«Touchstone is a ground-breaking new series that offers a fresh approach to teaching and learning North American English. It draws on the Cambridge International Corpus, a large database of conversations and written texts, to build a syllabus based on how people actually use English. The series introduces unique «conversation management» strategies, places special emphasis on teaching vocabulary and vocabulary-learning strategies, and offers exciting ideas for personalized, learner-centered interaction. Key Features ¦ Grammar presented in natural contexts — Vocabulary-learning strategies ¦ Strategies for managing conversation ¦ Inductive learning tasks ¦ Useful facts about spoken language ¦ Personalized speaking and writing practice ¦ Communicative pronunciation activities — Listening strategies • Reading that leads to realistic writing tasks • Clear learning aims • Self-assessment tools • Self-study Audio CD/CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh The four levels of Touchstone take adult and young adult learners from the beginning through the intermediate levels of proficiency. Student's Book 1 is designed for beginners and teaches basic grammar, vocabulary, and conversation strategies for everyday interaction.»