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Product DescriptionFrom the Back CoverDid you know that: Jean Paul Getty put pay phones in his guests' bedrooms to save money on phone bills? Leonardo da Vinci wrote backwards in his notebooks so that nobody could read them? Pele´s first soccer ball was a grapefruit? Pablo Picasso never threw anything away, not even empty cereal boxes? Agatha Christie wrote a book that actually saved someone's life?These and other fascinating facts make up the biographies in What A Life!This three-book series takes a fresh approach to making reading both pleasurable and motivating! High-interest biographies focus on less-known facts about famous figures, rather than the chronology of events typical of most biographies.Each book in the What A Life! Series takes a multicultural approach, featuring 24 short biographies on inspirational figures from all over the world.Subjects range from historical and political figures to athletes, artists, entertainers, and humanitarians, including: Marie Curie I.M. Pei Eva Perón Agatha Christie Muhammad Ali Bruce Lee Leonardo da Vinci William Shakespeare Cesar Chavez Pablo Picasso Maria Montessori Mother TeresaIn addition to the biographical reading, each short, easy-tofollow unit includes: Pre-reading questions and activities. Vocabulary exercises -- definition and usage. Main-idea and reading-skills exercises. Questions on detail and inference. Discussion, comprehension, and writing activities. Answers to exercises at the end of each book.
This book investigates whether high-interest, non-chronological biographical anecdotes can effectively improve reading comprehension and motivation for high-beginning level English language learners. Author Milada Broukal utilizes a collection of short, accessible biographies to engage students who may find traditional, date-heavy historical texts tedious. By focusing on obscure, humanizing facts about famous figures rather than standard timelines, the text provides a framework for vocabulary acquisition and critical thinking. The material is structured to support language development through targeted exercises that accompany each narrative.
What You Will Find
Educators frequently highlight this series as a practical tool for ESL classrooms due to its focus on high-interest content that maintains student engagement. Experts note that the structured pedagogical approach effectively balances reading practice with essential language skill-building exercises.
Page Count:
124
Publication Date:
2001-09-07
Publisher:
Pearson Longman
ISBN-10:
0201619970
ISBN-13:
9780201619973
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