can differ widely depending on
the provenance of the speaker.
However, there does not seem to be a great deal of new vocabulary for C1 level, although plenty in
B2, which being just a step below it is possible that students might not know all of these words,
and if they do then it is a good opportunity to revisit them. I would try to introduce extra new
vocabulary by researching in magazines and online for articles dealing with the same topic.
The topic under discussion in the first chapter is stimulating and engaging. Suitable for anybody, as
it kicks off discussing globalisation, urbanisation and living in cities, which is of interest to most
people seeing as we mostly live in city environments. Exercises are challenging and the topic
gradually changes so that students don’t get bored with concentrating too much on a single
subject.
At the end of the chapter there is a summary of what the students will have achieved upon
completion.
I would gladly choose this book as a course book, provided it could be supplemented with extra
reading materials.
© 2020 The TEFL Academy. All rights reserved. 1
