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“Ask more. Know more. Share more. Create Compelling Conversations.”

Alta Book Center Publishers chooses Compelling Conversations for Fall 2008 Catalog.
Compelling Conversations delivers 45 unique conversation lessons for advanced ESL classrooms.
(Los Angeles, CA.) August 13, 2007—

Alta Book Center Publishers, the nation's largest distributor of English as a Second Language materials, has chosen Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics for distribution in its Fall 2008 Catalog.

Compelling Conversations, designed for non-native English speakers with a sophisticated worldview and still evolving language skills, fills a niche for dedicated teachers and students of English and conversation. This unique ESL textbook includes a collection of 45 thematic chapters focused on authentic conversations. “Why should we just talk about the weather and become bored when we could explore our lives, times, passions, and challenges?” asks Roth.

Compelling Conversations:
 asks over 1,400 questions encouraging students to reflect and share;
 features over 500 memorable quotations from ancient sages to modern writers;
 introduces over 200 proverbs from around the world;
 highlights 450 practical vocabulary words;
 provides enough material for an estimated 180 hours of class time;
 ends each chapter with an "on your own" exercise;
 allows students to develop authentic, meaningful conversations in English;
 deepens critical thinking skills;
 encourages students to share experiences and insights;
 engages students and creates compelling conversations.

“Many highly-intelligent international students, immigrant professionals, and working adults seldom have more than the most superficial conversations in English,” notes Eric Roth, adjunct professor at the University of Southern California and Compelling Conversations’ co-author. “Compelling Conversations was written to aid this small, yet significant niche of cultured, sophisticated adults who want to have quality, in-depth conversations about their experiences and perceptions in their adopted second, third, or even fourth tongue.” Roth has taught conversation and writing classes at the university, community college, and adult education levels in Southern California.

Easy English Times has also published excerpts from Compelling Conversations in each issue since April 2007. The monthly national newspaper for adult education students chose lessons on gardening, describing families, and practicing job interviews. ESL teachers, administrators, and students are praising Compelling Conversations:

“A wonderful source of materials triggering authentic (not stilted) communication.”
Dr. Sharon Myers, American Language Institute
University of Southern California

“Compelling Conversations encourages the reader to examine many different ways of thinking and teaches respect and genuine interest in other people's models of the world. It teaches active listening skills and offers gentle conversation reminders, such as be kind, explore, be open, be supportive, that help the reader set a positive intention for each interaction. I am glad to have found a book that combines great content, conversational skills and psychology of empowerment.”
– Natasha Cooper, author of ESL how-to books Scripts for Winning Jobs and The Telephone for Business and Daily Life.

“ESL teachers will happily discover this book stimulates students to talk and encourages them to share their personal stories.”
– Diane M. Asitimbay, author of What's Up America?, a cultural guide for Advanced ESL students.

“As a longtime ESL student and medical professional, I wish I had this book when I was preparing for the "English Proficiency Exam" in London. It goes beyond the boring dialogs of most ESL books and provides great current conversations that fit our crazy modern times.”
– Beja Szerencses, American immigrant, Santa Monica, CA

“This book is excellent! Both teachers and students love it.”
- Marina Goldshteyn, Director of CES College

More information about Compelling Conversations and free sample chapters are available at the book’s website www.compellingconversations.com. Photographs available upon request. Books available for review in professional publication.
Biography of Eric H. Roth
Eric Roth teaches undergraduate engineering students and international graduate students the pleasures of writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He has taught numerous ESL courses at Santa Monica College, UCLA Extension, and Cal State, Long Beach’s American Language Institute, and Santa Monica-Malibu Adult Education Center. Roth, a former journalist and Congressional aide, also directed an adult education center in Los Angeles. Roth received his MA in Media Studies in 1988. He belongs to TESOL, CATESOL (California Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages) and ICA (International Communication Association). Roth has led many workshops on teaching techniques. Roth also advises the USC Conversation Partners Program.

Biography of Toni Aberson
After 35 years of teaching English and supervising English teachers, Toni Aberson (M.A. English; M.A. Psychology and Religion) believes that a lively classroom is the optimal learning environment. Aberson currently lives in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.