Skills for Success is appropriate for intermediate to advanced English learners, age 16 and up. The textbook focuses on the very real issue of finding a job, and being confident and successful in the workplace. In order to help the student achieve this success, much of the textbook contains exercises that focus on working in groups while learning to read, write and speak better. The author presents skills that are needed in the workforce by having the students use them to accomplish academic tasks. This might be the "hidden agenda" of many teachers and textbooks, but is clearly laid out at the beginning of every chapter in Skills for Success, letting the students (and teachers) know exactly what skills they will be practicing in that chapter.

Every chapter includes sections such as: "Talk about it!", "Take it down!", "Read about it!", and "Write it up!". In these sections, the students are asked to do just what the titles suggest based on the job-related passage in that chapter. The author is successful at scaffolding the material so that every activity is based on skills the students have already practiced.

In the "Write It Up!" section of each chapter, the students are given the opportunity to analyze and apply what they have just read. The writing activities follow the same skill- building premise as the "Read about it!" section, by beginning with a preparation activity. After completing the preparation activity in groups, the students are to write a paragraph based on the reading passage and prompt. The writing is then evaluated by a classmate, and a checklist is completed. The checklist includes specific items about the assignment as well as continuing items such as handwriting, and spelling. I was concerned that although this would be beneficial to the student being evaluated, it may put a lot of pressure on the student doing the evaluating, causing them to be overly lenient to avoid confrontation.

Providing grammar exercises in the "Practical grammar" section in every chapter is a good way of making students aware of the grammar involved in good writing. The text provides adequate examples of the rules, which are then reinforced by practice activities. The assessment at the end of each chapter will help the teachers know if they are spending enough time on the grammar part of the lesson. Skills for Success provides an opportunity for students to practice skills that they can immediately apply to their everyday life. The "How to say it" section introduces phrases that can be used in conversations with friends or coworkers, while the "Check it" section helps to reinforce good study habits and remind the students of the study skills they should be practicing daily. Additionally, the author has also provided helpful information for teachers in the teacheršs edition. This section includes helpful hints, additional activities to encourage students, providing the tools teachers need to make their class successful.

For these reasons, it is my belief that Skills for Success is a genuine asset. It provides an opportunity for students to practice invaluable life skills through great exercises and reading material.