B1-B2 / Take Off!

The Take Off! B1+ coursebook comprises 12 units. Each unit focuses on a particular topic and is divided into the following sections:

The Coursebook also includes:

• Lead-in: cross-curricular activities (involving the use of graphs, photos, maps, quizzes, sketches, etc) introduce the unit topic and prepare the student for the unit that follows
• Reading: a variety of texts (articles, advertisements, weblogs, web pages, etc) and reading comprehension tasks that help students understand the texts as well as giving them the chance to explore the topic in greater detail by stimulating thought and discussion
• Vocabulary: lexical tasks based on the words in the unit texts, plus extra tasks designed to broaden students’ vocabulary
• Grammar: a variety of grammar tasks designed to help students understand and use level-appropriate grammar phenomena. These, when used together with the Grammar Appendix, help students to learn, step-by-step, how to use English grammar correctly.
• Skills: Students develop and practise their understanding and production of the spoken word through Listening and Speaking tasks that are grounded in everyday experience. The Speaking Help box on the same page as the speaking tasks contains words and phrases that are essential for confident, natural speaking. The Speaking Appendix at the back of the book contains additional material that is necessary for the completion of the Speaking tasks, as well as the ‘alternative’ photographs or other material that students use when they are working in pairs. For Writing practice, students are guided through tasks that help them to gain a better understanding of every aspect of the process they need to go through to complete any writing task successfully (understanding the topic, producing a plan, writing the text). The Writing Help box will boost students’ self-confidence, giving them words and phrases that are appropriate for their task.
• Round-up: To complete the unit, students do a fun quiz that encourages them to look back at the unit and shows them how much they have learnt. Then they go on to evaluate what they have achieved by means of the Progress assessment activity, which encourages them to take responsibility for their learning and their progress.
• Revision: The vocabulary and grammar revision tasks at the end of the unit will help students identify and address any gaps that they may have before moving on to the next unit.

The Coursebook also includes: 

• Texts about problems that some people in the world face, such as access to basic education, health care and social justice. We hope that these texts will instill in students a desire to help those less fortunate than themselves.
• Six cross-curricular projects that will encourage students to use the English they have been taught through participation in interesting, creative activities.
• A wordlist containing the Coursebook words in alphabetical order, together with their part of speech, the unit in which each word appears, the pronunciation (using phonetic symbols) and an explanation in English.