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.
A good ESL book gives ample opportunities for receptive and productive skills. Cutting Edge
Advanced is more than adequate in providing tasks for reading, writing, listening, and speaking for
students. The fact that I liked the most was several pair and group activities for learners to practice
listening and speaking skills with their classmates. Developing interpersonal skills play an
indispensable part in the functional language, and this is what Advanced level students require the
most. They already can appreciate the use of language in social situations and thus need more
practice of using it while conversing with their colleagues and friends. The level of English selected
in the book is appropriate for advanced-level students.
The unit that we explored here was on globalization, which is significant and logical for the student
level that we are working on. As students of this stage should explore complex topics such as
relationships, careers, current events, culture, travel, and personal and global problems.
Globalization and urbanization themes are most significant for advanced level students as most of
them are trying to get promoted in their jobs or planning to move outside for study. One more
thing that caught my eye in the given unit was case studies that included examples of multiple
nationalities. This brings in the flavor of different cultures and global outlook that we are trying to
develop in Advanced students to ease out their journey on future endeavors. The book had no
instances that might prove offensive to anyone.
I appreciated the fact that the unit first started with vocabulary and speaking, which are more
uninterrupted and have a little to no chance of scrutiny by the facilitators, and then went to the
writing part which is more accuracy-based and inspected meticulously by the teacher for finding
and correcting errors.
Though the material was clearly structured and attractively presented, at times (on page-7) I found
it a little cluttered. I was not able to focus on the activity due to unsymmetrical illustrations that
were a little too loud for me. There was no teacher's book or guide on lesson planning provided in
this book. Moreover, there was little or no testing to check the understanding of the students on
the given topic.
Overall, Cutting edge is a considerable book for advanced level students are it is structured and
gives enough opportunities for developing receptive and productive skills.
© 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.
A good ESL book gives ample opportunities for receptive and productive skills. Cutting Edge
Advanced is more than adequate in providing tasks for reading, writing, listening, and speaking for
students. The fact that I liked the most was several pair and group activities for learners to practice
listening and speaking skills with their classmates. Developing interpersonal skills play an
indispensable part in the functional language, and this is what Advanced level students require the
most. They already can appreciate the use of language in social situations and thus need more
practice of using it while conversing with their colleagues and friends. The level of English selected
in the book is appropriate for advanced-level students.
The unit that we explored here was on globalization, which is significant and logical for the student
level that we are working on. As students of this stage should explore complex topics such as
relationships, careers, current events, culture, travel, and personal and global problems.
Globalization and urbanization themes are most significant for advanced level students as most of
them are trying to get promoted in their jobs or planning to move outside for study. One more
thing that caught my eye in the given unit was case studies that included examples of multiple
nationalities. This brings in the flavor of different cultures and global outlook that we are trying to
develop in Advanced students to ease out their journey on future endeavors. The book had no
instances that might prove offensive to anyone.
I appreciated the fact that the unit first started with vocabulary and speaking, which are more
uninterrupted and have a little to no chance of scrutiny by the facilitators, and then went to the
writing part which is more accuracy-based and inspected meticulously by the teacher for finding
and correcting errors.
Though the material was clearly structured and attractively presented, at times (on page-7) I found
it a little cluttered. I was not able to focus on the activity due to unsymmetrical illustrations that
were a little too loud for me. There was no teacher's book or guide on lesson planning provided in
this book. Moreover, there was little or no testing to check the understanding of the students on
the given topic.
Overall, Cutting edge is a considerable book for advanced level students are it is structured and
gives enough opportunities for developing receptive and productive skills.
© 2020 The TEFL Academy. All rights reserved. 1
