For two years we, the authors of this series, have taught in Middle Schools in China and the schools have all been great. They have encouraged us to use whatever topics, materials and lesson plans we feel are appropriate to the students needs. They have, we believe, been happy with the results.

All the same, everyone agrees that it would be even better if we could link our lessons more closely with those taught by the Chinese teachers. They teach all aspects of English, while our specific responsibility is to develop the skills of speaking and listening. It would be good for the students and help them connect the different elements of their learning if the course content could be connected more closely.

This book has been produced with that aim.

Not all the units link directly to the Chinese course books, but most do. Moreover they are intended to run just about a week behind the corresponding course book units so that the topics will be fresh in the students' minds.

The materials here are not intended to replace existing materials but to supplement them. Detailed lesson plans are included that relate to each unit. These plans can be used in conjunction with the books or independently.

By organising this way we hope that the lesson plans will continue to be beneficial even if the course books change.

It is our hope that teachers who follow us will find this material useful.

两年来，作为这个训练读本的编写组成员，我们一直在中国从事口语教学工作。学校在一些方面做得非常好，比如他们鼓励我们使用一切可行的、学生真正需要的课堂教学资源。我们都很满意拥有这样的成果。

大家都认为，外籍教师对学生听和说的技能训练课程，最终应该和中国英语老师的教学内容、进度结合起来，这样的紧密连接将是对学生很有益的教学辅助活动。

这就是本书编写的动机。

这本口语听说训练材料不是每个单元都直接跟学生使用的现有英语课本紧密关联，但大多数是这样的。相关章节进度相差约一周。这样就会总是以新的话题呈现给学生。

这本英语听说训练手册当然不是要替代现有的英语教材，而是一种对现有教材的补充。详细的教与学的练习计划都包括在内，涉及到每个单元。这些计划的编排可以跟现有教材结合使用，也可以作为独立的口语练习辅助用书。

从组织编写和听说训练实践活动的效果来看，我们认为，不管以后英语教科书有何变化，这本听说训练读本将继续发挥其很好的补充和辅助作用。

同时，我们还希望老师们能从其中获取有用的素材。

鲍勃、卡罗尔