News about The English Course

Discussion Book 3 is coming soon (7/12/2025)

Discussion Book 3 is nearing completion and will be published in early 2026 in plenty of time for the start of the academic year in Japan. Discussion Book 3 largely follows the same familiar format that has proved so successful in the two earlier books in the series. There are 10 ‘standard’ units and two critical thinking activity units: The Island and The Murder Mystery. Each standard unit includes two sets of discussion questions, an audio clip of a five to six-minute lecture containing around 650 words, reading and vocabulary activities, an extension project and end-of-unit online consolidation tasks. Discussion Book 3 is positioned towards the top end of the CEFR B2 level and features more serious topics, more challenging language and more in-depth discussion oppurtunities. The appendices provide full transcripts of the audio, extra materials for tasks and useful language structures to facilitate interraction with other students (if required). We already have product pages up and running on this website and on our company website where you can find out all about the book.

Listening and Speaking Book 1 is coming in mid/late-2026 (7/12/2025)

Work on Listening and Speaking Book 1 is well underway and and the book is due to be published in mid-2026. Designed for learners at the waystage or pre-intermediate level. Listening and Speaking Book 1 is ideal for listening or lower level oral communication classes at high school or university. The aim of the course is to provide extensive listening practice, along with numerous realistic communication activities based on real life situations. The course also aims to balance the communicative based approach with the use of technology for both classroom use and self-access study. In addition to the activities in the book, the course also has many online practice activities for self-study and evaluation. You will be able to get more details on it soon.

Speaking Starter and Speaking Book 1 are now on sale at over 50% off (28/1/2018)

Speaking Starter and Speaking Book 1 are now over 50% off including sales tax (until further notice). To get this discount, you need to place your order directly with us. The price on the latest version of the order form or at the online store is the discounted price.

 

News Archive:

Writing Book 1 (Second Edition) is now available to order (1/2/2022)

Writing Book 1 (Second Edition) is now available to order through our online store. We expect delivery of the books to be on or just before 1 March 2022. Writing Book 1 has been thoroughly revised and re-designed. It is a marked improvement over the original version. To find out more, please visit the Writing Book 1 page on this website.

Writing Book 1 (First Edition) is now over 50% off (6/1/2022)

Writing Book 1 (First Edition) is now over 50% off the regular price while stocks last, but hurry because supplies are extremely limited. Once supplies of the first edition are exhausted, this version of Writing Book 1 will no longer be available, but don't worry because the arrival of the second edition will be in March 2022.

Presentation Book 1 is now available (1/4/2021)

Presentation Book 1 is now available. Presentation Book 1 consists of 14 Units and is intended to guide and assist students in making effective presentations in English. For more information, have a look at the Presentation Book 1 page on this website. If you would like to receive an inspection copy, please feel free to apply using button linked to the form at the bottom of this page.

Presentation Book 1 is coming soon (6/1/2021)

Presentation Book 1 will be available for the start of the 2021 academic year in Japan. Presentation Book 1 consists of 14 Units and is intended to guide and assist students in making effective presentations in English. More information will be available soon. If you would like to receive an inspection copy (when available), please feel free to apply using button linked to the form at the bottom of this page.

Get a free DVD or CD set when you order two or more of our books. Offer ends 31/5/2021 (6/1/2021)

When you order any two of our book titles you can receive either a DVD or CD set for use with that/those product(s). Speaking Starter and Speaking Book 1 are available with either a two DVD set or a CD set. Writing Book 1 has a two DVD set only. Discussion Book 1 and Discussion Book 2 both have one CD only. For those products that are relevant, we recommend all customers to use the DVD version if they have the appropriate equipment available to them in the classroom, as the DVDs feature video clips and other features not available on the CDs. To take advantage of this offer, you need to place your order directly with us. This offer ends at midnight Japan Standard Time on 31 May 2021.

The English Company's online store is now available (28/1/2018)

Whether you are a student, teacher, school administrator, wholesaler, retailer, distributor, favoured teacher or agent, you can now order any of our products online using our online store available at store.thenglishcompany.jp. If you are a school administrator, wholesaler, retailer, distributor, favoured teacher or agent you can get a discount on the regular retail price if you enter the correct discount code. Please contact us to verify your eligibility for a discount and to obtain your special discount code.

The English Course - Discussion Book 1 is now available (27/3/2017)

The English Course - Discussion Book 1 is now available. This title is at a slightly easier level than Discussion Book 2. It is intended to promote critical thinking and extensive discussion about a variety of interesting issues. Each of the twelve units contains two sets of discussion questions, a conversational audio clip, reading and vocabulary activities and an end of unit task. If you would like to receive an inspection copy, please feel free to apply using button linked to the form at the bottom of this page.

The English Course - Discussion Book 2 is now available (14/11/2015)

The English Course - Discussion Book 2 is now available. This title is the first in a series of three discussion books intended to promote critical thinking and extensive discussion about a variety of interesting and important issues. Each of the twelve units contains two sets of discussion questions, a lecture or conversation audio clip, reading and vocabulary activities and an end of unit task. If you would like to receive an inspection copy, please feel free to apply using button linked to the form at the bottom of this page.