Assignment C - Part 1
An Evaluation of Cutting Edge Advanced
Use the checklist from unit 10 ('Evaluating course book material') to write a general evaluation
of the book.
You won't be able to comment on all items as you only have one unit and the contents but say
as much as you can.
This must be presented as a coherent essay, not just a list.
Then say whether you personally would like to use the book with an advanced class and why or
why not - this is just your opinion, so there is not a right or a wrong response to this part.
You do not need to refer to the class described for Part 2 of this assignment.
Write 300 - 500 words.
After thoroughly examining the Cutting-Edge Advanced Student Coursebook, it is evident that the book is well-
organized and follows a progressive learning approach to support advanced learners. The clear progression is
noticeable in the table of contents, which provides a detailed overview of the book's content, offering students a
clear roadmap to follow. Each unit begins with a defined goal and includes sections dedicated to language focus,
vocabulary, skills, and pronunciation tasks, making it easy for students to navigate and follow.
The book provides students ample opportunities to practice, recycle, and review what they learn, ensuring a
comprehensive and reinforcing learning experience. Activities are thoughtfully designed to progress in complexity
and difficulty, allowing students to revisit and solidify their understanding. After each unit, there are sections for
students to check how well they've learned. This helps them use and remember what they've studied.
The material is highly appropriate for advanced levels, addressing their language needs. The book seamlessly
integrates advanced vocabulary and challenging language elements, making it suitable for C1 level students. An
example of this is the inclusion of the useful language section, which introduces expressions for everyday
conversations, aligning with the proficiency expected at the advanced level.
Diverse and engaging exercises are a notable strength of the coursebook, catering to multiple language skills. From
audio scripts and word webs to engaging reading and listening texts, students encounter varied exercises that
encompass listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The book has a digital pack with audio resources for extra
practice. The material is nicely presented with clear formatting, real-life images, and interesting exercises. There
are also visual elements such as illustrations and cultural insights that breaks down complex ideas into easily
digestible visuals to help students understand better.
Furthermore, the coursebook maintains a well-balanced approach to the four language skills. Engaging reading
and listening texts ensure sustained student engagement and motivation, fostering a holistic language learning
experience. The book's balanced distribution of language skills and diverse tasks for individual, pair, or group work
promotes enjoyable peer-to-peer learning. The book includes characters from different parts of the world, which
makes it more interesting for students with different backgrounds and varied cultural experiences.
Overall, the Cutting-Edge Advanced coursebook is well put together, suitable for advanced levels, offers plenty of
practice, diverse exercises, attractive presentation, and covers all the language skills. I would confidently
incorporate this book into my advanced class for an enhanced learning experience. It serves as a valuable resource
for advanced learners seeking to refine their language proficiency.
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, Assignment C - Part 2.i
Authentic Text
Check the Class Description and Notes on Part 2 on the assignment platform before you begin.
The text should be 500 - 700 words long. (4-5 minutes for listening texts).
In this document, provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you have
chosen.
Ensure the text is referenced, and if you have selected a listening text or video, provide a link.
If you choose a reading text, you can shorten and/or adapt it slightly.
Please supply a copy of the original and your adapted version.
If you have adapted the text, briefly explain the decisions you've made about changing the text
in section b) of the essay.
Highlight 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which would be useful to pre-teach.
Everything You Need To Know About Sophia, The
World's First Robot Citizen
By Zara Stone | Published: November 7, 2017
On October 25, Sophia, a delicate looking woman with doe-brown eyes and long fluttery eyelashes
made international headlines. She'd just become a full citizen of Saudi Arabia -- the first robot in the
world to achieve such a status.
"I am very honoured and proud of this unique distinction. This is historical to be the first robot in the
world to be recognized with a citizenship," Sophia said, announcing her new status during the Future
Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Standing behind a podium as she spoke, to
all effects, she presented a humanoid form -- excepting the shimmery metal cap of her head, where
hair would be on a human head.
Of course, Sophia's announcement was a calculated publicity stunt to generate headlines and keep
Saudi Arabia forefront in your minds when you think about innovation, especially its commitment to
apost-oil era. Through a mix of tourism, tech, and infrastructure, non-oil revenue is predicted to grow
from $43.4 billion to $266.6 billion annually.
But Sophia's announcement also raises several Bladerunner-esque questions. What does it mean to be a
citizen? What rights does Sophia hold? Saudi Arabia has not elaborated on this so far - perhaps it will
create a 'personhood' option, as proposed by the EU committee in January, regarding the rights of
robots.
The Sophia-bot was dreamed up by the brains at Hanson Robotics, led by AI developer David Hanson.
In his published paper, upending the Uncanny Valley he extrapolates on how humanoid robots can be
likable, despite the conception that anything to 'fake human' will trigger a revulsion in people. "We feel
that for realistic robots to be appealing to people, robots must attain some level of integrated social
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