English as a Second Language

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language by American Heritage Dictionary Editors The much-anticipated Fifth Edition ofThe American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language is the premier resource about words for people who seek to know more and find fresh perspectives. Exhaustively researched and thoroughly revised, the Fifth Edition contains 10,000 new words and senses, over 4,000 dazzling new full-color images, and authoritative, up-to-date guidance on usage from the celebrated American Heritage® Usage Panel. In keeping with the American Heritage tradition of cutting-edge research, the Fifth Edition represents the work of a dedicated team of experts, scholars, and contributors. Thousands of definitions have been revised in rapidly changing fields such as astronomy and biology, geographical entries and maps have been completely updated, and the dictionary's signature feature notes on word history, synonymy, and language variation have been enhanced and improved. Trustworthy advice on controversies and conundrums in English usage is provided by the American Heritage Usage Panel, a group of 200 prominent users of the language. Under the leadership of Steven Pinker, preeminent researcher on language and the mind, the Panel passes judgment on both new and longstanding usage problems. No other dictionary offers such discerning and helpful guidance on issues of usage, grammar, and style. Word meanings are made easier to understand with thousands of new quotations from classic and contemporary writers. Etymologies explaining word origins and development have been newly created or revised to reflect the very latest scholarship. Many words are traced back to their roots in prehistory through two unique appendixes showing word roots in ancient Indo-European and Semitic. Reliable, enlightening, and visually stunning, the Fifth Edition ofThe American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Languagegives you the opportunity to make your mark in the best possible way.

Beginner's Dictionary of American English Usage, Second Edition by Peter Collin Selling more than 58,000 in its first edition, Beginner's Dictionary of American English Usage has been revised and brought right up-to-date to contain today's 4,000 most commonly used words. Definitions are simple and brief, utilizing only words contained within the dictionary's pages. If you want to learn English as spoken by Americans, this dictionary is for you. It's easy to follow and absolutely indispensable. Each entry offers at least one example sentence, identifies parts of speech, and lists multiple meanings.

A Dictionary of American Idioms by Adam Makkai; Maxine Tull Boatner (Editor); John Edward Gates (Editor); Brenda Belmonte More than 8,000 idiomatic words and phrases specific to American-style English are presented in this updated A-to-Z dictionary, complete with definitions and sample sentences. Especially useful for TOEFL test-takers and other students in America for whom English is a second language, this book explains and clarifies many of the similes and metaphors that newcomers to American English find mystifying. It is also useful to native-born Americans who are sometimes confused by regional colloquialisms encountered in reading or on TV. Idioms undergo constant change in every living language, some of them falling out of use, while new words and phrases become part of the standard vocabulary. This dictionary's new fourth edition takes account of the latest idiomatic changes and provides a solid background to informal American English.

Dictionary of American Slang 4e by Robert L. Chapman; Barbara Ann Kipfer We all know language changes rapidly, but to follow along requires an historical view. Chapman's Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition, provides just what is needed to trace the language of today back to its American roots. And make no mistake--this is a dictionary that is purely American, the place where you can trace the development of the American language, in it's highly informal format known as "slang." Some would ask: "isn't the language changing so fast that this book is out of date the day on which it is published?" Although it is true that changes to the language, particularly slang, happen faster and faster in the electronic age, still there is a place for an authoritative, recognized work that keeps track of and compiles the language into an historical document, as this dictionary does. It is true that language changes very quickly; it is just as true that today's slang may be forgotten tomorrow. In recording the changing language, and sorting out what's here to stay from what's coming and quickly going, the Dictionary of American Slang serves a useful and important purpose.

English Vocabulary Elements by Keith Denning; Brett Kessler; William R. Leben This unique text draws on the tools of modern linguistics to help the student acquire an effective understanding of learned, specialized, and scientific vocabulary. English Vocabulary Elements (EVE) helps develop familiarity with over 350 Latin and Greek word elements in English, and shows how these roots are the building blocks within thousands of different words. Along the way the authors introduce and illustrate many of the fundamental concepts of linguistics. Offering a thorough approach to the expansion of vocabulary, EVE is an invaluable resource that provides students a deeper understanding of the language. This book will be useful to upper level high school students, undergraduates in English, Linguistics, and Classics departments, ESL students, and anyone interested in building vocabulary skills. This edition is refined and thoroughly updated. It includes updated cultural references, and the authors have revised and improved the pedagogy based on classroom experience. In particular they account for variations in pronunciation among students; clarify when historical details are important or peripheral; and improve the many examples and exercises that form the core of the book.

Medical English by Ramón Ribes; Pablo R. Ros English is not your mother tongue? This enjoyable book offers everything you need to cope with everyday situations as a resident in English-speaking countries, at scientific meetings or just to stay up to date with medical advances. Each chapter starts with a cartoon.

Perfect Phrases for ESL: Conversation Skills, Premium Third Edition by Diane Engelhardt A handy ESL phrase guide that helps you converse like a native English speaker--now enhanced via app with audio recordings of key expressions If you're an intermediate level speaker of English, you know that idiomatic speech, slang and other English phrases can create a barrier to conversing confidently in casual and work-related situations. In Perfect Phrases for ESL: Conversation Skills, Premium Third Edition you'll find a phrase guide that allows you to say the right words at the right time in any setting with perfect confidence. Written in an accessible, easy-to-understand way by a highly experienced ESL instructor, Perfect Phrases for ESL: Conversation Skills helps you navigate idiomatic speech and nuanced conversation with hundreds of ready-to-use English phrases and example dialogues. You'll discover phrases for talking with friends, offering opinions, collaborating with co-workers, addressing misunderstandings, and more--including common slang expressions frequently used by native English speakers. Now enhanced with audio recordings of key expressions available online and via app, Perfect Phrases for ESL: Conversation Skills give you the confidence you need to participate fully and confidently in any situation. Features: *  Clear, straightforward style, geared specifically for non-native speakers *  Ideal level for intermediate ESL (nonnative) speakers of English *  Essential phrases to communication in any situation *  Helpful direction on idiomatic speech and nuanced conversation *  Useful phrase clusters that range from formal to casual speech *  Audio recordings of key phrases and conversations via app