# More about the book |
English as she is spoken. The project started in 1992. Eight years in the making meant continuous additions and improvements. Teachers gather a “greatest hits” of material and it was great to use pedagogic ideas picked up over the years. The “card game” (page 82) was invented by a Mathematics lecturer. I still use the first set of cards from T.P. – Teaching Practice in the early 80’s in west London, realizing the idea could be used with language – “London” and “Food”. (A “Dental” card game was not included in the book but maybe next time…)  Talking of “English as she is spoken II”, new texts are being piloted. In Sweden there is little tailor-made material available for teaching conversation unless you spend hours hunting on the internet and photocopying. This makes the lot of the conversation course teacher even more frustrating. In law the study circle requires “study material”. Here’s a book with all the four skills – 116 pages packed with texts and authentic “realia” – ads, articles, leaflets, menus… It’s simple to use – no need to labour through a teacher’s book. The exercises (in grey to prevent photocopying) are stimulating and fun – never boring, as there is always variation. |
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I did “the rounds” of the publishers but they consider the market too small, hoping study circles will use Komvux books. One English teacher in Märsta said she was “gutted” when she discovered my book, having just been issued with the standard tome. Book shops seem to have given up on “conversation”, concentrating on business English and "Cambridge." But pupils know there’s more to life than exams, with conversation courses currently thriving. The more the project progressed the more I realized that I might as well self-publish as there was plenty to co-ordinate – cassette recording, answer key, contact with copyright owners. I wanted to have “artistic freedom”, not be dictated to by a marketing department. I’ve kept a publisher’s letter; “Too Stockholm fixated – will never go down well in Pajala!”
In 2001 a faxed order arrived from ABF Pajala! “Uneven in language level!” was another comment. Course books should reflect that a class of students are never at the same level. If publishers were more daring who knows what the standard of English in Sweden might be. “Intermediate” is the book’s label. I use it for the English B course at Märsta Komvux.
It was touch and go if I would make the September release party deadline and could send out invites. I wanted the layout to be state of the art – rich, stimulating and provocative, using “Add to taste” design and advertising in London. Richard Payne did the guidelines for Chapter 1 and then we spent a week putting the rest of the chapters together, just before I took the ferry back to Sweden. I enjoyed working in the small office close to Hyde Park and Notting Hill. One of the employees was conveniently on holiday, so I could take his place and Andrew White was brilliant punching out the scans. (Andrew even popped out to buy a Dime bar, digitally photographed for the Food chapter on page 12). I was still contacting copyright owners. Hectic days, but we made it – “More corrections!” being Richard’s standard phrase (I rang him from the boat with more corrections, on reaching Esbjerg). Hopefully he could make the release party to show off his graphic skills. In the end we had the British Council, a host of Studieförbund representatives and a rather large British Commonwealth Association teapot.
Peter Dickson, a familiar figure on the English teaching scene, also stars on the cassette. He kindly wrote a short review in the next Newsletter.
The first time the book finally made the Stockholm Folkuniversitetet programme, over 50 pupils enrolled. “Why did you choose this course?” I asked in disbelief! That autumn Lena McIvor wrote a brief review in the Folkuniversitetet DU & FU Newsletter.
I used the book at Sundbybergs Folkhögskola and Richard, one of the class said, “This is a best seller”. I had read out the names of all the class – calling the register, during my radio interview. The school was the first place where I talked about the book to an audience of teachers. Inger the secretary called me an “eldsjäl” the next day!
When I visited Örebro, summer 2002, the secretary at Vuxenskolan said, “Hang on, I have something about your book in my in-tray”. Sven Göran and “viral marketing” from Torsby! News is spreading.
Receiving complimentary e-mails too! One from a pupil at Vänersborg. Correct about the humour and not smutty as is the trend in many school books.
“English as she is spoken” is certainly not “skolboks engelska” but contains a wealth of everyday expressions. “A book to help you actively communicate in English with ease and enjoyment.”
Bob Nichols has come up with the first review, scheduled for publication in Lingua in January 2003. No need for a promotional tour!
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